Raag Tilang
Commentary

Raag Tilang, Fifth Mehl (Guru Arjan)

The carefree Provider — the One who made you will also feed you.

The Arc

The Pause refrain "Merciful, merciful," and its comfort — the Maker is also the Provider, so why waver? (P0); the cherishing widened to the whole world, tending each heart (P1); the One named carefree, its care flowing from fullness (P2); and the close — the self as the One's entrusted capital, and one lasting prayer, for peace (P3).

Key Vocabulary

  • "He who created you will also give you nourishment" — Maker as Provider (P0).
  • bayparvaah / "carefree" — the unanxious One whose care flows from fullness (P2).
  • "my soul and body are Your capital" — the self as entrusted, not owned (P3).

Themes and Cross-Connections

This is Tilang's great comfort-shabad, twin to Goojaree's "why scheme, the One feeds the life in the stone" (B00C1039) and Dhanna's turtle-and-worm (Aasaa B00C1020). The bayparvaah (carefree) One is a cherished image shared with Todee (B00C1531). "Soul and body are Your capital" restates the raag's memento-mori as entrustment.

For Raag Tilang

Against the raag's steady awareness of death, Arjan sets its steadiest comfort: the Maker is the Provider, carefree and merciful, cherishing each heart — so stop wavering, and ask only for peace.

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