ਮਾਥੇ ਤਿਲਕੁ ਹਥਿ ਮਾਲਾ ਬਾਨਾਂ ॥
maathay tilak hath maalaa baanaaN.
Some apply ceremonial marks to their foreheads, hold malas in their hands, and wear religious robes.
ਲੋਗਨ ਰਾਮੁ ਖਿਲਉਨਾ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥੧॥
logan raam khil-a-unaa jaanaaN. ||1||
Some people think that the Lord is a play-thing. ||1||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some put a holy mark on their forehead, hold prayer beads in their hand, and wear religious robes.
Some people think the One is a plaything.
You can wear every holy thing and still treat the sacred like a toy.
Holy marks, beads and robes can turn the One into a plaything for show.
Kabir looks at the outward badges of religion: tilak, the forehead mark, maalaa, the prayer beads, and baanaa, the robes. Logan raam khil-a-unaa jaanaa: people think the One is a plaything. His target is the human habit, in any faith, of mistaking the outfit for the heart. His own way, he says next, looks stranger and goes deeper.
A Question to Sit With
What's the difference between looking the part and meaning it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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