Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
By Grace you have enough to give away - so remember the One all day as you give.
By Grace you do your duties and your ceremonies - think of the One with every breath inside them.
By Grace your face is beautiful - remember the One whose beauty nothing matches.
By Grace you were born into your place in the world. By Grace your dignity is protected. Nanak says: it is by the Guru's grace that praise even rises - so sing.
Even your kindness and good deeds run on gifts you were first given.
Now the list reaches the gifts that are easiest to mistake for our own goodness. Charity: jih parsaad karahi punn baho daan — by grace you give so much away. Even what you give was first given to you. Being generous is passing a gift along, not making it from nothing.
Duties and ceremonies: these too are done on grace's pocket money. Then a sundar roop, a beautiful face, and a neekee jaat, a respected place in society. We did nothing to earn these at birth, yet we tend to take credit for them for the rest of our lives.
Guru Arjan is gently clearing out pride's last hiding places. When pride can no longer hide in money, it hides in good deeds, good looks and good families.
The last line closes the circle: gur parsaad naanak jas kahai — by the Guru's grace, Nanak sings praise. Even the thank-you is made possible by the One being thanked. Think of a child buying a birthday gift for a parent with money the parent gave them. Nobody puts in the first coin alone. There is only the joy of giving back what is given again and again.
When you give something away, whose gift are you passing along?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI