The World Is a Passing Play

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਬਾਣੀ ਭਗਤਾ ਕੀ ॥

bilaaval banee bhagtaa kee.

Bilaaval, The Word Of The Devotees.

ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀਉ ਕੀ

kabeer jee-o kee

Of Kabir Jee:

ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ik-o^Nkaar sat naam kartaa purakh gur parsaad.

One Universal Creator God. Truth Is The Name. Creative Being Personified By Guru's Grace:

ਐਸੋ ਇਹੁ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ਪੇਖਨਾ ਰਹਨੁ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਪਈਹੈ ਰੇ ॥

aiso ih sansaar paykhnaa rahan na ko-oo pa-eehai ray.

This world is a drama; no one can remain here.

ਸੂਧੇ ਸੂਧੇ ਰੇਗਿ ਚਲਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਨਤਰ ਕੁਧਕਾ ਦਿਵਈਹੈ ਰੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

sooDhay sooDhay rayg chalhu tum natar kuDhkaa diva-eehai ray. ||1|| rahaa-o.

Walk the straight path; otherwise, you will be pushed around. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

There is only One. Its Name is Truth. It is the Creator of all. And the One is found by the Guru's grace — a gift that is always here, waiting for an open heart.

This whole world is like a play on a stage — beautiful to watch, but no one gets to stay forever. It keeps moving, and so do we.

So keep walking the straight, honest road. When you live simply and straight, nothing has to knock you off balance.

Everything here is passing, so walk it honestly.

The deeper layer

aiso ih sansaar paykhnaa — the world as spectacle, a paykhnaa (drama). soodhay soodhay rayg chalhu — walk straight in your own lane. Everything here is passing, so meet it with integrity. kudhkaa — a shove; walking straight keeps you on your feet.

A Question to Sit With

What does walking the "straight path" look like in your everyday life?

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

About this shabad →

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