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Sikhism·Raag Raamkalee·Shabad 108
Verse 3 of 4

Become the Dust of All

ਮਿਲਿ ਰਹੀਐ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸਾਧ ਜਨਾ ਮਿਲਿ ਹਰਿ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਸੁਨੀਐ ਰਾਮ ॥
mil rahee-ai parabh saaDh janaa mil har keertan sunee-ai raam.
Meet with the holy, humble servants of God; meeting with the Lord, listen to the Kirtan of His Praises.
ਦਇਆਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਦਾਮੋਦਰ ਮਾਧੋ ਅੰਤੁ ਨ ਪਾਈਐ ਗੁਨੀਐ ਰਾਮ ॥
da-i-aal parabhoo daamodar maaDho ant na paa-ee-ai gunee-ai raam.
God is the Merciful Master, the Lord of wealth; there is no end to His Virtues.
ਦਇਆਲ ਦੁਖ ਹਰ ਸਰਣਿ ਦਾਤਾ ਸਗਲ ਦੋਖ ਨਿਵਾਰਣੋ ॥
da-i-aal dukh har saran daataa sagal dokh nivaarno.
The Merciful Lord is the Dispeller of pain, the Giver of Sanctuary, the Eradicator of all evil.
ਮੋਹ ਸੋਗ ਵਿਕਾਰ ਬਿਖੜੇ ਜਪਤ ਨਾਮ ਉਧਾਰਣੋ ॥
moh sog vikaar bikh-rhay japat naam uDhaarano.
Emotional attachment, sorrow, corruption and pain - chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, one is saved from these.
ਸਭਿ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਮੇਰੇ ਕਰਿ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਸਭ ਰੇਣ ਥੀਵਾ ॥
sabh jee-a tayray parabhoo mayray kar kirpaa sabh rayn theevaa.
All beings are Yours, O my God; bless me with Your Mercy, that I may become the dust under the feet of all men.
ਬਿਨਵੰਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਮਇਆ ਕੀਜੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਤੇਰਾ ਜਪਿ ਜੀਵਾ ॥੩॥
binvant naanak parabh ma-i-aa keejai naam tayraa jap jeevaa. ||3||
Prays Nanak, O God, be kind to me, that I may chant Your Name, and live. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Stay together with the holy people of the One, and together listen to songs of the One's praise.

The One is kind, the Master of all riches; there is no end to the One's goodness.

The kind One takes away pain, gives shelter, and clears away every wrong.

Clinging, sorrow, bad habits and pain — repeating the Naam, you are saved from them all.

All beings are Yours, my One; be kind, and let me become the dust under everyone's feet.

Nanak prays: be kind to me, my One, so I may repeat Your Naam and live.

Humility grows from seeing that everyone belongs to the same One.
The deeper layer

Sabh reyn theevaa — "let me become the dust of all" — the classic image of complete humility, wanting to serve rather than stand above anyone. It flows from sabh jee-a tayray — all beings belong to the One, so none is beneath you. Jap jeevaa — "remembering, I live": the Name experienced not as duty but as the very source of aliveness.

A Question to Sit With

What would change if you saw everyone around you as part of one family?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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