The
saloks of Sheikh Farid
Ji guide the seeker towards life’s true purpose, the devotion to the one absolute Divine, IkOankar. In these saloks, he reminds us that our time in this world is finite; therefore, one must turn to IkOankar without delay. Yet, attachment to transient possessions and relationships causes many to forget this truth, becoming entangled in vices that lead to restlessness and inner turmoil. In contrast, those who cultivate virtues such as love, humility, patience, contentment, selfless service, and righteousness experience the bliss of connection with IkOankar even while living a householder’s life. Their life becomes serene and suffused with inner joy.
pāsi damāme chatu siri bherī saḍo raḍ.
jāi sute jīrāṇ mahi thīe atīmā gaḍ.45.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1380
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the forty-fifth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, those who had kettledrums beside them, a canopy over their head, and a drum, about whom songs like Sadd and Radd were sung—they have gone and fallen asleep in graves. They have been buried like orphans. Sheikh Farid writes about status. The perishability and temporality of the world are a given! All things that exist will one day cease to exist. But even knowing this, even having a sense of the inevitability of our own endings, many of us live in incredible opulence. We may be celebrated and honored in this world; we may have immense power, privilege, and authority. We may have a reputation that precedes us, and we may spend our time accumulating wealth, power, and status. But we will not take any of these things to our graves.
Sheikh Farid says we will go and fall asleep in our graves, empty-handed. We will be buried like orphans—even our familial relationships will be of no currency. Regardless of the power and status we have in this life, regardless of our authority, sovereignty, comfort, and reputation, this will all come to an end. We will take nothing with us. So why don’t we spend this time more wisely? Why not think about that which is not perishable? Will we seek a relationship with IkOankar (One Creative and Pervasive Force, 1Force, the One)? Will we make an effort toward devotion rather than accumulation?
