Never Think You Have Arrived

ਸੁਣਿ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਮਤੁ ਜਾਣਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਮੈ ਪਾਇਆ ॥

sun baavray mat jaaneh parabh mai paa-i-aa.

Listen, madman: do not think that you have found God.

ਸੁਣਿ ਬਾਵਰੇ ਥੀਉ ਰੇਣੁ ਜਿਨੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ॥

sun baavray thee-o rayn jinee parabh Dhi-aa-i-aa.

Listen, madman: be the dust under the feet of those who meditate on God.

ਜਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਦਰਸਨੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥

jin parabh Dhi-aa-i-aa tin sukh paa-i-aa vadbhaagee darsan paa-ee-ai.

Those who meditate on God find peace. By great good fortune, the Blessed Vision of their Darshan is obtained.

ਥੀਉ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ ਸਦ ਕੁਰਬਾਣਾ ਸਗਲਾ ਆਪੁ ਮਿਟਾਈਐ ॥

thee-o nimaanaa sad kurbaanaa saglaa aap mitaa-ee-ai.

Be humble, and be forever a sacrifice, and your self-conceit shall be totally eradicated.

ਓਹੁ ਧਨੁ ਭਾਗ ਸੁਧਾ ਜਿਨਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਲਧਾ ਹਮ ਤਿਸੁ ਪਹਿ ਆਪੁ ਵੇਚਾਇਆ ॥

oh Dhan bhaag suDhaa jin parabh laDhaa ham tis peh aap vaychaa-i-aa.

One who has found God is pure, with blessed destiny. I would sell myself to him.

ਨਾਨਕ ਦੀਨ ਸਰਣਿ ਸੁਖ ਸਾਗਰ ਰਾਖੁ ਲਾਜ ਅਪਨਾਇਆ ॥੪॥੧॥

naanak deen saran sukh saagar raakh laaj apnaa-i-aa. ||4||1||

Nanak, the meek and humble, seeks the Sanctuary of the Lord, the ocean of peace. Make him Your own, and preserve his honor. ||4||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Listen, dear heart: never decide you have arrived and have nothing left to learn.

Stay humble as the dust, close to those who keep the One in mind — for they have found real peace, and by great fortune, the sight of the One.

Keep your self-importance small; treasure anyone who has truly found the One. And I simply ask: make me Your own, and keep me safe, ocean of peace.

The moment you think you have arrived, stay humble — the learning is never finished.

The deeper layer

mat jaaneh prabh mai paa-i-aa — a striking warning against spiritual pride: the moment you think you have got it, you have lost it; stay a learner. thee-o rayn, become the dust of the feet: teachability and reverence, not worthlessness. aap mitaa-ee-ai — the self-conceit, not the self, is what is erased.

A Question to Sit With

Where might staying a beginner actually help you more than acting like an expert?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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