Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The pull of wanting can rise like big waves and toss the mind about.
But there is a way across: a sturdy boat carrying true, lasting treasure.
A hidden jewel inside, awe and good qualities, settles the mind and seats it steady, like a calm ruler on a throne.
A mind full of wanting is like a sea full of waves. And there is a way to cross it.
First he says it plainly: maa-i-aa mu-ee na man mu-aa. The pull of Maya (the shiny things of the world that grab us) has not gone away. The mind has not calmed down. Sar lahree mai mat: the waves of this sea are like a drink that makes you dizzy. Wanting pushes the mind around the way waves toss a small boat.
Then comes the boat. The bohith is a ship loaded with saachaa vakhar, the true cargo. That cargo is the Name, and it carries a heart across.
The jewel inside is good qualities and bhai, a loving awe of the One. With that jewel, the mind steadies itself. Think of a class captain who stays calm when everyone is shouting. Nobody gets pushed around, and the room settles. That is how the verse pictures self-control: a calm ruler on a throne, not a fight.
What helps you feel settled and steady when your wants pull hard?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI