Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You are kind and merciful, always the Giver of peace. You Yourself unite us with You, and it's only by facing the light (as a **gurmukh**) that anyone comes to know You. You Yourself hand out the gift and the greatness of the Name — and those dyed in the Name find peace.
This one is a thank-you spoken straight to the One: You do it all.
The first words set the tone: toon da-i-aal — You are merciful and kind. The One is not a strict judge but a kind Giver. Sadaa sukh-daata — always the Giver of peace. Always. Not only sometimes, not only when you've earned it. The giving never stops.
Then one phrase keeps coming back: toon aapay, You Yourself. Toon aapay mayleh — You Yourself unite us. Toon aapay dayveh naam vadaa-ee — You Yourself give the Name and its greatness. We don't join ourselves to the One by trying hard; He does the joining. We don't earn the Name like pay for a job; He gives it as a present. Again and again the verse says it is all Your doing. This is gurprasad, grace, a gift you didn't earn, said as plainly as it can be. So the honest answer is simply "thank you."
In the middle sits a quiet line: gurmukh jaataa — You are known by the gurmukh, the one who faces the light. The kind, peace-giving One is there for everyone. But you recognize Him when you turn toward Him. The sun shines on everyone, but only the one who looks up sees it. So the verse holds two things together. The One keeps giving peace to all. We receive it by turning toward Him. And even the turning, even the receiving, is toon aapay, Your own gift. From every side, grace. Those naam ratay, dyed in the Name, find peace.
If kindness and peace are constantly being "given" all around you, what would it mean to simply turn and face it, instead of striving to earn it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI