ਮਨਮੁਖੁ ਅੰਧੁ ਕਰੇ ਚਤੁਰਾਈ ॥
manmukh anDh karay chaturaa-ee.
The blind, self-willed manmukhs practice cleverness.
ਭਾਣਾ ਨ ਮੰਨੇ ਬਹੁਤੁ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਈ ॥
bhaanaa na mannay bahut dukh paa-ee.
They do not surrender to the Lord's Will, and suffer terrible pain.
ਭਰਮੇ ਭੂਲਾ ਆਵੈ ਜਾਏ ਘਰੁ ਮਹਲੁ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਪਾਇਦਾ ॥੫॥
bharmay bhoolaa aavai jaa-ay ghar mahal na kabhoo paa-idaa. ||5||
Deluded by doubt, they come and go in reincarnation; they never find the Mansion of the Lord's Presence. ||5||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
When I let my stubborn side take over, I get clever and tricky — and it brings me nothing but knots inside.
Turning away from the flow, I wander in circles, chasing and never quite arriving home. There is an easier way, and it is always waiting.
Cleverness that fights the flow only ties you in knots.
Manmukh means the self-willed: my own stubborn side. Cleverness that turns away from the Will sends a person wandering in circles, and the easier way is always open.
A Question to Sit With
When has being too clever made something harder?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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