Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
My hands are empty and small; You are great beyond all telling — how could I ever measure Your power to make and hold a whole universe?
Yet gazing on the Guru, my mind and body grow cool and calm. Nanak says: I lean, simply, on the Name.
I am small and the One is great, and seeing the Guru brings calm and a Name to lean on.
Ham naanhay means "I am small." Tumhay bad saahib means "You are the great Master." The old words say even "lowly." But this is not putting yourself down. It is wonder with empty hands. Think of standing under a huge night sky full of stars and feeling tiny, but in a good way.
Kudrat ka-un beechaaraa asks, "How could I even think through Your power to create?"
Then man tan seetal: mind and body grow cool and calm, seeing the Guru. Daras means seeing, being in someone's presence. The song ends resting on naam aDhaaraa, the Name as support.
When has feeling small in the face of something huge felt peaceful rather than scary?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI