Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The astrologer counts and counts, drawing charts of stars and dates.
He reads them out loud to everyone, but he does not understand the heart of things.
Know this: the Guru's Word stands above everything. Don't speak of anything else; all the rest is ashes.
Charts of stars and dates cannot show you the heart of things. The Guru's Word can.
A jotak is an astrologer. He counts and counts and draws a kaandee, a birth chart. He reads it out to everyone, but tat na cheenee: he misses the heart of the matter.
Sabhsai oopar gur sabad beechaar means "think on the Guru's Word, which is above everything." All other talk, the verse says, is chhaar, just dust and ashes.
Think of a weather app. It can tell you it will rain, but it cannot tell you how to be a good friend. Guru Nanak is not mocking the people who read charts. He points them to what is true.
It's fun to wonder what the future holds. But what's something true and steady you can hold onto no matter what comes?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI