Savaiye in Praise of Guru Ram Das (Bhatt Mathura), Verse 7 — the Guru's hand upon your head
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The world was drunk on the wine of passing things, and it has been carried across. The all-powerful Guru gave it the nectar of the Naam.
And the Guru is full of praise, with peace and riches always. Wealth and wondrous powers never leave the Guru's side.
The Guru's gifts are great, and the Guru's strength is mighty. Your servant and slave says this is true.
When the Guru has placed a hand on someone's head, why should that person worry about anyone?
Whoever has the Guru's hand resting on their head has no one to worry about.
The whole world gets dizzy on maa-yaa, the shine of things that do not last. The verse calls it being drunk on wine: we get carried away. But the strong Guru gives the Naam like sweet nectar, and the world is carried through.
The Guru has peace, wealth, and spiritual powers, called riDh and siDh, that never leave. The Guru's gifts are huge.
The heart of it is the last line. Jaa kai basees Dhari-o gur hath — the one whose head the Guru's hand rests on. What is there to worry about?
Think of a grandparent placing a hand on a child's head to bless them. It is one of the oldest signs of love and protection. This verse closes Mathura's seven verses.
Whose steady presence makes you feel protected enough to stop worrying?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI