ਸੁਖੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ਚਰਣ ਸੰਤ ਧੋਇ ਪੀਵਨਾ ॥੮॥੩॥੬॥
sukh naanak santan kee sayvaa charan sant Dho-ay peevnaa. ||8||3||6||
O Nanak, service to the Saints beings peace; I drink in the wash water of the feet of the Saints. ||8||3||6||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Nanak says: serving the holy people brings a deep peace,
and I gladly take the humblest place among them.
Peace grows in serving, not in standing above.
Deep peace comes from serving the Guru's people and taking the humblest place among them.
Santan kee sayvaa means serving the saints, the good and loving people. The verse then uses a very old picture of humility: drinking the water that washed their feet. It means being glad to take the lowest place, without needing to be above anyone.
Think of the kid who stays after the party to help clean up, without being asked. There is a quiet peace in that. Nanak says serving like this brings sukh, deep peace.
A Question to Sit With
How does helping someone quietly make you feel?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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