Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sometimes I get caught by the very things I chase. I am like a fish drawn to bait.
I am like a monkey that won't let go of a treat, and so traps its own hand.
My days and my breaths are precious and counted. Turning toward the One and singing its praise is what sets me free.
Guru Arjan says we often get stuck because we won't let go.
Faaki-o meen kapik kee ni-aa-ee — you are caught like the fish and the monkey. The fish bites the bait because it wants the taste. The monkey reaches into a narrow jar for a sweet. It won't open its fist, so its hand stays stuck. Both could go free the moment they let go. We too get urajh, tangled, in a world that doesn't last.
Pag Dhaareh saas laykhai — your steps and your breaths are counted. This is not a threat. It is a gentle reminder that life is precious. Think of a phone with only so much battery: you want to spend it on what matters. The way out is har gun gaa-ilay, singing the beauty of the One.
Is there something you are gripping so tightly that it is holding you back?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI