Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One's saints are its dearest lovers; sing of the One together with them.
Nanak: in the company of the good you find peace in this world, and your face shines bright in the next.
This part finally names the true Friend: the One, found in good company.
After crossing off family, wealth and power, Guru Arjan points to har kay sant, the saints of the One. They are pari-a pareetam, the One's dearest lovers. Taa kai har har gaa-ee-ai — sing of the One with them. In that singing, the true Friend is found.
This is the friend who does get through every doorway. The Name held in the heart, and the good company that keeps it alive. So the answer to "who is our friend?" is the one thing that goes all the way. Eehaa sukh aagai mukh oojal — peace here, and a shining face in the next world.
Think of packing for a long trip where you can take only one bag. Everything else is left at the door. This alone is carried through. The shabad's long crossing-off ends with the one companion who never leaves.
Of everything in your life, what's the one thing that would still be with you no matter what? Is that where your heart mostly rests?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI