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Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 115
Verse 2 of 8

One Light, a New Lamp

ਲਹਣੇ ਦੀ ਫੇਰਾਈਐ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਦੋਹੀ ਖਟੀਐ ॥
lahnay dee fayraa-ee-ai naankaa dohee khatee-ai.
Nanak proclaimed Lehna's succession - he earned it.
ਜੋਤਿ ਓਹਾ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਸਾਇ ਸਹਿ ਕਾਇਆ ਫੇਰਿ ਪਲਟੀਐ ॥
jot ohaa jugat saa-ay seh kaa-i-aa fayr paltee-ai.
They shared the One Light and the same way; the King just changed His body.
ਝੁਲੈ ਸੁ ਛਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੀ ਮਲਿ ਤਖਤੁ ਬੈਠਾ ਗੁਰ ਹਟੀਐ ॥
jhulai so chhat niranjanee mal takhat baithaa gur hatee-ai.
The immaculate canopy waves over Him, and He sits on the throne in the Guru's shop.
ਕਰਹਿ ਜਿ ਗੁਰ ਫੁਰਮਾਇਆ ਸਿਲ ਜੋਗੁ ਅਲੂਣੀ ਚਟੀਐ ॥
karahi je gur furmaa-i-aa sil jog aloonee chatee-ai.
He does as the Guru commands; He tasted the tasteless stone of Yoga.
ਲੰਗਰੁ ਚਲੈ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦਿ ਹਰਿ ਤੋਟਿ ਨ ਆਵੀ ਖਟੀਐ ॥
langar chalai gur sabad har tot na aavee khatee-ai.
The Langar - the Kitchen of the Guru's Shabad has been opened, and its supplies never run short.
ਖਰਚੇ ਦਿਤਿ ਖਸੰਮ ਦੀ ਆਪ ਖਹਦੀ ਖੈਰਿ ਦਬਟੀਐ ॥
kharchay dit khasamm dee aap khahdee khair dabtee-ai.
Whatever His Master gave, He spent; He distributed it all to be eaten.
ਹੋਵੈ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਖਸੰਮ ਦੀ ਨੂਰੁ ਅਰਸਹੁ ਕੁਰਸਹੁ ਝਟੀਐ ॥
hovai sifat khasamm dee noor arsahu kursahu jhatee-ai.
The Praises of the Master were sung, and the Divine Light descended from the heavens to the earth.
ਤੁਧੁ ਡਿਠੇ ਸਚੇ ਪਾਤਿਸਾਹ ਮਲੁ ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਦੀ ਕਟੀਐ ॥
tuDh dithay sachay paatisaah mal janam janam dee katee-ai.
Gazing upon You, O True King, the filth of countless past lives is washed away.
ਸਚੁ ਜਿ ਗੁਰਿ ਫੁਰਮਾਇਆ ਕਿਉ ਏਦੂ ਬੋਲਹੁ ਹਟੀਐ ॥
sach je gur furmaa-i-aa ki-o aydoo bolhu hatee-ai.
The Guru gave the True Command; why should we hesitate to proclaim this?
ਪੁਤ੍ਰੀ ਕਉਲੁ ਨ ਪਾਲਿਓ ਕਰਿ ਪੀਰਹੁ ਕੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮੁਰਟੀਐ ॥
putree ka-ul na paali-o kar peerahu kanH murtee-ai.
His sons did not obey His Word; they turned their backs on Him as Guru.
ਦਿਲਿ ਖੋਟੈ ਆਕੀ ਫਿਰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਬੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਭਾਰੁ ਉਚਾਇਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ਛਟੀਐ ॥
dil khotai aakee firniH baneh bhaar uchaa-iniH chhatee-ai.
These evil-hearted ones became rebellious; they carry loads of sin on their backs.
ਜਿਨਿ ਆਖੀ ਸੋਈ ਕਰੇ ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਤੀ ਤਿਨੈ ਥਟੀਐ ॥
jin aakhee so-ee karay jin keetee tinai thatee-ai.
Whatever the Guru said, Lehna did, and so he was installed on the throne.
ਕਉਣੁ ਹਾਰੇ ਕਿਨਿ ਉਵਟੀਐ ॥੨॥
ka-un haaray kin uvtee-ai. ||2||
Who has lost, and who has won? ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Guru Nanak announced that Lehna would be the next Guru. Lehna had earned it.

The light was the same, and the way was the same. The King only changed the body he lived in.

A spotless canopy waves over him as he sits on the throne in the Guru's shop.

He does whatever the Guru asks, even when it is as hard and tasteless as licking a stone.

The Langar, the Guru's free kitchen, runs on the Shabad, and its food never runs short.

Whatever his Master gave him, he gave away, sharing it all for everyone to eat.

The Master's praises are sung, and light comes down from heaven to earth.

Seeing You, O True King, the dirt of many lifetimes washes away.

The Guru's word was true. Why should we hold back from saying so?

Guru Nanak's sons did not keep his word. They turned their backs on him as their Guru.

With hearts that were not true, they went their own stubborn way, carrying a heavy load on their backs.

Whatever the Guru said, Lehna did, and so he was placed on the throne.

So who has lost, and who has won?

The flame matters more than the lamp that carries it.
The deeper layer

One Light, one Way (jot ohaa jugat saa-e): only the body changed. The langar, the free community kitchen open to all, is the great sign of equality here, and it never empties.

The bards are frank that Guru Nanak's own sons did not accept Lehna as Guru. The 'load on their backs' is the weight a heart carries when it turns away. The closing question, who has lost and who has won, points back to the one who listened and served.

A Question to Sit With

What is a good thing someone handed to you that you could hand on to others?

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

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