Verse 51 of 57
Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 51 — why worry over the way of the world
ਚਿੰਤਾ ਤਾ ਕੀ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਜੋ ਅਨਹੋਨੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
chintaa taa kee keejee-ai jo anhonee ho-ay.
People become anxious, when something unexpected happens.
ਇਹੁ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਸੰਸਾਰ ਕੋ ਨਾਨਕ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਕੋਇ ॥੫੧॥
ih maarag sansaar ko naanak thir nahee ko-ay. ||51||
This is the way of the world, O Nanak; nothing is stable or permanent. ||51||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Worry would make sense only if something happened that never happens.
But this is the way of the world, Nanak says: nothing here stays forever.
Change is the way of the world; it is nothing to worry over.
Change is the ordinary way of the world, so it is nothing to worry over.
Chintaa taa kee keejee-ai: worry would make sense jo anhonee ho-ay, if something happened that never happens. Anhonee means the thing that does not happen.
Ih maarag sansaar ko: this is the way of the world. Thir nahee ko-ay: nothing is fixed. Things come and go, people come and go, and that is the oldest pattern there is. Knowing it calms the heart.
A Question to Sit With
What is one thing you have been worrying about that is just the ordinary way of things?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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