Salok Vaaraan Te Vadheek (Mehl 3), Salok 70 — washing off the inner dust
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The pandits — the religious scholars — have grown tired of fire offerings and sacrifices, of visiting every holy place, and of reading the Puranas.
Still the poison of attachment to Maya does not go away; caught in ego, they keep coming and going.
Meeting the True Guru, the dirt washes off, by remembering the One, the all-knowing Great Being.
Nanak says: I am forever devoted to those who serve the One, Har, Har.
Outer effort cannot wash the inner dust. Meeting the Guru does.
The pandits, the learned scholars, grow tired. They make hom and jag, fire offerings and ceremonies. They visit every holy place. They read the Puranas, the old story-books of India. These are named with respect.
But the poison of clinging to Maya, money and things, stays. Pride keeps them coming and going. Think of washing only the outside of a water bottle. It shines, but the inside still needs cleaning.
satgur mili-ai mal utree — meeting the True Guru, the dirt washes off. It happens by remembering the wise One. The warning aims at mistaking busy activity for inner change, which can happen in any tradition, and it leaves the people who keep ceremonies their dignity.
Guru Amar Das says he is forever devoted to those who serve the One.
What is something you can only fix on the inside, not by doing more on the outside?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI