He puts the sacred thread around his neck and reads the scriptures.
ਸੂਤੁ ਪਾਇ ਕਰੇ ਬੁਰਿਆਈ ॥
soot paa-ay karay buri-aa-ee.
He puts on the thread, but does evil deeds.
ਨਾਤਾ ਧੋਤਾ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥
naataa Dhotaa thaa-ay na paa-ee.
His cleansings and washings will not be approved.
ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਵਡਿਆਈ ॥
musalmaan karay vadi-aa-ee.
The Muslim glorifies his own faith.
ਵਿਣੁ ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰੈ ਕੋ ਥਾਇ ਨ ਪਾਈ ॥
vin gur peerai ko thaa-ay na paa-ee.
Without the Guru or a spiritual teacher, no one is accepted.
ਰਾਹੁ ਦਸਾਇ ਓਥੈ ਕੋ ਜਾਇ ॥
raahu dasaa-ay othai ko jaa-ay.
They may be shown the way, but only a few go there.
ਕਰਣੀ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਭਿਸਤਿ ਨ ਪਾਇ ॥
karnee baajhahu bhisat na paa-ay.
Without the karma of good actions, heaven is not attained.
ਜੋਗੀ ਕੈ ਘਰਿ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਦਸਾਈ ॥
jogee kai ghar jugatdasaa-ee.
The Way of Yoga is demonstrated in the Yogi's monastery.
ਤਿਤੁ ਕਾਰਣਿ ਕਨਿ ਮੁੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਪਾਈ ॥
tit kaaran kan mundraa paa-ee.
They wear ear-rings to show the way.
ਮੁੰਦ੍ਰਾ ਪਾਇ ਫਿਰੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥
mundraa paa-ay firai sansaar.
Wearing ear-rings, they wander around the world.
ਜਿਥੈ ਕਿਥੈ ਸਿਰਜਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
jithai kithai sirjanhaar.
The Creator Lord is everywhere.
ਜੇਤੇ ਜੀਅ ਤੇਤੇ ਵਾਟਾਊ ॥
jaytay jee-a taytay vaataa-oo.
There are as many travellers as there are beings.
ਚੀਰੀ ਆਈ ਢਿਲ ਨ ਕਾਊ ॥
cheeree aa-ee dhil na kaa-oo.
When one's death warrant is issued, there is no delay.
ਏਥੈ ਜਾਣੈ ਸੁ ਜਾਇ ਸਿਞਾਣੈ ॥
aythai jaanai so jaa-ay sinjaanai.
One who knows the Lord here, realizes Him there as well.
ਹੋਰੁ ਫਕੜੁ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਣੈ ॥
hor fakarh hindoo musalmaanai.
Others, whether Hindu or Muslim, are just babbling.
ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਦਰਿ ਲੇਖਾ ਹੋਇ ॥
sabhnaa kaa dar laykhaa ho-ay.
Everyone's account is read in the Court of the Lord;
ਕਰਣੀ ਬਾਝਹੁ ਤਰੈ ਨ ਕੋਇ ॥
karnee baajhahu tarai na ko-ay.
without the karma of good actions, no one crosses over.
ਸਚੋ ਸਚੁ ਵਖਾਣੈ ਕੋਇ ॥
sacho sach vakhaanai ko-ay.
One who speaks the True Name of the True Lord,
ਨਾਨਕ ਅਗੈ ਪੁਛ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥
naanak agai puchh na ho-ay. ||2||
O Nanak, is not called to account hereafter. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
A Hindu comes to the home of a Hindu. Reading holy words, he puts the sacred thread around his neck. He wears the thread, yet does wrong. All his bathing and washing are not accepted.
The Muslim praises his own faith. Without the Guru, the spiritual guide, no one is accepted. People are shown the way, yet only a few walk it. Without good deeds, heaven is not reached.
In the yogi's home the way of yoga is taught, and for this they wear earrings. Wearing earrings, they wander the world, yet the Creator is everywhere.
As many beings as there are, that many travelers are on the road. When the call to leave this life comes, there is no delay.
Whoever knows the One here will recognize the One there. All else, Hindu or Muslim, is empty talk.
Everyone's account is read at the One's door. Without good deeds, no one crosses over.
Nanak says: whoever speaks the Truth of the True One is not called to account hereafter.
No label does the work, the Creator is everywhere, and it is the living that counts.
The deeper layer
The Hindu's thread and washing, the Muslim's pride in his faith, and the yogi's earrings are each measured against how a person lives, and none is enough on its own. The same measure falls on every path, one's own included; the target is hollow show, never people or a faith. The Creator is everywhere, and there are as many travelers as there are beings. Without good deeds no one crosses, and whoever speaks Truth has nothing left to answer for.
A Question to Sit With
Do your actions match the things you say you believe?
