ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਦੀਵਰਾ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਬਾਤੀ ॥
ja-o tum deevraa ta-o ham baatee.
If You are the lamp, then I am the wick.
ਜਉ ਤੁਮ ਤੀਰਥ ਤਉ ਹਮ ਜਾਤੀ ॥੨॥
ja-o tum tirath ta-o ham jaatee. ||2||
If You are the sacred place of pilgrimage, then I am the pilgrim. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
If You are the lamp, then I am the wick that carries Your flame.
If You are the holy river where people come to bathe, then I am the pilgrim who travels gladly to You.
You find your purpose by drawing near to what you love.
The pairs continue, lamp and wick, sacred river and pilgrim. Ravidas honors the practice of pilgrimage lovingly here, turning it inward: the Beloved is the destination worth every journey. Each image makes the same point, my whole purpose is found in nearness to You.
A Question to Sit With
What is a place or person you would happily travel far to be near?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate