ਤਾ ਕਉ ਕਰਹੁ ਸਗਲ ਨਮਸਕਾਰੁ ॥
taa ka-o karahu sagal namaskaar.
All bow down in humble respect to those
ਜਾ ਕੈ ਮਨਿ ਪੂਰਨੁ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰੁ ॥
jaa kai man pooran nirankaar.
whose minds are filled with the Formless Lord.
ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਮੋਹਿ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਦੇਵਾ ॥
kar kirpaa mohi thaakur dayvaa.
Show mercy unto me, O my Divine Lord and Master.
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਉਧਰੈ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਸੇਵਾ ॥੪॥੨॥
naanak uDhrai jan kee sayvaa. ||4||2||
May Nanak be saved, by serving these humble beings. ||4||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Everyone bows in respect to those whose minds are filled with the Formless One — the One with no shape, who is everywhere.
Be kind to me, my Lord and Master.
Nanak says: may I be lifted up by serving these humble people.
Deep respect is drawn out by what fills a person's heart, not by their rank.
Respect flows naturally to those whose minds are filled with the Formless One, and serving them lifts you up.
"Nirankaar" is the Formless — the shapeless oneness. "Namaskaar" (bowing) is respect drawn out by an inner fullness, not by rank. The closing "jan kee sayvaa" — being uplifted through serving the humble and holy — puts service above status.
A Question to Sit With
Who is someone you look up to not because they are powerful, but because of who they are inside?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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