Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You have arrived like a guest staying just one night — yet you make plans as if you will be here for ages and ages. And all the houses and grand buildings and riches you can see? They are lovely, but passing, like the cool shade of a tree that moves as the sun crosses the sky.
We are here for a short visit, so enjoy things lightly.
Ayk rain kay paahun tum aa-ay — you came as a paahun, a guest, for one night. Yet baho jug aas badhaa-ay — you make plans for ages and ages.
The verse points out the gap between our short stay and our long plans. It does this gently, without fear.
Ji-o tarvar kee chhaa-ay — wealth is like the shade of a tree. Think of sitting in the cool shade on a hot afternoon. It is truly lovely. But as the sun moves, the shade moves too.
So the picture invites us to enjoy good things, and to hold them lightly.
If you were a guest somewhere lovely for just one night, how would you spend it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI