O mother, how fruitful is the birth of one who sings the Glories of God,
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O mother, how rich is the birth of one who sings the wonder of the One —
beautiful, wise, brave and shining is the one who finds the company of the good.
Saying the Name with the tongue, that one never has to wander lost again.
This one says: a life full of wonder and good friends is a rich life.
maiee jo prabh ke gun gaavai — O mother, how fruitful is the life of one who sings of the One's goodness. Notice what makes a life "fruitful" here. It is not money, fame or trophies. It is singing about the wonder of the One, and finding good company.
To such a person Guru Arjan gives four big words: beautiful, wise, brave and shining. The world thinks you can buy those qualities, or must be born with them. Here they grow out of love for the One.
That turns the idea of success upside down. The best life is not the richest or the strongest. It is the one soaked in wonder and good friends. Such a life has a glow you can see, like cloth that has soaked up a bright dye. And the one who says the Name, the verse promises, does not have to wander lost again.
What do you think makes a life truly 'rich' or successful? Is it what most people say it is?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI