ਬੰਧਨਿ ਬਾਧਿਓ ਮਾਇਆ ਫਾਸ ॥
banDhan baaDhi-o maa-i-aa faas.
They are bound and gagged, and hung by Maya's noose;
ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਛੂਟੈ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਗਾਸ ॥੪॥੧੪॥੩੪॥
jan naanak chhootai gur pargaas. ||4||14||34||
O servant Nanak, they shall be released only by Guru's Grace. ||4||14||34||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Caught and silenced, hung in the noose of the world's glitter -- and the only thing that can cut you free is grace.
The world's noose is cut by the Guru's grace.
The closing image: Maya's noose binds the ego-bound soul (cf. bound and gagged by death). The single release is the Guru's grace -- which the shabad holds together with its call to earn the profit of the Name.
A Question to Sit With
When have you been "stuck" in a way that only outside help could free?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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