The unworthy stone carried across; the Name like fragrant sandalwood spreading in all directions; wisdom that looks on all alike; and the gentle law that we harvest what we plant.
The Arc
Pauri 0 (rahao): "I am an unworthy stone," yet carried across by grace. Pauri 1: the Name like sandalwood, its fragrance spreading everywhere. Pauri 2: the sweet good words, sung again and again. Pauri 3: wisdom "looks upon all alike" (sam drisat). Pauris 4–6 (softened): pretending leaves us confused; a grabbing mind can't rest; we harvest what we plant. Pauri 7: mistakes as debts settled by turning to the good. Pauri 8 closes on the aapay/Hukam — all gently led along in one will.
Key Vocabulary
The unworthy stone carried across (P0) — grace lifting what can't lift itself.
The Name like sandalwood (P1) — goodness spreading like fragrance.
Looks upon all alike (sam drisat) (P3) — wisdom playing no favorites.
Harvest what you plant (P6) — the gentle law of consequence.
Translation Notes
Warning-imagery (P4–6 "Messenger of Death," P8 "rings through noses") is softened to gentle kernels (confusion, restlessness, being led along), per the project's wellbeing rules.
Self-lowering ("unworthy stone") rendered as honest smallness.
Themes and Cross-Connections
"The stone carried across" is Sukhmani's stone-in-the-boat and the raag's rescue images (B00C2102, Wadahans B00C1192). "The Name like sandalwood spreading" joins the nimm-by-sandalwood (B00C2102) and Wadahans B00C1180. Sam drisat (P3) is the equality vision (B00C2112, Wadahans B00C1207 P57). "Harvest what you plant" restates Wadahans ki Vaar's seed-and-harvest.
For Raag Nat-Naaraayan
Two of the raag's warmest images anchor this hymn for a child. First, the reassurance: even when you feel like a stone that can't float — too heavy, sinking — you can still be carried safely across. And second, the loveliest picture of goodness at work: the good in your heart is like fragrant sandalwood — it doesn't stay hidden, it spreads, filling the air all around you, so that just being near you, people catch its sweetness. And real wisdom, Guru Ram Das adds, looks on everyone with the same kind, fair eyes.
The unworthy stone carried across; the Name like fragrant sandalwood spreading in all directions; wisdom that looks on all alike; and the gentle law that we harvest what we plant.
The Arc
Pauri 0 (rahao): "I am an unworthy stone," yet carried across by grace. Pauri 1: the Name like sandalwood, its fragrance spreading everywhere. Pauri 2: the sweet good words, sung again and again. Pauri 3: wisdom "looks upon all alike" (sam drisat). Pauris 4–6 (softened): pretending leaves us confused; a grabbing mind can't rest; we harvest what we plant. Pauri 7: mistakes as debts settled by turning to the good. Pauri 8 closes on the aapay/Hukam — all gently led along in one will.
Key Vocabulary
Translation Notes
Themes and Cross-Connections
"The stone carried across" is Sukhmani's stone-in-the-boat and the raag's rescue images (B00C2102, Wadahans B00C1192). "The Name like sandalwood spreading" joins the nimm-by-sandalwood (B00C2102) and Wadahans B00C1180. Sam drisat (P3) is the equality vision (B00C2112, Wadahans B00C1207 P57). "Harvest what you plant" restates Wadahans ki Vaar's seed-and-harvest.
For Raag Nat-Naaraayan
Two of the raag's warmest images anchor this hymn for a child. First, the reassurance: even when you feel like a stone that can't float — too heavy, sinking — you can still be carried safely across. And second, the loveliest picture of goodness at work: the good in your heart is like fragrant sandalwood — it doesn't stay hidden, it spreads, filling the air all around you, so that just being near you, people catch its sweetness. And real wisdom, Guru Ram Das adds, looks on everyone with the same kind, fair eyes.
Last updated: 2026-07-05