Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Lust, anger, being drunk on Maya, and jealousy —
I have gambled them all away and lost them.
And purity, contentment, kindness, faith, and truth —
these I have welcomed into the home of my self.
This verse is a trade. Guru Arjan gives up his worst habits and lets his best qualities move in.
He names five troubles: kaam, wanting too much in the body; krodh, anger; the drunk feeling that Maya, the pull of things, gives; and jealousy. Together these are the Panch Vikaar, the five thieves. He says he lost them all joo-ai, in a game of chance.
In their place he welcomes five good guests into the home of his self: purity, contentment, kindness, faith, and truth.
Usually losing a game feels bad. Here losing is winning. It is like clearing junk out of your room so there is space for things you love.
What would you most like to 'lose' to make room for something better inside you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI