Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One Himself gives the gift, calling and inviting us to come to Him. He Himself settles His own Name into our minds. Nanak says: the one who receives the greatness of the Name sings the One's praises, night and day, always.
The song ends by showing who started it all. The One sent the invitation first. Our part is to say yes.
Aapay dayvai sad bulaa-ay — the One Himself gives, and calls, and invites us in. Look back at the two brides of the last two verses. We might think the difference was all their own doing. One chose to remember and one chose to forget. But this last verse gently shows something deeper. The bride who remembered did so because He called her. The One does not sit waiting to see who shows up. He sends the invitation. He reaches first. The first verse said He sets us to serving. Another shabad says He Himself calls us into His palace. Even our turning toward Him is an answer to His call.
Then comes the most generous line. Aapnaa naa-o man vasaa-ay — He Himself settles His own Name in our minds. The whole song asked us to keep the Name in our hearts. Now we learn that the One Himself puts it there. We do not even make our own remembering. He plants His Name in us.
Two good things are woven together here. The first is humility. The gift, the call, even the remembering — none of it is our achievement. The second is comfort. The One is doing everything to bring us home. Think of a birthday invitation already in your hand, with your name written on it. You do not have to earn a spot. You only have to come. Our part is to receive, and not turn away from the call.
Naanak naam milai vadi-aa-ee an-din sadaa gun gaavani-aa — Nanak says, the one who receives the greatness of the Name sings the One's praises, day and night, always. The praise is not forced out as a chore. It pours out by itself, like a song from a happy heart that has been called, given the Name, and has met its Beloved.
So the whole song comes together: the cave within, the beautiful inner room, the toll-collector, the two brides. It is all grace and invitation. The Beloved has already called your name and is offering His Name for your heart. This life, the "parents' home," is simply the time to answer. Receive the call, keep the Name, and let your life become the happy song of someone invited home who said yes.
If the One has already "called your name" and is reaching for you first, what would it look like to simply stop turning away and answer?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI