Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The dust of the saints' feet, the Sangat of holy people, and singing the praises of the One carry me across to the other shore.
What can poor, frightened death do to those who turn toward the Guru? The One lives in their hearts.
Humility, the Sangat, and singing the One's praises carry you across life's rough water.
Santaa kee rayn: the dust of the saints' feet. It is a picture of being humble around holy people. SaaDh jan sangat: the Sangat — people gathered together to remember the One. Har keerat: singing the One's praises. Together they tar taaree, carry us across, like a boat over rough water.
Then the verse asks: kahaa karai bapuraa jam, what can the poor messenger of death do? In the old stories, jam is the one who comes at the end of life. The verse pictures him as helpless and afraid. It means the fear of death loses its power. Gurmukh ridai muraaree: the One lives in the heart of the one who turns toward the Guru. Think of a child in a thunderstorm, curled up next to a parent. The thunder is still loud, but it is not scary anymore.
How do the people you spend time with change the way you feel and act?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI