Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 102
Verse 3 of 5

All Honor Weighs Nothing Against One True Alignment

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

In plain words

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 deeper layer

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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