In the Gurbani, the right path is indicated to be honest living and devotion – ਕਿਰਤ ਅਤੇ ਭਗਤੀ. Baabaa Nanak says:
- ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੀਤ ॥ ਭੁਖੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਘਰੇ ਮਸੀਤਿ ॥ ਮਖਟੂ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਕੰਨ ਪੜਾਏ ॥ ਫਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਵਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਐ ਪਾਇ ॥ ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥: Slok Ma: 1 || Giaan vihoonaa gaavai geet… (sggs 1245).
The Gurbani indicates that both honest work (righteous Karma, actions, duties, earning truthful living, etc.) and Bhagti (devotion – ਬੰਦਗੀ) are essential to realize the Truth (God). The implication is that merely doing Naam-Simran (meditation) or singing God’s praises without our Kirat will not do the trick.
In other words, neither Bhagti alone nor Karma alone is enough. That is, it’s necessary to pursue both simultaneously. According to the Gurbani, that’s the right “Path”.
For these both are two sides of the same coin!