Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some dance with bells at their ankles.
Some fast and keep vows and wear beads for counting prayers.
Some put sacred marks of sandalwood on their foreheads.
And I, with empty hands, keep the One in mind.
Bells, vows, beads, forehead marks: people worship in many ways. One simple way sits beside them all: keep the One in mind.
Ghoogar nirat — some dance with ghoogar, bells tied at the ankles. Varat naym maalaa — some keep varat, fasts, and naym, vows, and wear a maalaa, a string of beads for counting prayers. Tilak gopee chandan — some put a tilak, a sacred mark, on the forehead with sandalwood paste. These practices come from the Hindu world, especially the followers of Vishnu. Guru Arjan names them with respect.
His answer is not set against any of them. It is simply his own: har har har Dhi-aa-i-aa — I keep the One in mind. Dhi-aa-i-aa means to remember and hold close.
Think of a family gathering. Everyone brings a different dish. Guru Arjan brings one simple thing: his love.
What small practice helps you remember what matters?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI