Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The self-centered mind can be so foolish — it just won't take the understanding in.
It never really grasps the One's name, and leaves the whole thing full of regret in the end.
A mind closed around itself keeps the door shut.
A manmukh is a person turned toward their own self instead of the Guru's teaching. The verse calls this mind foolish. But foolish here does not mean not smart. It means it will not take in what is offered. Understanding is right there, yet it "does not obtain any understanding at all."
Think of someone wearing headphones while a friend calls out a warning. The friend is loud and clear, but the headphones stay on. har kaa naam na bujh-ee — it does not understand the Name. So it leaves with regret at the end. That regret is the natural sadness of a life that kept the door shut.
This is a gentle warning about closing ourselves off. It says nothing about anyone's worth.
What helps you stay open to learning something, even when part of you would rather not hear it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI