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Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 38
Verse 2 of 4

With the Saddle of Understanding, Ride Across Rough Waters

ਦੇਹ ਪਾਵਉ ਜੀਨੁ ਬੁਝਿ ਚੰਗਾ ਰਾਮ ॥
dayh paava-o jeen bujh changa raam.
I place the saddle on the body-horse, the saddle of realization of the Good Lord.
ਚੜਿ ਲੰਘਾ ਜੀ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਭੁਇਅੰਗਾ ਰਾਮ ॥
charh langhaa jee bikham bhu-i-angaa raam.
Riding this horse, I cross over the terrifying world-ocean.
ਬਿਖਮੁ ਭੁਇਅੰਗਾ ਅਨਤ ਤਰੰਗਾ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਾਰਿ ਲੰਘਾਏ ॥
bikham bhu-i-angaa anat tarangaa gurmukh paar langhaa-ay.
The terrifying world-ocean is rocked by countless waves, but the Gurmukh is carried across.
ਹਰਿ ਬੋਹਿਥਿ ਚੜਿ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਲੰਘੈ ਗੁਰੁ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਸਬਦਿ ਤਰਾਏ ॥
har bohith charh vadbhaagee langhai gur khayvat sabad taraa-ay.
Embarking upon the boat of the Lord, the very fortunate ones cross over; the Guru, the Boatman, carries them across through the Word of the Shabad.
ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵੈ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੀ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗਾ ॥
an-din har rang har gun gaavai har rangee har rangaa.
Night and day, imbued with the Lord's Love, singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord, the Lord's lover loves the Lord.
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਬਾਣ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਉਤਮੁ ਹਰਿ ਪਦੁ ਚੰਗਾ ॥੨॥
jan naanak nirbaan pad paa-i-aa har utam har pad changa. ||2||
Servant Nanak has obtained the state of Nirvaanaa, the state of ultimate goodness, the state of the Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Put a saddle on your body-horse — the saddle of really knowing what's good.

Riding it, you cross safely over the roughest, wave-tossed waters.

Wisdom is the boat, love is the journey, and you arrive at deep, lasting goodness.

With the saddle of really understanding what's good, you can ride safely across even rough waters.
The deeper layer

The Ghoree continues the ride: "I place the saddle on the body-horse — the saddle of realization of the Good Lord. Riding this horse, I cross over the terrifying world-ocean." Realization steadies the ride like a good saddle; love keeps you going; and the Guru-boatman carries you across the waves. The destination is Nirvaanaa, "the state of ultimate goodness." For a child: with the saddle of really understanding what's good, you can ride safely across even rough waters.

A Question to Sit With

What helps you ride steadily through a rough or wavy day?

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

About this shabad →
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