Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The teaching is the boat that carries me across the roughest waters.
Living by it, the fear of death loosens; its word is a light in the dark, and in its company all are carried safely over.
Guru Arjan says the Guru is a boat big enough to carry everyone across.
Gur bohith taaray bhav paar — the Guru is a bohith, a ship, that carries us across the bhav, the rough sea of life. Gur sayvaa jam tay chhutkaar — serving the Guru frees us from jam, the messenger of death. That means the fear of death loosens its grip.
AnDhkaar meh gur mantar ujaaraa — in the dark, the Guru's word shines. A mantar is a word you hold close. Think of a flashlight on a dark camping trail. Then comes gur kai sang sagal nistaaraa — with the Guru, all are carried across. No one is left behind on the shore.
What has helped you cross through a hard or frightening time?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI