ਨਰੁ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਕਰੇ ਨਰਪਤਿ ਰਾਜੇ ਅਰਥਿ ਸਭ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
nar paraanee chaakree karay narpat raajay arath sabh maa-i-aa.
Mortal men work for kings, all for the sake of wealth and Maya.
ਕੈ ਬੰਧੈ ਕੈ ਡਾਨਿ ਲੇਇ ਕੈ ਨਰਪਤਿ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਇਆ ॥
kai banDhai kai daan lay-ay kai narpat mar jaa-i-aa.
But the king either imprisons them, or fines them, or else dies himself.
ਧੰਨੁ ਧਨੁ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਫਲ ਸਤਿਗੁਰੂ ਕੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਜਪਿ ਹਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੨॥
Dhan Dhan sayvaa safal satguroo kee jit har har naam jap har sukh paa-i-aa. ||2||
Blessed, rewarding and fruitful is the service of the True Guru; through it, I chant the Name of the Lord, Har, Har, and I have found peace. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
People work for kings for the sake of money -- and the king may jail them, fine them, or simply die himself. But serving the true teacher is blessed and fruitful; through it I keep the One's name and have found peace.
Worldly masters punish or pass away; the teacher's service brings lasting peace.
Worldly masters (kings) are unreliable -- they punish or perish. The True Guru's service is fruitful and yields peace. The contrast: serving the impermanent brings insecurity; serving the One brings rest.
A Question to Sit With
Have you ever depended on something that turned out to be unreliable?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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