Sikhism·Raag Todee·Shabad 9
Verse 3 of 3

Forgiveness Is the Steady Nature of the Deepest Thing

ਸਦ ਬਖਸਿੰਦੁ ਸਦਾ ਮਿਹਰਵਾਨਾ ਸਭਨਾ ਦੇਇ ਅਧਾਰੀ ॥
sad bakhsind sadaa miharvaanaa sabhnaa day-ay aDhaaree.
You are always forgiving, and always merciful; You give support to all.
ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸ ਸੰਤ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਰਿਓ ਰਾਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ਇਹ ਬਾਰੀ ॥੨॥੪॥੯॥
naanak daas sant paachhai pari-o raakh layho ih baaree. ||2||4||9||
Slave Nanak follows the Path of the Saints; save him, O Lord, this time. ||2||4||9||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

You're always the forgiving one, always kind — You hold everyone up.

This humble one is just trying to follow the way of the wise; carry me across this time.

Forgiveness isn't a rare exception — it's the steady nature of the deepest thing there is.
The deeper layer

The answer to the collapse of the previous verse is the character of the One: "always forgiving, and always merciful." Forgiveness here isn't a rare exception granted to the deserving; it is the constant nature (sadaa bakhsind) of the One — which is exactly why the empty-handed can trust it. "Save him, O Lord, this time" has the plain urgency of real prayer. And the path offered is simple: walk the way of those steadying toward the One.

A Question to Sit With

What's the difference between someone who forgives once and someone who is just forgiving by nature?

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

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