Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Pearl necklaces, gold, rubies and diamonds delight the mind — but they are only illusion.
Having them, a person spends life in worry; they never bring real contentment.
This part says that riches promise contentment but bring worry instead.
Now Guru Arjan crosses off the second false friend: wealth. Mukat maal kanik laal heeraa — pearl necklaces, gold, rubies, diamonds. They man ranjan, delight the mind. But they are maa-i-aa (Maya), the shiny world that passes.
His point is sharp. The trouble with riches isn't only that they don't last. Haa haa karat bihaanee avDhahi — a whole life slips by in fretting. Having more doesn't bring peace. It brings the worry of keeping it, the fear of losing it, and the hunger for still more.
Think of a new phone. At first you're thrilled. Then you worry about scratches, then you want the next model. The sparkle promises calm and delivers restlessness. Santokh na paa-i-aa — no contentment is found. A true friend wouldn't make you more anxious the more of it you had.
Have you noticed that getting more of something you want often just makes you want more, or worry about losing it? Does it actually bring peace?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI