Sikhism·Raag Saarang·Shabad 8
Verse 2 of 5

The Words Beyond Words

ਦੀਨ ਦਇਆਲ ਹੋਵਹੁ ਜਨ ਊਪਰਿ ਜਨ ਦੇਵਹੁ ਅਕਥ ਕਹਾਨੀ ॥
deen da-i-aal hovhu jan oopar jan dayvhu akath kahaanee.
Please be merciful to Your meek and humble servant; please bless Your humble servant with Your Unspoken Speech.
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਰਸੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਮੀਠ ਲਗਾਨੀ ॥੧॥
sant janaa mil har ras paa-i-aa har man tan meeth lagaanee. ||1||
Meeting with the humble Saints, I have found the sublime essence of the Lord. The Lord seems so sweet to my mind and body. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Be kind to me, One, and let me hear the words that are beyond all words.

Meeting the saints, I tasted the very essence of the One, and it was sweet all through my body and mind.

Some of the truest things are beyond words, yet you can still taste them.
The deeper layer

The one who prays here asks for the story that no words can hold, and finds it among loving people.

Akath kahaanee means "the story that cannot be told." Some things are too big for words. You can taste them, but you can never fully explain them. Think of trying to describe the taste of a ripe mango to a friend who has never had one.

Sant janaa mil — meeting the saints, the humble people of the One. There, har ras is found. Ras means juice or essence, the real flavor of something. The sweetness of the One spreads through mind and body. Some truths are beyond words, and yet they are fully real.

A Question to Sit With

What's something you've felt deeply but couldn't quite put into words?

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

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