You have always guarded the hearts that trust You.
The Arc
Guru Amar Das on the safety of the devotee. Pauri 0: from the beginning You guard those who love You (the Prahlaad story, gently abstracted). Pauri 1 (Rahau): You keep the honor of those who take refuge; held by You, even the fear of death loses its grip; the Name brings freedom and sahaj. Pauri 2: where greed rules, trust cannot grow; masks slip off. Pauri 3: You shine through the ones who love You; quieting ego, the Word makes sense. Pauri 4: the One quietly does the work of those who love the Name; ill-will trips over itself. Pauri 5: without the guide the heart finds no rest; with it, amrit and easeful truth. Pauri 6: piled-up rituals do not free the heart — the true Word does. Pauri 7: their honor echoes through every age, unerasable.
Key Vocabulary
bhagtaa dee sadaa too rakhdaa: You always preserve Your devotees
bhagtaa kee paij rakh: You keep the honor of the devotees
achint kamm karahi: He does their work without their worrying
onaa dee sobhaa jug jug: their honor echoes through the ages
feekaa alaa-o: insipid, flavorless speech
Themes and Cross-Connections
Divine protection of the trusting heart; the fear of death dissolved; the One seen through the devotees; enduring (sach) goodness that time cannot erase.
For Raag Sorath
Sorath's steady reassurance suits a hymn about being held safe.
Translation Notes
The Rahau is in Pauri 1. The Prahlaad and Harnaakhash episode is abstracted and softened (protection of the trusting child; cruelty defeating itself) per the wellbeing and interfaith rules; 'the Messenger of Death cannot touch them' is rendered as calm freedom from the fear of death; 'whoever challenges them is destroyed' is rendered as ill-will defeating itself; the Vedas-and-debate line targets empty argument, not scripture.
You have always guarded the hearts that trust You.
The Arc
Guru Amar Das on the safety of the devotee. Pauri 0: from the beginning You guard those who love You (the Prahlaad story, gently abstracted). Pauri 1 (Rahau): You keep the honor of those who take refuge; held by You, even the fear of death loses its grip; the Name brings freedom and sahaj. Pauri 2: where greed rules, trust cannot grow; masks slip off. Pauri 3: You shine through the ones who love You; quieting ego, the Word makes sense. Pauri 4: the One quietly does the work of those who love the Name; ill-will trips over itself. Pauri 5: without the guide the heart finds no rest; with it, amrit and easeful truth. Pauri 6: piled-up rituals do not free the heart — the true Word does. Pauri 7: their honor echoes through every age, unerasable.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Divine protection of the trusting heart; the fear of death dissolved; the One seen through the devotees; enduring (sach) goodness that time cannot erase.
For Raag Sorath
Sorath's steady reassurance suits a hymn about being held safe.
Translation Notes
The Rahau is in Pauri 1. The Prahlaad and Harnaakhash episode is abstracted and softened (protection of the trusting child; cruelty defeating itself) per the wellbeing and interfaith rules; 'the Messenger of Death cannot touch them' is rendered as calm freedom from the fear of death; 'whoever challenges them is destroyed' is rendered as ill-will defeating itself; the Vedas-and-debate line targets empty argument, not scripture.