Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 12 — the One who has always come through for people
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Now, please keep the honor of Your servant, the bard.
You kept the honor of Your devotee Prahlaad, and tore down the cruel king Harnaakhash with Your own hands.
Dear Lord, You kept the honor of Draupadi too: when people tried to pull away her clothes, You gave her more and more cloth.
You saved Sudama from hard times. And Ganika, a woman the world looked down on, said the Naam, and her life was set right.
Great True Guru, if it pleases You, keep the honor of Your servant, the bard, in this dark age.
Help has always come to those who turn to the One, so the bard asks for it too.
Ab raakho daas bhaat kee laaj means "now keep the honor of Your servant, the bard." To show that help always comes, the bard recalls old stories from Hindu tradition. Prahlaad was a boy who loved the One. His father, the cruel king Harnaakhash, turned on him. The One kept Prahlaad safe and brought the cruel king down. Draupadi was a queen whom others tried to shame in front of a crowd. The One protected her dignity, and she was given even more. Sudama was Krishna's poor childhood friend, and he was lifted out of hard times. Ganika was a woman the world looked down on. When she turned to the Naam, her life was set right.
Help is there for anyone who turns toward it, whatever their standing. Two of the four people rescued are women, and one was someone the world had turned away.
If someone is being unkind to you or hurting you, that is never something you have to accept. Telling a grown-up you trust is always the right thing to do.
The bard ends with the same request. Great True Guru, if it pleases You, keep Your servant's honor in this hard age.
Who is someone you could ask for help with empty hands, knowing they would not turn you away?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI