Nothing Comes With Us

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥

bilaaval mehlaa 5.

Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:

ਕਾਹੂ ਸੰਗਿ ਨ ਚਾਲਹੀ ਮਾਇਆ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥

kaahoo sang na chaalhee maa-i-aa janjaal.

The entanglements of Maya do not go along with anyone.

ਊਠਿ ਸਿਧਾਰੇ ਛਤ੍ਰਪਤਿ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੈ ਖਿਆਲ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ooth siDhaaray chhatarpat santan kai khi-aal. rahaa-o.

Even kings and rulers must arise and depart, according to the wisdom of the Saints. ||Pause||

ਅਹੰਬੁਧਿ ਕਉ ਬਿਨਸਨਾ ਇਹ ਧੁਰ ਕੀ ਢਾਲ ॥

aha^N-buDh ka-o binsanaa ih Dhur kee dhaal.

Pride goes before the fall - this is a primal law.

ਬਹੁ ਜੋਨੀ ਜਨਮਹਿ ਮਰਹਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਬਿਕਰਾਲ ॥੧॥

baho jonee janmeh mareh bikhi-aa bikraal. ||1||

Those who practice corruption and sin, are born into countless incarnations, only to die again. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

The tangles of Maya, the stuff and the status, go along with no one. Even kings and rulers rise and leave when their time comes; the saints know this well.

Pride trips itself; that is the oldest rule there is. Chasing what harms keeps a person spinning in circles, around and around.

Nothing you chase comes along, so keep your heart gentle and free.

The deeper layer

Nothing we chase comes along with us, and pride trips itself. Kaahoo sang na chaalhee maa-i-aa janjaal — the tangles of Maya go with no one; even chhatarpat (crowned kings) must rise and depart. Aha^N-buDh ka-o binsanaa ih Dhur kee dhaal — the puffed-up ego trips itself, an old pattern. Chasing what harms leaves a person spinning in circles.

A Question to Sit With

What is something everyone chases that you do not think you can keep?

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

About this shabad →

← Shabad 45 · Verse 2 Come Home, the Waiting Is Over

Verse 2 of 2 →Colored in Love

Use ← → to navigate