Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I am a wrestler — I belong to the Lord of the World.
I met with the Guru, and I have tied a tall, plumed turban.
All have gathered to watch the wrestling match — and the Merciful Lord Himself is seated to behold it.
The wrestling metaphor opens. Pehl-waan-u meri-aa har-i jagad-ees-aa — I am a wrestler (pehl-waan-u — the athlete, the champion wrestler), and my Lord is the Lord of the World (har-i jagad-ees-aa). In the Punjabi tradition, the wrestler is a figure of honor, strength, and courage. The declaration: I am in this arena, and I belong to the Lord of the World. My strength is His; my training is through the Guru; my purpose is His glory.
Gur miliai, dastaar bandhi-aa — meeting the Guru (gur miliai), I have tied my turban (dastaar bandhi-aa — the tall, plumed turban of honor and readiness). The turban in Punjabi tradition is honor, identity, dignity, and the mark of being ready for the field. Meeting the Guru equips the wrestler with the turban — the Guru gives the wrestler their dignity and readiness.
Sab Jan-u mel-i-aa, vekhann kaaran, Daiaal aap-i baith-aa — all the people (sab jan-u) have gathered together (mel-i-aa) to watch (vekhann kaaran — for the purpose of seeing); the Merciful One (Daiaal) Himself (aap-i) is seated (baith-aa) to behold it. The audience: everyone is watching. And the most important spectator: the Merciful Lord Himself has taken His seat to watch. This match is not ordinary entertainment — it is the soul's combat with the five vices, witnessed by the divine.
What is the arena of your life where you feel most tested — where you are genuinely wrestling with something? And does it help to know that the divine is watching?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI