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Sikhism·Closing Sections·The Closing Saloks
Verse 4 of 6

Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 4 — the quiet hours before dawn

ਪਰਤਾਪੁ ਸਦਾ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ਭਯਾ ਜਸੁ ਜਨ ਕੈ ॥
partaap sadaa gur kaa ghat ghat pargaas bha-yaa jas jan kai.
The Glorious Greatness of the Guru is manifest forever in each and every heart. His humble servants sing His Praises.
ਇਕਿ ਪੜਹਿ ਸੁਣਹਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਪਰਭਾਤਿਹਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਇਸ੍ਨਾਨੁ ॥
ik parheh suneh gaavahi parbhaatihi karahi isnaan.
Some read and listen and sing of Him, taking their cleansing bath in the early hours of the morning before the dawn.
ਇਸ੍ਨਾਨੁ ਕਰਹਿ ਪਰਭਾਤਿ ਸੁਧ ਮਨਿ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਜਾ ਬਿਧਿ ਸਹਿਤ ਕਰੰ ॥
isnaan karahi parbhaat suDh man gur poojaa biDh sahit karaN.
After their cleansing bath in the hours before the dawn, they worship the Guru with their minds pure and clear.
ਕੰਚਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਹੋਇ ਪਰਸਿ ਪਾਰਸ ਕਉ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਰੂਪੀ ਧ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨੁ ਧਰੰ ॥
kanchan tan ho-ay paras paaras ka-o jot saroopee Dhayaan DharaN.
Touching the Philosopher's Stone, their bodies are transformed into gold. They focus their meditation on the Embodiment of Divine Light.
ਜਗਜੀਵਨੁ ਜਗੰਨਾਥੁ ਜਲ ਥਲ ਮਹਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਪੂਰਿ ਬਹੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਬਰਨੰ ॥
jagjeevan jagannaath jal thal meh rahi-aa poor baho biDh baranaN.
The Master of the Universe, the very Life of the World pervades the sea and the land, manifesting Himself in myriads of ways.
ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵਿ ਅਲਖ ਗਤਿ ਜਾ ਕੀ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮਦਾਸੁ ਤਾਰਣ ਤਰਣੰ ॥੪॥
satgur gur sayv alakh gat jaa kee saree raamdaas taaran tarnaN. ||4||
So serve the Guru, the True Guru; His ways and means are inscrutable. The Great Guru Raam Daas is the Boat to carry us across. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The Guru's greatness shines forever in every single heart, and the Guru's people sing his praise.

Some read, listen and sing. They rise in the hours before dawn and bathe.

After their early bath, they honor the Guru with a pure, clear mind.

Touching the stone that turns metal to gold, their bodies turn to gold. They keep their mind on the One who is pure light.

The Life of the world, the Master of all, fills the sea and the land and shows up in countless ways.

So serve the true Guru, whose ways no one can know. Guru Ram Das is the boat that carries us across.

The hours before dawn are a time to turn toward the Guru.
The deeper layer

In the quiet hours before dawn, people rise, bathe and turn to the Guru with a clear mind.

In Sikh life this time is called amrit vela, the sweet early hours. Some read, listen and sing. They take isnaan, a bath, and honor the Guru with a pure mind. Near the Guru they change, like metal turned to gold by the touch of the paaras, the stone of old stories.

Jagjeevan jagannaath means the Life of the world and the Master of the universe, who fills the sea and the land. The closing line returns: Guru Ram Das is the boat that carries us across.

A Question to Sit With

What is the first thing you turn your attention to in the morning? What would you like it to be?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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