Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Master of all, without You there is no other place at all.
Be merciful, Highest One, so I can say Your Name. Serving the teaching, I'm fastened to Your feet; by great luck I've fallen in love with You. In the company of the good my heart-lotus opens, and I've let go of scheming and pride in my own cleverness.
This verse says: there is no other place to go but You, and in good company the heart opens like a flower.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Govind tujh bin avar na thaa-o — Master of the world, without You there is no other place. Then a humble ask: be kind, so that I can even say Your Name.
Next the verse shows the heart coming alive. Serving the True Guru, the speaker holds on to the One's charnee, feet. That means staying close with humble love. Vadai bhaag liv laagee — by great good luck, love took hold.
Kaval pargaas bha-ay saaDhsangay — the heart-lotus opens in the SaaDh Sangat, the company of good and holy people. Think of a shy kid who opens up at a warm family dinner. Last, the speaker lets go of durmat, bad thinking, and pride in being clever. Love opens what scheming kept shut.
What in you stays closed under 'being clever' that might open in the right, warm company?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI