These few lines fall in a fascinating part of Sriraag. The overall metaphor is of the passage of time and the journey of the soul within time's corridor. We are "my merchant friend" trading what for what? Guruji suggests that we may be trading the fortune of our lives for false pleasures. In the "second watch" of the night, the hours before midnight, we have forgotten to meditate. Is it because we are in a state of agitation,like little Krishna, passed by his mother to his foster-mother Yashoda, who was always lost in the thrall of Maya. Guruji wonders, is that where our minds are? And what about the "third watch" of the night, deep in the night? Guru ji asks us if we are focused on material gain. Is that what we trade our minutes, hours and days for? Are we intoxicated with the illusion that these are things that have true worth? We have, Guruji says, wasted our lives if this is how we spend our time. All those hours of the night focused on material fortune which will only worry us in the end. Better to spend that time making good deeds our friends, rightieousness our path. Remembering the Naam will release us from this bondage.
ਦੂਜੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਰੈਣਿ ਕੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਵਿਸਰਿ ਗਇਆ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥
dhoojai peharai rain kai vanajaariaa mithraa visar gaeiaa dhhiaan ||
In the second watch of the night, O my merchant friend, you have forgotten to meditate.
ਹਥੋ ਹਥਿ ਨਚਾਈਐ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਜਿਉ ਜਸੁਦਾ ਘਰਿ ਕਾਨੁ ॥
hathho hathh nachaaeeai vanajaariaa mithraa jio jasudhaa ghar kaan ||
From hand to hand, you are passed around, O my merchant friend, like Krishna in the house of Yashoda.
ਹਥੋ ਹਥਿ ਨਚਾਈਐ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਮਾਤ ਕਹੈ ਸੁਤੁ ਮੇਰਾ ॥
hathho hathh nachaaeeai praanee maath kehai suth maeraa ||
From hand to hand, you are passed around, and your mother says, ""This is my son.""
ਚੇਤਿ ਅਚੇਤ ਮੂੜ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਕਛੁ ਤੇਰਾ ॥
chaeth achaeth moorr man maerae anth nehee kashh thaeraa ||
O, my thoughtless and foolish mind, think: In the end, nothing shall be yours.
ਜਿਨਿ ਰਚਿ ਰਚਿਆ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਨ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਨ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਧਰਿ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥
jin rach rachiaa thisehi n jaanai man bheethar dhhar giaan ||
You do not know the One who created the creation. Gather spiritual wisdom within your mind.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਦੂਜੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਵਿਸਰਿ ਗਇਆ ਧਿਆਨੁ ॥੨॥
kahu naanak praanee dhoojai peharai visar gaeiaa dhhiaan ||2||
Says Nanak, in the second watch of the night, you have forgotten to meditate. ||2||
ਤੀਜੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਰੈਣਿ ਕੈ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਧਨ ਜੋਬਨ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ॥
theejai peharai rain kai vanajaariaa mithraa dhhan joban sio chith ||
In the third watch of the night, O my merchant friend, your consciousness is focused on wealth and youth.
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤਹੀ ਵਣਜਾਰਿਆ ਮਿਤ੍ਰਾ ਬਧਾ ਛੁਟਹਿ ਜਿਤੁ ॥
har kaa naam n chaethehee vanajaariaa mithraa badhhaa shhuttehi jith ||
You have not remembered the Name of the Lord, O my merchant friend, although it would release you from bondage.
ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨ ਚੇਤੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਬਿਕਲੁ ਭਇਆ ਸੰਗਿ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
har kaa naam n chaethai praanee bikal bhaeiaa sang maaeiaa ||
You do not remember the Name of the Lord, and you become confused by Maya.
ਧਨ ਸਿਉ ਰਤਾ ਜੋਬਨਿ ਮਤਾ ਅਹਿਲਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥
dhhan sio rathaa joban mathaa ahilaa janam gavaaeiaa ||
Revelling in your riches and intoxicated with youth, you waste your life uselessly.
ਧਰਮ ਸੇਤੀ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ਨ ਕੀਤੋ ਕਰਮੁ ਨ ਕੀਤੋ ਮਿਤੁ ॥
dhharam saethee vaapaar n keetho karam n keetho mith ||
You have not traded in righteousness and Dharma; you have not made good deeds your friends.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੀਜੈ ਪਹਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਣੀ ਧਨ ਜੋਬਨ ਸਿਉ ਚਿਤੁ ॥੩॥
kahu naanak theejai peharai praanee dhhan joban sio chith ||3||
Says Nanak, in the third watch of the night, your mind is attached to wealth and youth. ||3||
Guru Nanak Dev
Ang 75