Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
How can this beautiful, strong fortress be won, my brothers and sisters?
It has double walls and triple moats.
The fortress inside you, walled off by the ego, is won by love and grace, never by force.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Kabir asks a riddle: how can this mighty fortress be won? Ki-o leejai gadh bankaa bhaa-ee — how can the beautiful fort be taken, friends? Gadh means a fort. Bhaa-ee means brothers and sisters.
The fort is our own inner self, walled off by the ego. The ego is the part of us that says "me first." It is guarded by habits and by wanting. Dovar kot ar tayvar khaa-ee — it has double walls and triple moats. It looks impossible to get into.
Think of a kid who is so upset they build a blanket fort and won't let anyone in. Shouting at the fort doesn't work. The rest of the shabad gives the answer. The fort is not won by force. It is won by love and grace.
What is one wall inside you that feels hard to get past?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI