Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 1), Salok 2 — Know the Goods Before You Trade
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O bride with eyes like a deer's, listen to these words, deep and without end.
First get to know the goods, and only then make the deal.
Call out: "I will not stay with those who do wrong," and cheer for your friends.
Think about it, O bride: what is the call that brings you to your friends?
Give your body and mind to the Beloved Friend; there is no better joy than this.
Do not fall in love with anyone you can see is going to leave.
Nanak says: I give myself to those who have understood this.
Before you give your heart to something, find out what it is, and give it to the Friend who stays.
Pahilaa vasat sinjaan kai taa keechai vaapaar: first recognize the goods, then trade. The words come from the marketplace, where a careless trader loses everything. Here the trade is love. Tis sa-o nayhu na keech-ee je disai chalanhaar: do not set your love on what you can see is leaving.
Tan man deejai sajnaa: give body and mind to the Friend, the One, who does not leave. The last line honors the people who have understood this, naanak jinHee iv kar bujhi-aa.
What is something you poured a lot of love into that turned out not to last, and what did that teach you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI