Sikhism·Raag Maaroo·Shabad 151
Verse 3 of 3

The One Behind It All

ਕਾਲੁ ਅਕਾਲੁ ਖਸਮ ਕਾ ਕੀਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਇਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚੁ ਬਧਾਵਨੁ ॥
kaal akaal khasam kaa keenHaa ih parpanch baDhaavan.
Death, and deathlessness are the creations of our Lord and Master; this show, this expanse, is only an entanglement.
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਤੇ ਅੰਤੇ ਮੁਕਤੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਰਾਮ ਰਸਾਇਨੁ ॥੨॥੬॥
kahi kabeer tay antay muktay jinH hirdai raam rasaa-in. ||2||6||
Says Kabir, those who have the sublime essence of the Lord in their hearts - in the end, they are liberated. ||2||6||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Death and the deathless are both the Master's making; this whole wide show of the world is a tangle.

Kabir says: those who keep the sweet taste of the One in their hearts are free in the end.

Keep the sweetness of the One in your heart, and you are free in the end.
The deeper layer

Kaal akaal khasam kaa keenHaa means death and the deathless are both made by the Master. Ih parpanch means this whole huge show of the world. It is a tangle that holds on to people, and it is also a passing display, like fireworks that light up the sky and then fade.

The whole drama is the Master's making, from beginning to end.

Kabir adds that those with raam rasaa-in in their hearts are antay muktay, free in the end. Raam rasaa-in means the sweet essence of the One, like the best taste you ever had, kept safe inside.

A Question to Sit With

When life feels like a lot of change at once, what helps you feel held?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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