Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The worth of sandalwood is its sweet smell.
The worth of a person lasts as long as there is breath in the body.
When the breath goes, the body falls back into dust.
After that, no food is eaten anymore.
Sandalwood is loved for its sweet smell, and a life is precious while we have breath.
Chandan kaa fal chandan vaas: the worth of sandalwood is its fragrance. Chandan is sandalwood, a wood with a lovely scent. Maanas kaa fal ghat meh saas: a person's worth lasts while there is breath in the body.
The verse gently reminds us that the body returns to dust one day. It is not meant to scare us. It helps us ask a good question. Think of a candle. It won't burn forever, so what matters is the light it gives while it burns. What sweetness do I carry while I have my breath?
What is the sweetness or goodness you would most want your life to carry?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI