Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A person can do the worship, wear the sacred mark, and take the ritual baths.
And then they turn around and squeeze others for what they want.
This one says holy actions mean little if you still treat people harshly.
Poojaa, tilak, and isnaanaa are sacred acts. Poojaa is worship. The tilak is a holy mark on the forehead. Isnaanaa is ritual bathing. The verse does not call these bad.
The problem is what comes next. Chhuree kaadh layvai hath daanaa — he pulls out a knife and demands gifts. In other words, he does the holy acts and then bullies others for what he wants.
Think of a player who shakes hands politely before the game, then trips people when the referee looks away. The target is the split between sacred show and unkind action. That fault can show up in any tradition.
Why do you think someone might look very religious and still be unkind — and what's missing?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI