Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When a mind is completely wrapped up in chasing what glitters, five restless troublemakers move in and make themselves at home.
But in good company, the same mind rinses clean and grows bright, colored through with love for the One.
The panch bikaar — the "five" inner troubles: kaam, krodh, lobh, moh, ahankaar (craving, anger, greed, over-attachment, ego) — are named as unwelcome houseguests that move in when the mind is raachay maaiaa sang, tangled up in maya (the glittering, passing surface of things). Maya here is not "illusion is bad" so much as "don't mistake the glitter for the real." The cure is again saadhsang: good company rinses the mind nirmal (clean, clear) and dyes it in prabh kai rang — the color of love for the One (an image the poem returns to often). Note the balance: the five aren't enemies to fight so much as guests that leave when better company fills the house.
Have you noticed how the company you keep changes what "moves in" to your own head?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI