Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some keep fasts and vows, and travel to holy places on the Ganges river.
They stand in the water with almost nothing on, putting up with hunger and going without.
They sit cross-legged, perform worship and do good deeds.
They put holy symbols on their bodies and sacred marks on their arms and legs.
They read the holy books, yet they never join the Sangat, the true gathering.
Outward religious acts can be done perfectly and still miss the heart.
The verse lists what people do. Barat naym tirath: fasts, vows, and trips to holy places like the Ganges river. Poojaachaar: acts of worship. Tilak: sacred marks on the body. Some even read the holy books from cover to cover.
Darsan bhaytay bin satsangaa: without the Sangat, people gathered together to remember the One, they still miss seeing the One. It is like practicing every move of a dance but never hearing the music. Nothing here is against any faith or any practice. It is about form with no heart inside, in any tradition.
What is the difference between going through the motions and meaning something with your whole heart?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI