Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You could give great gifts at the holy river, or make grand offerings at a famous shrine,
but without the Name in your heart, no piled-up gold sets you free. The freedom was never for sale.
This one says no gift, trip or offering can stand in for the Name.
Prayaag and Benares are famous pilgrimage cities on the river Ganga. People went there to give great gifts. The verse says someone might give huge gifts there, or even punish their own body as an offering. Bin har naam ko mukat na paavai — without the Name, no one is set free.
This is not aimed at any faith. It is aimed at empty ritual anywhere, when the outside show takes the place of the heart.
Think of buying the fanciest birthday card in the shop and forgetting to write anything inside. The card is grand, but the love is missing.
Freedom comes from the heart. It cannot be bought with gold, and it is not a show.
Can you think of something valuable that money simply can't buy?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI