Salok Mehlaa 9, Salok 46 — clean outside, but inside?

ਤੀਰਥ ਬਰਤ ਅਰੁ ਦਾਨ ਕਰਿ ਮਨ ਮੈ ਧਰੈ ਗੁਮਾਨੁ ॥

tirath barat ar daan kar man mai Dharai gumaan.

Those who make pilgrimages to sacred shrines, observe ritualistic fasts and make donations to charity while still taking pride in their minds

ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਹਫਲ ਜਾਤ ਤਿਹ ਜਿਉ ਕੁੰਚਰ ਇਸਨਾਨੁ ॥੪੬॥

naanak nihfal jaat tih ji-o kunchar isnaan. ||46||

- O Nanak, their actions are useless, like the elephant, who takes a bath, and then rolls in the dust. ||46||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Visiting holy places, keeping fasts and giving to charity, while the mind holds on to pride —

Nanak says: all of it comes to nothing, like an elephant that bathes and then rolls in the dust.

Good deeds shine when they come from a humble heart.

The deeper layer

Good deeds done with a proud heart lose their worth, like an elephant that bathes and then rolls in dust.

Tirath barat ar daan kar: going to holy places, keeping fasts, giving charity. Man mai Dharai gumaan: while holding gumaan, pride, in the mind. People of every faith know these practices, and the warning is for anyone.

Nihfal jaat tih: they bear no fruit. Ji-o kunchar isnaan: like an elephant's bath. It washes in the river, then throws dust all over itself again. The good acts are worth doing; pride is what spoils them.

A Question to Sit With

Have you ever done a good thing just to look good? How does it feel different when you do it quietly?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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