Suppose a man has several sons.
The older boys address him distinctly
as "Baba" or "Papa,"
but the babies can at best
call him "Ba" or "Pa."
Now, will the father be angry
with those who address him
in this indistinct way?
The father knows that
they too are calling him,
only they cannot pronounce the name well.
All children are the same to the father.
Likewise, the devotees call on God alone,
though by different names.
They call on one God only.
God is one,
but His names are many.
I have practiced
Hinduism, Islam, Christianity —
and I have also followed the paths
of the different Hindu sects.
I have found that it is the same God
toward whom all are directing their steps,
though along different paths.
You should try all beliefs
and traverse all different ways once.
Wherever I look,
I see people quarreling
in the name of religion.
But they never reflect that
He who is called Krishna is also called Shiva
and bears the name of Primal Energy,
Mother, Jesus, and Allah as well —
the same Lord, with a thousand names.
