Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
From You I learned to serve. From You I learned to remember You and to practice. From You I came to see what is true.
You laid Your hand on my forehead and cut the ropes that held me tight.
Nanak says: I am the servant of Your servants.
Every good thing I can do came from You, and You set me free.
Tum tay means "from You." It repeats like a chorus. The verse hands every good ability back to the One: serving, remembering, seeing what is true.
Kar mastak dhar — placing a hand on the forehead. It is a gesture of blessing, like a grandparent's hand on your head. Katee jayvree means the ropes are cut. That is freedom from the tightness of haumai, the ego.
Daas dasaani-o means "servant of the servants." Here that humility feels like joy, not like being small.
What is a good ability you have that you could think of as a gift you were given?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI