Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
To turn away from that beauty and chase after lesser things only leaves you emptier, never full.
Sur Daas says: the One has taken my heart into its own hands, and given me the world beyond, more than any world here could hold.
Chasing smaller things instead of the One leaves you emptier, never full.
The first line uses a strong, harsh picture from long ago: a leech clinging to a sick body. Its point is simple. Turning away from the beautiful One to want other things only drains you.
Think of drinking soda when you are really thirsty. It seems to help for a moment, but soon you are thirstier than before.
Then Sur Daas ends with joy. "Soordaas man prabh hath leeno" means the One has taken his heart into its own hands. And he has been given the world beyond, more than any world here could hold.
What is something you chased that never quite satisfied you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI