Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Everyone begs for a long life. No one wishes to die.
But a life of true peace and comfort comes only to the Gurmukh within whom God actually dwells.
Without the Name, what use is long life to those who have not found the Darshan — the blessed vision — of the Lord?
This one says a good life is measured by the One inside it, not by how long it lasts.
Bahutaa jeevan mangee-ai mu-aa na lorhai ko-ay: "everyone asks for a long life; no one wants to die." The verse says this kindly. It is true of people in every age. Wanting to live is natural, and it is not called wrong.
Sukh jeevan tis aakhee-ai jis gurmukh vasi-aa so-ay: a happy life belongs to the gurmukh, "in whom the One lives." The real long life is a life where the One feels at home inside you. How long you live matters less than who lives with you. The gurmukh does not just live longer. They live differently, because the One is at home in them.
Naam vihoonay ki-aa ganee: without the Name, what is a life worth? Daras means seeing, the blessed sight of the Lord and the Guru. It is more than knowing facts about the One. It is feeling close, like seeing a loved one's face.
Think of a long trip in a car where no one talks. It might take hours and still feel empty. A short ride with someone you love can fill your whole heart. Without that closeness, even a long, healthy life brings nothing that lasts.
What would make your life feel like it was worth living, regardless of how long it lasts?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI