Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some who call themselves givers gather money by doing wrong, then give it away as charity. Their spiritual teachers come to their homes to teach them.
A woman loves a man only for the money he earns, and they come and go as they please.
No one follows the Shaastras or the Vedas. Everyone worships only themselves.
Some become judges and sit to give justice. They turn their prayer beads and call on God, but they take bribes and block what is fair. If anyone asks, they read out lines from their books.
Muslim scripture is in their ears and in their hearts, yet they rob the people and live on gossip and flattery. They mark off their kitchens to make themselves pure. Look, this is what such a Hindu has become.
The yogi with matted hair and ashes has become a householder, and children cry in front of him and behind him. He has not found yoga, and he has lost his way. Why, then, does he put ashes on his head?
Nanak says: this is the sign of the Dark Age, Kali Yuga: everyone says that they alone know.
A mixed-up time, looked at honestly. The pretending shows up in every group, not in any one faith.
He calls this time Kal Yug, the dark, mixed-up age. Then he lists what he sees. Some people gather money in wrong ways, then give a little away to look generous. A kaajee (Qazi), a judge, turns his prayer beads and calls on God, yet takes bribes and blocks justice. Some officials take from the people, then mark off their kitchens to look pure. A jogee, a yogi with matted hair and ashes, has slipped back into a householder's life and lost his way. Hardly anyone follows the holy books. Everyone worships only himself.
Think of a school where every group says, "We are the good ones." The honest student sees that every group has some people who only look good. Guru Nanak is not against any faith. He is against hollowness wherever it shows up.
The last line holds the key. Aapay aakhan aapay jaan means "everyone says that he himself knows." Being sure you have it all figured out is the deeper problem. Change starts when we look honestly at ourselves.
When have you been most certain you were right, and how did that go?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI