Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Real service is learned through the teacher. How rare the person, turned toward the teaching, who truly recognizes the Name. The Great Giver lives forever. And I keep love for the Name treasured in my heart.
This one says that real service is learned from the Guru, and the Giver lives forever.
Gur tay saachee sayvaa ho-ay — through the Guru, true service happens. Sayvaa means service, helping with love. Service becomes true when the Guru shows the way. Think of learning to cook from a grandparent. You learn the recipe, and you also learn the care that goes into it.
Gurmukh naam pachhaanai ko-ay — rare is the gurmukh who truly recognizes the Name. A gurmukh is someone turned toward the Guru.
Then comes an anchor Guru Amar Das returns to often: jeevai daataa dayvanhaar — the Giver, the Great Giver, lives forever. The shabad closes with Nanak keeping love for the Name treasured in his heart.
What is one way you could serve someone without expecting anything back?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI