Literal translation from Sant Singh Khalsa in black followed by my interpretation in green.
ਕਾਨੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ Kaanarraa Mehalaa 5 || Ang 1298
ਕੀਰਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਗਾਉ ਮੇਰੀ ਰਸਨਾਂ ॥ Keerath Prabh Kee Gaao Maeree Rasanaan ||
Sing the Praises of God, O my tongue.
O my tongue, always sing the praises of Ik Oankaar.
I think the fact that the 1st line is addressed to the tongue is an appeal to both our subconscious and conscious.
ਅਨਿਕ ਬਾਰ ਕਰਿ ਬੰਦਨ ਸੰਤਨ ਊਹਾਂ ਚਰਨ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਜੀ ਕੇ ਬਸਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Anik Baar Kar Bandhan Santhan Oohaan Charan Gobindh Jee Kae Basanaa ||1|| Rehaao ||
Humbly bow to the Saints, over and over again; through them, the Feet of the Lord of the Universe shall come to abide within you. ||1||Pause||
You should bow down to Waheguru always, greet Ik Oankaar. Those who emulate Ik Oankaar, have Waheguru’s blessing in them (charan lagna is blessing so I get this from the reference to charan). Reflect on this and consider how to apply to your life.
Gobind here is another word for Ik Oankaar. Here we are focussing on your conscious mind. The bowing means to give your head to Akaal. By committing to learn and follow, you are bowing. Its not necessarily the physical action but the bowing with your mind.
ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਵਉ ॥
Anik Bhaanth Kar Dhuaar N Paavo ||
The Door to the Lord cannot be found by any other means.
Even by trying so many different techniques, I have not been able to find the door to Ik Oankaar.
ਹੋਇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੁ ਤ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵਉ ॥੧॥
Hoe Kirapaal Th Har Har Dhhiaavo ||1||
When He becomes Merciful, we come to meditate on the Lord, Har, Har. ||1||
When my mind is engrossed, then I feel blessed.
ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਹ ਨ ਸੋਧਾ ॥
Kott Karam Kar Dhaeh N Sodhhaa ||
The body is not purified by millions of rituals.
Millions of pilgrimages and other rituals do not purify my mind.
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਪਰਬੋਧਾ ॥੨॥
Saadhhasangath Mehi Man Parabodhhaa ||2||
The mind is awakened and enlightened only in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||2||
The mind only awakens and becomes conscious of the influences of falsehood (material aspirations, selfishness, grey morality etc), when in the company of the true sangat.
ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਨ ਬੂਝੀ ਬਹੁ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
Thrisan N Boojhee Bahu Rang Maaeiaa ||
Thirst and desire are not quenched by enjoying the many pleasures of Maya.
The thirst for more (greed) is not extinguished even after a million experiences of maya (falsehood, distractions).
ਨਾਮੁ ਲੈਤ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੩॥
Naam Laith Sarab Sukh Paaeiaa ||3||
Chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, total peace is found. ||3||
However, peace is found when living the taking the Naam (living as per Gurbani). When we are told rituals are useless, Naam cannot refer just to simran but must relate to action, i.e. how we live life.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਜਬ ਭਏ ਦਇਆਲ ॥
Paarabreham Jab Bheae Dhaeiaal ||
When the Supreme Lord God becomes Merciful,
When Ik Oankaar is compassionate towards a living being, (I have another post on what this really means. As Ik Oankaar is present in each of us, I think the compassion is related to effort and kindness to ourselves from deep within. Without effort there is no compassion.)
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਉ ਛੂਟੇ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੪॥੩॥
Kahu Naanak Tho Shhoottae Janjaal ||4||3||
Says Nanak, then one is rid of worldly entanglements. ||4||3||
Nanak informs us, that only then do the shackles of maya break their hold on us and fall apart.
Overall message: Apply both your conscious and subconscious to the pursuit of becoming a Gurmukh. Empty rituals and words achieve nothing. The change to clean your mind has to come from deep within. Only then can you see, feel and experience the Truth.
ਕਾਨੜਾ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥ Kaanarraa Mehalaa 5 || Ang 1298
ਕੀਰਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੀ ਗਾਉ ਮੇਰੀ ਰਸਨਾਂ ॥ Keerath Prabh Kee Gaao Maeree Rasanaan ||
Sing the Praises of God, O my tongue.
O my tongue, always sing the praises of Ik Oankaar.
I think the fact that the 1st line is addressed to the tongue is an appeal to both our subconscious and conscious.
ਅਨਿਕ ਬਾਰ ਕਰਿ ਬੰਦਨ ਸੰਤਨ ਊਹਾਂ ਚਰਨ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਜੀ ਕੇ ਬਸਨਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Anik Baar Kar Bandhan Santhan Oohaan Charan Gobindh Jee Kae Basanaa ||1|| Rehaao ||
Humbly bow to the Saints, over and over again; through them, the Feet of the Lord of the Universe shall come to abide within you. ||1||Pause||
You should bow down to Waheguru always, greet Ik Oankaar. Those who emulate Ik Oankaar, have Waheguru’s blessing in them (charan lagna is blessing so I get this from the reference to charan). Reflect on this and consider how to apply to your life.
Gobind here is another word for Ik Oankaar. Here we are focussing on your conscious mind. The bowing means to give your head to Akaal. By committing to learn and follow, you are bowing. Its not necessarily the physical action but the bowing with your mind.
ਅਨਿਕ ਭਾਂਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਦੁਆਰੁ ਨ ਪਾਵਉ ॥
Anik Bhaanth Kar Dhuaar N Paavo ||
The Door to the Lord cannot be found by any other means.
Even by trying so many different techniques, I have not been able to find the door to Ik Oankaar.
ਹੋਇ ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਲੁ ਤ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਧਿਆਵਉ ॥੧॥
Hoe Kirapaal Th Har Har Dhhiaavo ||1||
When He becomes Merciful, we come to meditate on the Lord, Har, Har. ||1||
When my mind is engrossed, then I feel blessed.
ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ਕਰਿ ਦੇਹ ਨ ਸੋਧਾ ॥
Kott Karam Kar Dhaeh N Sodhhaa ||
The body is not purified by millions of rituals.
Millions of pilgrimages and other rituals do not purify my mind.
ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਮਹਿ ਮਨੁ ਪਰਬੋਧਾ ॥੨॥
Saadhhasangath Mehi Man Parabodhhaa ||2||
The mind is awakened and enlightened only in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||2||
The mind only awakens and becomes conscious of the influences of falsehood (material aspirations, selfishness, grey morality etc), when in the company of the true sangat.
ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨ ਨ ਬੂਝੀ ਬਹੁ ਰੰਗ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
Thrisan N Boojhee Bahu Rang Maaeiaa ||
Thirst and desire are not quenched by enjoying the many pleasures of Maya.
The thirst for more (greed) is not extinguished even after a million experiences of maya (falsehood, distractions).
ਨਾਮੁ ਲੈਤ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੩॥
Naam Laith Sarab Sukh Paaeiaa ||3||
Chanting the Naam, the Name of the Lord, total peace is found. ||3||
However, peace is found when living the taking the Naam (living as per Gurbani). When we are told rituals are useless, Naam cannot refer just to simran but must relate to action, i.e. how we live life.
ਪਾਰਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਜਬ ਭਏ ਦਇਆਲ ॥
Paarabreham Jab Bheae Dhaeiaal ||
When the Supreme Lord God becomes Merciful,
When Ik Oankaar is compassionate towards a living being, (I have another post on what this really means. As Ik Oankaar is present in each of us, I think the compassion is related to effort and kindness to ourselves from deep within. Without effort there is no compassion.)
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਉ ਛੂਟੇ ਜੰਜਾਲ ॥੪॥੩॥
Kahu Naanak Tho Shhoottae Janjaal ||4||3||
Says Nanak, then one is rid of worldly entanglements. ||4||3||
Nanak informs us, that only then do the shackles of maya break their hold on us and fall apart.
Overall message: Apply both your conscious and subconscious to the pursuit of becoming a Gurmukh. Empty rituals and words achieve nothing. The change to clean your mind has to come from deep within. Only then can you see, feel and experience the Truth.