ਰਾਮਕਲੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
raamkalee mehlaa 5.
Raamkalee, Fifth Mehl:
ਸਿੰਚਹਿ ਦਰਬੁ ਦੇਹਿ ਦੁਖੁ ਲੋਗ ॥
sincheh darab deh dukh log.
You gather wealth by exploiting people.
ਤੇਰੈ ਕਾਜਿ ਨ ਅਵਰਾ ਜੋਗ ॥
tayrai kaaj na avraa jog.
It is of no use to you; it was meant for others.
ਕਰਿ ਅਹੰਕਾਰੁ ਹੋਇ ਵਰਤਹਿ ਅੰਧ ॥
kar ahaNkaar ho-ay varteh anDh.
You practice egotism, and act like a blind man.
ਜਮ ਕੀ ਜੇਵੜੀ ਤੂ ਆਗੈ ਬੰਧ ॥੧॥
jam kee jayvrhee too aagai banDh. ||1||
In the world hereafter, you shall be tied to the leash of the Messenger of Death. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You pile up money by causing people pain.
It is no use to you; it was meant for others.
Full of pride, you go about as if you were blind.
In the world ahead, death will tie you with its rope.
Wealth taken by hurting others is no use to you.
Sincheh darab deh dukh log names the wrong: gathering wealth by hurting people. Haumai, ego (the feeling of being a separate self), is the blindness at the root. Jam kee jayvarhee, death's rope, is a warning: what we do to others follows us.
If someone is being unkind to you or hurting you, that is never something you have to accept. Telling a grown-up you trust is always the right thing to do.
A Question to Sit With
Is there a way to get ahead that doesn't cost someone else?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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