Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Without that awe the dye does not take — the mind is not made pure.
Rituals performed without it are counterfeit, and find no resting place.
Without awe, the color of love does not stay.
Bhai bin laag na lag-ee — without bhai, loving awe, the dye does not take. Dyers use a fixer so color stays in the cloth. Awe is that fixer. Without it, even the brightest dip washes out grey.
The second line applies this to worship. Bin bhai karam kamaavnay jhoothay — actions done without awe are false. They are like cloth dyed to look good in the shop that fades in the first wash. The verse is not against worship practices. The dye is real. It is against skipping the fixer. Think of saying "thank you" while looking at your phone, versus looking someone in the eye. What the heart truly respects, the heart keeps.
When has going through the motions left no mark on you — and what was missing?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI