karahu kirpaa gopaal gobiday apnaa naam japaavhu. rahaa-o.
Have Mercy on me, O Life of the World, O Lord of the Universe, that I may chant Your Name. ||Pause||
ਕਾਢਿ ਲੀਏ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਆਨ ਬਿਖੈ ਤੇ ਸਾਧਸੰਗਿ ਮਨੁ ਲਾਵਹੁ ॥
kaadh lee-ay parabh aan bikhai tay saaDhsang man laavhu.
Please lift me up, God, out of vice and corruption, and attach my mind to the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy.
ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਮੋਹੁ ਕਟਿਓ ਗੁਰ ਬਚਨੀ ਅਪਨਾ ਦਰਸੁ ਦਿਖਾਵਹੁ ॥੧॥
bharam bha-o moh kati-o gur bachnee apnaa daras dikhaavhu. ||1||
Doubt, fear and attachment are eradicated from that person who follows the Guru's Teachings, and gazes on the Blessed Vision of His Darshan. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
Sing the Lord's praises — Har, Har, Har — let the Name roll off your tongue.
Be kind to me, O Life of the whole world, and help me chant Your Name.
Reach down and lift me out of whatever pulls me low, and set my mind among good company.
When I walk by the teacher's words and turn my gaze toward You, doubt, fear, and clinging quietly fall away.
Ask to be lifted, and even the song you sing is a gift you are given.
The deeper layer
The threefold har har har is Kaydaaraa's heartbeat — the Name sung again and again. Gopal gobinde is the Life of the World; the prayer apnaa naam japaavhu asks the One to enable the very chanting, so that even the practice is received as grace. Kaadh lee-ay — lifted out — and saadhsang set the mind in good company; then bhram bhau moh katio — doubt, fear, and clinging are cut away by the Guru's word. Positive movement throughout: lifted up, drawn near, freed.
A Question to Sit With
What is something you are grateful to be able to do, that once felt hard?
