Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Others may carry your water; in this world you may rule.
Gold, silver, wealth may all be yours —
but the goodness of your life has been wrecked by uncontrolled craving.
Guru Arjan is saying: every outside success is emptied out by the craving inside.
Now the list is about power and money. Others carry your water. Is Dhartee meh tayree sikdaaree — on this earth, you are a ruler. Gold and silver are yours. And still: seel bigaari-o tayraa kaam — your good character has been spoiled by kaam, strong desire with no control. Seel means good character, the way you live.
The shabad builds its point one step at a time. First status, then worship, then manners, now wealth. Each one is hollowed out by the passions no one has mastered. Gurbani often names five of them: desire, anger, greed, clinging and pride. Think of a big, beautiful house with termites in the beams. It looks strong, but it is being eaten from the inside.
Why isn't having everything on the outside enough to make a life good?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI