Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Turned away and following only itself, a heart can feel far from home. It chases what looks real but washes off like cheap dye.
Living from what isn't true brings a heavy kind of pain. Without a guide, the mind wanders unsettled, unsure of the way.
But the Giver, all on His own, pours out kindness and leads the wanderer to the Teacher. Hearts kept apart for the longest time are gently, easily brought home.
A heart that turns away feels far from home, but the Giver brings it back.
The verse pictures the manmukh — someone who follows only their own wants — living far from the One. Being that far away, it says, hurts like a burn. Inside there is mamtaa, clinging to "mine," and koorh. Koorh means the false, what doesn't last. Koorh vihaajhay koorh la-ee — the soul buys the false and gets the false. It's a market picture: trading in things that fall apart. Without the Guru, the soul can't find the way. It wanders rough paths and gets bumped at every turn.
Think of being lost in a new city with no map, walking in circles. Then someone kind takes your hand and walks you home. That's the turn in this verse: aapay da-i-aa karay parabh daataa — the Giver shows kindness first. Hearts kept apart for lifetime after lifetime are brought back sahj subhaa-ay, gently and easily.
What helps you find your way back when you feel far from yourself?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI