Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
You put on religious robes and a much-patched coat, changing your look again and again.
It becomes a kind of act — like a street performer playing many parts.
Meanwhile the fire of worry burns hot inside you. Without good actions, how will you cross over?
Costumes cannot carry you across. Good actions can.
Bhaykh means religious robes. The khinthaa is a patched coat that some yogis wore. Changing outfits again and again becomes an act. Natoo-aa means a juggler or street performer who plays many parts.
Meanwhile, antar agan chintaa: a fire of worry keeps burning inside. The costume cannot put it out.
Vin karmaa kaisay utras paaray means "without good actions, how will you cross over?" Think of dressing up as a firefighter for a school play. The costume looks right, but it cannot put out a real fire. Guru Nanak is pointing at empty show, not at honest practice.
Have you seen someone try to seem a certain way by how they dress or act? What shows who a person is?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI