ਬਸੰਤੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥

Basant, First Mahalaa:

The kitchen is golden, and the cooking pots are golden.

The lines marking the cooking square are silver.

The water is from the Ganges, and the firewood is sanctified.

The food is soft rice, cooked in milk. ||1||

O my mind, these things are worthless,

if you are not drenched with the True Name. ||1||Pause||

One may have the eighteen Puraanas written in his own hand;

he may recite the four Vedas by heart,

and take ritual baths at holy festivals and give charitable donations;

he may observe the ritual fasts, and perform religious ceremonies day and night. ||2||

He may be a Qazi, a Mullah or a Shaykh,

a Yogi or a wandering hermit wearing saffron-colored robes;

he may be a householder, working at his job;

but without understanding the essence of devotional worship, all people are eventually bound and gagged, and driven along by the Messenger of Death. ||3||

Each person's karma is written on his forehead.

According to their deeds, they shall be judged.

Only the foolish and the ignorant issue commands.

O Nanak, the treasure of praise belongs to the True Lord alone. ||4||3||