Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Leaving the Lord and clinging to another, they run toward death and rebirth.
But those who hold on to the One continue to live.
The one blessed with His Mercy, O Nanak, becomes His devotee.
Hold on to what passes away, and you keep losing. Hold on to the One, and you truly live.
There are two directions here. Har taj an lagay — leaving the One, people cling to something else. Then they janmeh mar bhagay, run toward death and being born again.
But those who hold on to the One jeevat say rahay — they go on living. Think of two people in a river. One grabs at floating leaves, which keep slipping away. The other holds a strong rope tied to the shore. The traveler soul chooses one or the other. And the turning toward the One is itself a gift: jisahi kirpaal ho-ay, the one the One is kind to becomes a devotee.
What are you 'attaching' yourself to — and does it lead toward life?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI