Salok Sheikh Farid, Salok 122 — the cranes that tried to swim like swans
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Seeing the swans swimming, the cranes got excited and wanted to swim too.
The poor cranes sank and drowned, their heads under the water and their feet sticking up.
Copying the swans without being a swan only pulls a crane under.
Hansaa daykh tarandi-aa: seeing the swans swim. In Gurbani the swan stands for a pure, wise soul, and the crane for someone who only looks holy. Bagaa aa-i-aa chaa-o: the cranes got eager.
Dub mu-ay bag bapurhay: the poor cranes drowned, sir tal upar paa-o, heads down, feet up. It is a sad, almost funny picture. Putting on a show of goodness from the outside cannot carry you where a pure heart goes.
When have you tried to look like something you were not yet?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI