ਚਉਪੜਿ (chaupaṛ)
Meaning: noun: A game like Ludo played with dice on a cloth marked in the form of a cross.
Quote:
ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਤੁਮ ਚਉਪੜਿ ਸਾਜਹੁ ਸਤੁ ਕਰਹੁ ਤੁਮ ਸਾਰੀ॥
ਕਾਮੁ ਕ੍ਰੋਧੁ ਲੋਭੁ ਮੋਹੁ ਜੀਤਹੁ ਐਸੀ ਖੇਲ ਹਰਿ ਪਿਆਰੀ॥
ਨੇਕ ਕਰਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਚੌਪੜ ਦੀ ਖੇਡ ਬਣਾਓ ਅਤੇ ਸੁੱਚੇ ਆਚਰਣ ਨੂੰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਨਰਦ ਬਣਾਓ। ਇੰਜ, ਕਾਮ, ਕ੍ਰੋਧ, ਲੋਭ, ਮੋਹ ਨੂੰ ਜਿੱਤੋ; ਇਹੋ ਜਿਹੀ ਖੇਡ ਹਰੀ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰੀ ਲਗਦੀ ਹੈ।
karam dharam tum chaupaṛ saajahu sat karahu tum saaree. kaam krodh lobh moh jeetahu aisee khel hari piaaree.
Make righteous actions your game-board and truthful conduct your dice. Thus, conquer lust, anger, greed and worldly attachment; such a game as this is dear to the Divine. -Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 1185
Message: This verse asks us to play the game of life in such a way that we are finally successful and pleasing to the Divine. How will that happen?
Let rightful conduct and good actions be your gears of the game of life. Instead of indulging in destructive emotions or maladies like excessive desire, wrath, greed, and undue attachments, use your intelligence or talent to adopt positive actions and helpful behaviour.
In this way, we will win the game of life easily. The clues provided by the Guru will assist us, even on our most difficult moves. We will reach our destination of attaining peace and harmony within ourselves and with the Great One.
Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. -Henry van Dyke, an American author, 1852-1933
Etymology: From Sanskrit chatushpaṭṭ (square tablet) → Lahndi chaupaṭ (a game like backgammon) → Punjabi chaupaṭ (dice cloth) and Assamese saupaṭ (game of dice).
