Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You can shave your head, or grow your hair long in knots or braids, or sit in silence.
But if pride sneaks in, the mind still wobbles and wanders off in every direction. It has no love and no knowing of the soul.
Leaving the sweet nectar, a person drinks poison, carried away by the pull of things.
Old habits do not wear off. Without understanding the One's will, a person lives by hunger and habit alone.
You can change how you look, but pride can hide under any style.
The verse lists what some seekers do. Some shave their heads. Some let their hair grow in long knots. Some tie it in braids. Some keep silent. The verse does not blame any of these. It points to abhimaanaa, pride, which can sneak into any practice.
When pride is there, manoo-aa dolai dah dis Dhaavai — the mind wobbles and runs in ten directions. It has no love and no inner knowing.
Then comes a strong picture. Such a person leaves amrit, sweet nectar, and drinks poison. It means choosing what passes over what is real. The verse says this person does not understand hukam, the One's will, and lives like an animal. It means living by hunger and habit alone.
Think of a new haircut on the first day of school. It can look great. But it does not change how you treat people. What steadies the mind is loving attention to the One.
Can you look calm on the outside while feeling restless inside, and what helps?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI