Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Someone may have no good karma stored up, no religious duties kept, no holy prayer beads.
Through the Light of the One, that person is given wisdom. The True Guru is our protector.
Wisdom is a gift from the Light, and the Guru keeps watch over you.
jaa kai karam naahee Dharam naahee naahee such maalaa — maybe a person has no good karma, the good stored up from past deeds. Maybe they don't keep Dharam, religious duties, or carry a maalaa, a string of prayer beads. And still, siv jot kannahu buDh paa-ee — the Light of the One gives them wisdom. satguroo rakhvaalaa — the true Guru is their protector.
Think of a birthday present. You don't pay for it. Someone who loves you just hands it over. Wisdom from the Light is like that.
The verse does not make fun of people who use prayer beads or keep vows. It simply says the gift does not depend on them. Grace is always here, waiting to be received.
Can you think of something important you received that you did not have to earn?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI