Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I call myself the servant of Your servants, O my King.
O Life of the whole world, there is no other way to meet You.
Gladly serve those who serve the One. That is the way to meet the Life of the whole world.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad, the line everything else circles around.
Here Guru Nanak asks for the humblest place there is: tayraa daasan daasaa — the servant of Your servants. He is not putting himself down. He is feeling the relief of belonging. Think of joining a team you love. You are happy just to carry the water bottles, because you are part of it.
Jagjeevan means Life of the Universe, the life inside everything. The line says there is no other way to reach that Life. It is not about being clever, or about ritual on its own. The way is simple, loving nearness. Empty hands and an open heart are enough.
What is something you are proud to be a part of, even in a small way?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI