Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Worship of the pure, first One comes by worshipping the True Guru, O brothers and sisters.
Brahma stands at the door studying the Vedas, and still cannot see the Unseen One.
Worship of the pure One comes through the Guru, and study alone cannot see the Unseen.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad.
Aartee is a worship song sung while waving a tray of lamps. Kabir says the true aartee of the pure One comes through the satgur, the true Teacher, who turns your heart toward the One.
Then comes a surprising picture. Brahma, the maker-god of old Hindu stories, stands at the door reading the Vedas, the ancient holy books. Even so, alakh na lakhi-aa jaa-ee — the Unseen cannot be seen.
It is like reading every book about swimming. That helps. But you learn to swim in the water. Study points the way. Meeting the One is what arrives.
What is something you understand with your heart that is hard to explain with words?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI