ਨਾਮਹੁ ਭੂਲੇ ਮਰਹਿ ਬਿਖੁ ਖਾਇ ॥
naamhu bhoolay mareh bikh khaa-ay.
Those who forget the Naam, the Name of the Lord - those mortals die eating poison.
ਬ੍ਰਿਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਫਿਰਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
baritha janam fir aavahi jaa-ay. ||1|| rahaa-o.
Their lives are wasted uselessly, and they continue coming and going in reincarnation. ||1||Pause||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Those who forget the Naam die feeding on poison.
Their life goes to waste, and they keep coming and going, round and round.
What looks sweet but leaves you empty is not worth the chase.
Forget the Naam, and life fills up on poison and goes to waste.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Naamhu bhoolay: those who forget the Naam. Bikh khaa-ay: eating poison, feeding on what harms. Birthaa janam: a wasted life. Fir aavahi jaa-ay: coming and going again, round and round.
Think of filling up on candy all day. It tastes sweet and leaves you sick. The words are strong because the life at stake is precious.
A Question to Sit With
What is something that seemed great but left you feeling worse?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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