ਸੰਤਨ (saňtan)
Meaning: noun: Sants, devotees, seekers of truth.
Quote:
ਉਨ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੇ॥ ਜਿਨ ਤੂੰ ਜਾਤਾ ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਨੇ॥
(ਹੇਪ੍ਰਭੂ!) ਓਨਾਂਸੰਤ-ਜਨਾਂਤੋਂਮੇਰਾਮਨਕੁਰਬਾਨਜਾਂਦਾਹੈ, ਜਿਨਾਂਨੇਤੈਨੂੰਜਾਣਿਆਹੈਅਤੇਜੋਤੇਰੇਮਨਨੂੰਭਾਗਏ, ਪਿਆਰੇਲਗੇਹਨ।
un saňtan kai meraa man kurbaane. jin tooň jaataa jo tudh man bhaane.
(O Divine!) My mind humbles itself to those sants who have recognised You, and who are pleasing to Your mind. -Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 100
Message: Mostly, the word sant (often in plural) is used for devotees or seekers on the path of a spiritual journey, as in the quote above.
The contributors of Guru Granth Sahib often address the seekers of truth in reverential terms as sants or sadhus. They show humility and reverence while referring to such seekers who practise and internalise divine teachings in their lives. It is in the company of these experienced wise disciples of the Guru that we are able to partake in the wisdom of the Divine easily and find lasting peace, satisfaction and fulfillment.
Here is another quote from Gurbani, where Guru Ram Das wishes to humble himself to such sants:
ਜਿਨ ਕੈ ਹੀਅਰੈ ਬਸਿਓ ਮੇਰਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੁ ਤੇ ਸੰਤ ਭਲੇ ਭਲ ਭਾਂਤਿ॥
ਤਿਨ ਦੇਖੇ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਿਗਸੈ ਹਉ ਤਿਨ ਕੈ ਸਦ ਬਲਿ ਜਾਂਤ॥
Those sants or devotees in whose hearts my Satguru dwells are good and noble in every way. Seeing them, my mind blossoms forth in bliss; I humble myself to them at all times. -Guru Ram Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 1264
