Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O friend, why do you go into other people's homes?
Stained, hard-hearted, stubborn as a donkey in your wanting - have you never heard of Dharam Raa-ay, the Judge of what is right?
Reach only for what is yours, and remember that how we treat each other always counts.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. It asks, kaa-ay par garihi jaa-ay: why go into other people's homes? It means reaching for what is not yours to take. The verse uses harsh names for someone who does this, calling them stained, hard-hearted, a donkey led by its wanting. Underneath the harsh words is a simple question: is this who you want to be?
It also reminds us of Dharam Raa-ay, the judge of what is right. Think of a fair referee who sees every play. The reckoning is fair, and it weighs how we treat each other.
When is it hard to leave alone something that is not yours?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI