ਸੋਰਠਿ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
sorath mehlaa 5.
Sorat'h, Fifth Mehl:
ਹਮ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਰੇਨੁ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਹਮ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਸਰਣਾ ॥
ham santan kee rayn pi-aaray ham santan kee sarnaa.
I am the dust of the feet of the Beloved Saints; I seek the Protection of their Sanctuary.
ਸੰਤ ਹਮਾਰੀ ਓਟ ਸਤਾਣੀ ਸੰਤ ਹਮਾਰਾ ਗਹਣਾ ॥੧॥
sant hamaaree ot sataanee sant hamaaraa gahnaa. ||1||
The Saints are my all-powerful Support; the Saints are my ornament and decoration. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I would gladly be the dust on the path of people who love You — I want to stand where they stand.
They are my strong shelter and my finest ornament; being near them is the best thing I wear.
The company you treasure is the truest thing you wear.
Ham santan kee rayn — to be "the dust of the feet" of the Saints is the old image for chosen, loving humility: I would happily be lowly to be near what is good. Notice how the verse reverses the world's idea of decoration — the santan (the company of those who love the One) are the speaker's gahnaa, jewelry. What you treasure and want to be near tells you who you are becoming.
A Question to Sit With
Who do you most want to be near, and what does that say about you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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