Sometimes the Wisest Thing Is to Ask for Help

ਛੰਤ ॥

chhant.

Chhant:

ਮਿਲਉ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਮੋਹਿ ਉਧਾਰਿ ਲੇਹੁ ॥

mila-o santan kai sang mohi uDhaar layho.

Let me join the Society of the Saints - save me, Lord!

ਬਿਨਉ ਕਰਉ ਕਰ ਜੋੜਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੇਹੁ ॥

bin-o kara-o kar jorh har har naam dayh.

With my palms pressed together, I offer my prayer: give me Your Name, O Lord, Har, Har.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਮਾਗਉ ਚਰਣ ਲਾਗਉ ਮਾਨੁ ਤਿਆਗਉ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਦਇਆ ॥

har naam maaga-o charan laaga-o maan ti-aaga-o tum^H da-i-aa.

I beg for the Lord's Name, and fall at His feet; I renounce my self-conceit, by Your kindness.

ਕਤਹੂੰ ਨ ਧਾਵਉ ਸਰਣਿ ਪਾਵਉ ਕਰੁਣਾ ਮੈ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕਰਿ ਮਇਆ ॥

katahoo^N na Dhaava-o saran paava-o karunaa mai parabh kar ma-i-aa.

I shall not wander anywhere else, but take to Your Sanctuary. O God, embodiment of mercy, have mercy on me.

ਸਮਰਥ ਅਗਥ ਅਪਾਰ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਬਿਨਉ ਏਹੁ ॥

samrath agath apaar nirmal sunhu su-aamee bin-o ayhu.

O all-powerful, indescribable, infinite and immaculate Lord Master, listen to this, my prayer.

ਕਰ ਜੋੜਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਨੁ ਮਾਗੈ ਜਨਮ ਮਰਣ ਨਿਵਾਰਿ ਲੇਹੁ ॥੧॥

kar jorh naanak daan maagai janam maran nivaar layho. ||1||

With palms pressed together, Nanak begs for this blessing: O Lord, let my cycle of birth and death come to an end. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Let me be among good people — and please, keep me safe.

With my hands folded, I ask for just one thing: help me hold what matters, and let me set my pride down.

I won't run anywhere else. I come to Your shelter. Kind One, please be kind to me.

Mighty, endless, pure Master, please hear my prayer: end my round of being born and dying again.

Sometimes the wisest thing is simply to ask for help — hands folded, no pretending.

The deeper layer

This one says sometimes the wisest thing is simply to ask for help.

The song begins as a folded-hands prayer. Mila-o santan kai sang — let me be with the good and holy people. Save me. Give me Your Name. There's no cleverness, just asking. Kar jorh means with palms pressed together. It is the posture of someone who knows they need help and isn't ashamed to ask.

Next to the Name, one more thing is asked: maan ti-aaga-o — to set down pride. Pride is heavy, and it gets in the way.

Think of being stuck on a hard math problem. Raising your hand to say "I need help" can feel hard. But it is often the smartest move in the room. Sometimes all of wisdom is knowing what to ask for, and asking simply.

A Question to Sit With

Is it hard to ask for help? What makes it easier to just ask simply?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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