Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Washing the Guru's feet and serving Him, the soul is made pure, and the thirst for wrongdoing is quenched.
Become the servant of the servants of the One's servants, and you will be honored in the Court of the One.
The lowest place turns out to be where true honor is found.
The verse starts with washing the Guru's feet and serving. That service makes the soul pure and quenches the thirst for doing wrong. Then it goes further: "become the slave of the slave of the Lord's slaves." In Punjabi, daasan daas, servant of servants.
Think of the person who stays after a party to stack the chairs, and helps the helpers. No one sees it as the top job. Yet that is exactly where the One's Court gives its honor. Being low is the doorway to real dignity. Another Aasaa shabad also praises lying low, where nothing can touch you.
Why might making yourself lowest be the surest way to genuine dignity?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI