Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O Father, I let my heart love the shiny, grabbing things of the world.
That is what took away the jewel of real wisdom.
What you fill your heart with pushes other things out.
This is the Rahao, the "pause" line at the center of the shabad. Kabir says plainly what went wrong. Baabaa maa-i-aa moh hit keenh — O Father, I gave my love to Maya. Maya means the shiny pull of the world, the wanting and grabbing. Jin gi-aan ratan hir leenh — and it took away the jewel of wisdom.
Notice how it happened. The wisdom was not grabbed by force. The heart was simply too full. Think of a backpack stuffed with toys. There is no room left for your lunch. When the heart is packed with wanting, wisdom has no space. When it is filled with the One, wisdom grows. You cannot fill it with both at once.
If your heart only has so much room, what would you most want to fill it with?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI