Sikhism·Raag Wadahans·Shabad 44
Verse 1 of 4

When Sad, Gather Together and Lean on What Lasts

ਵਡਹੰਸੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥
vad-hans mehlaa 1.
Wadahans, First Mehl:
ਆਵਹੁ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਸਹੇਲੀਹੋ ਸਚੜਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਏਹਾਂ ॥
aavhu milhu sahayleeho sachrhaa naam la-ayhaaN.
Come, O my companions - let us meet together and dwell upon the True Name.
ਰੋਵਹ ਬਿਰਹਾ ਤਨ ਕਾ ਆਪਣਾ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲੇਹਾਂ ॥
rovah birhaa tan kaa aapnaa saahib samHaalayhaaN.
Let us weep over the body's separation from the Lord and Master; let us remember Him in contemplation.
ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲਿਹ ਪੰਥੁ ਨਿਹਾਲਿਹ ਅਸਾ ਭਿ ਓਥੈ ਜਾਣਾ ॥
saahib samHaalih panth nihaalih asaa bhe othai jaanaa.
Let us remember the Lord and Master in contemplation, and keep a watchful eye on the Path. We shall have to go there as well.
ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਕੀਆ ਤਿਨ ਹੀ ਲੀਆ ਹੋਆ ਤਿਸੈ ਕਾ ਭਾਣਾ ॥
jis kaa kee-aa tin hee lee-aa ho-aa tisai kaa bhaanaa.
He who has created, also destroys; whatever happens is by His Will.
ਜੋ ਤਿਨਿ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੁ ਆਗੈ ਆਇਆ ਅਸੀ ਕਿ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਕਰੇਹਾ ॥
jo tin kar paa-i-aa so aagai aa-i-aa asee ke hukam karayhaa.
Whatever He has done, has come to pass; how can we command Him?
ਆਵਹੁ ਮਿਲਹੁ ਸਹੇਲੀਹੋ ਸਚੜਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਲਏਹਾ ॥੧॥
aavhu milhu sahayleeho sachrhaa naam la-ayhaa. ||1||
Come, O my companions - let us meet together and dwell upon the True Name. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Come, dear friends, let's gather together and keep the good and true close to our hearts.

When we miss someone, we can remember them with love and turn our hearts toward what lasts.

Everything unfolds within a gentle, wise plan — a plan bigger than we can see.

When we're sad or missing someone, we can gather together, remember with love, and lean on what lasts.
The deeper layer

Guru Nanak opens this mourning-song with togetherness: "come, O my companions, let us meet together and dwell upon the True Name." Grief is not to be borne alone — we gather, remember with love, and turn our hearts toward what lasts. "He who has created also gathers back; whatever happens is by His Will" is rendered gently as everything unfolding within a wise, larger plan. For a child: when we're sad or missing someone, we gather together, remember them with love, and lean on what lasts.

A Question to Sit With

Who do you like to be near when you're feeling sad?

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

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