Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
My Master, be kind, and keep me safe.
Out of millions, barely one truly belongs to You; the rest are just doing business.
This is a prayer for the One's care, and an honest mirror: much devotion is really a kind of business deal.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. It begins with a humble ask: mayray thaakur rakh layvhu, my Master, please keep me safe.
Then comes the surprising part. Kot maDhay ko virlaa sayvak — out of millions, hardly anyone is a true servant. Hor saglay bi-uhaaree — all the others are traders. A trader here is someone who prays like a shopper: "I did this good thing, so now I should get that reward."
Think of a friend who is nice to you only when they want something. It feels like a deal, not a friendship. The rare servant is like a true friend. They simply belong, with no scorecard.
The speaker asks for grace first. So he counts himself among those who need help too. The mirror is held up for all of us.
Is there a way you 'keep accounts' with life or the divine, expecting returns for your good behavior?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI