Sikhism·Raag Saarang·Shabad 3
Verse 2 of 5

Where Caste and Rank Fall Away

ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲੀਐ ਵਰ ਕਾਮਨਿ ਧਨ ਸੋਹਾਗੁ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥
in biDh har milee-ai var kaaman Dhan sohaag pi-aaree.
This is the way to meet your Husband Lord. Blessed is the soul-bride who is loved by her Husband Lord.
ਜਾਤਿ ਬਰਨ ਕੁਲ ਸਹਸਾ ਚੂਕਾ ਗੁਰਮਤਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥੧॥
jaat baran kul sahsaa chookaa gurmat sabad beechaaree. ||1||
Social class and status, race, ancestry and skepticism are eliminated, following the Guru's Teachings and contemplating the Word of the Shabad. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

This is how you meet the One. How blessed is the heart the One loves!

Follow the teaching and think on the Word. Then caste and class melt away. Race, family line and even doubt melt away too.

Before the One, every label the world stuck on you falls away.
The deeper layer

In front of the One, every label that sorts people falls away.

"Jaat baran kul sahsaa chookaa" is a strong verse against dividing people. Jaat means caste, the group a person is born into. Baran means class or color. Kul means family line. Sahsaa means doubt. All of these melt away when the heart follows the Guru's teaching.

Think of a school photo where everyone wears the same uniform. You cannot tell whose family is rich or poor. You only see the kids.

In the light of Ik Onkar, the One in everything, every label is just a sticker on the outside. Underneath, everyone shares the same Oneness.

A Question to Sit With

What labels do people get sorted by — and what are you underneath all of them?

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

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