Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You made the coming and going of things, but You Yourself stay steady and unchanging.
When we forget the good, we can feel tossed about and lost.
It's like setting down the good and loading up a heavy cart of not-so-good choices instead.
Everything around us keeps changing. The One stays steady.
Aavaa gavan sirji-aa: You made the coming and going of things. Too thir karnaihaaro: but You, Creator, stay steady. Seasons change, friends move, we grow taller. Under all of it, the One does not change.
The verse says that when we forget the good, we get tied up and tossed about. The Guru uses the picture of someone sinking in deep water. He also uses the picture of a trader. Gun chhod bikh ladi-aa: he left the good behind and loaded up a cart of poison instead.
Think of a backpack stuffed with rocks while the snacks and water got left at home. It only gets heavier. The hope running through these mourning songs is that such a load can be set down. We can turn back toward the steady One at any time.
What's a heavy feeling you'd like to set down, and who could help you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI