The One is your only true companion — hold tight to the sanctuary.
The Arc
The One named the only true companion; time is passing (P0); the great attachments that pass to others' hands (P1); the frank diagnosis of self-caused ruin — harm unrestrained, ego uncleared (P2); and the hopeful close — listen to the teaching, take shelter, hold tight (P3).
Key Vocabulary
"your only true companion" — the One that stays when all else falls away (P0).
"belong to others" — the destiny of everything gripped as "mine" (P1).
the two undone tasks — governing actions and dissolving ego (P2).
"hold tight to the Sanctuary" — the wake-up ending in refuge (P3).
Themes and Cross-Connections
Guru Tegh Bahadur's third Tilang shabad completes his memento-mori triad (B00C1586–1588). "Belongs to others" (P1) restates the raag's memento-mori (B00C1579 P2). The diagnosis-to-refuge shape (P2–P3) keeps the wake-up toward hope, per the voice rules; "hold tight" echoes the raag's recurring close (B00C1583).
For Raag Tilang
The Ninth Master ends his triad by pointing past the ruin to the refuge: only one companion stays, so hold tight to the sanctuary — and there, at last, do the inner work.
The One is your only true companion — hold tight to the sanctuary.
The Arc
The One named the only true companion; time is passing (P0); the great attachments that pass to others' hands (P1); the frank diagnosis of self-caused ruin — harm unrestrained, ego uncleared (P2); and the hopeful close — listen to the teaching, take shelter, hold tight (P3).
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
Guru Tegh Bahadur's third Tilang shabad completes his memento-mori triad (B00C1586–1588). "Belongs to others" (P1) restates the raag's memento-mori (B00C1579 P2). The diagnosis-to-refuge shape (P2–P3) keeps the wake-up toward hope, per the voice rules; "hold tight" echoes the raag's recurring close (B00C1583).
For Raag Tilang
The Ninth Master ends his triad by pointing past the ruin to the refuge: only one companion stays, so hold tight to the sanctuary — and there, at last, do the inner work.