Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Like a foolish child, I made mistakes — but still I rely on Your Mercy.
You are my Father and Mother. I am Your child. In Your Grace, there is infinite happiness.
The child who has made many mistakes still belongs to the parents. The belonging is not conditional on the behavior.
Guru Arjan's most intimate register: addressing the divine as Father and Mother from the position of the foolish child. Anjaanee baal budh (foolish child intelligence) — the child who does not know, who makes mistakes, who is ignorant of the full picture.
Tauhai oat (still I rely on Your Mercy) — the "still" is crucial. Despite the mistakes, despite the foolishness, despite the ignorance: still relying on mercy. The mercy does not depend on the child's worthiness. The belonging does not depend on the behavior.
This is Guru Arjan at his most tender. After the cosmic declarations of Shabad 95 (above good and bad, seeing the divine everywhere), he returns to the most basic human position: I am a foolish child, You are my parent, I rely on Your mercy.
Is there a way in which you still relate to the divine as a child to a parent — needing care, relying on mercy, belonging regardless of mistakes? Or has that relationship changed? How?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI