Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
O my mind, through the words of the teaching, the One is found.
Without the teaching, the world wanders in circles, a little lost.
Inside this body live five sneaky thieves: wanting-more, anger, greed, clinging, and pride. They quietly rob the sweetness inside, and while a heart faces only itself it doesn't notice, and no one hears its cry. A world with its eyes closed stumbles in the dark — but the teaching is the light that ends the darkness.
The rahaao: gur sabdee har paa-i-aa jaa-ay — "through the teaching's word, the One is found." The famous image: panch chor — the five thieves within: kaam (craving/wanting-more), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (clinging attachment), ahankaar (pride/ego). These are not demons to fear but inner tendencies that quietly drain the amrit (sweetness) — named plainly so a child can recognize and befriend them rather than dread them. The literal's "punishment in the Court" is softened to "wandering a little lost." And the resolution is light: baajh guroo gubaaraa — without the teaching it's dark, so the teaching is the lamp.
Which of the five 'thieves' sneaks up on you most — and what helps you notice it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI