ਤੀਰਥ ਨਾਇ ਨ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਮੈਲੁ ॥
tirath naa-ay na utras mail.
Bathing at sacred shrines of pilgrimage, filth is not washed off.
ਕਰਮ ਧਰਮ ਸਭਿ ਹਉਮੈ ਫੈਲੁ ॥
karam Dharam sabh ha-umai fail.
Religious rituals are all just egotistical displays.
ਲੋਕ ਪਚਾਰੈ ਗਤਿ ਨਹੀ ਹੋਇ ॥
lok pachaarai gat nahee ho-ay.
By pleasing and appeasing people, no one is saved.
ਨਾਮ ਬਿਹੂਣੇ ਚਲਸਹਿ ਰੋਇ ॥੨॥
naam bihoonay chalsahi ro-ay. ||2||
Without the Naam, they shall depart weeping. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Bathing at holy places of pilgrimage does not wash the dirt away.
Rituals done for show are only the ego showing off.
Pleasing people carries no one across.
Without the Naam, they leave in tears.
Outer washing can't do the inside's cleaning.
Tirath naa-ay na utras mail — outer bathing does not remove inner grime. The critique lands on karam dharam... haumai fail (ritual as an ego-display) and lok pachaarai (performing for people) — a warning against formalism in every tradition, not against any one practice.
A Question to Sit With
What's the difference between looking good and being good?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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