ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭੇਖ ਕਰਹਿ ਘਨੇਰੇ ॥
baahar bhaykh karahi ghanayray.
Outwardly, they wear various religious robes,
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਬਿਖਿਆ ਉਤਰੀ ਘੇਰੇ ॥
antar bikhi-aa utree ghayray.
but within, they are enveloped by poison.
ਅਵਰ ਉਪਦੇਸੈ ਆਪਿ ਨ ਬੂਝੈ ॥
avar updaysai aap na boojhai.
They instruct others, but do not understand themselves.
ਐਸਾ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣੁ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਸੀਝੈ ॥੩॥
aisaa baraahman kahee na seejhai. ||3||
Such Brahmins will never be emancipated. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
On the outside they wear all kinds of holy robes, but inside they are full of poison.
They lecture others and never understand themselves.
Such priests will never be free.
Holy robes on the outside free no one when there is poison within.
The heart of the critique: "outwardly... various religious robes, but within... poison" — the gap between sacred costume and corrupt heart. And the recurring failure of the religious professional: "they instruct others, but do not understand themselves" (cf. Shabad 42, Shabad 45). Robes do not free; only the inner reality does.
A Question to Sit With
Why is it so much easier to instruct others than to understand yourself?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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