Savaiye in praise of Guru Ram Das, Verse 9 — the True Guru, Lord of the World
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The True Guru, the True Guru, the True Guru is the Lord of the World, dear One.
You outwitted King Bali, You bring down the mighty and give the devotees their reward. You are Prince Krishna and the spotless Kalki. Your drum beats and Your army's thunder rolls across the world.
You are the Raam everyone remembers, who takes away wrongs and brings joy to every world. You Yourself are in every being, the Lord above all gods, the thousand-headed king cobra.
You were born as the fish, the tortoise and the boar, and played Your part. On the bank of the Jamuna River, You played games with a ball.
Gayand says: O mind, hold this most precious Naam in your heart and let go of what is wicked. The True Guru, the True Guru, the True Guru is the Lord of the World, dear One.
The True Guru is the Lord of the World, the One behind every form the old stories tell.
The bard names forms of Vishnu from Hindu tradition: Krishna, Kalki, the fish, the tortoise and the boar, the thousand-headed cobra. All are gathered into one dayvaadh dayv, the Lord above all gods, the One behind every form.
The bard is Gayand, who signs his name at the close. His last line brings it home: naam saar hee-ay Dhaar taj bikaar, hold the precious Naam in your heart and let go of what is wicked.
Can you think of two very different stories that teach the same lesson?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI