Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O my mind, take hold of the support of the holy ones. Gently set down your clever little arguments. You do not have to out-think your way to peace.
Nanak says: the heart that holds the Guru's teaching inside it is a lucky heart indeed. It is as if good fortune were written across its forehead. That good fortune is a quiet gift, the gift of having let the Guru's teaching in.
Set down your clever arguments and lean on the holy ones; the good fortune that follows is a gift.
This Shalok puts two moves side by side. SaaDhoo kee man ot gahu — O mind, hold on to the support of the holy. Ukat si-aanap ti-aag — let go of clever arguments.
Si-aanap, cleverness, keeps coming up in these closing letters. The verse does not look down on thinking. It asks the ego to stop trying to out-think its way to peace. Think of trying to win an argument with someone who is only trying to comfort you.
Mastak bhaag — good fortune written on the forehead. It is heard as the quiet gift of having let the Guru's teaching, gur deekhi-aa, in. It is grace, not merit. Good fortune is received, not bought.
When has letting go of trying to be clever brought you more peace than winning ever could?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI