Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O dear ones — be the slaves of the Lord's slaves.
Service to the Guru is worship of the Guru. How rare are those who actually obtain this!
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line, the center of this eight-part song, the Ashtapadee. It says the highest place is serving those who serve the One.
Bhaa-ee ray daasan daasaa ho-ay: "Brothers and sisters, be a servant of the One's servants." This is one of Guru Amar Das's best-loved teachings. Don't only look for the One. Serve the people who already serve the One. The lowest spot in the One's household is the spot of highest honor. It is closest to what the One loves. Think of the helper who stays after a party to wash the dishes. Nobody claps, but that is often the person the host loves most.
Gur kee sayvaa gur bhagat hai: serving the Guru is worshipping the Guru. This is a big idea. You don't need a separate worship routine if you are truly serving. The serving is the worship. This is Guru Amar Das's teaching on sayvaa (selfless service) in its purest form.
Virlaa paa-ay ko-ay: only a rare few receive this. And service makes both body and mind clean and clear, so the Name can settle in. These aren't steps to finish one after another. They happen in one movement. When you really serve, your body and mind grow clean, and you open up to the Name, all at once.
Who is someone you could serve that would feel like the most meaningful thing you could do right now — and what stops you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI