Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I give my whole self, gladly, to my true teacher.
My teacher will never walk off and leave me, and will surely carry me across.
The true teacher never walks off and leaves you, and will surely carry you across.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line and the center of the shabad. It is a promise of trust. Satgur apnay ka-o balihaarai — I give myself to my True Guru. Balihaar means offering your whole self with love.
Two promises give the reasons. Chhod na jaa-ee — He will not leave me. Sarpar taarai — He will surely carry me across, like a boat across a river. This relationship sits at the center of the shabad. It is trust in a faithful guide who stays close, not fear of a far-off power.
The steadiness is the point. Sarpar means "for sure." It leaves no room for doubt. Think of a friend who promises to meet you after school, and always, always turns up.
Who in your life will "surely" be there — the kind of steady you can count on?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI