People Hold Your Hand; Only the One Holds Your Weight
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Leaning your whole weight on other people will let you down - know this early and gently.
The Great Giver is One. From His giving comes the only fullness that ends the thirst.
The same One unmakes and keeps safe; truly, nothing rests in human hands. Understanding this flow is where peace starts.
So wear the Name like a necklace you never remove. Remember, remember, remember - and no obstacle will hold the road against you.
People can hold your hand, but only the One can hold your whole weight.
Maanukh kee tayk barithee sabh jaan — leaning on people alone is in vain; know this well. Tayk means support, something to lean on. This is not a gloomy view of people. It is about how much weight something can carry. People can love you, walk beside you, and hold your hand. But they cannot carry the full weight of your deepest hope. They are mortal. They have moods. They need rescuing too. A hope tied only to them is like a tent tied to the weather.
So the verse moves the weight to the one wall that can hold it. Dayvan ka-o aikai bhagvaan — the Giver is the One. Jis kai dee-ai rahai aghaa-ay — by His gifts we are satisfied. Bahur na tarisnaa laagai aa-ay — and the thirst does not come back. A gift received as His ends thirst. The same gift, seen as luck or wages, only makes us thirstier.
Tis kaa naam rakh kanth paro-ay — wear His Name like a necklace. A child can picture this exactly: worn at the throat, close to the voice, near the heartbeat. Remembering is like jewelry that is always on.
The last promise echoes the start of Sukhmani. Naanak bighan na laagai ko-ay — no obstacle will stand in your way.
Who do you lean on? What is fair to ask of people - and what weight can only something greater carry?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI