ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਨਿਕਟਿ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਖੈ ਕੰਠਿ ਜਨ ਧਾਰੇ ॥
har jan nikat nikat har jan hai har raakhai kanth jan Dhaaray.
The Lord is close to His humble servant, and His humble servant is close to the Lord; He keeps His humble servant clasped to His Heart.
ਨਾਨਕ ਪਿਤਾ ਮਾਤਾ ਹੈ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਹਮ ਬਾਰਿਕ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਪਾਰੇ ॥੪॥੬॥੧੮॥
naanak pitaa maataa hai har parabh ham baarik har partipaaray. ||4||6||18||
O Nanak, the Lord God is our father and mother. I am His child; the Lord cherishes me. ||4||6||18||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The One is close to the one who loves it, and that person is just as close to the One — held right against its heart.
Nanak says: the One is our father and mother.
I am the One's child, and the One cherishes me.
Draw near to the One, and you find you were already being held close.
As you draw near to the One, you find you were already being held near.
Nikat nikat — near, near — the closeness runs both ways. Kanth dhaaray, clasped close. And pitaa maataa... baarik: father, mother, child. This is the last of Guru Ram Das’s Raamkalee shabads, and it ends safe and cherished, as family.
A Question to Sit With
When have you reached out for something, only to find it was already reaching for you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate