Verse 282 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 224 — the elephant mind and its rider
ਕਬੀਰ ਕਾਇਆ ਕਜਲੀ ਬਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਨੁ ਕੁੰਚਰੁ ਮਯ ਮੰਤੁ ॥
kabeer kaa-i-aa kajlee ban bha-i-aa man kunchar ma-y mant.
Kabir, the body is a banana forest, and the mind is an intoxicated elephant.
ਅੰਕਸੁ ਗ੍ਯ੍ਯਾਨੁ ਰਤਨੁ ਹੈ ਖੇਵਟੁ ਬਿਰਲਾ ਸੰਤੁ ॥੨੨੪॥
ankas ga-yaan ratan hai khayvat birlaa sant. ||224||
The jewel of spiritual wisdom is the prod, and the rare Saint is the rider. ||224||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: the body is a banana forest, and the mind is an elephant, wild and drunk.
The jewel of wisdom is the prod that guides it, and a rare saint is the rider.
Wisdom guides the wild elephant of the mind.
A wild mind can be guided by wisdom, with a holy person to steer.
Kaa-i-aa kajlee ban: the body is a banana grove, soft and easy to trample. Man kunchar: the mind is an elephant. Ankas ga-yaan ratan: the prod is the jewel of wisdom. Khayvat birlaa sant: the rider is a rare saint.
A Question to Sit With
What helps you slow your mind down when it runs wild?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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