Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Someone can sift the dust and rub ashes on the body to look holy, while the eyes are still searching for money and things.
He does not know the One, inside or outside; tell him the truth, and he gets angry.
He reads the holy books, yet his mouth speaks what is untrue; that is how a mind without the Guru works.
Without the Name, how can he find peace? Without the Name, how can a life be beautiful?
Looking holy on the outside is not the same as knowing the One inside.
Some seekers rub bibhoot, holy ash, on the body. It is a sign of giving up the world. But the verse says this person's eyes are still on maa-i-aa, money and things. The outside says one thing. The inside wants another.
Two more signs show the gap. When someone tells him the truth, he gets angry. He reads the holy books, but his words are false. The verse calls this the thinking of the niguray, a person with no guide.
Think of a poster that says "Be Kind" on the classroom wall. It is nice to look at. But the poster does nothing unless someone actually lives it. Naam na jap-ee ki-o sukh paavai — without the Name, how can anyone find peace? The Name brings real peace and real beauty to a life.
What is the difference between looking good and being good?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI