Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You could have all eighteen Puranas, the old holy books, written out in your own hand.
You could recite all four Vedas, the ancient holy books, by heart.
You could bathe at the holy festivals and give gifts to charity.
You could keep the fasts and do the ceremonies, day and night.
Some religious achievements are big, and they take a lot of work.
Someone might copy out the eighteen Puranas, old holy books, by hand. They might know the four Vedas, the oldest Hindu scriptures, by heart. They might bathe at holy festivals, give to charity, and keep fasts and ceremonies day and night.
Guru Nanak does not say these things are worthless. He says they are not the finish line. Think of a runner with the best shoes and the best training plan. All of it helps, but the race is still about running.
Like the golden kitchen, these things are the outside. Next to a heart soaked in the Naam, they are not finished on their own.
Is it possible to know all about something without feeling it in your heart?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI