Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without meaning to, a person does things half-asleep. They do not settle the heart in remembrance or quiet reflection.
And this restless mind runs off in every direction. How can it ever be gathered and stilled?
This one describes a mind that runs off in every direction.
Anjaanat kichh ineh kamaano — this person acts anjaanat, without knowing, as if half-asleep. Guru Arjan describes this mind gently, not harshly. Jap tap kachhoo na saaDhaa — it has not practiced jap or tap. Jap is remembering the One. Tap is steady, disciplined reflection. These are the practices that settle a heart.
Dah dis lai ih man da-uraa-i-o — this mind runs off in the dah dis, the ten directions. That means everywhere at once. Think of a puppy in a park, chasing every smell and every ball. Kavan karam kar baaDhaa — how can it be held still?
The tone is kind. It names the problem the way a caring doctor would, with no blame. This is just how an unsettled heart acts before it finds its center.
When your thoughts scatter in ten directions, what helps you gather them back?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI