Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sain, a humble barber and village servant, became honored in every household.
It was because the One lived in his heart, and he was counted among the truly devoted.
Sain was a humble barber, and he was honored in every home because the One lived in his heart.
Sain naa-ee butkaaree-aa — Sain, the barber, who ran errands for the whole village. People gave him the small, tiring jobs. Yet oh ghar ghar suni-aa — he became known in every house. Why? Hirday vasi-aa paarbarahm — the Supreme One lived in his heart. So he was counted among the devoted.
Now look at the whole group Guru Arjan has named. A cloth-printer, a weaver, a cobbler, a barber. Each was someone society pushed to the bottom. Each is named with love in sacred scripture. Think of a choir where the quiet kids at the back turn out to have the loveliest voices.
Every one of them was lifted up by the One living in their heart. Greatness in the One's eyes has nothing to do with rank. It has everything to do with the heart.
What is the Guru showing by honoring a printer, weaver, cobbler, and barber all together?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI