Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Pollution is the burning fire consuming the world. Pollution is in water, on land, everywhere.
O Nanak, people are born and die in pollution. But by Guru's Grace, they drink the Lord's sweet nectar.
This one says that only the sweet nectar of the Name can make us truly clean.
Sootak means "impurity." In old customs, people thought certain events made a home unclean. The verse says the real uncleanness is inside. It is the mess of pride and clinging. And it is everywhere.
Sootak agan bhakhai jag khaa-ay — this uncleanness is like a fire eating up the world. It is in the water, on the land, everywhere. People are born in it and die in it.
So washing or rituals cannot clean something that is everywhere. Think of trying to clear a smoky room by wiping the table. You need to open the windows. Gur parsaadee har ras peejai — by the Guru's grace, people drink the One's sweet nectar, and that makes them clean inside. Shabad 133 speaks of the same thing.
What kind of 'cleanness' can no outer washing give you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI