Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
From a king to a tiny worm, and from a worm to the lord of the gods, they do wrong just to fill their bellies.
They leave the One, the Ocean of Kindness, and bow to something else. They become thieves, and they wound their own soul.
From the greatest king to the smallest worm, anyone can get lost in the same way.
Raaj tay keet keet tay surpat — from king to worm, and from worm to the lord of the gods. The list sweeps from the biggest to the smallest and back again. Being great or being small makes no difference here. Anyone loses their way when they forget the Source. Kar dokh jathar ka-o bhartay — they do wrong just to fill their stomachs.
Kirpaa niDh chhod aan ka-o poojeh — they leave the One, the Ocean of Mercy, and bow to something smaller instead. The verse uses very strong words for this: thieves and killers of the soul. The harm lands on their own soul, which is left hungry. It is a loss, more than a crime to be punished.
Think of someone snacking on chips all day and never eating a proper meal. They are always eating, but never fed. The Ocean of Mercy is always there for us. The loss is only in turning away from it.
What's the difference between being full and being deeply satisfied?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI