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.
pharīdā siru paliā dāṛī palī muchāṁ bhī palīāṁ.
re man gahile bāvale māṇahi kiā ralīāṁ.55.
-Guru Granth Sahib 1380
Commentary
Literal Translation
Interpretive Transcreation
Poetical Dimension
Calligraphy
In the fifty-fifth stanza, Sheikh Farid says, the head has turned gray, the beard has turned gray, the mustache too has turned gray. O careless, crazy mind! What futile pleasures do you relish? Sheikh Farid observes the physical passage of time on his face, noting how old age has arrived with swiftness. He asks himself what he is still doing, engaging in the pleasures of the world. The “crazy mind” refers to the restless, impulsive part of us that chases after fleeting desires without discernment. It is the mind that refuses to be disciplined, that gets swept away by every whim, ignoring the deeper purpose of life. This mind mistakes temporary thrills for lasting fulfillment. In this frenzy, we relish pleasures in the worlds pleasures, clinging to fleeting enjoyments—status, possessions, sensory indulgences, ego gratifications—as if they are ultimate, even when their impermanence is evident.
We are also being asked to reflect on what we are doing, engaged in the pleasures of the world. These questions urge us to pause and examine the state of our own minds and lives, to recognize how easily we, too, can become absorbed in distractions and desires. The pleasures we chase often mask the reality of our impermanence, keeping us entangled in cycles of forgetfulness. Are we, too, being careless and crazy? Are we, too, being driven by the desires of our mind? What futile pleasures are we relishing? Will we see that our end is approaching? Will we use the time we have left to devote ourselves to beloved One, IkOankar’s?
