Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The fool loves gold and sensual pleasures; attached to duality, he forgets the Name.
O Lord, only he chants the Name whom You forgive; death cannot touch one who sings Your praises.
When we chase shiny things, we forget what really lasts.
Kanik means gold. The verse says the foolish person loves gold and the pull of desire. It names the pulls people of that time knew best. Its teaching is about attachment itself, the grabbing that comes from the Panch Vikaar, the five pulls like greed and anger. Dubidhaa laagay naam visaaraa — stuck in dubidhaa, the feeling of being separate, he forgets the Name.
But doot na laag sakai gun gaa-ay — death cannot touch someone who sings the One's praises. Think of a kid so busy chasing a balloon that they don't hear the call for dinner. Remembering the One is hearing that call. It is jeevat marnaa, letting the proud self go while still alive, so death holds no fear.
What attachments make it easiest to forget what matters most?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI