ਤ੍ਰਿਣ ਕੋ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਸਾਜਿ ਸਵਾਰਿਓ ਪਾਵਕੁ ਤਲੈ ਜਰਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥
tarin ko mandar saaj savaari-o paavak talai jaraavat hay.
You have built and adorned a palace of straw, and under it, you light a fire.
ਐਸੇ ਗੜ ਮਹਿ ਐਠਿ ਹਠੀਲੋ ਫੂਲਿ ਫੂਲਿ ਕਿਆ ਪਾਵਤ ਹੇ ॥੨॥
aisay garh meh aith hatheelo fool fool ki-aa paavat hay. ||2||
Sitting all puffed-up in such a castle, you stubborn-minded fool, what do you think you will gain? ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Imagine building a grand castle out of dry straw, and lighting a fire right underneath it.
Sitting proudly inside a place like that — what is there to feel so puffed-up about?
Pride built on what cannot last is a castle of straw.
trin ko mandar... paavak talai jaraavat — a straw palace built over a fire: a vivid picture of fragile pride.
A Question to Sit With
What would a castle that does not burn be built from?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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