Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Sometimes the praise of the One just won't settle into a person's heart — there seems to be no room for it.
Day and night the mind is soaked in Maya — the glittering, busy world of things and worries. When someone is that full, tell me, how could a song of wonder even find a place to begin?
When a mind is too full of the busy world, there is no room left for praising the One.
This shabad is by Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru. This is its Rahao, the "pause" line and the center of the shabad. Paraanee ka-o har jas man nahee aavai — the praise of the One does not come into a person's mind. Ahinis magan rahai maa-i-aa mai — day and night, they stay soaked in Maya.
Maya here is not evil. It means being so taken up by the shiny surface of life that nothing deeper gets in. Think of a backpack stuffed so full that the zip will not close. There is no space for one more good thing.
Kaho kaisay gun gaavai — tell me, how could they sing the One's praise? The question is honest, almost tender. It is hard to sing when all your attention is already taken. The trouble is a heart that is full, with no room. It is not a wicked heart.
When your mind is completely full of worries or wants, what happens to the quiet, wondering part of you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI