Sikhism·Raag Bhairao·Shabad 89
Verse 4 of 5

Chasing What Won't Last

ਮਾਇਆ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਕਰੈ ਉਪਾਉ ॥
maa-i-aa kaaran karai upaa-o.
He works for the sake of Maya,
ਕਬਹਿ ਨ ਘਾਲੈ ਸੀਧਾ ਪਾਉ ॥
kabeh na ghaalai seeDhaa paa-o.
but he never places his feet on the right path.
ਜਿਨਿ ਕੀਆ ਤਿਸੁ ਚੀਤਿ ਨ ਆਣੈ ॥
jin kee-aa tis cheet na aanai.
He never even remembers the One who created him.
ਕੂੜੀ ਕੂੜੀ ਮੁਖਹੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ॥੩॥
koorhee koorhee mukhahu vakhaanai. ||3||
He speaks falsehood, only falsehood, with his mouth. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

That person works hard for the sake of Maya, the shiny things of the world.

But they never set their feet on the straight path. They never remember the One who made them. Lie after lie comes out of their mouth.

It's easy to chase the shiny things and miss the straight path.
The deeper layer

Spend all your effort chasing what does not last, and you miss the straight path and forget the One who made you.

Maa-i-aa kaaran karai upaa-o — a person works hard for maya. Maya means the shiny, passing stuff of the world. Kabeh na ghaalai seedhaa paa-o — but they never set foot on the straight path. Think of someone who spends all evening collecting points in a game. At bedtime, the homework is still not done.

Jin kee-aa tis cheet na aanai — they forget the One who made them. Koorhee koorhee mukhahu vakhaanai — their words drift away from the truth.

The verse works best as a mirror. Each of us can quietly ask, "Am I doing this too?"

A Question to Sit With

What is something shiny that grabs your attention but doesn't last?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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