Verse 203 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 145 — gold outside, dust inside
ਕਬੀਰ ਬੈਸਨੋ ਹੂਆ ਤ ਕਿਆ ਭਇਆ ਮਾਲਾ ਮੇਲੀਂ ਚਾਰਿ ॥
kabeer baisno hoo-aa ta ki-aa bha-i-aa maalaa mayleeN chaar.
Kabir, what good is it to become a devotee of Vishnu, and wear four malas?
ਬਾਹਰਿ ਕੰਚਨੁ ਬਾਰਹਾ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਭਰੀ ਭੰਗਾਰ ॥੧੪੫॥
baahar kanchan baarhaa bheetar bharee bhangaar. ||145||
On the outside, he may look like pure gold, but on the inside, he is stuffed with dust. ||145||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: what good is it to become a follower of Vishnu and wear four strings of prayer beads?
On the outside that person may shine like pure gold, but inside they are stuffed with dust.
Beads on the outside mean little if the inside is dusty.
Beads and outer signs mean little if the inside is empty.
Baisno hoo-aa: became a Vaishnav, a devotee of Vishnu. A maalaa is a string of prayer beads, and here the person wears four. Kabir is speaking of show, which can creep into any faith, not of Vishnu's devotees as people.
Baahar kanchan baarhaa: outside, like pure gold. Bheetar bharee bhangaar: inside, full of dust.
A Question to Sit With
What matters more: looking devoted, or being kind?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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