Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
How can anyone cross this world, this sea of poison?
The Guru is the boat that carries you across, safe to the far shore.
The Guru is the boat that carries you across.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line, the center of the whole shabad. At its heart, one question: how do I cross?
Ki-o taree-ai bikhi-aa sansaar — how can I cross this poisonous world-ocean? Bikhi-aa means poison. Here it is the pull of wanting, a heavy current that tugs you under. Every other verse in this shabad answers that question.
The answer is right here too: satgur bohith paavai paar. The Guru is the bohith, a ship that carries you to the far shore. Notice that you don't cross by being a strong swimmer. You cross because there is a boat, and you step into it.
When everything feels like too much, who or what is the boat that carries you back to steady ground?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI