ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੫ ॥
salok mehlaa 5.
Shalok, Fifth Mehl:
ਮਿਤ੍ਰੁ ਪਿਆਰਾ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੀ ਮੈ ਛਡਿ ਗਵਾਇਆ ਰੰਗਿ ਕਸੁੰਭੈ ਭੁਲੀ ॥
mitar pi-aaraa naanak jee mai chhad gavaa-i-aa rang kasumbhai bhulee.
I abandoned and lost my Beloved Friend, O Nanak; I was fooled by the transitory color of the safflower, which fades away.
ਤਉ ਸਜਣ ਕੀ ਮੈ ਕੀਮ ਨ ਪਉਦੀ ਹਉ ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਢੁ ਨ ਲਹਦੀ ॥੧॥
ta-o sajan kee mai keem na pa-udee ha-o tuDh bin adh na lahdee. ||1||
I did not know Your value, O my Friend; without You, I am not worth even half a shell. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Nanak says: I left my Beloved Friend and lost Him. I was fooled by the bright color of the safflower, a dye that soon fades.
I did not know how much You were worth, my Friend. Without You, I am not worth even half a penny.
The flashiest things often fade the fastest.
The safflower (kasumbhaa) dye that runs and fades is Gurbani's classic picture of the bright things that do not last. The words are a gentle recognition, not self-punishment: what glitters and fades is set beside the Friend who stays.
A Question to Sit With
What is something that looked amazing at first but you got tired of quickly?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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