Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 4 — meeting the Guru who turns iron to gold
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Calm and free inside, he is lovingly tuned to the fearless, hidden One. Right in his own home, at ease, he met his Guru, Guru Amar Das, the stone that turns iron to gold.
By the True Guru's grace he reached the highest state. He is full to overflowing with the treasure of loving devotion.
The round of being born again and again is wiped away, and the fear of death has run off. His mind is joined to the One, the ocean of contentment.
Kal the poet says: Guru Ram Das, son of Har Das, fills the empty pools until they overflow.
Guru Ram Das met his Guru and was changed, like iron turned to gold.
The picture is paaras, the Philosopher's Stone. In old stories, one touch of this stone turned plain metal into gold. The Bani uses it again and again for the Guru.
Guru Ram Das met Guru Amar Das, and his life turned to gold. He did not have to go far. Paaras bhayti-aa sahj gharay: he met the stone calmly, in his own home.
By the Guru's grace he reached param pad, the highest state. He was filled with the treasure of loving devotion. The verse says he was freed from being born again and again, and the fear of death ran away.
His mind now rests in santokh, contentment, as wide and calm as an ocean. Kal closes with the refrain: Guru Ram Das fills the empty pools until they overflow.
When has something changed you just by being close to it, the way warmth changes cold hands?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI