When Humble Service Becomes Joy, the Grasping Self Lets Go

ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਃ ੩ ॥

sorath mehlaa 3.

Sorat'h, Third Mehl:

ਦਾਸਨਿ ਦਾਸੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਪਾਏ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਆਪੁ ਗਵਾਈ ॥

daasan daas hovai taa har paa-ay vichahu aap gavaa-ee.

If one becomes the slave of the Lord's slaves, then he finds the Lord, and eradicates ego from within.

ਭਗਤਾ ਕਾ ਕਾਰਜੁ ਹਰਿ ਅਨੰਦੁ ਹੈ ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਈ ॥

bhagtaa kaa kaaraj har anand hai an-din har gun gaa-ee.

The Lord of bliss is his object of devotion; night and day, he sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord.

ਸਬਦਿ ਰਤੇ ਸਦਾ ਇਕ ਰੰਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਸਿਉ ਰਹੇ ਸਮਾਈ ॥੧॥

sabad ratay sadaa ik rangee har si-o rahay samaa-ee. ||1||

Attuned to the Word of the Shabad, the Lord's devotees remain ever as one, absorbed in the Lord. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

When we become glad to serve even the humblest, we find the One — and the grasping self quietly lets go.

For the One's people, devotion is pure joy; night and day they sing the praises of the One.

Steeped in the deep song, they live in one steady love, always resting in the One.

When even the humblest service becomes a joy, the grasping self lets go and you rest in one steady love.

The deeper layer

The opening sets a joyful tone. Daasan daas hovai taa har paa-ay — "become the servant of servants, and you find the One" — humility as the doorway, and vichahu aap gavaa-ee, the grasping self relaxing. The key word is anand — bhagtaa kaa kaaraj har anand hai, "for the One's people, the work of devotion is bliss." Devotion is not a burden but a delight. And ik rangee — "one color/one love" — the settled, single-hearted love that pure Sorath is made of.

A Question to Sit With

When has helping someone actually made you happier, not just been a task?

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

About this shabad →

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