Sikhism·Raag Aasaa·Shabad 299
Verse 6 of 19

Look at Yourself Before Correcting Others

ਤੁਧੁ ਸਿਰਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੋ ਪੜੁ ਪੰਡਿਤ ਅਵਰਾ ਨੋ ਨ ਸਿਖਾਲਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ॥
tuDh sir likhi-aa so parh pandit avraa no na sikhaal bikhi-aa.
Read that which is written on your forehead, O Pandit, and do not teach wickedness to others.
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਫਾਹਾ ਪਇਆ ਪਾਧੇ ਪਿਛੋ ਦੇ ਗਲਿ ਚਾਟੜਿਆ ॥੫॥
pahilaa faahaa pa-i-aa paaDhay pichho day gal chaatrhi-aa. ||5||
First, the teacher is tied down, and then, the noose is placed around the pupil's neck. ||5||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Read what's written in your own heart first, before you go correcting everyone else.

If you lead people the wrong way, you both end up stuck — so lead from what's true in you.

Look honestly at yourself before correcting others — a guide who's lost leads others astray.
The deeper layer

This verse turns to the teacher directly: aapan parhi-aa parhaa-i... read your own forehead — look honestly at yourself — before you teach wickedness to others. The vivid image warns that a misleading guide and the misled follower are bound together: aagai bandhaa... galai paas — first the teacher is tied, then the noose falls on the pupil. The universal lesson under the sharp picture is one children grasp easily: whoever leads has to be going the right way themselves, because everyone following them goes where they go. Look inward and get honest first; then you can help others.

A Question to Sit With

Why is it important that someone leading the way actually knows where they're going?

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

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