Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The True Guru, the First Being, holds no hate and wants no revenge. The Guru is the One, the Great Giver.
I get things wrong; You are the One who forgives me.
Someone who has done wrong and finds shelter nowhere at all — if they come to Your shelter, they become clean and pure.
The Guru holds no grudge against anyone, and whoever comes for shelter is made clean.
Nirvair purakh means the Being who has no enmity, no wish to hurt anyone. Nirvair is also one of the words in the Mool Mantar, the opening lines of the Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru is also daatay, the Giver, always giving.
Then Guru Arjan speaks honestly. Ham apraadhee tumh bakhsaatay — we get things wrong, and You forgive. Maybe someone feels they have nowhere left to turn. If they come to the One's saran, the One's shelter, they become clean and new again.
Think of a friend you hurt by mistake. You go to say sorry, expecting a frown. Instead they smile and say, "Come here." You didn't earn that. You just came, with empty hands. That is how grace works. No mistake shuts that door.
How does it feel to be forgiven after you have made a mistake?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI