Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When people lose their way like this, they can lead others astray too, without even meaning to.
It is like setting your own house glowing with trouble — and then lying down to sleep right inside it, not noticing the warmth of the flames.
Kabir says we can be surrounded by the trouble we made and still be fast asleep.
Aap ga-ay a-uran hoo khoveh: they are lost, and they lead others astray too. Then the picture: aag lagaa-ay mandar mai soveh, "they set their own temple on fire, and then fall asleep inside it." A mandar is a temple, or a home.
It is a striking picture of harm we cause ourselves and are too asleep to notice. Think of someone scrolling a phone while the milk boils over on the stove. Kabir is not wishing harm on anyone. He is showing how not noticing works. We can be surrounded by the results of our own habits and not see them. The cure the whole shabad points to is waking up, gently.
What helps you "wake up" and notice when a habit is quietly causing you trouble?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI