caüthai paharai raiṇi kai vaṇjāriā mitrā biradhi bhaïā tanu khīṇu.
akhī andhu na dīsaī vaṇjāriā mitrā kannī suṇai na vaiṇ.
akhī andhu jībh rasu nāhī rahe parākaü tāṇā.
guṇ antari nāhī kiu sukhu pāvai manmukh āvaṇ jāṇā.
khaṛu pakī kuṛi bhajai binsai āi calai kiā māṇu.
kahu nānak prāṇī caüthai paharai gurmukhi sabadu pachāṇu.4.
-Guru Granth Sahib 76
Guru Nanak Sahib compares night’s quarters to a life divided into four parts: infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age. The effects of these stages on the human mind and body are described here. Seekers are advised to protect their invaluable human birth from vices.
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
O, trader-friend, in the fourth quarter of life, the aging process is truly underway. This physical body you were once so proud of and was so important to you is now weak. Yet you seem surprised that you can hardly walk, you struggle to hear, and your eyes can no longer focus. Are you any closer to accepting the reality that the very body you relied on will also perish in the end? How will you cope when you realize that you can’t change all that is happening to your aging body? We reflect on how we become preoccupied with the aging process at this stage of life and become more and more frustrated with the things we can no longer do. Focusing on our physical decline, we also become anxious and fearful about the next stage of life, such as death and the dying process. This angst and worry causes us much suffering. So how can we become more accepting of our physical decline yet still feel content at this stage of our lives? Some of us may feel content at this stage of life, be role models to members of our community, and woo our grandchildren with our life stories about strength and fortitude. Some may have made time to connect and contemplate in loving remembrance of their Creator-Provider. How can we feel this contentment if we haven’t devoted time and energy so far to seek the wisdom and comfort available to us? Despite our regrets that we may have lost time, it is still never too late. O trader-friend in the fourth stage of life, reflect on how we can rely on the intuitive wisdom from our Creator-Provider and Nam, 1Ness to bring comfort to our hearts and minds.
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