Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
This is the sacred stone I serve.
This is my worship, my flower-offerings, my praise.
This one says the One Himself is the holy stone Guru Arjan serves.
This is the rahaa-o line, the "pause" line. It is the center of the whole song. It names a saalgiraam. That is a sacred stone that many Hindu families honor at home. They offer it flowers, prayers, and love.
Guru Arjan uses that picture with respect. He says: this is my saalgiraam, this is my worship and my flower-offering. But he places it inside. The One Himself is the stone he serves. His worship happens in the heart.
It is like keeping a photo of someone you love. The photo is precious. But the love is really for the person. Guru Arjan points past every object to the One it stands for. He does the same in another song about the sacred thread.
What outer object of devotion might point to a living reality within?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI