Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
So many dance for the sake of the glitter; how rare are those who reflect on what is real.
By grace, the humble one You show mercy to attains You.
Much dancing is for show. The real thing comes by grace.
The verse makes an honest count. Maa-i-aa kai arath bahut lok naachay — so many people dance for the sake of maya, the world's glitter. Most of the world's dancing is for money, status or applause. Ko virlaa tat beechaaree — rare is the one who thinks about what is truly real.
That rareness is not meant to discourage anyone. It helps us treasure the real thing. And the rare ones get there gur parsaadee, by the Guru's grace, because the One shows them kindness. So even the true dance is a gift, not a prize earned. Think of dancing alone in your room with no one watching, compared with dancing for likes online. The honest count keeps the shabad humble. It does not say, "Look how special I am." It says, "How rare, and how blessed."
How much of what you 'dance' for is applause or money? What would you do if no one were watching?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI