Sikhism·Raag Saarang·Shabad 20
Verse 4 of 5

Coming Home In Time

ਸਗਲ ਪਰਾਧ ਏਕੁ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਛੋਡਹ ਦਾਸਿ ਭਜਹਾ ॥
sagal paraaDh ayk gun naahee thaakur chhodah daas bhajhaa.
He is full of sins, and he has not even one redeeming virtue. Forsaking his Lord and Master, he is involved with Maya, God's slave.
ਆਈ ਮਸਟਿ ਜੜਵਤ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ ਜਿਉ ਤਸਕਰੁ ਦਰਿ ਸਾਂਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਹਾ ॥੩॥
aa-ee masat jarhvat kee ni-aa-ee ji-o taskar dar saaNniHaa. ||3||
And when the final silence comes, like inanimate matter, he is caught like a thief at the door. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

It is easy to feel like you have made more mistakes than good choices — but that feeling is never the whole truth, and it is never too late to turn back toward the One.

When a heart forgets its true home and clings only to passing things, it slowly falls asleep to what matters most. The kind invitation is always the same: wake up, and come home while there is time.

It is never too late to turn back toward what matters most.
The deeper layer

Forgetting the One is like falling asleep.

Sagal paraaDh ayk gun naahee — all faults, not one good quality. A heart turns from its Master and follows passing things instead.

Then comes a stark picture: at the end, jarhvat, still as lifeless matter, caught like a thief at the door. A picture like this works like an alarm clock. It is loud on purpose, because it wants you up in time. And waking up is always possible: the next verse opens the door home.

A Question to Sit With

What helps you wake up when you have drifted away from what you care about?

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

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