Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When a heart forgets the fearless One and clings to shimmering illusions, it grows restless and keeps circling through many forms.
It gives its word and then breaks it; none of its words hold.
A hollow, pretend way of living cannot hold together, and every lie quietly caves in on itself.
It picks a fight with the One who holds no grudge, caught by lies and greed.
Nanak says, at the True One's door, justice is even-handed and fair. The One is never cruel and never plays favorites. What is untrue cannot stand where Truth is.
A lie cannot stand up on its own. Sooner or later it falls apart.
The verse describes someone who forgets the nirbha-o naam, the Name of the Fearless One. He gets caught up in maa-i-aa, the shiny pull of money and things. So he keeps circling, like a dancer who cannot stop.
He makes promises and then backs out. Andrahu thothaa — he is hollow inside. He even picks a fight with the nirvair, the One who holds no grudge against anyone. Greed and falseness trap him.
The verse ends with strong pictures of this falseness being struck down, and of pain that follows. They are a stern way of saying that a false life cannot last. There is no gloating here. Falseness brings itself down, like a tower of blocks built with a wobbly bottom.
The last line is the gentle heart of it. Ho-aa tapaavas Dharam kaa — fair judgment is given. The One is completely fair to everyone and never plays favorites.
Why do you think lies are so hard to keep going?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI