Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The pilgrimage places, the temples, the sacred images and holy books. The prayer-beads, the marks on the forehead, the careful cleansing, the quiet worshippers.
The robes, the bows of reverence, the blessed shared meals. All of these, and everyone who keeps them, will one day pass on too.
This one says that even our holiest practices are done by hands that will one day pass.
Now the list reaches religious practice itself, and here fairness matters most. Tirath dayv dayhuraa pothee — pilgrimage places, gods, temples, and holy books. Then maalaa, prayer beads, and tilak, the mark on the forehead. Then careful cleansing, robes, bowing, and blessed food.
The point is not that these practices are worthless. It is the same honest truth, applied to everything with no exceptions. Even our holiest acts are done by mortal hands, in a world that changes. Gavan karaigo saglo logaa — all people will pass. Think of a school play. The costumes and the stage are real and precious, and one day the actors all go home.
In the very next verse, Guru Arjan names people of every background side by side. So this is not a critique aimed outward at anyone.
Why might even something beautiful and sacred still not be the thing that lasts forever?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI