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ਧਨੁ (dhan) Meaning: noun: Wealth. |
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Quote: ਜਿਸੁ ਧਨ ਕਾ ਤੁਮ ਗਰਬੁ ਕਰਤ ਹਉ ਸੋ ਧਨੁ ਕਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਆਪ॥ jis dhan kaa tum garab karat hau so dhan kisahi na aap. The wealth which you are so proud of, that wealth does not belong to anyone. – Guru Ram Das, Guru Granth Sahib, 1200 |
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Message: Eventually, one has to leave behind all one’s possessions and depart from this world empty-handed. The verse above is from a hymn which is believed to be uttered by Guru Ram Das ji, apparently addressing his eldest son, Prithi Chand. Prithi Chand was an arrogant and greedy person. He started quarreling with his father, when his father appointed his youngest son, Arjan, instead of him as his successor. Hence, commenting on his arrogant and stubborn attitude, the Guru says, the wealth about which one feels so overly proud doesn’t remain one’s own forever. Under the influence of our worldly prosperity or physical strength we should never quarrel with or disrespect anyone. Try instead to be humble and remember the One who created us and who provides for us. Our wealth, our beauty and our possessions can instantly disappear with a cruel twist of fate. ਕਬੀਰ ਗਰਬੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੀਐ ਰੰਕ ਨ ਹਸੀਐ ਕੋਇ॥ ਅਜਹੁ ਸੁ ਨਾਉ ਸਮੁੰਦ੍ਰ ਮਹਿ ਕਿਆ ਜਾਨਉ ਕਿਆ ਹੋਇ॥ Kabir! Do not be so proud and do not laugh at the poor. Your boat is still out at sea, who knows what might happen? – Bhagat Kabir, Guru Granth Sahib, 1366 Etymology: From Sanskrit dhan (contest, prized, booty, property) → Pali dhan (wealth) → Gurbani. |
