ਮੈ ਅੰਧੁਲੇ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੀ ਜੋਤਿ ॥
mai anDhulay naavai kee jot.
I am blind; I seek the Light of the Name.
ਨਾਮ ਅਧਾਰਿ ਚਲਾ ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਭੈ ਭੇਤਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
naam aDhaar chalaa gur kai bhai bhayt. ||1|| rahaa-o.
I take the Support of the Naam, the Name of the Lord. I walk on the path of mystery of the Guru's Fear. ||1||Pause||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I am blind, and I look to the Light of the Name.
Leaning on the Naam, I walk on in awe of the Guru, along the Guru's mysterious path.
You don't need to see the whole path — just keep holding the Light and stepping.
When you can't see the way, the Naam is your light and your support.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the whole shabad. Andhulaa means blind, not yet able to see. Jot is light. Adhaar means support, something to lean on, like a handrail in the dark. Bhai is often translated as fear; here it is awe, the deep, humble wonder you feel before something great. That awe steadies each step along a path you cannot fully see.
A Question to Sit With
When you can't see what's ahead, what do you reach for to steady yourself?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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