Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You are riches for those who have little, and the Guru for those who have no Guru.
You are honor for anyone the world has pushed aside, and strength for the weak. I could not see, and I held on to the Guru, a jewel.
No showy ritual finds You; You are known by taking the Guru's teaching to heart.
Without the Naam there is no shelter at Your door; what is false keeps coming and going.
The One stands with the people the world forgets.
Nidhni-aa dhan: You are the wealth of those who have nothing. Niguri-aa gur: You are the guide of those with no guide. Nimaani-aa too maan: You are the honor of those who get no respect. Nitaani-aa too taan: You are the strength of the weak. Think of the kid who always sits alone at lunch. In this verse, the One sits down next to that kid first.
Guru Nanak also says, "I could not see, and I held on to the Guru, a jewel." The Guru is the true Teacher who shows the way.
Then he gently sets aside ritual done without heart. Hom (fire offerings) and jap (repeating words) do not bring the One close on their own. The One is known by taking the Guru's teaching to heart. This speaks to empty habits in every tradition, not to any one faith. Without the Naam, the Name, there is no lasting shelter. What is false keeps coming and going.
Who around you might feel overlooked, and how could you honor them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI