He was supposed to have gathered the sublime essence of the Ambrosial Naam, the Name of the Lord, but instead, the mad-man was busy with poison. ||1||Pause||
ਦੁਲਭ ਜਨਮੁ ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਪਾਇਓ ਜਾਤਉ ਕਉਡੀ ਬਦਲਹਾ ॥
This human life, so difficult to obtain, was finally obtained after such a long time. He is losing it in exchange for a shell.
ਕਾਥੂਰੀ ਕੋ ਗਾਹਕੁ ਆਇਓ ਲਾਦਿਓ ਕਾਲਰ ਬਿਰਖ ਜਿਵਹਾ ॥੧॥
He came to buy musk, but instead, he has loaded dust and thistle grass. ||1||
ਆਇਓ ਲਾਭੁ ਲਾਭਨ ਕੈ ਤਾਈ ਮੋਹਨਿ ਠਾਗਉਰੀ ਸਿਉ ਉਲਝਿ ਪਹਾ ॥
He comes in search of profits, but he is entangled in the enticing illusion of Maya.
ਕਾਚ ਬਾਦਰੈ ਲਾਲੁ ਖੋਈ ਹੈ ਫਿਰਿ ਇਹੁ ਅਉਸਰੁ ਕਦਿ ਲਹਾ ॥੨॥
He loses the jewel, in exchange for mere glass. When will he have this blessed opportunity again? ||2||
ਸਗਲ ਪਰਾਧ ਏਕੁ ਗੁਣੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਠਾਕੁਰੁ ਛੋਡਹ ਦਾਸਿ ਭਜਹਾ ॥
He is full of sins, and he has not even one redeeming virtue. Forsaking his Lord and Master, he is involved with Maya, God's slave.
ਆਈ ਮਸਟਿ ਜੜਵਤ ਕੀ ਨਿਆਈ ਜਿਉ ਤਸਕਰੁ ਦਰਿ ਸਾਂਨੑਿਹਾ ॥੩॥
And when the final silence comes, like inanimate matter, he is caught like a thief at the door. ||3||
ਆਨ ਉਪਾਉ ਨ ਕੋਊ ਸੂਝੈ ਹਰਿ ਦਾਸਾ ਸਰਣੀ ਪਰਿ ਰਹਾ ॥
I cannot see any other way out. I seek the Sanctuary of the Lord's slaves.
