Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O father, I will not live in this village any longer.
Here the scribes ask for an account of every single moment.
Every moment of a life is counted, and the seeker wants out of the careless village.
This is the "pause" line, the rahao. It is the center of the shabad.
Baabaa ab na basa-o ih gaa-o — O father, I will not stay in this village any longer. The village is the careless life, run by the senses.
Gharee gharee kaa laykhaa maagai — an account is asked for every moment. In old stories, two helpers named Chitar and Gupt write down everything a person does. Kaa-ith means the scribe who keeps the record.
Moments matter and are not lost. Think of footprints in fresh snow. Every step leaves a mark. That is why the seeker wants to live awake, with care.
If you knew every moment counted, what is one you would spend more carefully?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI