qMonkqMonkSikhism
Sikhism·Raag Soohee·Shabad 119
Verse 3 of 4

Love Holds the Beloved

ਹਰਿ ਹਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਨਿਧੇ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਆਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
har haray har gun niDhay har santan kai vas aa-ay raam.
The Lord, Har, Har, is the treasure of virtue; the Lord is under the power of His Saints.
ਸੰਤ ਚਰਣ ਗੁਰ ਸੇਵਾ ਲਾਗੇ ਤਿਨੀ ਪਰਮ ਪਦ ਪਾਏ ਰਾਮ ॥
sant charan gur sayvaa laagay tinee param pad paa-ay raam.
Those who are dedicated to the feet of the Saints, and to serving the Guru, obtain the supreme status, O Lord.
ਪਰਮ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਆਪੁ ਮਿਟਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਧਾਰੀ ॥
param pad paa-i-aa aap mitaa-i-aa har pooran kirpaa Dhaaree.
They obtain the supreme status, and eradicate self-conceit; the Perfect Lord showers His Grace upon them.
ਸਫਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਹੋਆ ਭਉ ਭਾਗਾ ਹਰਿ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਏਕੁ ਮੁਰਾਰੀ ॥
safal janam ho-aa bha-o bhaagaa har bhayti-aa ayk muraaree.
Their lives are fruitful, their fears are dispelled, and they meet the One Lord, the Destroyer of ego.
ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਸਾ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਮੇਲਿ ਲੀਆ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮਾਇਆ ॥
jis kaa saa tin hee mayl lee-aa jotee jot samaa-i-aa.
He blends into the One, to whom he belongs; his light merges into the Light.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਜਪੀਐ ਮਿਲਿ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੩॥
naanak naam niranjan japee-ai mil satgur sukh paa-i-aa. ||3||
O Nanak, chant the Naam, the Name of the Immaculate Lord; meeting the True Guru, peace is obtained. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One, treasure of all goodness, is somehow won by the love of those devoted to Him.

Those who serve humbly and love the Teacher reach the highest place — self-importance erased, grace poured over them.

Their lives bear fruit, fear runs off, and they meet the One who dissolves ego itself; the One gathers home the heart that was always His, and its little light merges into the great Light. Keep the pure Name close: with the Teacher, peace is found.

The boundless One is won not by power but by humble love.
The deeper layer

har santan kai vas aa-ay — a beautiful paradox: the boundless One is won over by the love of the humble; love has a claim that power cannot. param pad, the supreme state, reached by aap mitaa-i-aa, erasing self-conceit. jotee jot samaa-i-aa: light merging into Light, union without erasure.

A Question to Sit With

When has gentleness or love accomplished something force never could?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 2 of 4 Such a Guide, Found by Great Fortune
Verse 4 of 4 →Sing the Songs of Joy
Use ← → to navigate