Verse 373 of 450
Salok Sheikh Farid, Salok 72 — the head that will not bow
ਜੋ ਸਿਰੁ ਸਾਈ ਨਾ ਨਿਵੈ ਸੋ ਸਿਰੁ ਕੀਜੈ ਕਾਂਇ ॥
jo sir saa-ee naa nivai so sir keejai kaaN-ay.
That head which does not bow to the Lord - what is to be done with that head?
ਕੁੰਨੇ ਹੇਠਿ ਜਲਾਈਐ ਬਾਲਣ ਸੰਦੈ ਥਾਇ ॥੭੨॥
kunnay hayth jalaa-ee-ai baalan sandai thaa-ay. ||72||
Put it in the fireplace, instead of firewood. ||72||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A head that will not bow to the Master — what is it good for?
It is good for nothing more than the firewood under the cooking pot.
A head that never bows to the One is of no use.
A proud head that never bows to the One is of no use.
This salok goes with the one before. Jo sir saa-ee naa nivai: the head that does not bow to the Lord. What should be done with it? Farid's answer is fierce: burn it under the pot in place of firewood.
The picture is old and harsh, and it is not about hurting anyone. It says that pride which will not bend is as useless as a log, good only to be burned.
A Question to Sit With
When has bending, saying sorry or asking for help, made things better?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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