Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 114
Verse 12 of 66

The Name as Their Only Food

ਪਉੜੀ ॥
pa-orhee.
Pauree:
ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਲਾਹਣੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਦਿਤੀਅਨੁ ॥
sifat salaahan bhagat virlay ditee-an.
How rare are those who are blessed to praise the Lord, in devotional worship.
ਸਉਪੇ ਜਿਸੁ ਭੰਡਾਰ ਫਿਰਿ ਪੁਛ ਨ ਲੀਤੀਅਨੁ ॥
sa-upay jis bhandaar fir puchh na leetee-an.
Those who are blessed with the Lord's treasures are not called to give their account again.
ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਲਗਾ ਰੰਗੁ ਸੇ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਿਆ ॥
jis no lagaa rang say rang rati-aa.
Those who are imbued with His Love are absorbed in ecstasy.
ਓਨਾ ਇਕੋ ਨਾਮੁ ਅਧਾਰੁ ਇਕਾ ਉਨ ਭਤਿਆ ॥
onaa iko naam aDhaar ikaa un bhati-aa.
They take the Support of the One Name; the One Name is their only food.
ਓਨਾ ਪਿਛੈ ਜਗੁ ਭੁੰਚੈ ਭੋਗਈ ॥
onaa pichhai jag bhunchai bhog-ee.
For their sake, the world eats and enjoys.
ਓਨਾ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਰਬੁ ਓਨਾਹਾ ਜੋਗਈ ॥
onaa pi-aaraa rab onaahaa jog-ee.
Their Beloved Lord belongs to them alone.
ਜਿਸੁ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਗੁਰੁ ਆਇ ਤਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਣਿਆ ॥
jis mili-aa gur aa-ay tin parabh jaani-aa.
The Guru comes and meets them; they alone know God.
ਹਉ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤਿਨ ਜਿ ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਣਿਆ ॥੪॥
ha-o balihaaree tin je khasmai bhaani-aa. ||4||
I am a sacrifice to those who are pleasing to their Lord and Master. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

How few are given the gift of praising the One with love.

Those trusted with the One's treasures are never asked to give an account again.

Those touched by the One's love are dyed in it, full of joy.

The one Naam is their support; the one Naam is their food.

Because of them, the whole world eats and enjoys.

Their Beloved belongs to them alone.

The Guru comes and meets them, and they come to know the One.

I give myself to those who are pleasing to their Master.

The good that quiet, loving people do quietly holds up the whole world.
The deeper layer

The devoted are rare, and those given the Name's treasures are not called to give account again — the torn-up ledger, pure grace. The startling middle claim is that for their sake the world eats and enjoys: the quiet good of loving hearts sustains everyone, whether the world notices or not.

A Question to Sit With

Who is someone good whose presence makes the world better, even if they are not famous?

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

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