Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
He has preserved my soul, my body, my youth, and my breath of life.
Says Nanak: I am a sacrifice to the Guru.
This one says everything you have is being kept safe, and the answer is thank you.
The Guru has kept safe jee-o, the soul, pind, the body, joban, youth, and paraan, the breath of life. Everything the singer has and is, held safe.
So Guru Arjan answers with his whole self. Gur ka-o kurbaan — I give myself to the Guru. That is love's oldest way of saying "thank you" with everything.
Think of a coach who stays with you all season, through every fall and every win. At the end, a quick "thanks" feels too small. You want to give back all your effort and love. That is the feeling here: a total gift of care, answered with total thanks.
What in your life has been quietly preserved that you might thank for?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI