Verse 62 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 4 — gold earrings, burnt twigs
ਕਬੀਰ ਕੰਚਨ ਕੇ ਕੁੰਡਲ ਬਨੇ ਊਪਰਿ ਲਾਲ ਜੜਾਉ ॥
kabeer kanchan kay kundal banay oopar laal jarhaa-o.
Kabir, earrings made of gold and studded with jewels,
ਦੀਸਹਿ ਦਾਧੇ ਕਾਨ ਜਿਉ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮਨਿ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਉ ॥੪॥
deeseh daaDhay kaan ji-o jinH man naahee naa-o. ||4||
look like burnt twigs, if the Name is not in the mind. ||4||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: there are earrings made of gold, set with red jewels on top.
Yet on those who do not have the Naam in their mind, they look like burnt twigs.
The most impressive outside is empty without the Naam inside.
Without the Naam inside, the finest gold looks like burnt twigs.
Kanchan kay kundal: earrings of gold, with laal, red jewels, set in them. Daadhay kaan: burnt reeds or twigs, black and worthless once scorched. Kabir is not against beauty. Without the Naam in the mind, even the most dazzling outside is hollow.
A Question to Sit With
Can you think of something that looks amazing but does not matter much? And something plain that matters a lot?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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