Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O my mind, hold to the One Name. That is the one thing that will truly be of use to your deepest self.
Of everything you could hold on to, only one thing truly helps the deepest part of you.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line at the center of the shabad. Bhaj man mayray ayko naam — remember, O my mind, the One Name. Jee-a tayray kai aavai kaam — it alone will be of use to your soul.
The verse talks gently to its own mind: man mayray, "my mind." It is like saying to yourself, "Come on, you know what matters." Then it uses a very practical word, kaam, which here means use or benefit.
Think of packing a backpack for a long hike. You could fill it with lots of shiny things. But only water will really keep you going. Of all the things we could carry, the Name is the one that actually serves the deepest self.
What is the one thing you would want to hold onto no matter what else you lost?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI