Raag Saarang
Commentary

Raag Saarang, Dupade, Mehl 5 (Guru Arjan)

You turn toward your own — and the One is the “own” you can bring all of yourself to.

The Arc

The rahau observes a simple human truth: everyone’s mind turns toward their own, the ones they belong to. Stanza one deepens it — with your own you share every sorrow and joy, and from them come your honor and strength. The close names the payoff: while others count up power, youth, wealth, or family, the one who belongs to the One receives all things through the Guru, every hope made complete.

Key Vocabulary

  • apuno hee chit aavai — the mind turns to one’s own.
  • chayro — a devoted servant or disciple.
  • apnay peh dookh / sookhaa / birthaa — sharing sorrow, joy, and inner state with one’s own.
  • raaj joban dhan milkhaa — power, youth, wealth, property.
  • pooran aas — the hope made complete.

Themes and Cross-Connections

The shabad reframes belonging: the One is the “own” you can be wholly honest with — a homely picture of the intimacy that runs through Guru Arjan’s Saarang. Contentment (pooran aas) is set against the endless counting of outer treasures.

For Raag Saarang

Saarang’s yearning is here felt as belonging — the instinctive turn toward the One you are already home in, and the completeness of finding all things in that one source.

Read this shabad →
← Back to Raag Saarang