Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O my mind, what will become of you?
In this world, you have not listened with your ears to the Naam of the One.
You are caught up deep in harmful things, and you have not turned your mind away from them at all.
A mind caught up in harmful things, with no ear for the Naam, needs to stop and ask where it is heading.
This is the rahaa-o, the "pause" line, the center of the shabad. Ray man kaun gat ho-ay hai tayree: O mind, what will become of you? Ray man means "O mind." Guru Tegh Bahadur often talks to his own mind like a dear friend he can reason with.
Raam naam so ta-o nahee suni-o kaan — you have not listened to the Name. This is about deep listening, not just hearing. It means growing still enough to notice the One who is already here. Think of a friend talking to you while you stare at a game. You hear the sounds, but you are not really listening.
Bikhi-an si-o at lubhaan — the mind is caught up in what harms it. Mat naahin fayree — you have not turned your mind around. Not yet. The question is asked so that the mind will turn.
When your mind gets tangled and busy, what helps you grow still enough to listen?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI