Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One made air, water, fire — made Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva — the whole of creation.
All of them are beggars; You alone are the Great Giver, giving by Your own reckoning.
Even the highest gods are asking with open hands.
After the quiet heights, the verse comes back down to show we all stand on one level. pavan paanee agan tin kee-aa — the One made air, water and fire. The One also made Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the great gods of Hindu tradition, and the whole creation. Then: sarbay jaachik — all are beggars. There is only one Giver.
Guru Nanak keeps showing this. Nothing that was made, however great, is the source. Everything made stands with open hands. Think of a classroom where even the class president raises a hand to ask the teacher.
And the Giver gives apunai beechaar, by the Giver's own wisdom, which we don't get to check. If the gods stand in the line, we can hold our own hands open too, humbly.
If even the mightiest are receivers, what would it mean to hold your own hands open a little more humbly?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI