Word Of The Day: gad-hu

ਗਦਹੁ (gad-hu)
Meaning: noun: Donkey (from gad-haa).

Quote:
ਗਦਹੁ ਚੰਦਨਿ ਖਉਲੀਐ   ਭੀ ਸਾਹੂ ਸਿਉ ਪਾਣੁ॥
gad-hu chaňdan khauleeai   bhee saahoo siu paaṇ.
Even if a donkey is anointed with sandalwood paste, it still rolls in the dirt.
– Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 790

Message: Human beings are supposed to be wise, as embodiments of the Divine. Sadly, the world around us, and our life situation, takes over our minds to such an extent, that we are left no better than the donkey. We fail to rise up to the elevated spiritual position that we are fortunate to have been gifted.

A donkey is not aware of the value of being smeared by the fragrance of sandalwood and would rather wallow and roll around in the dust. We human beings are no different. The wisdom of the Divine is already a part of us but we fail to be conscious of its presence in our lives. As the donkey dismisses the sandalwood, we humans too dismiss the sweetness of this wisdom. It is so much easier to roll around in the dust of material possessions and give in to our sensual desires.

Not realizing the value of the Guru’s teachings, we live life in the outer arena of egotism and falsehood, supposedly smart but actually making asses of ourselves.

ਚੰਦਨ ਲੇਪੁ ਉਤਾਰੈ ਧੋਇ॥ ਗਰਧਬ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਭਸਮ ਸੰਗਿ ਹੋਇ॥
If you anoint a donkey with sandalwood paste, it will rub it off. The donkey prefers the dust.
– Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 267

Etymology: From Sanskrit gardabh → Pali gaddabh → Prakrit gaddah → Sindhi gaḍahu → Lahndi gaḍḍah/gaḍ-haa → Punjabi gadhaa → Hindi gadahaa.

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