ਪਤਿਤ ਪਾਵਨੁ ਨਾਮੁ ਹਰੀ ॥
patit paavan naam haree.
The Name of the Lord is the Purifier of sinners.
ਕੋਟਿ ਭਗਤ ਉਧਾਰੁ ਕਰੀ ॥
kot bhagat uDhaar karee.
It saves millions of devotees.
ਹਰਿ ਦਾਸ ਦਾਸਾ ਦੀਨੁ ਸਰਨ ॥
har daas daasaa deen saran.
I am meek; I seek the Sanctuary of the slaves of the Lord's slaves.
ਨਾਨਕ ਮਾਥਾ ਸੰਤ ਚਰਨ ॥੪॥੨॥
naanak maathaa sant charan. ||4||2||
Nanak lays his forehead on the feet of the Saints. ||4||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The Name makes clean whatever felt stained; it lifts up millions who love.
I'm small, so I sit at the feet of those who serve the One — Nanak rests his forehead there.
The Name that lifts millions is found by sitting humbly among those who love it.
The closing turns from litany to gratitude: paavan (purifier), lifting koti (millions). "Slave of the Lord's slaves" is rendered as sitting humbly among those who serve — glad company, not self-abasement. The forehead-at-the-feet gesture is love.
A Question to Sit With
What good thing is big enough to help millions of people at once?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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