Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 27
Verse 8 of 8

A Heart Full of Love Flows Like a Clear River

ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
tayree chaal suhaavee maDhuraarhee banee.
Your walk is so graceful, and Your speech is so sweet.
ਕੁਹਕਨਿ ਕੋਕਿਲਾ ਤਰਲ ਜੁਆਣੀ ॥
kuhkan kokilaa taral ju-aanee.
You coo like a songbird, and your youthful beauty is alluring.
ਤਰਲਾ ਜੁਆਣੀ ਆਪਿ ਭਾਣੀ ਇਛ ਮਨ ਕੀ ਪੂਰੀਏ ॥
tarlaa ju-aanee aap bhaanee ichh man kee pooree-ay.
Your youthful beauty is so alluring; it pleases You, and it fulfills the heart's desires.
ਸਾਰੰਗ ਜਿਉ ਪਗੁ ਧਰੈ ਠਿਮਿ ਠਿਮਿ ਆਪਿ ਆਪੁ ਸੰਧੂਰਏ ॥
saarang ji-o pag Dharai thim thim aap aap sanDhoora-ay.
Like an elephant, You step with Your Feet so carefully; You are satisfied with Yourself.
ਸ੍ਰੀਰੰਗ ਰਾਤੀ ਫਿਰੈ ਮਾਤੀ ਉਦਕੁ ਗੰਗਾ ਵਾਣੀ ॥
sareerang raatee firai maatee udak gangaa vaanee.
She who is imbued with the Love of such a Great Lord, flows intoxicated, like the waters of the Ganges.
ਬਿਨਵੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕੁ ਦਾਸੁ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ਸੁਹਾਵੀ ਮਧੁਰਾੜੀ ਬਾਣੀ ॥੮॥੨॥
binvant naanak daas har kaa tayree chaal suhaavee maDhuraarhee banee. ||8||2||
Prays Nanak, I am Your slave, O Lord; Your walk is so graceful, and Your speech is so sweet. ||8||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The One is graceful in every way — a lovely walk, sweet speech, a gentle presence.

A heart that soaks in such love flows freely and gladly, like a great clear river.

'I'm simply glad to be Yours,' the heart says.

A heart full of love flows freely and happily, like a wide, clear river.
The deeper layer

The beauty-portrait continues: "Your walk is so graceful, Your speech so sweet... You step carefully like an elephant" (a classic image of dignified grace). And the fruit: "she who is imbued with the Love of such a Great Lord flows intoxicated, like the waters of the Ganges" — a heart full of love flows freely, abundantly, gladly, like a great river. Guru Nanak signs it: "I am Your slave." The colophon (||8||2||) closes the shabad. For a child: a heart full of love flows freely and happily, like a wide, clear river.

A Question to Sit With

What makes your heart feel like it's flowing freely and gladly, like a river?

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

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate