Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Lord who looks after the world, Guru and Lord of all.
Kind One, I take shelter at Your feet. Carry me across the frightening ocean of the world.
This is a simple, whole-hearted prayer: please carry me across.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. It names the One as gopaal, the One who looks after the world. The One cares for all of it, not just a favored few.
Charan saran — I take shelter at Your feet. That means leaning on the One completely. Taar jag bhav sinDh — carry me across the scary ocean of the world.
Notice what is asked for. Not a map. Not a clever trick. Just to be carried. Think of a small child at a busy crossing who reaches up and says, "Carry me." They are not asking for a lesson about traffic. They just want to be held.
The opening verse listed the One's great names. Now that same great One is asked, very closely, to hold one small, frightened person and bring them safely over.
When the water feels rough, can you ask simply to be carried, rather than to figure it all out?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI