Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In this world, people are wrapped up in false chases. But in the world beyond, only the record of true deeds is accepted.
The Guru serves the Lord, His close Friend. The Guru's actions are the highest.
O Nanak, never forget the Name. The True Lord will bless you with His Mark of Grace.
This closing verse says that in the end, only what was truly real in our life counts.
Aithai DhanDh pitaa-ee-ai — here in this world, people keep busy with things that don't last. Sach likhat parvaan — but only the true record is accepted.
Think of a school report card. Pretending to study, copying homework, looking busy: none of that shows up in what you actually learned. The real account is what you truly did and truly cared about. The showing off, the pretending, the projects just to feel big: they do not make it to the final count.
Har sajan gur sayvdaa — the Guru serves the Lord as His sajan, His close friend. It is a warm picture. The Guru is not a nervous servant but a trusted friend who knows the Lord well. Gur karnee parDhaan — the Guru's actions are the highest.
Naanak naam na veesrai karam sachai neesaan — Nanak says, never forget the Name, and the True One will mark you with grace. That mark is like a stamp that says: this one was real.
What would your 'true account' say — the account of what you actually did, from what you actually intended, for what you actually cared about?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI