"Wear the robes of the sect of Yogis who follow Gorakh; put on the ear-rings, begging wallet and patched coat.
ਬਾਰਹ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਰੇਵਹੁ ਖਟੁ ਦਰਸਨ ਇਕ ਪੰਥਾ ॥
baarah antar ayk sarayvhu khat darsan ik panthaa.
Among the twelve schools of Yoga, ours is the highest; among the six schools of philosophy, ours is the best path.
ਇਨ ਬਿਧਿ ਮਨੁ ਸਮਝਾਈਐ ਪੁਰਖਾ ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਚੋਟ ਨ ਖਾਈਐ ॥
in biDh man samjaa-ee-ai purkhaa baahurh chot na khaa-ee-ai.
This is the way to instruct the mind, so you will never suffer beatings again."
ਨਾਨਕੁ ਬੋਲੈ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਬੂਝੈ ਜੋਗ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਇਵ ਪਾਈਐ ॥੯॥
naanak bolai gurmukh boojhai jog jugat iv paa-ee-ai. ||9||
Nanak speaks: the Gurmukh understands; this is the way that Yoga is attained. ||9||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
In plain words
The yogis say: "Wear the robes of our order, the earrings, the begging bag, and the patched coat.
Of the twelve schools of yoga, ours is the highest; of the six schools of thought, ours is the best path.
This is how to teach the mind, so you never take a beating again."
Nanak says: the one who faces the Guru understands, and that is how yoga is found.
The outfit is not the practice; the understanding inside is.
The deeper layer
The Siddhas press their case for outer marks, mundraa (earrings), jholee (begging wallet), khinthaa (patched coat), and for rank (ours is the highest of the twelve schools). Nanak gently shifts the ground from costume and status to inner understanding, the gurmukh. There is no mockery here, only a redirection.
A Question to Sit With
When have you thought looking the part was the same as being it?
