ਦੁਨੀਆ ਸਾਗਰੁ ਦੁਤਰੁ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਕਰਿ ਪਾਈਐ ਪਾਰੋ ॥
dunee-aa saagar dutar kahee-ai ki-o kar paa-ee-ai paaro.
"The world-ocean is treacherous and impassable; how can one cross over?
ਚਰਪਟੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਅਉਧੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੇਹੁ ਸਚਾ ਬੀਚਾਰੋ ॥
charpat bolai a-oDhoo naanak dayh sachaa beechaaro.
Charpat the Yogi says, O Nanak, think it over, and give us your true reply."
ਆਪੇ ਆਖੈ ਆਪੇ ਸਮਝੈ ਤਿਸੁ ਕਿਆ ਉਤਰੁ ਦੀਜੈ ॥
aapay aakhai aapay samjhai tis ki-aa utar deejai.
What answer can I give to someone, who claims to understand himself?
ਸਾਚੁ ਕਹਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਪਾਰਗਰਾਮੀ ਤੁਝੁ ਕਿਆ ਬੈਸਣੁ ਦੀਜੈ ॥੪॥
saach kahhu tum paargaraamee tujh ki-aa baisan deejai. ||4||
I speak the Truth; if you have already crossed over, how can I argue with you? ||4||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Charpat the yogi says: "The world is an ocean too wild to cross. How does anyone reach the other side? Think it over, Nanak, and give us your true answer."
What answer can I give to someone who says he understands it all himself?
I speak the truth: if you have already crossed over, how can I argue with you?
A wise answer does not try to win; it honors the one asking.
A wise answer does not try to win. Charpat, one of the yogis in the gathering, asks how to cross the wild dutar saagar (the world-ocean). Nanak does not turn the talk into a contest: if you have already crossed, there is nothing to argue about.
A Question to Sit With
When do you argue to be right instead of listening?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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