Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Five troublemakers are ganging up on one small, weary me — so keep me safe, You who keep everyone safe.
They wear me out and give me no peace, so I have come running to Your shelter.
This one says some inner struggles are too big to fight alone, so you reach for shelter.
The panch bikhaadee are the five troublemakers inside us: anger, greed, pride, clinging, and others like them. The verse treats them as troublemakers that gang up on a tired self, not as crimes.
Ayk gareebaa — the one poor self, small and outnumbered. Think of trying to carry five heavy bags up a hill by yourself. The smart move is to ask for help. That is what the seeker does: aa-i-o saran tuhaaray — I have come to Your shelter.
This sets up the shabad's turn. The help here comes not from fighting harder, but from taking shelter in the One and in good company.
When something inside you feels too big to handle alone, where or to whom do you go for shelter?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI