Endings Aren't to Dread When We've Loved Well

ਮਰਣੁ ਨ ਮੰਦਾ ਲੋਕਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜੇ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਐਸਾ ਕੋਇ ॥

maran na mandaa lokaa aakhee-ai jay mar jaanai aisaa ko-ay.

Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die.

ਸੇਵਿਹੁ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸੰਮ੍ਰਥੁ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੰਥੁ ਸੁਹੇਲਾ ਆਗੈ ਹੋਇ ॥

sayvihu saahib samrath aapnaa panth suhaylaa aagai ho-ay.

Serve your Almighty Lord and Master, and your path in the world hereafter will be easy.

ਪੰਥਿ ਸੁਹੇਲੈ ਜਾਵਹੁ ਤਾਂ ਫਲੁ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਆਗੈ ਮਿਲੈ ਵਡਾਈ ॥

panth suhaylai jaavhu taa^N fal paavhu aagai milai vadaa-ee.

Take this easy path, and you shall obtain the fruits of your rewards, and receive honor in the world hereafter.

ਭੇਟੈ ਸਿਉ ਜਾਵਹੁ ਸਚਿ ਸਮਾਵਹੁ ਤਾਂ ਪਤਿ ਲੇਖੈ ਪਾਈ ॥

bhaytai si-o jaavhu sach samaavahu taa^N pat laykhai paa-ee.

Go there with your offering, and you shall merge in the True Lord; your honor shall be confirmed.

ਮਹਲੀ ਜਾਇ ਪਾਵਹੁ ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਵਹੁ ਰੰਗ ਸਿਉ ਰਲੀਆ ਮਾਣੈ ॥

mahlee jaa-ay paavhu khasmai bhaavahu rang si-o ralee-aa maanai.

You shall obtain a place in the Mansion of the Lord Master's Presence; being pleasing to Him, you shall enjoy the pleasures of His Love.

ਮਰਣੁ ਨ ਮੰਦਾ ਲੋਕਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਜੇ ਕੋਈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਣੈ ॥੨॥

maran na mandaa lokaa aakhee-ai jay ko-ee mar jaanai. ||2||

Death would not be called bad, O people, if one knew how to truly die. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Endings aren't really something to dread, if we've learned to live and love well.

A life spent serving what's good makes everything gentler and lighter.

Live kindly, and there's a warm welcome and deep peace waiting.

Endings aren't really something to dread when we've learned to live and love well.

The deeper layer

The verse gives the Alaahnian's central comfort, and it's a profound one: marnaa naahee dosu... jai jaanai... marnaa—"death would not be called bad, if one knew how to truly die." To "know how to die" is jeevat marnaa — living so well, with the ego quieted and the heart full of love, that endings hold no terror. A well-lived, loving life makes even the ending gentle. The qMonk voice keeps this hopeful: live kindly and there's a warm welcome and deep peace. For a child: endings aren't something to dread when we've learned to live and love well.

A Question to Sit With

How does living kindly and lovingly help everything feel gentler?

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

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