How will you pass your life?

This Shabad is by Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Raamkalee on Pannaa 913 of SGGS ji:

rwmklI mhlw 5 ]

raamakalee mehalaa 5

Raamkalee, Fifth Mehl:

kwhU ibhwvY rMg rs rUp ]

kaahoo bihaavai ra(n)g ras roop

Some pass their lives enjoying pleasures and beauty.

kwhU ibhwvY mwie bwp pUq ]

kaahoo bihaavai maae baap pooth

Some pass their lives with their mothers, fathers and children.

kwhU ibhwvY rwj imlK vwpwrw ]

kaahoo bihaavai raaj milakh vaapaaraa

Some pass their lives in power, estates and trade.

sMq ibhwvY hir nwm ADwrw ]1]

sa(n)th bihaavai har naam adhhaaraa 1

The Saints pass their lives with the support of the Lord's Name. 1

rcnw swcu bnI ]

rachanaa saach banee

The world is the creation of the True Lord.

sB kw eyku DnI ]1] rhwau ]

sabh kaa eaek dhhanee 1 rehaao

He alone is the Master of all. 1Pause

kwhU ibhwvY byd Aru bwid ]

kaahoo bihaavai baedh ar baadh

Some pass their lives in arguments and debates about scriptures.

kwhU ibhwvY rsnw swid ]

kaahoo bihaavai rasanaa saadh

Some pass their lives tasting flavors.

kwhU ibhwvY lpit sMig nwrI ]

kaahoo bihaavai lapatt sa(n)g naaree

Some pass their lives attached to women.

sMq rcy kyvl nwm murwrI ]2]

sa(n)th rachae kaeval naam muraaree 2

The Saints are absorbed only in the Name of the Lord. 2

kwhU ibhwvY Kylq jUAw ]

kaahoo bihaavai khaelath jooaa

Some pass their lives gambling.

kwhU ibhwvY AmlI hUAw ]

kaahoo bihaavai amalee hooaa

Some pass their lives getting drunk.

kwhU ibhwvY pr drb cuorwey ]

kaahoo bihaavai par dharab chuoraaeae

Some pass their lives stealing the property of others.

hir jn ibhwvY nwm iDAwey ]3]

har jan bihaavai naam dhhiaaeae 3

The humble servants of the Lord pass their lives meditating on the Naam. 3

kwhU ibhwvY jog qp pUjw ]

kaahoo bihaavai jog thap poojaa

Some pass their lives in Yoga, strict meditation, worship and adoration.

kwhU rog sog BrmIjw ]

kaahoo rog sog bharameejaa

Some, in sickness, sorrow and doubt.

kwhU pvn Dwr jwq ibhwey ]

kaahoo pavan dhhaar jaath bihaaeae

Some pass their lives practicing control of the breath.

sMq ibhwvY kIrqnu gwey ]4]

sa(n)th bihaavai keerathan gaaeae 4

The Saints pass their lives singing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises. 4

kwhU ibhwvY idnu rYin cwlq ]

kaahoo bihaavai dhin rain chaalath

Some pass their lives walking day and night.

kwhU ibhwvY so ipVu mwlq ]

kaahoo bihaavai so pirr maalath

Some pass their lives on the fields of battle.

kwhU ibhwvY bwl pVwvq ]

kaahoo bihaavai baal parraavath

Some pass their lives teaching children.

sMq ibhwvY hir jsu gwvq ]5]

sa(n)th bihaavai har jas gaavath 5

The Saints pass their lives singing the Lord's Praise. 5

kwhU ibhwvY nt nwitk inrqy ]

kaahoo bihaavai natt naattik nirathae

Some pass their lives as actors, acting and dancing.

kwhU ibhwvY jIAwieh ihrqy ]

kaahoo bihaavai jeeaaeih hirathae

Some pass their lives taking the lives of others.

kwhU ibhwvY rwj mih frqy ]

kaahoo bihaavai raaj mehi ddarathae

Some pass their lives ruling by intimidation.

sMq ibhwvY hir jsu krqy ]6]

sa(n)th bihaavai har jas karathae 6

The Saints pass their lives chanting the Lord's Praises. 6

kwhU ibhwvY mqw msUriq ]

kaahoo bihaavai mathaa masoorath

Some pass their lives counseling and giving advice.

kwhU ibhwvY syvw jrUriq ]

kaahoo bihaavai saevaa jaroorath

Some pass their lives forced to serve others.

kwhU ibhwvY soDq jIvq ]

kaahoo bihaavai sodhhath jeevath

Some pass their lives exploring life's mysteries.

sMq ibhwvY hir rsu pIvq ]7]

sa(n)th bihaavai har ras peevath 7

The Saints pass their lives drinking in the sublime essence of the Lord. 7

ijqu ko lwieAw iqq hI lgwnw ]

jith ko laaeiaa thith hee lagaanaa

As the Lord attaches us, so we are attached.

nw ko mUVu nhI ko isAwnw ]

naa ko moorr nehee ko siaanaa

No one is foolish, and no one is wise.

kir ikrpw ijsu dyvY nwau ] nwnk qw kY bil bil jwau ]8]3]

kar kirapaa jis dhaevai naao naanak thaa kai bal bal jaao 83

Nanak is a sacrifice, a sacrifice to those who are blessed by His Grace to receive His Name. 83