Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
He Himself does, and He Himself causes others to do. He wakes some from their sleep.
He Himself unites us in Union.
Nanak is absorbed in the Shabad.
This one says the One is behind everything, even the waking up of a sleeping heart.
Aapay karay karaa-ay aapay: "The One Himself does, and Himself gets things done." Iknaa suti-aa day-ay jagaa-ay: "some who are asleep, He wakes." Asleep here means not yet aware of the One.
Everything in this song, the Gurmukh's service, the singing, the mind turning to the Guru, is the One working. There is only one true Doer.
Does that mean we don't have to try? No. It means we let go of saying "I did it all." The proud "me" says, "Look what I achieved." The Gurmukh says, "The One did this through me."
Think of a musician playing a song. The notes come through the instrument, but the music belongs to the one who plays. We are the instrument. We still play our part with care.
That is not being lazy. It is surrender: working hard, in sahaj, easy natural balance, without needing the credit.
Naanak sabad samaa-ay: "Nanak is soaked in the Word." That is how the song ends. Not with a rule, but with a quiet report of where Nanak is: inside the Shabad.
What does it feel like to let go of being the author of your own life — to act fully and completely while knowing the deepest credit is not yours? Is that freeing or unsettling?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI