Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Keep me safe under Your care — wrap me in Your kindness. I am asking, plainly.
I do not know the right way to serve You yet. My hands feel empty and I make plenty of mistakes. But I am here, and I am turning to You.
The first prayer is a simple one: keep me safe.
Raakho apnee saran — keep me in Your shelter. Saran means shelter, a safe place. Guru Arjan asks for kindness and says he does not know how to serve. The words he uses about himself are neech moorkhaaray, low and foolish.
The heart of it is empty hands and an honest start. It is humility before grace, not beating oneself up. Think of a new student in music class saying, "I cannot play yet, but I want to learn."
When you do not know how to do something yet, who do you go to for help?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI