ਗੰਧ੍ਰਬਾ ਨਗਰੀ (gaň-dhar-baa nagree)
Meaning: noun: An imaginary city or formation like a mirage; deception, delusion.
Quote:
ਠਗਾ ਨੀਹੁ ਮਤ੍ਰੋੜਿ ਜਾਣੁ ਗੰਧ੍ਰਬਾ ਨਗਰੀ॥
ṭhagaa neeh matroṛ jaaṇ gaňdharbaa nagree.
Break off your love for thugs (vices), and realize that this (false attachment) is merely a mirage. – Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1098
Message: Building sand castles in the air you say? However in this case, this is not child’s play. The expression, to build sand castles in the air, means to make plans that can never come true. Everyone does it but many never realise that these schemes are not real because they can never eventuate in reality.
Evil persons hatch schemes or plans in order to realise their dreams to become more powerful, richer or more domineering than others. They plan to outwit the Creator and poor human beings and earn profit from such situations. However they do not realise that these plans are like a mirage or sandcastle and will ultimately collapse.
Break off your attachment from the residents of this imaginary city of deceit says the verse. Humans need to break off their love and attachment from the deceiving worldly pleasures, snares, and vices.
Etymology: Compound of gaňdharbaa from Sanskrit gaňdharvas(divine minstrels who are believed to be dwelling in the sky) and nagree from Sanskrit nagree (city), hence an imaginary formation in the air, a mirage.
