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Sikhism·Aasaa Kee Vaar·Aasaa Kee Vaar, Pauri 1
Verse 69 of 85

Don't Judge Outside; the Plainest May Be Silk Within

ਮਃ ੧ ॥
mehlaa 1.
First Mehl:
ਅੰਦਰਹੁ ਝੂਠੇ ਪੈਜ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਦੁਨੀਆ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਫੈਲੁ ॥
andrahu jhoothay paij baahar dunee-aa andar fail.
Those who are false within, and honorable on the outside, are very common in this world.
ਅਠਸਠਿ ਤੀਰਥ ਜੇ ਨਾਵਹਿ ਉਤਰੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਮੈਲੁ ॥
athsath tirath jay naaveh utrai naahee mail.
Even though they may bathe at the sixty-eight sacred shrines of pilgrimage, still, their filth does not depart.
ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਪਟੁ ਅੰਦਰਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਗੁਦੜੁ ਤੇ ਭਲੇ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
jinH pat andar baahar gudarh tay bhalay sansaar.
Those who have silk on the inside and rags on the outside, are the good ones in this world.
ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਨੇਹੁ ਲਗਾ ਰਬ ਸੇਤੀ ਦੇਖਨ੍ਹ੍ਹੇ ਵੀਚਾਰਿ ॥
tinH nayhu lagaa rab saytee daykhnHay veechaar.
They embrace love for the Lord, and contemplate beholding Him.
ਰੰਗਿ ਹਸਹਿ ਰੰਗਿ ਰੋਵਹਿ ਚੁਪ ਭੀ ਕਰਿ ਜਾਹਿ ॥
rang haseh rang roveh chup bhee kar jaahi.
In the Lord's Love, they laugh, and in the Lord's Love, they weep, and also keep silent.
ਪਰਵਾਹ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਸੈ ਕੇਰੀ ਬਾਝੁ ਸਚੇ ਨਾਹ ॥
parvaah naahee kisai kayree baajh sachay naah.
They do not care for anything else, except their True Husband Lord.
ਦਰਿ ਵਾਟ ਉਪਰਿ ਖਰਚੁ ਮੰਗਾ ਜਬੈ ਦੇਇ ਤ ਖਾਹਿ ॥
dar vaat upar kharach mangaa jabai day-ay ta khaahi.
Sitting, waiting at the Lord's Door, they beg for food, and when He gives to them, they eat.
ਦੀਬਾਨੁ ਏਕੋ ਕਲਮ ਏਕਾ ਹਮਾ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਮੇਲੁ ॥
deebaan ayko kalam aykaa hamaa tumHaa mayl.
There is only One Court of the Lord, and He has only one pen; there, you and I shall meet.
ਦਰਿ ਲਏ ਲੇਖਾ ਪੀੜਿ ਛੁਟੈ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਜਿਉ ਤੇਲੁ ॥੨॥
dar la-ay laykhaa peerh chhutai naankaa ji-o tayl. ||2||
In the Court of the Lord, the accounts are examined; O Nanak, the sinners are crushed, like oil seeds in the press. ||2||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Some people look impressive on the outside but are false within — that's sadly common.

The truly good ones may look plain and ordinary on the outside, but inside they're pure silk — full of love, caring only to be near the One.

Don't judge by the outside — the plainest-looking person may be pure silk within, full of love.
The deeper layer

A gorgeous image contrasting outer show with inner reality. Plenty of people are false within but honorable on the outside — polished exteriors over hollow hearts — and no amount of pilgrimage washes that inner filth away. But the truly good are the opposite: silk on the inside, rags on the outside — plain, unremarkable, maybe even shabby to look at, yet inwardly rich with love. They laugh and weep in the Lord's love, care for nothing but being near the One, and wait humbly at His Door. Don't judge by the wrapping. The shabbiest-looking person may be pure silk inside, and the most impressive-looking may be rags where it counts. What matters is the silk within.

A Question to Sit With

Have you known someone unremarkable-looking who turned out to be wonderful inside?

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

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