Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Under one wide tree, all kinds of travelers gather for a while.
Some speak sharply, some speak sweetly, a whole crowd resting in the shade.
Then the sun sets, and one by one they rise and continue on their way; the day has run its course.
The world is like one big shady tree. Birkhai hayth sabh jant ikthay means all beings have gathered under the tree. We are the travelers resting there together for a short day.
The crowd is mixed, just like any crowd. Ik tatay ik bolan mithay: some are hot-tempered, and some speak very sweetly. Think of a school bus full of kids. Some are grumpy and some are kind, but everyone is on the same ride for a while.
Then the sun sets, and each one gets up and goes on. That sunset is life's gentle ending. It is not something to dread. It is the natural close of a day well spent. So the verse invites us to treasure this short, precious time we share.
How do you want to treat the fellow travelers sharing your day?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI