Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
There is only One. And the One is found by the True Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.
When I look at myself honestly, I do not see a shining list of good things to offer. I have nothing special to hold up.
So how can I come close to the One I love?
Guru Nanak begins with a hard question: if I have nothing good to show, how can I ever be close to the One I love?
He speaks as a soul-bride, a picture Gurbani uses often. The soul is the bride, and the One is the Beloved she longs to meet. Sabh avgan mai gun nahee ko-ee means "I am all faults, and I have no good qualities." Ki-o kar kant milaavaa ho-ee means "so how can I meet my Beloved?"
Think of a kid who wants to join the best team but has no trophies to show. This question drives the whole shabad. Closeness is not earned by having the right skills. The answer comes gently, at the very end.
When have you felt loved even though you had nothing to show for it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI