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Sikhism·Closing Sections·The Closing Saloks
Verse 444 of 450

Savaiye Sri Mukhbak (Mehl 5), Verse 13 — The world is a passing dream

ਰੇ ਮਨ ਮੂਸ ਬਿਲਾ ਮਹਿ ਗਰਬਤ ਕਰਤਬ ਕਰਤ ਮਹਾਂ ਮੁਘਨਾਂ ॥
ray man moos bilaa meh garbat kartab karat mahaaN mughnaaN.
O mind, you are a mouse, living in the mousehole of the body; you are so proud of yourself, but you act like an absolute fool.
ਸੰਪਤ ਦੋਲ ਝੋਲ ਸੰਗਿ ਝੂਲਤ ਮਾਇਆ ਮਗਨ ਭ੍ਰਮਤ ਘੁਘਨਾ ॥
sampat dol jhol sang jhoolat maa-i-aa magan bharmat ghughnaa.
You swing in the swing of wealth, intoxicated with Maya, and you wander around like an owl.
ਸੁਤ ਬਨਿਤਾ ਸਾਜਨ ਸੁਖ ਬੰਧਪ ਤਾ ਸਿਉ ਮੋਹੁ ਬਢਿਓ ਸੁ ਘਨਾ ॥
sut banitaa saajan sukh banDhap taa si-o moh badhi-o so ghanaa.
You take pleasure in your children, spouse, friends and relatives; your emotional attachment to them is increasing.
ਬੋਇਓ ਬੀਜੁ ਅਹੰ ਮਮ ਅੰਕੁਰੁ ਬੀਤਤ ਅਉਧ ਕਰਤ ਅਘਨਾਂ ॥
bo-i-o beej ahaN mam ankur beetat a-oDh karat aghnaaN.
You have planted the seeds of egotism, and the sprout of possessiveness has come up. You pass your life making sinful mistakes.
ਮਿਰਤੁ ਮੰਜਾਰ ਪਸਾਰਿ ਮੁਖੁ ਨਿਰਖਤ ਭੁੰਚਤ ਭੁਗਤਿ ਭੂਖ ਭੁਖਨਾ ॥
mirat manjaar pasaar mukh nirkhat bhuNchat bhugat bhookh bhukhnaa.
The cat of death, with his mouth wide-open, is watching you. You eat food, but you are still hungry.
ਸਿਮਰਿ ਗੁਪਾਲ ਦਇਆਲ ਸਤਸੰਗਤਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਜਗੁ ਜਾਨਤ ਸੁਪਨਾ ॥੪॥
simar gupaal da-i-aal satsangat naanak jag jaanat supnaa. ||4||
Meditate in remembrance on the Merciful Lord of the World, O Nanak, in the Sat Sangat, the True Congregation. Know that the world is just a dream. ||4||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

O mind, you are a mouse living in the mousehole of the body; you are so proud of yourself, yet you act very foolishly.

You swing on the swing of wealth, lost in Maya, and wander around like an owl.

You find comfort in children, spouse, friends and relatives, and your attachment to them grows thicker.

You have planted the seed of "me," and the sprout of "mine" has come up; your life passes in wrong deeds.

Death, like a cat with its mouth wide open, is watching you; you eat and eat and are still hungry.

Nanak says: remember the kind Lord of the World in the Sangat, and know that the world is a dream.

Know the world is a dream, and remember the kind One.
The deeper layer

The world passes like a dream, so remember the kind One while there is time.

Ray man moos: O mind, you are a mouse, proud in its little hole. Sampat dol jhol: the swing of riches. These funny pictures help us smile at ourselves. Beej aha(n) mam ankur: the seed of "me," the sprout of "mine."

Mirat manjaar: death as a cat, mouth open, watching. It is a strong picture of how fast time moves. Naanak jag jaanat supnaa: know the world is a dream. Think of waking from a dream where you won a huge prize; in the morning it is gone. Seeing that things pass helps us loosen our grip.

A Question to Sit With

Have you ever gotten something you wanted badly, only to find the wanting came right back?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

← Verse 443 of 450 Savaiye Sri Mukhbak (Mehl 5), Verse 12 — A rare and precious life
Verse 445 of 450 →Savaiye Sri Mukhbak (Mehl 5), Verse 14 — Nothing you can hold will stay
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