Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Slowly at first, the body, like a cart loaded with dust, starts to roll.
Later, it is driven along with a stick.
A heavy, dusty cart starts slowly, and then something keeps it moving.
Bhagat Namdev liked to use humble images from everyday work. Sahj aval Dhoorh manee gaadee chaaltee — slowly at first, the cart loaded with dust starts to move. Many readers take the cart to be the body, made of earth and dust. Later it is kept moving by a stick.
This is a puzzling shabad, and people have explained it in many ways. One simple way to hold it: think of pushing a heavy bike up a hill. It is hard to get going, but once it starts rolling, it keeps going. A life turned toward the One can start slowly, too.
What is something that was hard to start but got easier once you began?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI