Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I would wash the feet of anyone who walks on your path. I would gaze with my own eyes, full of love, at those kind, gentle people. I would hand over my whole mind to those dear friends — the ones who met the teacher and, through that meeting, found you.
This verse says: serve, admire and learn from the people who walk the One's path, because they lead you to the One.
It keeps pouring out love for the One's people, now in real, hands-on ways. Tis charan pakhaalee jo tayrai maarag chaalai means "I wash the feet of whoever walks on Your path." Charan are feet. Maarag is the path. Washing someone's feet is the humblest kind of service there is. The seeker offers it gladly to anyone walking toward the One. It's like the big kid who happily ties the little kids' shoes before a game: nothing is beneath you when you care.
Nain nihaalee tis purakh da-i-aalai means "with my eyes I gaze at those kind people." Nain are eyes. Nihaalee means to gaze with delight, to drink in the sight. Da-i-aal means kind. Just looking at people who walk the path is a joy. It is the same happy gaze we feel at the darshan, the sight, of the One. Their faces are worth looking at, because the One shines through them.
Then the high point. Man dayvaa tis apunay saajan means "I give my mind to those dear friends." Saajan are dear friends. Giving away your mind means handing over haumai, the proud self that wants to run everything. And who are these friends? Jin gur mil so parabh laadhay: "who met the Guru and found God." Laadhay means found.
Notice the chain. They met the Guru, and that meeting led them to the One. This teaching comes up again and again. The One isn't found by going it alone. The One is found through the Guru, and through the company of people who found the One that way. So the seeker's love (washing feet, gazing with joy, giving the mind) flows to these friends. Loving them and learning from them is the surest road to the One they carry. Respect for the Beloved's people is the path itself.
The seeker would gladly wash the feet of anyone walking the path. Is there someone whose goodness you admire so much you'd happily do something humble for them? What is it about them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI