Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Whoever comes to your shelter, you protect through your kindness.
Nanak has come into your sanctuary — please, guard his honor.
The shabad ends by universalizing the promise: whoever comes is protected. Not the deserving few, not the perfect — whoever comes. This is the open door that appears all through the tradition: the qualification for sanctuary is simply showing up. "Protect my honor" (paij rakho) is a recurring prayer, and it means something tender — not "make me look good," but "don't let me be ashamed for having trusted you." The one who has surrendered asks only that the trust not be betrayed. And the whole raag keeps answering: it won't be.
What makes it hard to ask for help? What would it be like to trust that the door is really open?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI