The Brahmins who do not know the truth

The Brahmins who do not know the truth, vainly recite the Vedas four.

With earth and water and kusha-grass they make preparations, and seated at home they kindle fire, and from the senseless offerings that they make, they burn their eyes with the pungent smoke.

In lordly garb with one staff or three, they think themselves wise with their brahmanical lore. Vainly is the world enslaved by their vanity. They do not know that dharma’s the same as non-dharma.

With ashes these masters smear their bodies, and on their heads they wear matted hair. Seated within the house they kindle lamps. Seated in a corner they tinkle bells.

They adopt a posture and fix their eyes, whispering in ears and deceiving folk, teaching widows and bald-headed nuns and such like, initiating them as they take their fee.

Saraha, Saraha’s Treasury of Songs