Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Just seeing such a one clearly, my understanding grew whole and complete. The dust of their footsteps is worth more to me than bathing at every sacred river there is.
This one says that the company of a wise, humble person is worth more than every famous place of pilgrimage.
This is the Rahao line. Rahao means "pause." It is the center of the shabad.
Darsan daykh bha-ee mat pooree — "seeing them, my understanding became complete." Darsan means a blessed sight of someone holy. Pooree means whole.
Athsath majan charnah Dhooree — "bathing at the sixty-eight holy places is in the dust of their feet." Pilgrims traveled far to bathe at sixty-eight sacred river-sites, called tirath. Here the dust from a humble person's footsteps is worth more.
Think of a famous stadium and a patient coach at the local park. The coach at the park may teach you more than the big name ever could.
This is Guru Nanak's way of leveling things. Humble company and inner understanding are raised above outward religious prestige. It is not a criticism of Hindu pilgrimage, which many people make with deep love. It asks a fair question of any faith: has a practice drifted away from the love it was meant to carry?
What has taught you more — a place you visited, or a person you were near?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI