Sikhism·Raag Soohee·Shabad 123
Verse 1 of 4

The City That Cannot Be Moved

ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
soohee mehlaa 5.
Soohee, Fifth Mehl:
ਅਬਿਚਲ ਨਗਰੁ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਗੁਰੂ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਤ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
abichal nagar gobind guroo kaa naam japat sukh paa-i-aa raam.
Eternal and immovable is the City of God and Guru; chanting His Name, I have found peace.
ਮਨ ਇਛੇ ਸੇਈ ਫਲ ਪਾਏ ਕਰਤੈ ਆਪਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ਰਾਮ ॥
man ichhay say-ee fal paa-ay kartai aap vasaa-i-aa raam.
I have obtained the fruits of my mind's desires; the Creator Himself established it.
ਕਰਤੈ ਆਪਿ ਵਸਾਇਆ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਇਆ ਪੁਤ ਭਾਈ ਸਿਖ ਬਿਗਾਸੇ ॥
kartai aap vasaa-i-aa sarab sukh paa-i-aa put bhaa-ee sikh bigaasay.
The Creator Himself established it. I have found total peace; my children, siblings and Sikhs have all blossomed forth in bliss.
ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਪੂਰਨ ਪਰਮੇਸੁਰ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਆਇਆ ਰਾਸੇ ॥
gun gaavahi pooran parmaysur kaaraj aa-i-aa raasay.
Singing the Glorious Praises of the Perfect Transcendent Lord, my affairs have come to be resolved.
ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਆਪਿ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਆਪੇ ਰਖਾ ਆਪਿ ਪਿਤਾ ਆਪਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
parabh aap su-aamee aapay rakhaa aap pitaa aap maa-i-aa.
God Himself is my Lord and Master. He Himself is my Saving Grace; He Himself is my father and mother.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਜਿਨਿ ਏਹੁ ਥਾਨੁ ਸੁਹਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
kaho naanak satgur balihaaree jin ayhu thaan suhaa-i-aa. ||1||
Says Nanak, I am a sacrifice to the True Guru, who has embellished and adorned this place. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The city of the One and the Teacher can never be shaken. Keeping the Name, I have found peace there.

Every real wish of my heart came true, for the Creator Himself set this place up.

Total peace arrived, and children, family and friends all blossomed with joy.

Together we sing the Perfect One, and our work comes right.

The One Himself is our Master and our shelter, our father and our mother.

I would give anything for the Teacher, who made this place so beautiful.

What is built on the One is an unshakable city where a whole community blossoms.
The deeper layer

This one is a song of shared joy about a city that cannot be shaken.

Abichal nagar means the unshakable city. It is two things at once. It is the town where the community lives. It is also the steady place inside where the Name lives, which nothing can move.

Put bhaa-ee sikh bigaasay means children, brothers and sisters, and Sikhs all bigaasay, blossom with joy. So this is not only one person's happiness. The whole community flowers together, like a garden in spring.

Aap pitaa aap maa-i-aa means the One is both father and mother. Think of a home where you feel safe to be yourself. The One is that kind of home for everyone.

A Question to Sit With

What is a place where your whole family or community feels at home and glad?

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

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