māiā kārani dhāvahī mūrakh log ajān.
kahu nānak binu hari bhajan birthā janamu sirān.28.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1427
Guru Teghbahadar Sahib reminds beings of the purpose of life, which is to remember and reflect on the virtues of IkOankar (the Divine). The saloks describe how life is wasted in the entanglements of familial and material attachments distracting from the purpose of life. They inspire seekers to search for deeper meaning beyond the attachment to family and temporary material things and develop a relationship with IkOankar. These saloks gently nudge seekers to live in awareness of IkOankar and see the entire world from that place of realization.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
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In the twenty-eighth stanza, Guru Teghbahadar says, the foolish and ignorant run around for the sake of entanglement. Without praise of the 1-Light, life passes away uselessly.
We are running around in search of entanglement, driven by entanglement. This is what makes us ignorant. We are wasting this rare opportunity of birth, of life. This is what makes us foolish. Without praise of the 1-Light, life is passing again! We are worried! We are in pain! If we understand that we have the real Light, 1-Light within us, aren’t we wasting it? How do we not waste it? If we understand that we have the real Force, 1-Force within us, aren’t we lazy about invoking it? How do we nurture it?
The Guru says, stop running after these entanglements, and begin praising the 1-Light.
We are running around in search of entanglement, driven by entanglement. This is what makes us ignorant. We are wasting this rare opportunity of birth, of life. This is what makes us foolish. Without praise of the 1-Light, life is passing again! We are worried! We are in pain! If we understand that we have the real Light, 1-Light within us, aren’t we wasting it? How do we not waste it? If we understand that we have the real Force, 1-Force within us, aren’t we lazy about invoking it? How do we nurture it?
The Guru says, stop running after these entanglements, and begin praising the 1-Light.
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