qMonkqMonkSikhism
Sikhism·Aasaa Kee Vaar·Aasaa Kee Vaar, Pauri 1
Verse 56 of 85

Fussing Over Rules Means Nothing If You're Unkind

ਮਃ ੧ ॥
mehlaa 1.
First Mehl:
ਮਾਣਸ ਖਾਣੇ ਕਰਹਿ ਨਿਵਾਜ ॥
maanas khaanay karahi nivaaj.
The man-eaters say their prayers.
ਛੁਰੀ ਵਗਾਇਨਿ ਤਿਨ ਗਲਿ ਤਾਗ ॥
chhuree vagaa-in tin gal taag.
Those who wield the knife wear the sacred thread around their necks.
ਤਿਨ ਘਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਪੂਰਹਿ ਨਾਦ ॥
tin ghar barahman pooreh naad.
In their homes, the Brahmins sound the conch.
ਉਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਓਈ ਸਾਦ ॥
unHaa bhe aavahi o-ee saad.
They too have the same taste.
ਕੂੜੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਕੂੜਾ ਵਾਪਾਰੁ ॥
koorhee raas koorhaa vaapaar.
False is their capital, and false is their trade.
ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਿ ਕਰਹਿ ਆਹਾਰੁ ॥
koorh bol karahi aahaar.
Speaking falsehood, they take their food.
ਸਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਕਾ ਡੇਰਾ ਦੂਰਿ ॥
saram Dharam kaa dayraa door.
The home of modesty and Dharma is far from them.
ਨਾਨਕ ਕੂੜੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥
naanak koorh rahi-aa bharpoor.
O Nanak, they are totally permeated with falsehood.
ਮਥੈ ਟਿਕਾ ਤੇੜਿ ਧੋਤੀ ਕਖਾਈ ॥
mathai tikaa tayrh Dhotee kakhaa-ee.
The sacred marks are on their foreheads, and the saffron loin-cloths are around their waists;
ਹਥਿ ਛੁਰੀ ਜਗਤ ਕਾਸਾਈ ॥
hath chhuree jagat kaasaa-ee.
in their hands they hold the knives - they are the butchers of the world!
ਨੀਲ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਪਹਿਰਿ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਪਰਵਾਣੁ ॥
neel vastar pahir hoveh parvaan.
Wearing blue robes, they seek the approval of the Muslim rulers.
ਮਲੇਛ ਧਾਨੁ ਲੇ ਪੂਜਹਿ ਪੁਰਾਣੁ ॥
malaychh Dhaan lay poojeh puraan.
Accepting bread from the Muslim rulers, they still worship the Puraanas.
ਅਭਾਖਿਆ ਕਾ ਕੁਠਾ ਬਕਰਾ ਖਾਣਾ ॥
abhaakhi-aa kaa kuthaa bakraa khaanaa.
They eat the meat of the goats, killed after the Muslim prayers are read over them,
ਚਉਕੇ ਉਪਰਿ ਕਿਸੈ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ॥
cha-ukay upar kisai na jaanaa.
but they do not allow anyone else to enter their kitchen areas.
ਦੇ ਕੈ ਚਉਕਾ ਕਢੀ ਕਾਰ ॥
day kai cha-ukaa kadhee kaar.
They draw lines around them, plastering the ground with cow-dung.
ਉਪਰਿ ਆਇ ਬੈਠੇ ਕੂੜਿਆਰ ॥
upar aa-ay baithay koorhi-aar.
The false come and sit within them.
ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ਵੇ ਮਤੁ ਭਿਟੈ ॥ ਇਹੁ ਅੰਨੁ ਅਸਾਡਾ ਫਿਟੈ ॥
mat bhitai vay mat bhitai. ih ann asaadaa fitai.
They cry out, "Do not touch our food, or it will be polluted!"
ਤਨਿ ਫਿਟੈ ਫੇੜ ਕਰੇਨਿ ॥
tan fitai fayrh karayn.
But with their polluted bodies, they commit evil deeds.
ਮਨਿ ਜੂਠੈ ਚੁਲੀ ਭਰੇਨਿ ॥
man joothai chulee bharayn.
With filthy minds, they try to cleanse their mouths.
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਚੁ ਧਿਆਈਐ ॥
kaho naanak sach Dhi-aa-ee-ai.
Says Nanak, meditate on the True Lord.
ਸੁਚਿ ਹੋਵੈ ਤਾ ਸਚੁ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੨॥
such hovai taa sach paa-ee-ai. ||2||
If you are pure, you will obtain the True Lord. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Some people wear every holy sign and say all the prayers, yet are dishonest and cruel in how they actually live.

They fuss over silly purity rules — who's allowed in their kitchen — while their trade is false and their hearts are far from kindness. All the outer show can't cover that up.

Fussing over outer rules means nothing if you're dishonest or unkind — holiness is in how you treat people.
The deeper layer

This is a sharp shalok against hypocrisy — people who carry all the marks of holiness (sacred marks, robes, sounding the conch, saying prayers) while their actual conduct is false and even cruel. Guru Nanak points to the glaring double standard of some of the religious authorities of his day: they keep elaborate rules about who may enter their kitchen and what is 'pure,' yet their trade is dishonest and modesty and goodness are far from them. The Vaar's verdict is that no amount of ritual fastidiousness covers up a false heart. For a child the lesson is clear and important: fussing over outer rules of 'cleanliness' or appearance means nothing if you're being dishonest or unkind. Holiness is in how you treat people, not in how holy you manage to look.

A Question to Sit With

Have you seen someone follow all the 'rules' but still be unkind? Which matters more?

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

About this shabad →
← Verse 55 of 85 Be the Same Person Inside and Out
Verse 57 of 85 →Even the Mightiest King Is Small Before the One
Use ← → to navigate