Please grant Your Grace, O Merciful Lord; please forgive me.
ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਜਪੀ ਤੇਰਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪਾਇ ਪੈ ॥
sadaa sadaa japee tayraa naam satgur paa-ay pai.
Forever and ever, I chant Your Name; I fall at the feet of the True Guru.
ਮਨ ਤਨ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਵਸੁ ਦੂਖਾ ਨਾਸੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
man tan antar vas dookhaa naas ho-ay.
Please, dwell within my mind and body, and end my sufferings.
ਹਥ ਦੇਇ ਆਪਿ ਰਖੁ ਵਿਆਪੈ ਭਉ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
hath day-ay aap rakh vi-aapai bha-o na ko-ay.
Please give me Your hand, and save me, that fear may not afflict me.
ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਾ ਦਿਨੁ ਰੈਣਿ ਏਤੈ ਕੰਮਿ ਲਾਇ ॥
gun gaavaa din rain aytai kamm laa-ay.
May I sing Your Glorious Praises day and night; please commit me to this task.
ਸੰਤ ਜਨਾ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਰੋਗੁ ਜਾਇ ॥
sant janaa kai sang ha-umai rog jaa-ay.
Associating with the humble Saints, the disease of egotism is eradicated.
ਸਰਬ ਨਿਰੰਤਰਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਏਕੋ ਰਵਿ ਰਹਿਆ ॥
sarab nirantar khasam ayko rav rahi-aa.
The One Lord and Master is all-pervading, permeating everywhere.
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਸਚੁ ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਲਹਿਆ ॥
gur parsaadee sach sacho sach lahi-aa.
By Guru's Grace, I have truly found the Truest of the True.
ਦਇਆ ਕਰਹੁ ਦਇਆਲ ਅਪਣੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਦੇਹੁ ॥
da-i-aa karahu da-i-aal apnee sifatdayh.
Please bless me with Your Kindness, O Kind Lord, and bless me with Your Praises.
ਦਰਸਨੁ ਦੇਖਿ ਨਿਹਾਲ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਏਹ ॥੧॥
darsan daykh nihaal naanak pareet ayh. ||1||
Gazing upon the Blessed Vision of Your Darshan, I am in ecstasy; this is what Nanak loves. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
Be kind to me, kind One, and forgive me Yourself.
Forever and ever I will repeat Your Naam, bowing at the True Guru's feet.
Live inside my mind and body, and let my pains come to an end.
Give me Your hand and keep me safe, so that no fear can grip me.
Let me sing Your praises day and night; give me this work to do.
In the company of the humble saints, the sickness of ego goes away.
The one Master fills everything, everywhere.
By the Guru's grace I have found the Truest of the True.
Be kind, kind One, and give me the gift of Your praise.
Nanak says: seeing You fills me with joy — this is what I love.
Sometimes the bravest prayer is simply, take my hand.
The deeper layer
A prayer of the open hand. Not things but presence: dwell in me, give me Your hand, give me the work of singing Your praises. The company of humble saints (sant) heals the disease of egotism. Asking to be forgiven is gentle honesty, not self-condemnation, and the prayer ends in the sheer delight of darshan.
A Question to Sit With
When is it hardest for you to ask for help — and why?
