Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The teaching is like a wide, clear lake — the fortunate ones find their way to its shore.
Those who seek it with a giving heart are like swans who know exactly what to feed on: they gather the Name, pure and nourishing, and leave the rest behind.
The Guru is like a clear, deep lake, and the people who seek it are like swans that know what is good to eat.
Gur sarvar maan sarovar hai — the Guru is Mansarovar, a famous clear lake high in the Himalaya mountains. Lucky people find their way to its shore.
Say hansulay naam lahann — the swan-souls feed there on the Naam, the Name. In old stories, a swan could pick out pearls from the lake bed. It could even take the milk out of milk mixed with water.
Think of sorting good apples from bruised ones at the market. A heart that has learned from the Guru is like that swan. It takes what is real and good, and leaves the rest.
How do you tell what's worth keeping from what's just noise?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI