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Sikhism·Dakhnee Onkaar·Shabad 111
Verse 34 of 55

The Five Birds in the Tree

ਤਰਵਰੁ ਕਾਇਆ ਪੰਖਿ ਮਨੁ ਤਰਵਰਿ ਪੰਖੀ ਪੰਚ ॥
tarvar kaa-i-aa pankh man tarvar pankhee panch.
The body is the tree, and the mind is the bird; the birds in the tree are the five senses.
ਤਤੁ ਚੁਗਹਿ ਮਿਲਿ ਏਕਸੇ ਤਿਨ ਕਉ ਫਾਸ ਨ ਰੰਚ ॥
tat chugeh mil ayksay tin ka-o faas na ranch.
They peck at the essence of reality, and merge with the One Lord. They are never trapped at all.
ਉਡਹਿ ਤ ਬੇਗੁਲ ਬੇਗੁਲੇ ਤਾਕਹਿ ਚੋਗ ਘਣੀ ॥
udeh ta baygul baygulay takeh chog ghanee.
But the others fly away in a hurry, when they see the food.
ਪੰਖ ਤੁਟੇ ਫਾਹੀ ਪੜੀ ਅਵਗੁਣਿ ਭੀੜ ਬਣੀ ॥
pankh tutay faahee parhee avgun bheerh banee.
Their feathers are clipped, and they are caught in the noose; through their mistakes, they are caught in disaster.
ਬਿਨੁ ਸਾਚੇ ਕਿਉ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਕਰਮਿ ਮਣੀ ॥
bin saachay ki-o chhootee-ai har gun karam manee.
Without the True Lord, how can anyone find release? The jewel of the Lord's Glorious Praises comes by the karma of good actions.
ਆਪਿ ਛਡਾਏ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਵਡਾ ਆਪਿ ਧਣੀ ॥
aap chhadaa-ay chhootee-ai vadaa aap Dhanee.
When He Himself releases them, only then are they released. He Himself is the Great Master.
ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਛੂਟੀਐ ਕਿਰਪਾ ਆਪਿ ਕਰੇਇ ॥
gur parsaadee chhootee-ai kirpaa aap karay-i.
By Guru's Grace, they are released, when He Himself grants His Grace.
ਅਪਣੈ ਹਾਥਿ ਵਡਾਈਆ ਜੈ ਭਾਵੈ ਤੈ ਦੇਇ ॥੩੩॥
apnai haath vadaa-ee-aa jai bhaavai tai day-ay. ||33||
Glorious greatness rests in His Hands. He blesses those with whom He is pleased. ||33||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Think of the body as a tree, the mind a bird, and the five senses as birds in its branches.

The ones who feed together on what's real are never caught in any trap.

But the others dart off in a hurry when they see plenty of food — their wings are clipped, they're caught in the snare, and their faults land them in trouble.

Without the True One, how can anyone get free? The jewel of the One's praises comes as a blessing.

When the One sets you free, you're free — the One is the great Master.

By the Guru's grace we are set free, when the One grants grace.

All greatness is in the One's hands; the One gives it to whoever pleases the One.

The senses that feed on what's real fly free; the greedy ones get tangled.
The deeper layer

The famous allegory: kaa-i-aa (body) is the tree, man (mind) the bird, the panch (five senses) the birds in it. Those who feed on tat (the essence, reality) together stay free; the greedy are snared (faahee). Grace-grammar: aap chhadaa-ay chhootee-ai — freed only when the One frees.

A Question to Sit With

Which of your five senses most often leads you into trouble — and which into wonder?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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