Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
True wealth is found through the Guru's teaching. Flimsy wealth just keeps coming and going.
People who wander lost are tossed about on the wide sea of the world, reaching neither this shore nor the far one.
But by great good fortune they can meet a true teacher. Then, colored through and through by what is real, they walk free and light both day and night.
The wealth that stays is the kind the Guru's teaching gives.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Saachaa Dhan gurmatee paa-ay — true wealth comes through gurmat, the Guru's teaching. Kaachaa Dhan fun aavai jaa-ay — flimsy wealth keeps coming and going, like likes on a video that pile up one day and are forgotten the next.
The verse has a scary picture: people lost in the bhavjal, the huge ocean of the world, unable to reach either shore. But it moves straight to hope. By poorai bhaag, full and ripe good fortune, a person meets the true Guru. Then they live in bairaag, free and unhooked, lit up by the Name day and night.
What is a lesson someone taught you that you will keep your whole life?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI