ਬਾਦਿਸਾਹੁ ਚੜ੍ਹ੍ਹਿਓ ਅਹੰਕਾਰਿ ॥
baadisaahu charhHi-o ahaNkaar.
The arrogant king was enraged at this reply.
ਗਜ ਹਸਤੀ ਦੀਨੋ ਚਮਕਾਰਿ ॥੫॥
gaj hastee deeno chamkaar. ||5||
He incited an elephant to attack. ||5||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The proud king flares up in anger at this answer.
He spurs a huge elephant on to charge.
Anger usually grows out of a bruise underneath.
Wounded pride can turn into anger, and anger reaches for a weapon.
Baadisaahu charhH-i-o ahankaar: the king rises up in ahankaar, ego-pride. Gaj hastee deeno chamkaar: he goads a mighty elephant to attack. The danger in this story grows from a bruised ego (haumai — the feeling of being a separate self that needs to be obeyed). The elephant stays a tense moment in the story; what comes next is a rescue.
A Question to Sit With
When you get very angry, what hurt might be hiding underneath it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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