Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The grand pleasures of kings and rulers look dazzling — but they only last a few short days.
The world's shine is like the safflower's bright color, which fades almost as soon as it appears.
None of it can travel with you; what you truly carry onward is who you became inside.
So the chance to fill your days with something real is precious — don't let it slip past and be missed.
The shine of the world washes off fast, so what matters is who you become.
Din chaar means four days. The pleasures of kings and rulers last only that long. Kasumbh is safflower dye, a bright orange that fades almost at once. In this Vaar it stands for beauty that does not last. It is the opposite of the deep madder-red dye of Pauri 13, which never washes out. Think of a sparkly sticker that peels off after one wash.
Chaldi-aa naal na chalai: none of it goes with you when you leave. The verse ends with a frightening picture of death taking a person away. The real teaching behind it is simple. What you carry is who you became inside.
Oh vaylaa hath na aavai: that moment will not come back. This is not meant to scare. It is an invitation not to waste the precious now.
What is something you are becoming on the inside that no one could ever take away from you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI