Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without the Name, how would I even live, O mother? Day and night I hold it close and rest in Your shelter. Tuned to the Name, Nanak says, a person comes into real honor.
The shabad ends with a tender cry: without the Name, how could I live?
Naam binaa ki-o jeevaa maa-ay — without the Name, how can I live, O mother? It sounds like someone calling out to their mother for comfort. An-din japat raha-o tayree sarnaa-ay — day and night I keep repeating it, resting in Your shelter. Sarnaa-ay means shelter, a safe place.
Naanak naam ratay pat paa-ay — tuned to the Name, says Nanak, a person finds honor. Ratay is the word for cloth soaked deep in dye. Think of a shirt dyed so fully that the color never washes out.
The shabad ends where it began, with the Name. But the tone has changed. It started as a warning. It ends as a warm, loving place of safety.
What is something you hold close every day that helps you feel safe and steady?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI