Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 48
Verse 4 of 5

Everyone Takes a Turn

ਕਹਾ ਸੁ ਭਾਈ ਮੀਤ ਹੈ ਦੇਖੁ ਨੈਨ ਪਸਾਰਿ ॥
kahaa so bhaa-ee meet hai daykh nain pasaar.
Where are your brothers and friends? Open your eyes and see!
ਇਕਿ ਚਾਲੇ ਇਕਿ ਚਾਲਸਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਅਪਨੀ ਵਾਰ ॥੩॥
ik chaalay ik chaalsahi sabh apnee vaar. ||3||
Some have gone, and some will go; everyone must take his turn. ||3||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Open your eyes and look around at the people you love — friends, family, the whole warm crowd of them.

Each of us gets our turn here; some came before, some will come after. That is what makes our turn together matter so much.

We each get one turn here — which is exactly why the turns we share matter.
The deeper layer

Look around at the people you love, and remember that everyone gets a turn here.

Kahaa so bhaa-ee meet hai daykh nain pasaar — where are your brothers and friends? Open your eyes and see. Ik chaalay ik chaalsahi sabh apnee vaar — some have gone, and some will go; each in their own turn.

Think of a relay race. Each runner carries the baton for a while and then hands it on. Some ran before us, and others will run after. This is not meant to frighten anyone. It reminds us that the time we share is precious. So we say the kind words today, and spend time together while it is our turn.

A Question to Sit With

Who are you glad to be sharing your turn with right now?

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

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