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Sikhism·Raag Soohee·Shabad 115
Verse 2 of 4

Whoever Comes Will Go — So Hold the Lasting

ਸੁਣਿ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਸੇਵਿ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਨਾਥੁ ਪਰਾਣਾ ॥
sun baavray sayv thaakur naath paraanaa.
Listen, madman: serve your Lord, the Master of the breath of life.
ਸੁਣਿ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਜੋ ਆਇਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਜਾਣਾ ॥
sun baavray jo aa-i-aa tis jaanaa.
Listen, madman: whoever comes, shall go.
ਨਿਹਚਲੁ ਹਭ ਵੈਸੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਪਰਦੇਸੀ ਸੰਤਸੰਗਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਰਹੀਐ ॥
nihchal habh vaisee sun pardaysee satsang mil rahee-ai.
Listen, O wandering stranger: that which you believe to be permanent, shall all pass away; so remain in the Saints' Congregation.
ਹਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਭਾਗੀ ਸੁਣਿ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਚਰਣ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਗਹਿ ਰਹੀਐ ॥
har paa-ee-ai bhaagee sun bairaagee charan parabhoo geh rahee-ai.
Listen, renunciate: by your good destiny, obtain the Lord, and remain attached to God's Feet.
ਏਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਦੀਜੈ ਸੰਕ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤਜਿ ਬਹੁ ਮਾਣਾ ॥
ayhu man deejai sank na keejai gurmukh taj baho maanaa.
Dedicate and surrender this mind to the Lord, and have no doubts; as Gurmukh, renounce your great pride.
ਨਾਨਕ ਦੀਨ ਭਗਤ ਭਵ ਤਾਰਣ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਿਆ ਗੁਣ ਆਖਿ ਵਖਾਣਾ ॥੨॥
naanak deen bhagat bhav taaran tayray ki-aa gun aakh vakhaanaa. ||2||
O Nanak, the Lord carries the meek and humble devotees across the terrifying world-ocean. What Glorious Virtues of Your should I chant and recite? ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Listen, dear heart: hold close the One who gives you your very breath.

Everything that arrives also leaves; what looks like it will last forever quietly passes. So keep the company of good and honest people.

Give your heart fully and don't hold back in doubt; set down your pride. The One carries the humble safely across — how could I ever finish counting such goodness?

Everything that comes also goes — so anchor your heart in the One who lasts.
The deeper layer

jo aa-i-aa tis jaanaa — a gentle memento: all that comes goes, so anchor in what lasts. pardaysee, the wandering stranger: the soul passing through. taj baho maanaa, releasing pride (maan) as the doorway to receiving. bhav taaran: the One who ferries the humble across the sea of fear — not by their strength but by His nature.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you thought would last forever that turned out to be temporary?

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

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