Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
One person can recite the holy books beautifully and still be slow to live what they say.
Another sits in total silence, alone — yet inside, the heart is still tied in knots of wanting.
Another walks away from home and family to seek — but the restlessness just walks along beside them.
What you wear or where you sit does not change your heart. The heart is what counts.
The verse shows three people. The first is a pandit, a scholar. He can recite the Vedas, the old holy books, beautifully. But he is slow to live what they say. The second keeps a vow of silence and sits alone. Yet inside, his heart is tied in knots of wanting. The third is an udaasee, someone who leaves home and family to seek. But the restless feeling walks right along with him.
The verse is fair to all three. It does not say study, silence or leaving home are wrong. It says each one can be only on the outside.
Think of wearing a football shirt. It does not make you a player. What makes you a player is how you train and how you play. In the same way, the role is not the point. The heart inside the role is.
When have you done the right thing on the outside but not felt it inside?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI