Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
One is a clever scholar of the sacred books.
One carefully performs the six rites of the priest.
One lives a clean and careful life full of good deeds.
And I, with empty hands, seek the sanctuary of the One.
Learning, rites and good deeds are good things. The deepest home is still the sanctuary of the One.
Chatur pandit — one is called a clever pandit, a scholar of the holy books. Khat karam — one does the six duties that were expected of a priest. Aachaar sukarnee — one lives a clean, careful life full of good deeds.
Guru Arjan honors all of these. They are good things.
His answer: har har har sarnee — I seek the sanctuary of the One. Sarnee means sanctuary, a safe place where you belong. Being smart, careful or good is wonderful. But the deepest safety is simply belonging to the One, the way a child belongs to a family, not because of report cards.
What does it feel like to be welcomed just as you are?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI