Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Those who bow to the feet of the good — the very feet of the good — their lives become rich, and they belong to the One.
Make me the servant of the servant of the servants of the One; bless me with your kindness.
This part says that wanting to serve others is not making yourself small. It is a relief.
Guru Ram Das repeats himself: saaDhoo charan saaDh pag sayvay — they serve the feet of the good, the feet of the good. The repeating is tenderness. It is the sound of a heart staying close to what it loves.
Then he asks to be daas daas daasan ko, the servant of the servants of the servants. That is asking for the lowest place. But it is not wiping himself out. Think of a race where everyone shoves to be first and no one is happy. Stepping out of it feels like a deep breath. The one who only wants to help those who serve the One is no longer competing with anyone.
And that is exactly where life grows rich. Safli-o janam — a life that bears fruit. It happens right there, at the bottom, beneath all the rivalry.
Why might the happiest place be near the bottom, helping, rather than fighting your way to the top?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI