Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Where should I sit to sing Your praises? Which of Your endless praises should I sing?
You cannot be seen or known. You are beyond reach and never born. You are the Master of all masters.
Whom could I look at and say You are like them? All of us are beggars, and You are the Giver.
Nanak says: I have no devotion, yet I look to Your door. Give me Your one Naam, so I can keep it in my heart.
Everyone stands before the One with empty hands, and the One is the Giver.
Bais suthaan: where should I even sit to sing the boundless One? The One is alakh, unseen, agam, beyond reach, and ajonee, never born. Sabh jaachak too daataaraa: all are beggars, You are the Giver. The king and the street sweeper stand in the same line.
Bhagatiheen naanak: Nanak, saying he has no devotion, still waits at the Door, asking for one thing only, the Naam to hold in the heart. Think of a child who empties out a piggy bank to buy a gift, then finds the shopkeeper simply hands it over.
If you could ask for just one thing to keep forever, what would it be?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI