The Master gave His approval, when Angad exerted Himself heroically.
ਮਾਤਾ ਖੀਵੀ ਸਹੁ ਸੋਇ ਜਿਨਿ ਗੋਇ ਉਠਾਲੀ ॥੩॥
maataa kheevee saho so-ay jin go-ay uthaalee. ||3||
Such is the Husband of mother Khivi; He sustains the world. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
The one who did the work is accepted as Guru. Which would you choose, the weed or the rice?
The Judge of what is right heard both sides and made the choice.
Whatever the True Guru says, the True One does, right away.
Guru Angad was announced, and the True Creator made it firm.
Guru Nanak only changed his body. He still sits on the throne, with hundreds of branches reaching out.
His followers stand at his door and serve, and their rust is scraped away.
He is a dervish, a humble devotee, at his Master's door. He loves the True Naam and the Guru's Word.
Balwand says: Khivi, the Guru's wife, is a good and noble woman, who gives cool, leafy shade to everyone.
She hands out the riches of the Langar: rice pudding rich with ghee, sweet as nectar.
The faces of the Guru's Sikhs shine bright. Those who follow only themselves turn pale as straw.
The Master gave his approval when Angad worked as hard as a hero.
Such is the husband of Mother Khivi, who holds up the world.
Kindness that feeds people is one of the highest kinds of greatness.
The deeper layer
Mata Khivi, Guru Angad's wife, is one of the very few people named directly in this praise. Her 'cool, leafy shade' and the kheer (rice pudding) of the langar are images of welcome and generosity. 'Rust scraped off' is a picture of the ego wearing away through humble service. The dervish who loves the Name shows how the bards reach naturally for words from more than one tradition.
A Question to Sit With
Who in your life gives cool shade — makes people feel welcome and cared for?
