Gurbani Word Of The Day: biradh

ਬਿਰਧਿ (biradh)

Meaning: noun: Old, old age.

Quote:
ਬਾਲ ਜੁਆਨੀ ਅਰੁ ਬਿਰਧਿ ਫੁਨਿ   ਤੀਨਿ ਅਵਸਥਾ ਜਾਨਿ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਭਜਨ ਬਿਨੁ   ਬਿਰਥਾ ਸਭ ਹੀ ਮਾਨੁ॥
(ਹੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ!) ਇਹ ਜਾਣ ਲੈ ਕਿ ਬਚਪਨ, ਜੁਆਨੀ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਬੁਢੇਪਾ, (ਉਮਰ ਦੀਆਂ) ਤਿੰਨ ਅਵਸਥਾਵਾਂ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾ ਕਥਨ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਹਰੀ ਦੇ ਭਜਨ ਤੋਂ ਬਿਨਾ ਇਹ ਸਾਰੀਆਂ ਬੇਅਰਥ ਹੀ ਸਮਝ।

baal juaanee ar biradh phun   teen avasthaa jaan.
(O human!) Know that childhood, youth, and old age are the three stages of life, however, Nanak says, without contemplation on the Divine, consider all these stages useless. -Guru Teg Bahadar, Guru Granth Sahib, 1428

Message: Three Stages of Life
Broadly speaking, human life can be divided into three stages: Childhood, youth, and old age.

One spends one’s childhood in playing, youth in learning and earning, and old age in taking care of family affairs and dealing with one’s health issues.

In this couplet, the Guru tells us how important it is to do good deeds and meditate on the Divine at all stages of life. Without living an ethical life, we are unable to lead a good and peaceful life.

When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. -Abraham Joshua Heschel, rabbi and professor, 1907-1972

Etymology: From Sanskrit vruddh (grown, large; grown up, old).

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here