Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 11 — a steady hand placed on your head
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The mighty Guru placed his hand on my head.
The Guru was kind and gave me the Naam of the One. Seeing his feet, my wrongdoing was taken away.
Night and day the Guru keeps his mind on the One alone. Hearing that Naam, even death is frightened away.
The servant says: Guru Ram Das put his hope in Guru Amar Das, the Guru of the world. Touching the paaras stone, he became the paaras stone himself.
Guru Ram Das knew the One as true, and the mighty Guru placed his hand on his head.
The Guru's hand on your head is a blessing that changes you.
Samrath guroo sir hath Dhar-ya-o: the mighty Guru put his hand on my head. It is a blessing you can feel, like a parent's hand on your hair before a big day.
The Guru gave the Naam, and near him the wrong things fell away. He keeps the One in mind night and day. Hearing that Naam, even death runs off.
Then comes the big idea. The paaras is a stone in old stories that turns iron to gold by touch. Guru Ram Das trusted Guru Amar Das fully. He touched that stone, and became one himself.
The student becomes the teacher. Light that is received gets passed on.
Has anyone ever placed a hand on your head, in words or in action, in a way that steadied you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI