Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The one who truly teaches has lifted a heavy sorrow off my shoulders. And the gift given back is the best kind: the chance to serve, to be useful, to belong to something good.
The best gift of being helped is the chance to help.
This line is the rahaa-o, the "pause," the center of the shabad. Kaatay kasat pooray gurdayv — the perfect Guru has cut away my sorrow. Then comes the gift. Sayvak ka-o deenee apunee sayv — the Guru gives the sayvak, the servant, the gift of service itself.
That is a surprising turn. The prize for being helped is being allowed to help. Think of a child who was new at school and was shown around. Later, that child is asked to show the next new student around, and it feels like an honor.
Service here is not a chore. It is a way of belonging, a sign that you have been drawn inside.
What is something you were once given that turned out to be a chance to give?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI