Mirabai was a living Gita, Krishna in female form and God manifest in its mightiest form. Here in this bhajan, she admonishes the deluded ritualistic dharma gurus, their cult and their equally deluded worldly followers.

1. O Deluded ones! Lord (Hari) resides in the heart of His devotees, gopies.
2. Why are you wandering in the forests while He, the nearest and dearest one, is your very self?
3. Why are you criss-crossing forests and various places having put on a show of renunciation?
4. The Lord is neither in the forest nor in the strange lonely places.
5. You may go to Kashi (Banares) and bathe in the Ganges during your pilgrimage
6. But Lord is neither in the water nor in the wind.
7. You may perform with the help of deluded priests, havans, yagnas and other rituals to satisfy your idiosyncrasies
8. But the Lord is neither in havens or fire worship rituals.
9. Gopi Mira's lover is the perfect gentleman Giridhar, whom she has married eternally
10. O Deluded worldly people! The Lord truly resides in the heart of His gopies (i.e. devotees). (Gita 2:42-44, 9:20-21)

Commentary:

"The kingdom of heaven in your heart," says Jesus Christ. In the Gitaji, Shri Krishna says, "I am the Atman residing in the heart of all creatures including the inert" (Gita 10:20). We may therefore take note that religions are mere businesses in the name of God and have nothing to do with spirituality. As a matter of fact ,when the greedy deluded ones are once misguided by the misguided gurus, it is next to impossible to reeducate them.

Shree Ramakrishna used to say that once a mango is pricked by birds, it is not suitable for offering to the Lord. Once the worldly man has tasted lust, greed and fame, it is almost impossible to put them back on the track of love, peace and joy. Nevertheless, in rare cases it is possible that a fish may escape the net of maya, like Pingla (Gita 9:30-31). Those who have good samskars should hope for a better life or even spiritual progress if they are sincere and have a true longing for the Lord.

--Swami Radhanandaji