Even the Most Religious People Fall Without Love for God
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
People may recite by heart the Shaastras, the Simritees and the four Vedas.
They may be great hermits who put themselves through hard trials, and disciplined Yogis. They may visit every sacred shrine of pilgrimage.
They may perform every ceremony and every ritual bath, over and over again.
Even so, if they have not embraced love for the Supreme Lord God, they shall surely go to hell.
This one says that without love, even a very religious life misses the point.
Now the song turns around. The first verses said that even in the worst times, remembering the One saves. This verse shows the other side: someone who has done every religious thing. Yet the answer is the same. Without love for the One, it falls short.
Saasat simrit bayd chaar mukhaagar: they know by heart the Shaastras and Simritees, old books of law and thought, and the four Vedas, the oldest holy books in Hindu tradition. Knowing them by heart is a great achievement. They may be tapay tapeesar jogee-aa, people who train themselves hard, and Yogis. They visit holy places, bathe in holy waters, and do many ceremonies. By every outside measure, this is a full religious life.
Rang na lagee paarbarahm: if they are not "colored" by love for the One, they shall surely go to hell. The problem is not their faith, and not their effort. The missing thing is love. It is love that is felt, not just performed. Think of learning every note of a song for a parent's birthday but never feeling love while you play it. The notes are perfect, and yet something is missing. Guru Arjan is pointing at what all the holy books themselves point to.
What is the difference between religious practice done from love and religious practice done from obligation or appearance? Can you feel the difference in yourself?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI