ਸੋਹਾਗਨਿ ਗਲਿ ਸੋਹੈ ਹਾਰੁ ॥
sohaagan gal sohai haar.
With her necklace around her neck, this bride looks beautiful.
ਸੰਤ ਕਉ ਬਿਖੁ ਬਿਗਸੈ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥
sant ka-o bikh bigsai sansaar.
She is poison to the Saint, but the world is delighted with her.
ਕਰਿ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਬਹੈ ਪਖਿਆਰੀ ॥
kar seegaar bahai pakhi-aaree.
Adorning herself, she sits like a prostitute.
ਸੰਤ ਕੀ ਠਿਠਕੀ ਫਿਰੈ ਬਿਚਾਰੀ ॥੨॥
sant kee thithkee firai bichaaree. ||2||
Cursed by the Saints, she wanders around like a wretch. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
All dressed up and dazzling, this pull looks beautiful, and the world is delighted by it.
But to a clear and settled heart it tastes like poison — lovely on the outside, hollow underneath.
The same glittering thing can delight one heart and taste like poison to a clearer one.
The verse contrasts two ways of seeing the same thing: the world is bigsai, delighted, while to the sant — the settled, awake heart — it is bikh, poison. Same object, opposite taste. The difference isn't in the thing; it's in the eyes. A clear heart sees the hollowness behind the sparkle.
A Question to Sit With
Can you think of something that looks wonderful in ads but leaves people feeling empty?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate