ਬਗਾ ਬਗੇ ਕਪੜੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਮੰਝਿ ਵਸੰਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥
bagaa bagay kaprhay tirath manjh vasaNniH.
The herons in their white feathers dwell in the sacred shrines of pilgrimage.
ਘੁਟਿ ਘੁਟਿ ਜੀਆ ਖਾਵਣੇ ਬਗੇ ਨਾ ਕਹੀਅਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਿ ॥੩॥
ghut ghut jee-aa khaavnay bagay naa kahee-aniH. ||3||
They tear apart and eat the living beings, and so they are not called white. ||3||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
A heron stands by the holy water, dressed all in white feathers, looking pure and calm.
But it is only waiting there to snatch up little fish. Wearing white doesn't make a heart white — what you do is what shows who you are.
Wearing the look of goodness is not the same as doing good.
bagaa bagay kaprhay — herons in white robes haunt the sacred waters, yet they are there to seize small creatures, so bagay naa kahee-ani, they are not truly called white. A gentle unmasking of holiness worn only as costume.
A Question to Sit With
How can you tell if someone is truly kind, and not just acting the part?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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