ਅਪਣਾ ਆਪੁ ਨ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੰਤਹੁ ਕੂੜਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥੧੩॥
apnaa aap na pachhaaneh santahu koorh karahi vadi-aa-ee. ||13||
One who does not understand his own self, O Saints, falsely flatters himself. ||13||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O saints, those who do not know their own self
puff themselves up with empty praise, like decorating an empty room and calling it a palace.
Bragging is usually loudest where self-knowledge is thinnest.
Koorh karahi vadi-aa-ee — false self-praise. It grows straight out of not knowing yourself (aap na pachhaaneh). When you have not met your true self, you decorate the false one instead. Koorh means hollow, unreal — it looks impressive and washes off like cheap dye.
A Question to Sit With
Why do you think people brag most about the things they are least sure of?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
Use ← → to navigate