ਬਿਗਾਰੀ (bigaaree)
Meaning: noun: Begari, forced or bonded labourer
Quote:
ਜਿਉ ਬਿਗਾਰੀ ਕੈ ਸਿਰਿ ਦੀਜਹਿ ਦਾਮ॥
ਓਇ ਖਸਮੈ ਕੈ ਗ੍ਰਿਹਿ ਉਨ ਦੂਖ ਸਹਾਮ॥
jiu bigaaree kai sir deejahi daam.
oi khasmai kai grih un dookh sahaam.
If bags of money are placed on the head of a begari (forced or bonded labourer), the bags go to the master’s house, and the begari receives only pain. -Guru Arjan Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, 179
Message: The verse here illustrates the fates of people who are overly engrossed in the love and attachment of worldly wealth and riches.
They are like those bondaged labourers who carry a load of money to deliver to a rich person’s house, but do not receive anything in return and simply suffer the pain of carrying the load.
In the same vein, the wealth we earn and claim to own is eventually transferred to and owned by others.
No matter how much worldly riches we may acquire, it will never spiritually appease us. Only the cultivation of divinity and virtue within will liberate us from worldly bondage and provide us with spiritual solace and serenity.
Etymology: From Persian bigaaree (forced labourer) from bigaar (forced labour).
