Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The one who lives in wisdom's household follows its flow with a whole mind -
and does not put himself forward, ever. The Name stays turning in the heart.
Whoever sells his mind to the True Guru finds every affair of his life settling into place. Whoever serves expecting nothing finds the Master Himself.
Grace comes from Him alone. The selfless servant does not just hear the Teachings - he lives inside them.
Now comes the learner's side: hand your restless mind over to wisdom, and serve without asking for anything back.
Man baychai satgur kai paas — whoever sells his mind to the True Guru. Sells, not lends. Not rents it out for an hour on weekends. The whole mind is handed over, the way you sign over a bike that is no longer yours.
What gets handed over is the very thing that causes the trouble. It is the part of the mind that wants to steer everything and show itself off. Aapas ka-o kar kachh na janaavai — he does not put himself forward in any way. Staying quiet about yourself is part of the practice. It is the opposite of a world where everyone keeps posting about themselves.
And what comes back is everything that mind could never get on its own. Tis sayvak kay kaaraj raas — that servant's affairs all work out. And he finds the Master Himself.
The verse also says to serve nihkaamee, without wanting a reward. Earlier in Sukhmani, this was the mark of a true devotee. Here it becomes the house rule of the Guru's household.
The last line is worth a child's attention. The servant gur kee mat lay-ay: he takes in the Guru's teaching and lives it. It is the difference between reading a recipe and actually eating the meal.
What would it mean to hand over your mind - your worrying, scheming, self-promoting mind - to something wiser than it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI