Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You are the shelter of those with no shelter, kindness itself — my friend, my companion, my father and my mother. Holding Your presence close in the heart, even those who felt they were sinking are carried safely across.
Guru Arjan ends by calling the One every kind of close friend and family at once, the One who carries us safely across.
Deenaa naath anaath — the protector of those with no protector. Karunaa mai — made of kindness itself. Then comes a tender list: saajan meet pitaa mahatree-aa — friend, companion, father and mother. The One is every close relation at once.
Charan kaval hirdai geh — hold the One's lotus feet in your heart. That means keeping the One's presence close inside. Then bhai saagar is crossed. The bhai saagar is the frightening ocean of the world.
Here the fear turns into safe passage. Think of a small child asleep in the back seat on a long night drive. The road is dark, but they are carried home safely the whole way.
Who feels like a friend, a helper, and a parent to you all at the same time?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI