ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਸੇਵੇ ਸੁ ਲਾਲਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
satgur sayvay so laalaa ho-ay.
One who serves the True Guru is the Lord's slave.
ਊਤਮ ਜਾਤੀ ਊਤਮੁ ਸੋਇ ॥
ootam jaatee ootam so-ay.
His social status is exalted, and his reputation is exalted.
ਗੁਰ ਪਉੜੀ ਸਭ ਦੂ ਊਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
gur pa-orhee sabh doo oochaa ho-ay.
Climbing the Guru's Ladder, he becomes the most exalted of all.
ਨਾਨਕ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਡਾਈ ਹੋਇ ॥੪॥੭॥੪੬॥
naanak naam vadaa-ee ho-ay. ||4||7||46||
O Nanak, through the Naam, the Name of the Lord, greatness is obtained. ||4||7||46||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Whoever serves the true Guru is the One's servant; his standing is high and his good name is high.
Climbing the Guru's ladder, he rises above all.
Says Nanak: through the Name comes true greatness.
Lower yourself to serve, and you rise higher than any rank could take you.
The reversal completes: the one who lowered himself to serve is now "the most exalted of all." Having set aside worldly status (Pauri 0), he climbs "the Guru's Ladder" to a height rank could never reach. True greatness comes "through the Naam" — not from above you in the hierarchy, but from within.
A Question to Sit With
Have you seen someone become "bigger" precisely by making themselves humble?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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