Raag Malaar
Commentary

Raag Malaar, Du-Padas, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

The rain has come over the whole world — the long thirst is quenched, the color soaks all the way through.

The Arc

The rahau is fulfillment — the clouds have rained everywhere, mercy received, joy and peace together. Sorrows wash away, the long thirst is quenched, and in good company the restless wandering finally comes home to rest. The close has the pure Name soaked all the way through, the soul claimed as the One's own, asking only to stay in the shelter.

Key Vocabulary

  • barsat — the world-wide rain; the parched earth greening (hari-aa).
  • trisan bujhee — the thirst quenched; the rainbird's raindrop received.
  • rang — the fast dye of the Name, soaked all the way through.
  • saadh sangat — good company, where the wandering settles.

Themes and Cross-Connections

The fast dye of the Name (rang) versus the cheap dye of passing things echoes the sach/jhooth distinction — what holds versus what washes off. The world-wide rain is Malaar's promise fully kept.

For Raag Malaar

The raag's promise kept — the world-wide monsoon and the thirst fully quenched.

Translation Notes

"Death and birth come to an end, and the mortal does not wander" is rendered as the end of restless searching and a homecoming to rest, keeping the promise of rest while easing the cycle-imagery.

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