ਸਤਜੁਗੁ ਤ੍ਰੇਤਾ ਦੁਆਪਰੁ ਭਣੀਐ ਕਲਿਜੁਗੁ ਊਤਮੋ ਜੁਗਾ ਮਾਹਿ ॥
satjug taraytaa du-aapar bhanee-ai kalijug ootmo jugaa maahi.
The Golden Age of Sat Yuga, the Silver Age of Trayta Yuga, and the Brass Age of Dwaapar Yuga are good; but the best is the Dark Age, the Iron Age, of Kali Yuga.
ਅਹਿ ਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਸੁ ਅਹਿ ਕਰੁ ਪਾਏ ਕੋਈ ਨ ਪਕੜੀਐ ਕਿਸੈ ਥਾਇ ॥੩॥
ah kar karay so ah kar paa-ay ko-ee na pakrhee-ai kisai thaa-ay. ||3||
As we act, so are the rewards we receive; no one can take the place of another. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The golden, silver, and brass ages were good — but the best is this dark age of iron.
As we act, so are the rewards we receive; no one can take the place of another.
This 'dark age' is actually the best — because grace and the Name are most freely available now.
A bold reversal: against the usual nostalgia for the lost "golden age," Guru Arjan declares "the best is the Dark Age" — because in this fallen time the simple, freely-given path of the Name saves where elaborate effort was once required. Grace is most accessible now. And responsibility is one's own: "as we act, so are the rewards... no one can take the place of another".
A Question to Sit With
Could the hardest times actually be the ones where help is most available?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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