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Sikhism·Raag Soohee·Shabad 101
Verse 6 of 9

Ask the Guide Who Knows the Way

ਅੰਧਾ ਆਗੂ ਜੇ ਥੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਜਾਣੈ ॥
anDhaa aagoo jay thee-ai ki-o paaDhar jaanai.
If a blind man is made the leader, how will he know the way?
ਆਪਿ ਮੁਸੈ ਮਤਿ ਹੋਛੀਐ ਕਿਉ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣੈ ॥
aap musai mat hochhee-ai ki-o raahu pachhaanai.
He is impaired, and his understanding is inadequate; how will he know the way?
ਕਿਉ ਰਾਹਿ ਜਾਵੈ ਮਹਲੁ ਪਾਵੈ ਅੰਧ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਅੰਧਲੀ ॥
ki-o raahi jaavai mahal paavai anDh kee mat anDhlee.
How can he follow the path and reach the Mansion of the Lord's Presence? Blind is the understanding of the blind.
ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਮ ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਕਛੁ ਨ ਸੂਝੈ ਅੰਧੁ ਬੂਡੌ ਧੰਧਲੀ ॥
vin naam har kay kachh na soojhai anDh boodou DhanDhlee.
Without the Lord's Name, they cannot see anything; the blind are drowned in worldly entanglements.
ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਚਾਨਣੁ ਚਾਉ ਉਪਜੈ ਸਬਦੁ ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਮਨਿ ਵਸੈ ॥
din raat chaanan chaa-o upjai sabad gur kaa man vasai.
Day and night, the Divine Light shines forth and joy wells up, when the Word of the Guru's Shabad abides in the mind.
ਕਰ ਜੋੜਿ ਗੁਰ ਪਹਿ ਕਰਿ ਬਿਨੰਤੀ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਾਧਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਦਸੈ ॥੬॥
kar jorh gur peh kar binantee raahu paaDhar gur dasai. ||6||
With your palms pressed together, pray to the Guru to show you the way. ||6||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

If someone who cannot see the road is made the guide, how will he ever find the way? If his own understanding is thin and clouded, how could he point anyone in the right direction?

Without the Name to light things up, the road stays hidden and it is easy to get lost in the tangle of busyness.

But when the Teacher's Word settles in the heart, a light shines day and night and a quiet joy wells up. So with hands folded, ask the Teacher — the Teacher shows the clear, level road.

It is wise to follow a guide who has actually walked the road, and to ask with an open heart.
The deeper layer

andhaa aagoo — a guide who cannot see the way: the image is about following a leader who has not found the path himself, not about anyone's eyesight. vin naam har kay kachh na soojhai — without the Name, nothing of the road is visible; the mind boodou dhandhalee, drowns in busyness. The remedy is humble and simple: kar jorh gur peh kar binantee — with folded hands, ask the one who does know, and raahu paadhar gur dasai, the Teacher shows the level road. Wisdom begins in knowing whom to ask.

A Question to Sit With

How can you tell whether someone giving you directions really knows the way?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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