When the Soul Departs, the Cherished Body Is Dust

ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਤੂ ਗ੍ਰਿਹ ਮਹਿ ਮਾਹਰਿ ॥

un^H kai sang too garih meh maahar.

With that, you are the woman of the house;

ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਤੂ ਹੋਈ ਹੈ ਜਾਹਰਿ ॥

un^H kai sang too ho-ee hai jaahar.

with that, you are respected.

ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਕੈ ਸੰਗਿ ਤੂ ਰਖੀ ਪਪੋਲਿ ॥

un^H kai sang too rakhee papol.

With that, you are caressed;

ਓਸੁ ਬਿਨਾ ਤੂੰ ਛੁਟਕੀ ਰੋਲਿ ॥੨॥

os binaa too^N chhutkee rol. ||2||

without it, you are reduced to dust. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Because of that, you are the keeper of the house.

Because of that, you are respected.

Because of that, you are cherished.

But without it, you are reduced to dust.

The moment the soul departs, the once-cherished body is only dust.

The deeper layer

The body is honored and loved only while the soul is in it.

The chorus comes back. Because of the soul, the body keeps the house. It is respected. It is held close and cherished. All these honors hold "because of that," the soul inside.

Then the line falls heavily: without it, you are reduced to dust. When the soul leaves, the body that was so cherished is only dust. Its dignity was real, and it came from the soul. Think of a lantern. People gather around it because of the flame. The glass is precious because of the light it holds.

A Question to Sit With

What honors might we mistake for our own that really depend on the soul within?

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

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