Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O friends — without the Guru, there is no real wisdom. No one can know the truth on their own.
If you don't believe it, go and ask Brahma, Naarad, and Vyaas — the great teachers of the oldest tradition. They will tell you the same thing.
The rahao is a confident challenge: bhaee ray, gur bin giaan na hoe — O siblings of destiny, without the Guru, wisdom (giaan) cannot happen. No exceptions.
The invitation to consult Brahma (the creator in Hindu tradition), Naarad (the divine sage and musician), and Vyaas (the legendary compiler of the Vedas) is Guru Nanak's characteristic move: using the highest authorities in the Hindu tradition to support a teaching that goes beyond any tradition. Even Vyaas — who compiled the Vedas — would tell you: without the Guru, the words on the page do not become wisdom in the heart.
This is not disrespect for these figures. It is the inverse: take them seriously enough to actually receive what they were pointing toward, not just what tradition has made of their memory. The great teachers of every tradition point beyond themselves — toward the living transmission, the Guru, the direct knowing that no text can fully deliver. Ask them. They will say the same.
When have you tried to understand something important entirely on your own — and when has the right guide made all the difference?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI