ਬਸਤ੍ਰ ਬਿਭੂਖਨ ਸੁਖ ਬਹੁਤ ਬਿਸੇਖੈ ॥
bastar bibhookhan sukh bahut bisaykhai.
Garments, ornaments, and such exquisite pleasures
ਓਇ ਭੀ ਜਾਨਉ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਲੇਖੈ ॥
o-ay bhee jaan-o kitai na laykhai.
- I look upon these as of no account.
ਪਤਿ ਸੋਭਾ ਅਰੁ ਮਾਨੁ ਮਹਤੁ ॥
pat sobhaa ar maan mahat.
Likewise, honor, fame, dignity and greatness,
ਆਗਿਆਕਾਰੀ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥
aagi-aakaaree sagal jagat.
obedience by the whole world,
ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਐਸਾ ਹੈ ਸੁੰਦਰ ਲਾਲ ॥
garihu aisaa hai sundar laal.
and a household as beautiful as a jewel.
ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਵਾ ਤਾ ਸਦਾ ਨਿਹਾਲ ॥੨॥
parabh bhaavaa taa sadaa nihaal. ||2||
If I am pleasing to God's Will, then I shall be blessed, and forever in bliss. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Fine clothes, jewelry, exquisite pleasures — I count them as nothing.
The same with honor, fame, dignity, greatness, the whole world's obedience, and a household lovely as a jewel.
If only I am pleasing to the One's Will — then I am blessed, and forever in joy.
All the honor and status in the world weigh nothing against one true alignment with the One.
The catalogue widens from pleasures to status — honor, fame, the world's obedience, a perfect home — all weighed and found "of no account." The single thing that matters is "if I am pleasing to God's Will." One genuine alignment with the One outweighs every worldly distinction (cf. Shabad 55's "thousands").
A Question to Sit With
What do people chase for status that turns out to mean little in the end?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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