Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Become the servant of the Saints, and learn this way of life.
Of all virtues, the most sublime is to see your Beloved near at hand.
The best goodness of all is to see that the Beloved is near.
The shabad starts with a way of life: santaa kee ho-ay daasree — become the servant of the Saints, and learn from them. Then it names the highest virtue. Bhartaa door na pikh — do not see your Beloved as far away. Here the soul is a bride, and the One is her Husband, her Beloved.
All the other good qualities serve this one way of seeing. The Beloved is here, not far. Think of feeling a parent's hand on your shoulder in a crowd. You stop feeling alone. Another shabad in Raag Aasaa says the same.
What would change if you truly felt what you love was near, not far?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI