Verse 197 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 139 — shiny as washed wax
ਕਬੀਰ ਐਸਾ ਜੰਤੁ ਇਕੁ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਜੈਸੀ ਧੋਈ ਲਾਖ ॥
kabeer aisaa jant ik daykhi-aa jaisee Dho-ee laakh.
Kabir, I have seen a person, who is as shiny as washed wax.
ਦੀਸੈ ਚੰਚਲੁ ਬਹੁ ਗੁਨਾ ਮਤਿ ਹੀਨਾ ਨਾਪਾਕ ॥੧੩੯॥
deesai chanchal baho gunaa mat heenaa naapaak. ||139||
He seems very clever and very virtuous, but in reality, he is without understanding, and corrupt. ||139||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: I saw a person who shone like freshly washed wax.
They seemed quick and clever and full of good qualities, but inside they had no understanding, and they were not clean.
Shine on the outside can hide emptiness inside.
A shiny outside can hide an empty inside.
Aisaa jant ik daykhi-aa: I saw one such creature. Jaisee Dho-ee laakh: like washed lac, a kind of wax that gleams when it is cleaned.
Deesai chanchal baho gunaa: they look lively and full of virtues. Mat heenaa naapaak: without understanding, and impure. Kabir is not judging looks. Goodness is measured inside, under the shine.
A Question to Sit With
Where might you polish the outside more than the inside?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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