Kabir rejects external forms of worship, sacred baths and holy dress, saying that an untamed, restive animal will not give up its habit of waywardness even if the owner ties a wooden clog around its neck to restrain it. Similarly, the mind cannot be made to give up its devious ways by the various external means people adopt to control it. Holy baths can cleanse the body, not the mind; and white and glittering attire may attract attention, but is not a sign of inner attainment.

What use the tilak on your forehead,
What use the rosary around your neck
When you know not the way to meet the Lord?
A restive beast, though bound with a clog,
Will not give up its truculent ways.

Your attire is shining white,
Your mind within is dark as night;
What worth your holy garb,
What use your rosary and beads
When you know not the way to meet the Lord?

Without true love and longing
What worth are your tears for Him?
Your mind within is covered
With layer upon layer of dirt;
How can you become clean and pure
By washing and rinsing the body?
What use your tilak, what use your rosary
When you know not the way to meet the Lord?

You are only after worldly tastes,
You know not the flavour of true devotion.
Says Kabir: You glitter like tinsel
And are empty within;
You know not the way to meet the Lord.

K.G., p. 100:136
Kahā bhayao tilak garai japmālā