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Sikhism·Raag Tukhaari·Shabad 1
Verse 8 of 17

Harh — The Blazing Sun and the Steady World

ਆਸਾੜੁ ਭਲਾ ਸੂਰਜੁ ਗਗਨਿ ਤਪੈ ॥
aasaarh bhalaa sooraj gagan tapai.
The month of Aasaarh is good; the sun blazes in the sky.
ਧਰਤੀ ਦੂਖ ਸਹੈ ਸੋਖੈ ਅਗਨਿ ਭਖੈ ॥
Dhartee dookh sahai sokhai agan bhakhai.
The earth suffers in pain, parched and roasted in the fire.
ਅਗਨਿ ਰਸੁ ਸੋਖੈ ਮਰੀਐ ਧੋਖੈ ਭੀ ਸੋ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਨ ਹਾਰੇ ॥
agan ras sokhai maree-ai Dhokhai bhee so kirat na haaray.
The fire dries up the moisture, and she dies in agony. But even then, the sun does not grow tired.
ਰਥੁ ਫਿਰੈ ਛਾਇਆ ਧਨ ਤਾਕੈ ਟੀਡੁ ਲਵੈ ਮੰਝਿ ਬਾਰੇ ॥
rath firai chhaa-i-aa Dhan taakai teed lavai manjh baaray.
His chariot moves on, and the soul-bride seeks shade; the crickets are chirping in the forest.
ਅਵਗਣ ਬਾਧਿ ਚਲੀ ਦੁਖੁ ਆਗੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਸਾਚੁ ਸਮਾਲੇ ॥
avgan baaDh chalee dukh aagai sukh tis saach samaalay.
She ties up her bundle of faults and demerits, and suffers in the world hereafter. But dwelling on the True Lord, she finds peace.
ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਸ ਨੋ ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਦੀਆ ਮਰਣੁ ਜੀਵਣੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਨਾਲੇ ॥੮॥
naanak jis no ih man dee-aa maran jeevan parabh naalay. ||8||
O Nanak, I have given this mind to Him; death and life rest with God. ||8||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Aasaarh is a good month; the sun blazes high in the sky.

The earth suffers in the heat, parched and scorched as if by fire.

The fire dries up every drop of water, and everything wilts in pain, yet the sun never grows tired.

The sun's chariot rolls on, and the heart looks for shade, while the crickets chirp in the forest.

Whoever leaves carrying a bundle of mistakes has a hard road ahead. Whoever keeps the True One in mind finds peace.

Nanak says: I have given this mind to the One. Death and life are both with the One.

Give your mind to the One, and keep the True One close.
The deeper layer

Aasaarh / Harh (June-July) is the peak of the dry heat. The sun's tireless chariot (rath firai) is a picture of Hukam's steadiness. Avgan baadh chalee ("tying up the bundle of faults") is the load of mistakes a person carries forward; keeping the True One in mind brings peace. The closing maran jeevan prabh naale places death and life together in the One's keeping.

A Question to Sit With

What helps you find a bit of shade when things feel overwhelming?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 7 of 17 Jeth — Prayer in the Burning Heat
Verse 9 of 17 →Saawan — Rain Clouds and the Ache of Longing
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