pihlY phrY rYix kY vxjwirAw imqRw hukim pieAw grBwis ]
pahilai pahrai rain kai vanjaari-aa mitraa hukam pa-i-aa garbhaas.
In the first watch of the night, O my merchant friend, you were cast into the womb, by the Lord's Command.

aurD qpu AMqir kry vxjwirAw imqRw Ksm syqI Ardwis ]
uraDh tap antar karay vanjaari-aa mitraa khasam saytee ardaas.
Upside-down, within the womb, you performed penance, O my merchant friend, and you prayed to your Lord and Master.

Ksm syqI Ardwis vKwxY aurD iDAwin ilv lwgw ]
khasam saytee ardaas vakhaanai uraDh Dhi-aan liv laagaa.
You uttered prayers to your Lord and Master, while upside-down, and you meditated on Him with deep love and affection.

nw mrjwdu AwieAw kil BIqir bwhuiV jwsI nwgw ]
naa marjaad aa-i-aa kal bheetar baahurh jaasee naagaa.
You came into this Dark Age of Kali Yuga naked, and you shall depart again naked.

jYsI klm vuVI hY msqik qYsI jIAVy pwis ]
jaisee kalam vurhee hai mastak taisee jee-arhay paas.
As God's Pen has written on your forehead, so it shall be with your soul.

khu nwnk pRwxI pihlY phrY hukim pieAw grBwis ]1]
kaho naanak paraanee pahilai pahrai hukam pa-i-aa garbhaas. ||1||
Says Nanak, in the first watch of the night, by the Hukam of the Lord's Command, you enter into the womb. ||1||

dUjY phrY rYix kY vxjwirAw imqRw ivsir gieAw iDAwnu ]
doojai pahrai rain kai vanjaari-aa mitraa visar ga-i-aa Dhi-aan.
In the second watch of the night, O my merchant friend, you have forgotten to meditate.

hQo hiQ ncweIAY vxjwirAw imqRw ijau jsudw Gir kwnu ]
hatho hath nachaa-ee-ai vanjaari-aa mitraa ji-o jasudaa ghar kaan.
From hand to hand, you are passed around, O my merchant friend, like Krishna in the house of Yashoda.

hQo hiQ ncweIAY pRwxI mwq khY suqu myrw ]
hatho hath nachaa-ee-ai paraanee maat kahai sut mayraa.
From hand to hand, you are passed around, and your mother says, "This is my son."

cyiq Acyq mUV mn myry AMiq nhI kCu qyrw ]
chayt achayt moorh man mayray ant nahee kachh tayraa.
O, my thoughtless and foolish mind, think: In the end, nothing shall be yours.

ijin ric ricAw iqsih n jwxY mn BIqir Dir igAwnu ]
jin rach rachi-aa tiseh na jaanai man bheetar Dhar gi-aan.
You do not know the One who created the creation. Gather spiritual wisdom within your mind.

khu nwnk pRwxI dUjY phrY ivsir gieAw iDAwnu ]2]
kaho naanak paraanee doojai pahrai visar ga-i-aa Dhi-aan. ||2||
Says Nanak, in the second watch of the night, you have forgotten to meditate. ||2||

qIjY phrY rYix kY vxjwirAw imqRw Dn jobn isau icqu ]
teejai pahrai rain kai vanjaari-aa mitraa Dhan joban si-o chit.
In the third watch of the night, O my merchant friend, your consciousness is focused on wealth and youth.

hir kw nwmu n cyqhI vxjwirAw imqRw bDw Cutih ijqu ]
har kaa naam na chaythee vanjaari-aa mitraa baDhaa chhuteh jit.
You have not remembered the Name of the Lord, O my merchant friend, although it would release you from bondage.

hir kw nwmu n cyqY pRwxI ibklu BieAw sMig mwieAw ]
har kaa naam na chaytai paraanee bikal bha-i-aa sang maa-i-aa.
You do not remember the Name of the Lord, and you become confused by Maya.

Dn isau rqw jobin mqw Aihlw jnmu gvwieAw ]
Dhan si-o rataa joban mataa ahilaa janam gavaa-i-aa.
Revelling in your riches and intoxicated with youth, you waste your life uselessly.

Drm syqI vwpwru n kIqo krmu n kIqo imqu ]
Dharam saytee vaapaar na keeto karam na keeto mit.
You have not traded in righteousness and Dharma; you have not made good deeds your friends.

khu nwnk qIjY phrY pRwxI Dn jobn isau icqu ]3]
kaho naanak teejai pahrai paraanee Dhan joban si-o chit. ||3||
Says Nanak, in the third watch of the night, your mind is attached to wealth and youth. ||3||

cauQY phrY rYix kY vxjwirAw imqRw lwvI AwieAw Kyqu ]
cha-uthai pahrai rain kai vanjaari-aa mitraa laavee aa-i-aa khayt.
In the fourth watch of the night, O my merchant friend, the Grim Reaper comes to the field.

jw jim pkiV clwieAw vxjwirAw imqRw iksY n imilAw Byqu ]
jaa jam pakarh chalaa-i-aa vanjaari-aa mitraa kisai na mili-aa bhayt.
When the Messenger of Death seizes and dispatches you, O my merchant friend, no one knows the mystery of where you have gone.

Byqu cyqu hir iksY n imilE jw jim pkiV clwieAw ]
bhayt chayt har kisai na mili-o jaa jam pakarh chalaa-i-aa.
So think of the Lord! No one knows this secret, of when the Messenger of Death will seize you and take you away.

JUTw rudnu hoAw duoAwlY iKn mih BieAw prwieAw ]
jhoothaa rudan ho-aa do-aalai khin meh bha-i-aa paraa-i-aa.
All your weeping and wailing then is false. In an instant, you become a stranger.

sweI vsqu prwpiq hoeI ijsu isau lwieAw hyqu ]
saa-ee vasat paraapat ho-ee jis si-o laa-i-aa hayt.
You obtain exactly what you have longed for.

khu nwnk pRwxI cauQY phrY lwvI luixAw Kyqu ]4]1]
kaho naanak paraanee cha-uthai pahrai laavee luni-aa khayt. ||4||1||
Says Nanak, in the fourth watch of the night, O mortal, the Grim Reaper has harvested your field. ||4||1||