Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Do not call them "satee," faithful wives, who give up their own lives at their husband's funeral.
Nanak says: the true satee is the one whose heart is struck by the pain of being apart from the one she loves.
Devotion is a way of loving, and never a way of being hurt.
In Guru Amar Das's time there was an old custom called satee. Some people expected a widow to give up her own life at her husband's funeral. The Guru says no to it, plainly. satee-aa ayhi na aakhee-an — do not call these women satee.
Then he gives the word a new meaning. Satee comes from sat, which means true. A true satee is someone whose love is so deep that being apart from the one she loves is what she feels most.
Think of a best friend who moves away. You miss them every day. That missing shows your love. Love never asks anyone to be hurt.
What is a quiet way someone shows deep love, that no one else even notices?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI