Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Serve Him in every way you can: give Him your soul, your very breath, your wealth.
Carry water for Him, wave the fan over Him, and let go of your ego.
Make yourself a sacrifice to Him, again and again.
This one says real service is humble work done with the "me first" feeling set down.
Guru Arjan opens with sayvaa, or seva — serving others. He names the plainest jobs. Carry water. Wave the fan to keep someone cool. These are the small chores of a helper.
The key is in the middle. Taj abhimaan — let go of your pride. Serving is not about being seen. It is about putting the "me" down while you help.
Think of the kids who stay after the party to stack chairs and wipe tables. No one claps for them. But that quiet help is the real thing. Give your time, your breath, and what you have. Do it again and again, with your whole heart.
What is the humblest service you could offer, with no thought of being noticed?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI