Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Ravi Daas did the lowliest, hardest work every day. He turned his heart from the glitter to the One.
He became beloved among good people, blessed with the sight of what he loved.
Ravi Daas did work the world looked down on, and the One made him beloved.
Guru Arjan names Ravi Daas, the cobbler, and says plainly what his daily work was. Ravidaas dhuvantaa dhor neet — Ravi Daas carried dead cattle every day, handling them for leather. It was hard work that many people called unclean. Yet tin ti-aagee maa-i-aa — he let go of Maya, the glitter of the world.
He turned to the One. Pargat ho-aa saaDhsang — he became honored in the company of the holy. And he was blessed to see the One he loved.
The Guru names the lowliest work on purpose, so no one can miss the point. How the world ranks your work or your birth makes no difference to how precious you are. Think of a hospital. The cleaner who keeps it safe matters as much as anyone there. No honest work is beneath dignity. A heart turned toward the One is beloved and blessed.
Why does the Guru deliberately name the humblest, hardest jobs when honoring these saints?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI