Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
Until you see something, you do not long for it. And whatever you can see will pass away.
Whoever chants the Naam and sings its praise is the true yogi, free of all wanting.
Everything the eyes can see passes away; the one who holds the Naam is free.
Bin daykhay upjai nahee aasaa: without seeing, no longing rises. Jo deesai so ho-ay binaasaa: whatever is seen will pass. Wanting follows the eyes, and what the eyes see does not last. Baran sahit jo jaapai naam / so jogee kayval nihkaam: whoever chants the Naam, describing and praising the One, is the true yogi, nihkaam, free of craving. Baran means describing, singing the One's qualities. The same word can also mean varna, the caste rank a society used to divide people, and some readers hear Ravi Daas saying the Naam belongs to every rank alike. Ravi Daas was himself born into a community society treated as low, and his songs keep saying that the highest freedom is open to anyone.
Have you ever seen someone treated as "less" because of where they came from? What did you make of it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI