Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some tie bells on their ankles and dance to earn their bread.
You can wear the right clothes, keep every fast, and perform every ceremony — all on the outside.
You can sing the loveliest melodies out loud. But is the heart singing too?
Singing and ceremonies are good. The question is whether the heart is singing too.
The verse looks at many outer things. Some dancers tie bells on their ankles to earn a living. Some people keep fasts, make vows and do the "six rituals," the daily duties of a priest. Some wear special robes so others can see. Some sing lovely songs and tunes.
Singing out loud is a good thing. The verse only asks for one more step. Man nahee har har gaavaa — the mind is not singing of the One.
Think of a school choir. Someone can mouth the words perfectly while thinking about lunch. Someone else can sing with their whole self. From the back row, they may sound the same. But only one of them is really singing. The verse wants the heart to join the voice.
When do you do something with your whole heart, not just for show?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI