ਜੇਤੀ ਸਿਆਨਪ ਕਰਮ ਹਉ ਕੀਏ ਤੇਤੇ ਬੰਧ ਪਰੇ ॥
jaytee si-aanap karam ha-o kee-ay taytay banDh paray.
The more clever tricks I tried, the more bonds I was saddled with.
ਜਉ ਸਾਧੂ ਕਰੁ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਧਰਿਓ ਤਬ ਹਮ ਮੁਕਤ ਭਏ ॥੨॥
ja-o saaDhoo kar mastak Dhari-o tab ham mukat bha-ay. ||2||
When the Holy Saint placed His Hand upon my forehead, then I was liberated. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The more clever tricks I piled up, the more tangled and tied down I became. But when the teaching laid its gentle hand on me, I came free.
Cleverness in the service of ego ties you up; a gentle blessing sets you free.
Jaytee si-aanap karam ha-o kee-ay taytay bandh paray — "the more clever deeds I did, the more bonds fell on me." Si-aanap, cleverness in the service of ego, actually binds. The freeing gesture is beautifully simple and tender: kar mastak dhari-o, "a hand placed on the forehead" — a blessing, a reassurance, and suddenly mukat, liberation. Note the reversal: not the clever ones but the surrendered ones go free. Grace, not cunning, unties the knot.
A Question to Sit With
Have you ever been "too clever" for your own good? What finally helped?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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