Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
When someone sings the Naam of the Creator, who could ever weigh their words?
Good qualities are your true sisters and brothers. Through them comes the highest gift: being carried all the way across.
Guru Nanak set up a kingdom of Truth, a fortress built on the strongest ground.
He raised the royal canopy over Lehna's head, and Lehna drank in the sweet nectar of singing the One's praise.
The Guru's wisdom became a mighty sword, lighting up Lehna's soul.
The Guru bowed to his own student, while Guru Nanak was still alive.
While still living, the King placed the Guru's mark on Lehna's forehead.
A teacher bowing to his student turns the usual order of honor upside down. Lehna became Guru Angad, and the tikka, the mark of the Guru, was placed on his forehead while Guru Nanak was still living.
These are the opening lines of the ballad of the bards Satta and Balwand. The 'fortress of truth' (sach kot) is a way of living that endures, not a building. Greatness here is measured by service and humility, never by who was born first.
Have you ever seen someone honored not for who their family is, but for how they treated others?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI