Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Worship the spotless One in thought, in word, and in deed.
What is the use of yoga, feasts, charity, and penance without that?
This line says real devotion uses your whole self: what you think, what you say, and what you do.
Rid karmanaa bachsaa — in heart, in actions, and in words. All three line up and turn toward the One.
Then the verse asks a sharp question. Jogayn kiN jagayn kiN daadayn kiN tapsaa — what good is jog (yoga practice), jag (big religious feasts), daan (giving to charity), or tap (hard self-discipline)? These can all look very impressive.
The point is not that these things are bad. It is that without a heart, mouth and hands all turned to the One, they are empty. Think of a birthday card with a beautiful picture but nothing written inside. The picture is nice, but the message is what counts. A whole heart matters more than any show.
Are your thoughts, words, and actions pointed the same way? Where do they diverge?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI