ਅਜਰ ਗਹੁ ਜਾਰਿ ਲੈ ਅਮਰ ਗਹੁ ਮਾਰਿ ਲੈ ਭ੍ਰਾਤਿ ਤਜਿ ਛੋਡਿ ਤਉ ਅਪਿਉ ਪੀਜੈ ॥
ajar gahu jaar lai amar gahu maar lai bharaat taj chhod ta-o api-o peejai.
Seize and burn the unbearable; seize and kill the imperishable; leave behind your doubts, and then, you shall drink in the Nectar.
ਮੀਨ ਕੀ ਚਪਲ ਸਿਉ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਮਨੁ ਰਾਖੀਐ ਉਡੈ ਨਹ ਹੰਸੁ ਨਹ ਕੰਧੁ ਛੀਜੈ ॥੨॥
meen kee chapal si-o jugat man raakhee-ai udai nah hans nah kanDh chheejai. ||2||
In this way, the fickle fish of the mind will be held steady; the swan-soul shall not fly away, and the body-wall shall not crumble. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The old teachers spoke of firmly letting go of what weighs the heart down.
Set the tangles and doubts aside, and something sweet like nectar can rise inside.
Then the restless fish of the mind grows still, and the whole self feels steady and safe.
Firmly letting go of what weighs you down lets sweetness rise in its place.
The fierce verbs, burn and kill, are the yogis' shorthand for decisively releasing ego and doubt: a firm and kind letting-go. What remains when the grip loosens is apiau, the nectar of presence. The repeated refrain anchors the whole shabad in steadiness.
A Question to Sit With
What is something heavy you could set down to feel lighter inside?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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