Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
What praise, what greatness should I attribute to You?
Nanak is a sacrifice to You, each and every moment.
When grace is this big, words run out, and all Guru Arjan can do is give himself.
Look at everything grace has done in this shabad. It saved people with nothing good to show. It set whole families free. It honored people the world ignored.
So Guru Arjan asks: kavan upmaa day-o kavan vadaa-ee — what praise, what greatness could I give You? No words are big enough.
Think of someone who saves your life. "Thank you" feels far too small. You want to give them your whole heart.
That is the answer here. Not a description, but a life handed over. Naanak khin khin vaaray — Nanak gives himself to You, every moment.
When has a kindness been so great that 'thank you' felt too small?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI