Sikhism·Raag Sorath·Shabad 142
Verse 9 of 10

Everyone Claims the One; the Guide Reveals Him

ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਆਖੈ ਆਪਣਾ ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰ ਤੇ ਬੁਝੈ ਸੁਜਾਨੁ ॥
sabh ko aakhai aapnaa bhaa-ee gur tay bujhai sujaan.
Everyone calls God his own, O Siblings of Destiny, but the all-knowing Lord is known only through the Guru.
ਜੋ ਬੀਧੇ ਸੇ ਊਬਰੇ ਭਾਈ ਸਬਦੁ ਸਚਾ ਨੀਸਾਨੁ ॥੯॥
jo beeDhay say oobray bhaa-ee sabad sachaa neesaan. ||9||
Those who are pierced by His Love are saved, O Siblings of Destiny; they bear the Insignia of the True Word of the Shabad. ||9||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Just about everyone says 'my God, my faith, my way,' and there is love in that.

But really knowing the One, from the inside, comes through a true guide who opens your eyes.

The hearts touched deep by that love are carried safely home, marked by the True Word like a badge of belonging.

Lots of people claim the One; really knowing comes from the inside.
The deeper layer

sabh ko aakhai apnaa... gur tay bujhai sujaan — everyone claims God as their own, but the all-knowing One is truly known through the Guru. jo beeDhay say oobray... sabad sachaa neesaan — those pierced by love are lifted, bearing the seal of the True Word. Gentle universalism: everyone claims, but knowing is inward.

A Question to Sit With

What is the difference between saying you believe something and truly feeling it?

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

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