Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O One, Your Naam makes pure those who have fallen.
Because of what my past deeds, my karma, wrote for me, I sing Your praises.
The One's Naam makes even the fallen pure and new.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the centre of the shabad.
Patit paavan prabh tayro naa-o means "O One, Your Name makes the fallen pure." Patit is someone who has fallen or lost their way. Paavan means making pure. Naa-o is the Name, the Naam.
Think of a tangled necklace at the bottom of a drawer. It looks hopeless. Then patient hands work the knots loose, and it is whole again. The Naam does that for tangled hearts. No one is ever too far gone.
Poorab karam likhay gun gaa-o means "because of my past deeds, I sing Your praises." Karam, or karma, means our past actions and what grows from them. Many children know the word already. Here it points to something happy. The chance to sing is itself a blessing.
When has a fresh start made you feel like a new person?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI