Sikhism·Raag Soohee·Shabad 136
Verse 2 of 4

Don't Chase the Color That Fades

ਹਥੁ ਨ ਲਾਇ ਕਸੁੰਭੜੈ ਜਲਿ ਜਾਸੀ ਢੋਲਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
hath na laa-ay kasumbh-rhai jal jaasee dholaa. ||1|| rahaa-o.
Do not touch the safflower with your hands; its color will fade away, my dear. ||1||Pause||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Some colors are bright and exciting but wash right out — like the cheerful orange of the safflower flower, which fades so quickly.

There are other loves and joys that only grow deeper and truer with time. So, dear one, don't spend your whole heart chasing what fades. Pour it into the love that lasts and lasts.

Don't pour your whole heart into what fades — save it for the love that only deepens.
The deeper layer

hath na laa-ay kasumbhrhai jal jaasee dholaa — do not set your hand on the safflower (kasumbhrhaa), its color will fade, my dear (dholaa). The safflower is Gurbani's classic image for fleeting pleasure — a cheap, fast-fading dye — set against the fast, true dye of love for the One (majeeth, madder). This is the Pause/keynote. dholaa (a term of endearment) is kept warm.

A Question to Sit With

What is something exciting that fades fast, and something quieter that only grows on you?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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