Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The devotees of the Supreme One hold no hate and seek no revenge.
Whoever bows at their feet is carried across, set free.
The One who was there from the very beginning has let the one who tears others down lose their way.
Nanak says: the record of what we have done cannot be erased.
Good people hold no grudge, and coming near them with respect sets you free.
This is the turn to hope. "paarbarahm kay bhagat nirvair" — the devotees of the Supreme One are nirvair. That means without hatred. This word is the heart of the shabad. The good do not send hatred back, even to those who wronged them.
"so nistarai jo poojai pair" — whoever honors them is set free. Word for word, it says "worships their feet." Touching feet is an old way of showing deep respect, like bowing to a teacher. Come near good people with respect, and their steadiness rubs off on you.
The last line speaks of kirat, the mark our past actions leave behind. Nanak says it cannot just be rubbed out. The verse also says the Creator has left the scornful person confused. But the whole shabad points one way: set the heavy load down, and come close to the good.
Who is someone whose calm and kindness rubs off on you when you are near them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI