Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The mind of the faithless is like a crazy elephant.
It wanders the forest, distracted by attachment.
It goes here and there, hounded by death.
But the Gurmukh seeks, and finds his own home.
The wild mind can be turned around and brought home.
This whole shabad is about the mind. Man maigal saakat dayvaanaa — the mind of the saakat is like a crazy elephant. A saakat is someone who has turned away from the One. Their mind is huge and strong, crashing through the forest of attachment. It ut jaahi kaal kay chaapay — it runs here and there, chased by death.
But the same mind can turn toward the Guru. Then gurmukh khoj lahai ghar aapay — the one turned toward the Guru searches, and finds their own home. The mind is not an enemy to destroy. It is a power to be turned. Think of a wild horse. Once it is trained, that same strength carries you home. Another shabad in Raag Aasaa also pictures the mind as a drunken elephant.
Is your mind a wild force to fight, or a power to be turned?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI