ਹਸਤੀ ਦੇਖਿ ਭਰਮ ਤੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਭਗਵਾਨੁ ਨ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥
hastee daykh bharam tay bhoolaa saree bhagvaan na jaani-aa.
Gazing upon your elephants, you have gone astray in doubt; you do not know the Great Lord God.
ਤੁਮਰੋ ਦੂਧੁ ਬਿਦਰ ਕੋ ਪਾਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੋ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁ ਕਰਿ ਮੈ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥੧॥
tumro dooDh bidar ko paanHo amrit kar mai maani-aa. ||1||
I judge Bidur's water to be like ambrosial nectar, in comparison with your milk. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Looking at your elephants, you have lost your way in doubt, and you do not know the Lord.
Next to your milk, I count Bidur's plain water as nectar.
A small thing given with love is worth more than a great thing given without it.
'Hastee daykh bharam tay bhoolaa' — gazing at his elephants (his wealth and power), the king is lost in illusion and misses the 'bhagvaan' (the divine). By contrast 'tumro doodh bidar ko paanHo' — the king's milk against Bidur's plain water — and the water, given with love, is 'amrit,' nectar. Love is the ingredient that transforms the humblest offering.
A Question to Sit With
What is a small gift or kindness you received that meant more than something expensive?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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