Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
If people turn toward the Lord beforehand, why should the reckoning come like this?
But the kings had lost their higher mind, sunk in pleasure and revelry.
Since Babur's rule was proclaimed, even the princes have no bread to eat.
This one is about how, when the powerful stop caring, the helpless pay the price.
Ago day jay chaytee-ai taaN kaa-it milai sajaa-ay — if people had turned toward the One ahead of time, why would this punishment come?
Here the hymn names who was responsible, and it points upward. SaahaaN surat gavaa-ee-aa rang tamaasai chaa-ay — the kings lost their awareness in pleasure and parties. Their job was to protect their people. They chose comfort instead.
And who paid? Ordinary people did. Ku-ir na rotee khaa-ay — even princes now have no bread to eat.
Guru Nanak blames those with power, never the people who were hurt. The call to "turn ahead of time" is aimed at those who could have acted.
Think of a lifeguard who is busy on a phone instead of watching the pool. It is the swimmers who are in danger, not the lifeguard. When the people in charge fall asleep in comfort, the helpless pay the bill. That is still true today.
What responsibilities come with power — any power, even a little?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI