Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You tend the sacred fire and wear saffron robes.
Stung by hard times, you run away from home.
You leave your own land and wander in faraway places.
But you bring the five low thieves along with you.
You cannot run away from what lives inside you.
The verse pictures someone who gives up home life. They tend a sacred fire and wear gayree robes, the saffron color of wanderers. Then apdaa kaa maari-aa garih tay nastaa: stung by trouble, they run from home. And days chhod pardayseh Dhaa-i-aa: they leave their own land for far places.
But panch chandaal naalay lai aa-i-aa: they bring the five low thieves along. These are desire, anger, greed, clinging and ego. It is like switching schools to escape a bad habit. The habit rides along in your backpack. Changing your address does not change what is inside.
What do you carry with you no matter where you go?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI