Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 22 — save yourself, and help others too
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The person who gives up the feeling of "mine," and greed, clinging and pride —
Nanak says: that person crosses over and carries many others across too.
When you let go of grabbing, you free yourself and help others be free too.
jo paraanee mamtaa tajai — the person who drops mamtaa, the feeling of "mine." They also let go of lobh, greed, moh, clinging, and ahankaar, pride. aapan tarai a-uran layt uDhaar — they cross over themselves, and carry others across too.
Think of a lifeguard. First they learn to swim well. Then they can pull others to shore. A calm, loving person makes the people nearby calmer and braver. Guru Tegh Bahadur's own life became a gift for others, so this line fits him well.
When you are calm and kind, how does it change the people right next to you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI