Men undertake various forms of external practice in order to gain self-realization: They read scriptures, suppress their senses and give up all worldly possessions; they perform ritual fasts, acts of penance and all the prescribed deeds of piety. But, says Kabir, ego still remains entrenched in their minds. The bane of ego is not only the cause of all worldly strife and suffering, it is also the greatest obstacle on the path of God-realization. To realize the Truth and reach his original home, a devotee must exterminate ego from his mind and surrender himself completely to the divine power within.

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Some say they are learned, O brother,
Some say they have renounced everything,
Some say they have subdued their senses;
But the malady of ego afflicts them all.

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Some say they are jogis, O brother,
Some say they enjoy inner bliss;
But 'me' and 'mine', 'thou' and 'thine'
They have not expelled from their mind.
What chance have they to survive
When afflicted with such a malady?

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Some say they generously give alms,
Some say they vigorously do penances;
But they do not know the Truth,
They are not aware of Naam —
They will all be consumed by Maya.

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Some say they are adepts in many methods,
Some say they are living a life of purity.
But they are all ignorant of their soul,
Of their own true self;
All their claims are empty.

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Some say they have practiced all forms of piety,
Some say they have done all the ritual fasts;
But the knot of their ego is not untied,
They have only heaped
More debts on their head.

Only he will cross the ocean, O friend,
Who banishes ego from his mind.

Drive out your pride,
Exterminate your ego,
Be not vain about your efforts.
Says Kabir: He who becomes
A slave of the Lord
Reaches his true home.