Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Those whom the guide has colored with love become filled with joy — glowing, delighted, at ease. The guide, it turns out, has been gentle and kind to them all along.
Those colored with love by the Guru glow with joy, and that joy was a gift all along.
Gur rangay say bha-ay nihaal — those colored by the Guru become nihaal. Nihaal means glowing with joy, delighted, completely happy.
Kaho naanak gur bha-ay hai da-i-aal — says Nanak, the Guru has become da-i-aal to them. Da-i-aal means kind and merciful.
So the last line gives all the credit to the Guru's kindness. That kindness was there the whole time. The coloring is grace, given freely. It is not a paycheck you earn. Think of a grandparent's hug. You don't work for it. You just come close enough to receive it.
When has a joy in your life turned out to be a gift you didn't have to earn?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI