Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Whoever makes their mind a home for the One - that person is rightly named the Lord's servant.
They come to see the Supreme Soul, by holding themselves as the servant of the servants.
They know the One as always near, right at hand. Such a servant is honored in the court of Truth - shown mercy by the Master Himself.
Such a servant understands everything - and moves through it all with a soul that clings to none of it. Nanak says: that is the way of the One's servant.
The highest name is to be the servant of servants.
The title here is the closest to home. Ram Das means "servant of the Lord." It was also the name of Guru Arjan's own father, the fourth Guru.
The test is simple. Jis kai man paarbarahm kaa nivaas — one whose mind is a home for the Supreme One. The mind becomes a house the One lives in. The eighth ashtapadee used the same homey picture of the Name living with us like family.
The way to see the One goes through deep humility. Daas dasantan bhaa-ay tin paa-i-aa — seeing himself as the servant of the servants, he finds the One. Sukhmani has said this before, and the Gurus signed their own songs this way.
Two more marks complete the servant. First, he knows the One is near. Sadaa nikat nikat har jaan — always near, near. The servant never thinks the Master is far away. That was exactly the blindness the fourth ashtapadee named. Second, sagal sang aatam udaas — in the middle of everything, his soul does not cling. Like a lotus, it grows in the pond and stays clean.
Think of the helper who stays after the party to wash the dishes. They end up knowing the whole house. The servant understands everything. Serving, not running away, turns out to be the school of understanding.
What is the difference between serving someone because you must, and serving because your heart lives there?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI