Explanation Needed Please

[Amarjodh Singh]

This Shabad is by Bhagat Sheikh Fareed Ji in Salok Fareed Jee on Pannaa 1379

fareedhaa rottee maeree kaat(h) kee laavan maeree bhukh ||

Fareed, my bread is made of wood, and hunger is my appetizer.

jinaa khaadhhee choparree ghanae sehanigae dhukh ||28||

Those who eat buttered bread, will suffer in terrible pain. ||28||

i don't understand the metaphor or the message behind it?

[lowest of the low singhni]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

It makes more sense if you read it alongwith the preceding and following Saloks. The meanings on STTM are very literal and do not make much sense unless you try to delve deeper. The meanings below are based on the veechar in Gyani Harbans Singh's steeks and Gurbachan Singh Makin's translations.

The Saloks stem from several experiences of Bhagat Ji. First was a conversation Bhagat Fareed Ji had with his mother, who was trying to encourage him to eat nicer foods because he was becoming thinner. As he progressed through his life, he tried all sorts of things to attain inner peace, including fasts and chewing a piece of wood which he had tied around his neck instead of eating food. He eventually realised that food and drink was necessary to stay alive and strong enough to do Bhagti. But at the same time, it was clear that becoming attached to certain tastes and indulging in rich foods did more harm to your spirituality and state of mind than it did good. For this reason, he discusses the various aspects of eating food versus eating Naam and how to achieve a balance. For those people who become Gurmukhs, simpler food (i.e. roti without butter) becomes more pleasing to them as they only compare their food with the taste of Naam.

PrIdw skr KMfu invwq guVu mwiKEu mWJw duDu ]

Fareed: Sugar, candy, milk and honey are all sweet to taste.

sBy vsqU imTIAW rb n pujin quDu ]27]

But none of these sweets compare to the sweetness of your worship.

PrIdw rotI myrI kwT kI lwvxu myrI BuK ]

Fareed: My food is simple and hard like wood, and I eat when my hunger tells me.

ijnw KwDI copVI Gxy shingy duK ]28]

Grief comes to those people who butter their roti (and indulge in the pleasures of the body by abandoning Guru Sahib's bhagti).

ruKI suKI Kwie kY TMFw pwxI pIau ]

Eat simple food and drink cold water.

PrIdw dyiK prweI copVI nw qrswey jIau ]29]

Fareed: Do not long for richer foods and save yourself the bother.

vaheguru ji ka khalsa vaheguru ji ki fateh

[SantLUCIFER]

This Shabad is by Bhagat Sheikh Fareed Ji in Salok Fareed Jee on Pannaa 1379

fareedhaa rottee maeree kaat(h) kee laavan maeree bhukh ||

Fareed, my bread is made of wood, and hunger is my appetizer.

jinaa khaadhhee choparree ghanae sehanigae dhukh ||28||

Those who eat buttered bread, will suffer in terrible pain. ||28||

i don't understand the metaphor or the message behind it?

What it means is, there are some people who eat the best dishes [foods] available, whilst others go hungry. They eat with joy and pride, and think they are important, they take such relish in it. Sheikh Farid Ji says he eats just the basic of foods, because to him it's not a big issue he is just grateful to get that.

[Amarjodh Singh]

Thank you!