Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Whatever you do, do it for love of the One - and stay near Him through all of it.
What will be, will be, by its own deep course - so recognize the Maker inside the happenings. To the servant, what the One does tastes sweet - all of it.
As He is, so He shows Himself. From Him we came; into Him we merge again.
He is the treasure of peace - and His servant becomes the same treasure. He has dressed His own in His own honor. Know this: the One and His humble servant are one and the same.
Do everything, big or small, inside love for the One.
The ending begins with Sukhmani's simplest rule for life. Jo kichh karai so parabh kai rang — whatever you do, do it in the love of God. One reason runs through everything you do. It changes things without moving anything around. The same homework, the same dishes, the same work, now done inside love. This is the special gift of grihast, the household life.
Parabh kaa kee-aa jan meeth lagaanaa — what the One does tastes sweet to His servant. This is the secret of the jivan mukt, the one who is free while still living, from Ashtapadee 9. Sweet, not just put up with. The One's will is tasted, not endured.
Then comes the great circle. Jis tay upjay tis maahi samaa-ay — from Him we came, and into Him we merge again. It is the breathing out and breathing in of Ashtapadee 10, and now it is told as our own story. Think of a river flowing to the sea, the sea rising into clouds, and the clouds raining back into the river.
The hymn ends where Sukhmani's boldest lines meet. The servant becomes the treasure of peace they served. Aapas ka-o aap deeno maan — the One gives His own honor to His own. And then, said plainly: naanak parabh jan ayko jaan — know that God and His humble servant are one. This is the third time Sukhmani says it: about the holy ones in Ashtapadee 7, about the Brahm Giani in Ashtapadee 8, and now here. Each time, a whole hymn of humility comes first, so the words are safe to hear.
What is one ordinary thing you will do today - and what would change if you did it entirely inside love?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI