Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When we forget who we really are and think we are all alone and separate, we get tangled up and unhappy.
It's a bit like a bird that flies straight into a trap it could have avoided — we walk into our own troubles.
A mind glued only to shiny things and getting-and-having gets confused and can act unkindly.
But you can always ask for help and step into a safe shelter — and you will be looked after.
This one is the shadow side of the shabad, and it ends in shelter.
The words here are strong. Manmukh means someone turned toward their own wants instead of toward the One. The verse says such people are burnt by ha-umai, the "me first" feeling that makes us think we are all alone and separate. It even calls them foolish demons.
But manmukh is not a type of bad person. It is a state anyone can fall into, when we turn away from our true center.
Ji-o pankhee kapot — like a pigeon, the verse says, that walks into the trap by itself. We often step right into what harms us, even when we could have seen it coming. Think of reaching for one more cookie when your tummy already hurts. You knew, and you did it anyway.
The way out is right there. Jan taraahi taraahi sarnaagatee — the humble ones cry, "Save us, save us," and step into the One's shelter. The Guru becomes their protector. Asking for help is always allowed, and help comes.
When you feel tangled up and grumpy, who or what helps you feel safe again?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI