ਜਿਉ ਬੈਸੰਤਰੁ ਕਾਸਟ ਮਝਾਰਿ ਬਿਨੁ ਸੰਜਮ ਨਹੀ ਕਾਰਜ ਸਾਰਿ ॥
ji-o baisantar kaasat majhaar bin sanjam nahee kaaraj saar.
As the fire in the forest, without control, cannot serve any purpose
ਬਿਨੁ ਗੁਰ ਨ ਪਾਵੈਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਜੀ ਕੋ ਦੁਆਰ ॥
bin gur na paavaigo har jee ko du-aar.
- just so, without the Guru, one cannot attain the Gate of the Lord.
ਮਿਲਿ ਸੰਗਤਿ ਤਜਿ ਅਭਿਮਾਨ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਪਾਏ ਹੈ ਪਰਮ ਨਿਧਾਨ ॥੨॥੧॥੩੪॥
mil sangat taj abhimaan kaho naanak paa-ay hai param niDhaan. ||2||1||34||
Joining the Society of the Saints, renounce your ego; says Nanak, in this way, the supreme treasure is obtained. ||2||1||34||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A forest fire out of control serves no purpose; just so, without the teaching, no one reaches the One's door.
Join the good, let go of ego; Nanak says, that is how the great treasure is found.
Energy without guidance is like a wild forest fire — it burns without warming; good company channels it toward the One.
The close gives a vivid image — an uncontrolled "fire in the forest" that "cannot serve any purpose" — for effort without the teaching: wild, destructive, fruitless. Energy without guidance burns without warming. The remedy is good company and the letting-go of ego, which channel the wild energy toward the One. Guided, the fire becomes useful; unguided, it just consumes.
A Question to Sit With
Where is your energy burning 'wild,' unguided? What would channel it toward something fruitful?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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