Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 233
Verse 2 of 5

Pleasures Are a Sleeping-Draught You Don't Notice

ਮੋਹ ਕੁਟੰਬ ਬਿਖੈ ਰਸ ਮਾਤੇ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਗਹਨ ਗਹੇ ॥੧॥
moh kutamb bikhai ras maatay mithi-aa gahan gahay. ||1||
They are intoxicated with attachment to their families and sensory pleasures; they are held in the grip of falsehood. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

They are drunk on clinging love for family and on the pleasures of the senses.

They are held in the grip of what is false.

Pleasures can act like a sleeping-draught — pleasant enough that you don't know you're asleep.
The deeper layer

What keeps people asleep is that they are drunk on things that feel good.

Moh kutamb bikhai ras maatay — they are maatay, drunk, on moh, clinging love, for their family and on the pleasures of the senses. Mithi-aa gahan gahay — they are held tight in the grip of what is false.

Think of a warm drink before bed that makes you sleepy. It feels so nice that you drift off without noticing. These pleasures are like that drink. The sleeper does not know he is asleep, because the drink tastes good.

Another shabad of Guru Arjan in this raag says where this road goes: the passions lead to ruin, and remembering the One leads to rescue.

A Question to Sit With

What pleasant things might lull a person to sleep without their noticing?

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

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