Sikhism·Raag Malaar·Shabad 21
Verse 5 of 5

Once Met, Never Parted

ਕੋਟਿ ਮਧੇ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਬੁਝਾਈ ॥
kot maDhay kiseh bujhaa-ee.
Among millions, hardly any understand.
ਆਪੇ ਬਖਸੇ ਦੇ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
aapay bakhsay day vadi-aa-ee.
The Lord Himself forgives, and bestows His glorious greatness.
ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਸੁ ਵਿਛੁੜਿ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
jo Dhur mili-aa so vichhurh na jaa-ee.
Whoever meets with the Primal Lord God, shall never be separated again.
ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮਿ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੪॥੩॥੧੨॥
naanak har har naam samaa-ee. ||4||3||12||
Nanak is absorbed in the Name of the Lord, Har, Har. ||4||3||12||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Among millions, hardly anyone understands.

The One forgives, and gives glorious greatness.

Whoever has met the One, the Source of all, will never be separated again.

Nanak says: I am absorbed in the One's Naam, Har, Har.

Whoever meets the One at the source is never separated again.
The deeper layer

Only a few understand, and that understanding is a gift; whoever meets the One is never apart again.

Kot maDhay kiseh bujhaa-ee — among millions, only a rare one understands. Aapay bakhsay day vadi-aa-ee — and even that is the One's own giving, a gift of greatness.

Jo Dhur mili-aa so vichhurh na jaa-ee — whoever meets the One at the Source is never separated again. That is the answer to all viraha, the ache of being apart that runs through Raag Malaar. It is like a friendship so deep that distance cannot break it.

Naanak har har naam samaa-ee — Nanak rests inside the Naam, completely.

A Question to Sit With

What is a bond in your life that feels like it can never be broken?

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

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