Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sacred riverbanks and shrines, idols and temples, and famous pilgrim-towns will all one day pass.
The countless gods, and even Indra their king, will go.
The ancient scriptures and schools of thought, the prayer books and scholars, the poets and their songs — all of them move on in time.
The self-controlled, the truthful and the giving, the silent sages, the yogis and the wandering seekers all come and go; even death's messengers pass away.
Whatever can be seen dissolves. Only the One stays, and so does the one who serves the One.
Even the holiest places and the greatest books belong to time. Only the One does not pass.
This verse goes on from the one before it. This time it names places and people from Hindu tradition. It names riverbanks and temples, and famous pilgrim towns like Kaydaar, Mathuraa and Kaasee. It names many gods, and Indra, their king. It names the Simritees, Shaastras and the four Vedas, which are old holy books and teachings. It names the six schools of thought, the scholars and the poets.
Then it names holy people: those who hold back from pleasures, those who are truthful, and the wanderers. It names silent sages and jogee, or yogis. Even the messengers of death, it says, will pass away.
All of this is named with respect. The point is not to make any of it small. The point is to find the one thing that does not pass. Think of the stars in the sky. They look like they will last forever, but even stars change. Thir paarbarahm parmaysaro — only the Supreme One is steady. And the one who serves the One becomes steady too.
What is the difference between things that last a while and what lasts forever?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI