Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
I keep hearing about the frightening road ahead, and honestly, it scares me.
So I have run to the shelter of the holy — please, save me.
Here the heart is honest: the road ahead sounds scary, so it runs to a safe place and asks for help.
Sun sun panth daraa-o bahut bhaihaaree-aa — hearing again and again about the frightening road, I am very afraid. The heart does not pretend to be brave. The "frightening road" is the hard road of life and death, the scary crossing the Gurus often speak of. The heart has heard about it many times. And the plain truth is: it is scared.
There is something kind and human in a verse that simply says, "I'm afraid."
Then the fear sends the heart to the right place. Mai takee ot santaah layho ubaaree-aa — I have taken shelter with the Saints (holy, loving people); please, save me. The heart does not try to tough it out alone. It runs to shelter and asks to be saved.
Think of a child in a thunderstorm. She does not hide under the bed alone. She runs to her parent's room. That is a good use of fear. Fear should not freeze us. It can send us to the people who can help.
And "please, save me" is not weakness. It is wisdom. We cannot walk the hardest road alone, and it is right to ask for help. The verse teaches something quiet and important. It is fine to say you are afraid. And it is good to let that fear carry you to people who can keep you safe.
When something genuinely frightens you, do you tough it out alone or let the fear send you toward help — and which serves you better?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI