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Sikhism·Raag Sorath·Shabad 139
Verse 2 of 8

The Real Renunciate Is the One Who Pleases the Beloved

ਮਨੁ ਬੈਰਾਗਿ ਰਤਉ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸਬਦਿ ਮਨੁ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ ॥
man bairaag rata-o bairaagee sabad man bayDhi-aa mayree maa-ee.
My mind is detached, imbued with detachment; the Word of the Shabad has pierced my mind, O my mother.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਬਾਣੀ ਸਾਚੇ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਸਿਉ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਈ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
antar jot nirantar banee saachay saahib si-o liv laa-ee. rahaa-o.
God's Light shines continually within the nucleus of my deepest self; I am lovingly attached to the Bani, the Word of the True Lord Master. ||Pause||
ਅਸੰਖ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਕਹਹਿ ਬੈਰਾਗ ਸੋ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਜਿ ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਵੈ ॥
asaNkh bairaagee kaheh bairaag so bairaagee je khasmai bhaavai.
Countless detached renunciates talk of detachment and renunciation, but he alone is a true renunciate, who is pleasing to the Lord Master.
ਹਿਰਦੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਦਾ ਭੈ ਰਚਿਆ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਵੈ ॥
hirdai sabad sadaa bhai rachi-aa gur kee kaar kamaavai.
The Word of the Shabad is ever in his heart; he is absorbed in the Fear of God, and he works to serve the Guru.
ਏਕੋ ਚੇਤੈ ਮਨੂਆ ਨ ਡੋਲੈ ਧਾਵਤੁ ਵਰਜਿ ਰਹਾਵੈ ॥
ayko chaytai manoo-aa na dolai Dhaavat varaj rahaavai.
He remembers the One Lord, his mind does not waver, and he restrains its wanderings.
ਸਹਜੇ ਮਾਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਾਤਾ ਸਾਚੇ ਕੇ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ॥੨॥
sehjay maataa sadaa rang raataa saachay kay gun gaavai. ||2||
He is intoxicated with celestial bliss, and is ever imbued with the Lord's Love; he sings the Glorious Praises of the True Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Something has quietly loosened its grip on me, the Word has gone straight to my heart, and a steady light glows deep inside.

Lots of people can talk about 'letting go.' But real letting-go is not a costume or a speech; it belongs to the one whose love simply delights the Beloved.

With the Word held close, remembering the One, the wandering mind stops running, and a calm, bright joy sings quietly all day long.

Real letting-go is not a performance; it is a love that quietly delights the One.
The deeper layer

man bairaag ratao bairaagee — the mind steeped in detachment; sabad man beDhiaa — the Word has pierced the mind: this is the Rahau. Then the definition — so bairaagee je khasmai bhaavai — the true renunciate is the one pleasing to the Master, not the one who merely announces renunciation. bhai rachiaa — the awe of God, rendered as loving awe, not terror. sehjay maataa — intoxicated with sahaj. The refrain reframes bairaag: inner love, not outer performance.

A Question to Sit With

What is the difference between talking about something and truly living it?

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

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