The central theme of the Dakhane is the intense longing of the human spirit for the all pervading Supreme Spirit and they depict, First, the beauty of the Beloved; secondly, the intensity of longing for Him; thirdly, the helpfulness of the Guru, the mediator between the seeker and the sought after; and fourthly, some of the obstacles which bar union between the two. The “woman” (devotee) addresses the all pervading Spirit as `my own good friend` (I); `my good friend and true king` (II. 3); `beloved dwelling with me` (IV. 1); `my close friend who is fond of me and who is friend of all, never disappointing anyone` (VII.2); `the hidden gem which I have found and which now shines on my forehead` (VII. 3 ); `the One who is present in all and of whom none is bereft` (IX. 3); `the colourful One` (XI. 1); `the King of kings` (XII.1); `the One whose light is reflected in all as is the moon in the water in the pitchers` (XIV.2); and implores Him to come and embrace her.This is how “she” expresses the intensity of her longing: `My eyes long for Thee` (I. 1); `I am ready to give my head for Thy love` (I.I);`! am in love with Thee and with none else` (I. 2); `do not separate me from Thee for a moment` (II. 1); `my heart has been charmed by Thee* (II. 1); `if Thoucomethto my courtyard, the entire earth will turn green for me* (III. 1); `while embracing Thee, even the necklace I am wearing creates distance unbearable` (III. 3); `I am longing ever to see how beautiful is Thy face` (VIII. 1); `may I become a couch for the Beloved, my eyes spread on it as a sheet` (XII. 3); `incomparable in beauty is the face of my Beloved` (XVII. 2); `I have looked in all directions, searched everywhere, none is comparable to Him` (XVIII. 1). `Those who take shelter with the ustad (teacher) are saved` (VI. 1); `the saints whose deeds are for the well being of others show the path` (XXI. 2); `eyes which see the Loved One are different from the outward eyes` (XVI. 3); `this is the opportunity and He must be realized here and now` (VII. 1). Maya is compared to a wet stone of jaggery (g”ur) and men to flies which fall upon it and get caught (IX. 2). This is how man is beguiled from the path to union.
References :
1. Shabadarth Sri Guru Granth Sahib, vol. III. Amritsar, 1C59
2. Sahib Singh, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Darpan, vol. VIII. Jalandhar, 1964