Dwell on the Fearless One and His Fearlessness Grows

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line — the center of the shabad. It calls the One three lovely names: Life of the World, Fearless, and Giver.

The first name is jagjeevan — the Life of the World. Not a God who stands outside the world, but the very life running through it: the breath in every creature, the sap in every plant, the energy moving the whole living world. When you feel alive, that aliveness is the One in you. Finding the One is not finding something strange and far off. It is finding the Life that is already living in you.

The second name is nirbha-o — fearless. The One has no fear because nothing outside the One could threaten Him. And there is a gift hidden here. We become like what we keep in mind. The more we keep the fearless One in our mind, the more His fearlessness becomes ours. Think of a little kid scared of thunder who climbs into the lap of a calm grown-up. The storm is still loud, but the child begins to relax. Resting in the fearless One, a scared heart grows brave.

The third name is daataa — the Giver. Everything good flows from the One as a gift: the Name, peace, even the life we are living. The One's way toward us is giving, not holding back. So together the three names paint a warm picture: the One is the Life living in us, unafraid, and always giving. And how do we respond? Gurmat sahj samaavani-aa — through the Guru's teaching, we melt into Him with sahj, natural ease. We do not have to strive toward a Life that is already ours, fear a One who is fearless, or earn from a One who only gives. We just relax into what was always holding us. Ha-o vaaree jee-o vaaree — the singer gives himself to anyone who keeps this One in their heart.