ਜਿਤਨੇ ਧਨਵੰਤ ਕੁਲਵੰਤ ਮਿਲਖਵੰਤ ਦੀਸਹਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਭਿ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਜਾਹਿ ਜਿਉ ਰੰਗੁ ਕਸੁੰਭ ਕਚਾਣੁ ॥
jitnay Dhanvant kulvant milakhvant deeseh man mayray sabh binas jaahi ji-o rang kasumbh kachaan.
All the wealthy, high class property owners which you see, O my mind, shall vanish, like the fading color of the safflower.
ਹਰਿ ਸਤਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਸੇਵਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਗਹ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਤੂ ਮਾਣੁ ॥੨॥
har sat niranjan sadaa sayv man mayray jit har dargeh paavahi too maan. ||2||
Serve the True, Immaculate Lord forever, O my mind, and you shall be honored in the Court of the Lord. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
All the wealthy and well-placed people I see will one day pass, the way a bright flower's color quickly fades.
So I keep the pure and true One close, and find a dignity that lasts far longer than riches.
Riches and status fade fast, like the color of a cut flower.
The kasumbh (safflower) gives a brilliant but short-lived dye — a favorite Gurbani image for beauty that washes out. Against it stands har sat niranjan — the True, Immaculate One. To be honored har dargeh (in the One's court) is a dignity that does not fade with fortune.
A Question to Sit With
What is something about a person that lasts longer than what they own?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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