Even before you knew anything, the Name was already with you.
The Arc
Guru Arjan, every line sealed with pi-aaray — “O Beloved.” Pauri 0 (opening): even in the hidden first beginning the Name was present; we arrive into a dazzling world and get swept up, until grace brings us to the teaching. Pauri 1 (Rahau): You alone hold up body and mind and know every heart; a wandering heart carries a heavy load until it takes hold of the True Name. Pauri 2: what looks sweet but fades leaves an ache. Pauri 3: a heart stuffed with wanting has no room to remember. Pauri 4: choose company that helps you remember. Pauri 5: cleverness and technique don’t travel with you — only what’s real. Pauri 6: grace fills the heart with truth, contentment, and nectar. Pauri 7: the all-powerful One is gentle, a sure shelter.
Key Vocabulary
maat garabh... naam japaa-i-aa: even in the first hidden beginning, the Name was present
man tan tayree tayk: You are the support of mind and body
antarjaamee: the inner-knower
saakat sang na keej-ee: rendered as wisdom about influence, not contempt
mastak sach neesaan: the emblem of Truth on the forehead
Themes and Cross-Connections
The Name present from the very first breath; the One as sole support; the emptiness of chasing what fades; the quiet power of company; grace’s fourfold gift; the gentle all-powerful shelter.
For Raag Sorath
Sorath’s tender steadiness fits this Beloved-addressed hymn of being held from the very beginning.
Translation Notes
The Rahau is in Pauri 1. Per the wellbeing rules the womb imagery of Pauri 0 (maat garabh dukh saagro) is softened to a “hidden beginning,” with the comfort — the Name was already there — foregrounded; bahutee milai sajaa-ay (“terrible punishment,” Pauri 1) becomes “a heavy load”; say tan ho-ay Dhoorh and billaat karahi (“bodies turn to dust / cry out horribly,” Pauri 3) become sand slipping away and a restless emptiness; muhi kaalai (“blackened face,” Pauri 4) becomes “feeling smaller”; tin kul laagai gaal (“families disgraced,” Pauri 5) becomes an emptiness that touches others. The saakat verse (Pauri 4) is rendered per the project’s voice-care as wisdom about influence, not contempt for a group.
Even before you knew anything, the Name was already with you.
The Arc
Guru Arjan, every line sealed with pi-aaray — “O Beloved.” Pauri 0 (opening): even in the hidden first beginning the Name was present; we arrive into a dazzling world and get swept up, until grace brings us to the teaching. Pauri 1 (Rahau): You alone hold up body and mind and know every heart; a wandering heart carries a heavy load until it takes hold of the True Name. Pauri 2: what looks sweet but fades leaves an ache. Pauri 3: a heart stuffed with wanting has no room to remember. Pauri 4: choose company that helps you remember. Pauri 5: cleverness and technique don’t travel with you — only what’s real. Pauri 6: grace fills the heart with truth, contentment, and nectar. Pauri 7: the all-powerful One is gentle, a sure shelter.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
The Name present from the very first breath; the One as sole support; the emptiness of chasing what fades; the quiet power of company; grace’s fourfold gift; the gentle all-powerful shelter.
For Raag Sorath
Sorath’s tender steadiness fits this Beloved-addressed hymn of being held from the very beginning.
Translation Notes
The Rahau is in Pauri 1. Per the wellbeing rules the womb imagery of Pauri 0 (maat garabh dukh saagro) is softened to a “hidden beginning,” with the comfort — the Name was already there — foregrounded; bahutee milai sajaa-ay (“terrible punishment,” Pauri 1) becomes “a heavy load”; say tan ho-ay Dhoorh and billaat karahi (“bodies turn to dust / cry out horribly,” Pauri 3) become sand slipping away and a restless emptiness; muhi kaalai (“blackened face,” Pauri 4) becomes “feeling smaller”; tin kul laagai gaal (“families disgraced,” Pauri 5) becomes an emptiness that touches others. The saakat verse (Pauri 4) is rendered per the project’s voice-care as wisdom about influence, not contempt for a group.