Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In the house where the praises of the Creator are sung and thought about — in that house, keep singing the song of praise. Keep meditating on, keep remembering, the one who created all of this.
Sohilaa (the Song of Praise, also called Kirtan Sohila) is recited every night before sleep — the last thing before consciousness releases its grip on the day. It is composed of five shabads from three Gurus: Guru Nanak (Mehl 1), Guru Ram Das (Mehl 4), and Guru Arjan (Mehl 5).
The opening is simple and sufficient: wherever praise of the oneness is happening, that is the right house. Not a physical location — a quality of attention. Any house where the Creator is genuinely remembered and celebrated is the right place to be.
Sohilaa was also recited at funerals — the last prayer at the departure of a life. It holds both ends of consciousness: the daily sleep that is a small death, and the final sleep that is the return.
What is the last thing you think about before you fall asleep at night? What would it feel like if that last thought were something beautiful or true?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI