Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Bring your prayer to the One who already knows everything - who cherishes His creatures Himself, and decides everything Himself.
To some He seems far away; others feel Him nearer than breath. No trick or effort reaches Him - He knows every pathway of the soul.
Those He is pleased with get to hold the hem of His robe. He fills every place, and the spaces between places.
Whoever receives His favor becomes His servant. Nanak says: every moment, remember Him.
The One fills even the gaps between things, so hold on to the hem of His robe.
The last verse gathers the whole set of eight into a simple prayer. After seven verses of check-ups, the advice is surprisingly simple. Those check-ups looked at the sulker, the angry borrower, the lover of shade, the body part by part, and the one who talks big. Kara-o bayntee paarbarahm sabh jaanai — pray to the Supreme One, who knows everything already.
Two lines are worth a child's attention, and a grown-up's too. Kisai door janaavat kisai bujhaavat nayraa — to some the One seems far away, to others near. The distance is in the one looking, not in the One. The fourth set of eight in Sukhmani said the same thing. Think of a friend standing right behind you while you search for her across the playground.
Thaan thanantar rahi-aa samaa-ay — the One fills every place and the spaces in between. Even the gaps are full.
Jis bhaavai tis la-ay larh laa-ay — those the One is pleased with are held to the hem of His robe. The hem is a picture of grace as something to hold on to. You do not need to understand the whole Infinite. You just keep a grip on the edge of the robe. That is all a small child walking with a parent has ever needed.
The last line sets the pace for all of life. Nimakh nimakh jap naanak haree — every moment, O Nanak, remember the One.
A small child in a crowd holds a parent's sleeve, not a map. What is your version of holding the sleeve?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI