When devotion is for worldly gain, the service is fruitless. Kabir says, why ask for it, abandon devotion (to the gods).

This couplet beautifully defines true devotion. Kabir suggests that any devotion motivated by the desire for worldly gains is inherently fruitless service. His unique perspective challenges the very concept of seeking reward from the divine. He advises that if we constantly ask for something, we undermine the purity of our faith. Therefore, true devotion means abandoning all expectation and living purely for the sake of the spirit.