Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A plain, dry crust from the saints is worth every treasure there is.
At a cold, unkind table, even thirty-six fancy dishes are like poison. Who you eat with matters more than the menu.
Who you share bread with matters more than what is on the plate. Santan kaa daanaa rookhaa so sarab nidhaan — the dry bread of the holy is worth all the treasures.
Then the other side. A saakat is someone who has turned away from the One. Here it means cold, unkind company. Garihi saakat chhateeh parkaar tay bikhoo samaan — at such a table, even thirty-six fine dishes are like poison.
Think of a simple sandwich shared with a good friend on the school steps. Now think of a fancy dinner where everyone is mean to each other. You remember the sandwich. This is wisdom about who you sit with. It is not contempt for any person.
Would you rather have a fancy meal with unkind people or a simple one with kind ones?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI