ਕਿਸੁ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਗ੍ਰਿਹੁ ਤਜਿਓ ਉਦਾਸੀ ॥
kis kaaran garihu taji-o udaasee.
"Why have you left your house and become a wandering Udaasee?
ਕਿਸੁ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਇਹੁ ਭੇਖੁ ਨਿਵਾਸੀ ॥
kis kaaran ih bhaykh nivaasee.
Why have you adopted these religious robes?
ਕਿਸੁ ਵਖਰ ਕੇ ਤੁਮ ਵਣਜਾਰੇ ॥
kis vakhar kay tum vanjaaray.
What merchandise do you trade?
ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਸਾਥੁ ਲੰਘਾਵਹੁ ਪਾਰੇ ॥੧੭॥
ki-o kar saath langhaavahu paaray. ||17||
How will you carry others across with you?"||17||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Why did you leave your home and become a wanderer?
Why did you put on these robes?
What goods do you trade in?
How will you carry others across with you?
A fair question deserves a fair answer, even about yourself.
The Siddhas turn their questions onto Nanak's own life, a fair turnabout. Vanjaaray (trader) begins a picture of trade: what are your goods? The last question, how you will carry others across, is the test of any teacher.
A Question to Sit With
If someone asked what you trade in, what would it be?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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