Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When the Judge of Dharma asks for my account, a heavy debt is found against me.
The five farm-hands run away, and the soul is led off to the court.
Our deeds follow us, and the senses we chased cannot help us then.
Dharam raa-ay is the Judge of right and wrong in the old stories. Dharam raa-ay jab laykhaa maagai — when he asks for the account, a heavy balance is owed. Panch kirsaanvaa bhaag ga-ay — the five farm workers run away. The verse pictures the soul being taken to court.
The heart of it is plain and natural. What we do follows us. The senses we let run wild give no help when it matters. Think of friends who are always around for the party but gone when it is time to clean up.
It is a nudge to notice how we live each day.
When you make a choice you might regret, who or what helps you afterward?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI