Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Wherever the True One is turned over in the heart, a true gladness fills the place. Ego and every misstep are cut away when the True One is kept close in the heart.
A heart that keeps the True One close is carried over the hardest waters and never has to struggle across again.
True is the Teacher, true is the Word, and through it the True One is seen. Whoever sings the True One's praises melts into truth and sees that same One everywhere. True is the Master, true is the Name, and through truth comes the crossing-over.
This verse says that where people think about what is truly real, a happy song fills the place.
The key word is sach, which means truth. Here it means more than true facts. It means what is real and lasting, what stays when everything else changes. Sabad sachai sach sohilaa: through the True Word, a true song of gladness sounds. The Word, or Shabad, is the Guru's teaching.
Sach rakhi-aa ur dhaaray: keep the True One held in the heart. A heart like that is carried over the dutar, the waters that are hard to cross. Think of life as a wide, choppy river. Truth kept inside is the boat.
Saachaa satgur sachee banee: the Teacher is true, and the Word is true. Both are solid ground you can trust. Standing on what is real is what keeps a person steady.
What is something real and steady you can hold onto when everything feels churned up?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI