Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The teacher planted one seed firmly in me: the Name, held in the heart. Now that is what fills me -- just this, and nothing needs to crowd it out.
One thing held steadily in the heart can settle a whole restless life.
This is the closing verse. Kaho naanak gur mantar drirh-aa-i-aa — says Nanak, the gur mantar, the Guru's word, has been planted firmly in me. Kayval naam rid maahi samaa-i-aa — the Name alone now lives in my heart.
The earlier verses spoke about the danger of forgetting. This one turns to the cure: one thing, held steadily. Think of a boat's anchor. One heavy thing holds the whole boat still in the waves. Naam here is the living presence of the One, kept in the mind.
Is there one simple thing you could carry with you each day to keep yourself steady?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI