ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਜੀਵਉ ਤੇਰੇ ਨਾਈ ॥
alah raam jeeva-o tayray naa-ee.
O Allah, O Raam, I live by Your Name.
ਤੂ ਕਰਿ ਮਿਹਰਾਮਤਿ ਸਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
too kar mihraamat saa-ee. ||1|| rahaa-o.
Please show mercy to me, O Master. ||1||Pause||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O Allah, O Raam, I live by Your Naam.
Please be kind to me, O Master.
Many names, one One — and staying alive means keeping it close.
Many names point to the one One, and you live by holding that One close.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Kabir names the One with two names at once, Allah and Raam. The different names are fingers pointing at one moon. To live by the Naam is the plain trust of a child leaning on a parent, and asking for kindness is an opening of the hands. Grace is a gift, always present; you open to it.
A Question to Sit With
What is a name you use for what you feel is sacred or good?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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