Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sometimes the world gets things exactly backwards — calling the fake real and missing the worth of the truly good. When the eyes that cannot see are trusted to judge, how upside-down our confused age can be!
The world often calls fake things real and misses what is truly good, and Guru Nanak wants us to learn the difference.
Here begins a well-loved run of flips, a picture of an upside-down world. Khotay ka-o kharaa kahai — calling the fake coin real. Kharay saar na jaanai — and not knowing the worth of the real one. Kharaa means true metal, and khotaa means false metal. It is the picture of someone testing coins.
Andhay kaa naa-o paarkhoo — the one who cannot see is called the expert judge. Kalee kaal vidaanai — how strange this confused age is! Kalee kaal, or Kali Yuga, is the name for a dark, mixed-up age.
Think of a talent show where the loudest act wins and the truly gifted kid gets ignored. Guru Nanak is not cursing the times. He is holding up a mirror. See how easily we cheer for the shallow and miss the real. Then choose differently.
Where do you see people admiring something fake or flashy while overlooking something genuinely good?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI