Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Worn out with fasts and observances and penances, people grow weary.
They wander the whole earth on pilgrimages to the sacred rivers.
But only those who seek the Sanctuary of the true Guru are saved.
Hard work at religious practices cannot free a person from illusion by itself; taking shelter with the Guru can.
The verse describes people who have tried everything. They kept fasts. They kept strict religious rules. They did penances, hard acts meant to make up for wrongs. They traveled the whole land to bathe at the banks of holy rivers. And they grew tired.
All that effort still left them caught in Maya, the pull of illusion. Say ubray je satgur kee sarnaa — only those are saved who take shelter with the True Guru.
Think of a child lost in a busy mall. Running faster in every direction only makes them more tired. What helps is finding a safe grown-up and holding their hand. Effort alone cannot beat illusion; shelter can. Another shabad in Raag Aasaa says the same thing.
Why might refuge succeed where strenuous effort fails?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI