Your Journey Heads Toward a Joyful Celebration

ਘੋੜੀ ਤੇਜਣਿ ਦੇਹ ਰਾਮਿ ਉਪਾਈਆ ਰਾਮ ॥

ghorhee tayjan dayh raam upaa-ee-aa raam.

The transitory body-horse was created by the Lord.

ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਾ ਧਨੁ ਧੰਨੁ ਤੁਖਾਈਆ ਰਾਮ ॥

jit har parabh jaapai saa Dhan Dhan tukhaa-ee-aa raam.

Blessed, blessed is that body-horse which meditates on the Lord God.

ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਪੈ ਸਾ ਧੰਨੁ ਸਾਬਾਸੈ ਧੁਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਕਿਰਤੁ ਜੁੜੰਦਾ ॥

jit har parabh jaapai saa Dhan saabaasai Dhur paa-i-aa kirat jurhandaa.

Blessed and acclaimed is that body-horse which meditates on the Lord God; it is obtained by the merits of past actions.

ਚੜਿ ਦੇਹੜਿ ਘੋੜੀ ਬਿਖਮੁ ਲਘਾਏ ਮਿਲੁ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥

charh dayharh ghorhee bikham laghaa-ay mil gurmukh parmaanandaa.

Riding the body-horse, one crosses over the terrifying world ocean; the Gurmukh meets the Lord, the embodiment of supreme bliss.

ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਕਾਜੁ ਰਚਾਇਆ ਪੂਰੈ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਜੰਞ ਆਈ ॥

har har kaaj rachaa-i-aa poorai mil sant janaa janj aa-ee.

The Lord, Har, Har, has perfectly arranged this wedding; the Saints have come together as a marriage party.

ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਵਰੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਮੰਗਲੁ ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਵਾਧਾਈ ॥੪॥੧॥੫॥

jan naanak har var paa-i-aa mangal mil sant janaa vaaDhaa-ee. ||4||1||5||

Servant Nanak has obtained the Lord as his Spouse; joining together, the Saints sing the songs of joy and congratulations. ||4||1||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Blessed is a body-horse that carries a heart full of goodness.

Riding it, you cross the rough waters and arrive at pure joy.

And there a joyful wedding is waiting, with all the good gathered to celebrate.

Your journey through life is heading toward a joyful celebration, with all the good gathered to welcome you.

The deeper layer

The Ghoree closes at the wedding — the whole point of a wedding-procession song: "the Lord has perfectly arranged this wedding; the Saints have come together as a marriage party... Nanak has obtained the Lord as his Spouse; joining together, the Saints sing songs of joy." The journey of the body-horse ends in union and celebration — the soul married to the Divine, all the good gathered to rejoice. The colophon (||4||1||5||) closes the first Ghoree. For a child: your journey through life is heading toward a joyful celebration, with all the good gathered to welcome you home.

A Question to Sit With

What would a happy 'welcome home' celebration at the end of a good journey feel like?

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

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