Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Meeting the true teaching cools the fire of restless wanting inside me. It quiets the loud "me, me, me" — the ego that keeps me feeling separate from everyone.
In the company of that teaching, my mind stops wobbling and steadies. And words that give life — the sweet, nourishing words of the sacred song — begin to flow from a heart turned toward it.
Guru Arjan says meeting the true teaching is like cool water on a fire inside.
Satgur means the True Guru, the true teacher and teaching. Agan is the fire of wanting, the itch for more that never stops. Satgur darsan agan nivaaree: seeing the teaching puts that fire out. Meeting it quiets ha-umai, the loud "me, me, me" that makes us feel separate from everyone. In its company, naahee man dolai: the mind stops wobbling. And the gurmukh, the one who faces the teaching, speaks amrit banee, life-giving words.
Think of coming in from a hot, noisy playground into a cool, quiet room. Your whole body settles. That is the mood of this shabad: the teaching as coolness, and as something that steadies you.
When your mind is racing or restless, what helps it cool down and steady?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI