Gurbani Word Of The Day: Bhoor

ਭੂਰ (bhoor)

Meaning: adjective: Grey.
Quote:
ਦੇਖੁ ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜੁ ਥੀਆ   ਦਾੜੀ ਹੋਈ ਭੂਰ॥ ਅਗਹੁ ਨੇੜਾ ਆਇਆ   ਪਿਛਾ ਰਹਿਆ ਦੂਰਿ॥
dekh phareedaa ju theeaa   daaṛee hoee bhoor.
agahu neṛaa aa-i-aa   pichhaa rahiaa door.

O Farid! See, what has happened: the beard has become grey; the future (the time of departure) has come near, and the past (the time of birth) is left far behind. – Sheikh Farid, Guru Granth Sahib, 1378
Message: We were once young

Just like a crop that ripens and changes colour, we grow old and frail. We may try hard to hide our wrinkles or signs of old age but our hair and beard continue turning grey.

Slowly but surely old age creeps up and we lose enthusiasm for the things that we enjoyed earlier in life. Our eyes get weary of seeing, and our hearing weakens.

Since our presence on this earth is transient, shown by our greying beards, we need to earn merit through good actions.

The end is drawing ever so near, so we should make our life worthwhile (make spiritual hay while the sun shines). If we are careless and lazy during our youth when it is the right time to be of service to others, we may repent in the end.

Let’s be cautious. Good times are transient and we have to face the process of ageing. Let’s make our life fruitful for ourselves and others by doing good.

ਫਰੀਦਾ ਸਿਰੁ ਪਲਿਆ   ਦਾੜੀ ਪਲੀ   ਮੁਛਾਂ ਭੀ ਪਲੀਆ॥
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਗਹਿਲੇ ਬਾਵਲੇ   ਮਾਣਹਿ ਕਿਆ ਰਲੀਆਂ॥
O Farid! Hair has turned grey, beard has turned grey, and moustaches also have turned grey. O thoughtless and insane mind! Why are you still indulging in transient pleasures? – Sheikh Farid, Guru Granth Sahib, 1380

Etymology: From Sanskrit bhroor (brown) → Sindhi bhooro (brownish, whitish) → Lahndi and Punjabi bhooraa (brown).

 

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