ਬਾਰੂ ਭੀਤਿ ਬਨਾਈ ਰਚਿ ਪਚਿ ਰਹਤ ਨਹੀ ਦਿਨ ਚਾਰਿ ॥
baaroo bheet banaa-ee rach pach rahat nahee din chaar.
Like a wall of sand, built up and plastered with great care, which does not last even a few days,
ਤੈਸੇ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਸੁਖ ਮਾਇਆ ਕੇ ਉਰਝਿਓ ਕਹਾ ਗਵਾਰ ॥੧॥
taisay hee ih sukh maa-i-aa kay urjhi-o kahaa gavaar. ||1||
just so are the pleasures of Maya. Why are you entangled in them, you ignorant fool? ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Think of a wall of sand on the beach, patted and smoothed with care — it won't last more than a few days.
The shiny comforts we chase are a bit like that, so why get all tangled up in them?
What's built of sand is worth enjoying, not clinging to.
baaroo bheet banaaee — a wall of sand carefully built and plastered; rahat nahee din chaar — it does not last even a few days; urjhio kahaa gavaar — rendered here as gentle self-address, not an insult. The sandcastle image children know well.
A Question to Sit With
What is something fun but passing that's better enjoyed than clung to?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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