ਹਮ ਅਪਰਾਧ ਪਾਪ ਬਹੁ ਕੀਨੇ ਕਰਿ ਦੁਸਟੀ ਚੋਰ ਚੁਰਾਇਆ ॥
ham apraaDh paap baho keenay kar dustee chor churaa-i-aa.
I am a sinner - I have committed so many sins; I am a villainous, thieving thief.
ਅਬ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਰਣਾਗਤਿ ਆਏ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਖਹੁ ਲਾਜ ਹਰਿ ਭਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੧੧॥੨੫॥੬੩॥
ab naanak sarnaagat aa-ay har raakho laaj har bhaa-i-aa. ||4||11||25||63||
Now, Nanak has come to the Lord's Sanctuary; preserve my honor, Lord, as it pleases Your Will. ||4||11||25||63||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I am a wrongdoer; I have done so much wrong; I have been a thief of the worst kind. But now I have come to your shelter -- protect my honor, as your will pleases.
Name your faults honestly, then rest your honor in the One's will.
The close: brutally honest confession (cf. the confession shabads) followed by refuge and surrender to the One's Will. The pattern of Mehl 4: name the fault fully, then throw yourself entirely on grace. Honesty plus refuge, with no bargaining.
A Question to Sit With
Is it freeing to admit the worst about yourself and still ask for help?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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