Aisa koi na mila, jaso rahiye laag.

Sab jag jalata dekhiya, apanee-apanee aag.

I was searching for help, for love, someone where I

could be myself being with him. But I couldn’t find

anyone. Everyone here is going through his or her own

hell. All are troubled by either way. How can someone

find peace and happiness here?

Some saints say we are actually seeking intimacy or

love, which is our true nature, because at the core we

are ONE, one consciousness in so many expressions!

When we tend to create our own world of desires and

thoughts, a thin layer covers our being, we feel

separated from the ONE and miss and seek this

intimacy in so many forms-wealth, name, fame or

relations!! Had Kabir also searched an intimacy and

couldn’t find?? The interesting thing is the more love

grows within us, the more people feel intimate to us,

and that is the reason people feel ultimate intimacy

and bliss in the company of Saints!!

Dil kaa maraham na mila, jo milaa so garajee.

Kah kabir asmaan phate, kyokar seewe darajee.

I couldn’t find the ointment to heal the wounds of my

heart. Who so ever I met, are self-obsessed, and are

no good for others. Kabir says – when the sky is torn,

which tailor is capable to stitch it? So worse is the

condition of Kabir, and he is not able to find a healer!! I

assume here Kabir is referring about his restlessness

for realization and search for a true Guru.

2. Kabir speaks about the human body and its

components...............

Jheenee- jheenee beenee chadariyaa.

Kaahe ke taanaa, kaahe ke bharani, kaun taar se

beenee chadariya.

Ingala-pingala taanaa bharanee, sushaman taar

se beenee chadariyaa.

Aath kawal das charakha dole, paanch tatva gun

teenee chadariyaa.

Saai ko siyat maas das laage, Thok-Thok ke

beenee chadaryaa.

So chadar sur-nar muni oDhee, oDh ke mailee

keenee chadariyaa.

Das Kabir jatan se odhee, jyo ki tyo dhar deenee

chadariyaa.

This body is nothing but clothing on the soul, as

scriptures state it. In Bhagwadgita it is said that as we

drop one old cloth and wear a new one, so our soul

drops its body when it gets too old and torn and gets a

new one. But what this cloth is made of?

Kabir says this cloth (chadar, shawl) is made by thin

linings. What are the Tana and Bana and which thread

is used to weave this cloth? Ingala ( one nadi of three

main nadees) and Pingala are like taana and baana(

linings of weaver’s tool on which he weaves cloths) and

Sushmana thread is used to weave it. In this cloth,

there are eight lotuses flowering (there is eighth lotus

in Sant Mat – Surati Kawal), and ten doors ( charkha,

exit organs of body), five elements( earth, water,air,

fire and ether) and three gunas( SAT, RAJ and TAM).

My Lord weaved this great cloth in ten months

(pregnancy period of human being). He made it with

great love and care. All deities, humans and monks

wore this cloth and made it dirty. Blessed is Kabir who

wore it with great care and put it down as pure as it

was given to him by Lord.

This clothing is not only this physical body but all layers

of the soul. We get our body dirty and wash it with

soap and water, but what about the filth of mind and

heart?? We should keep cleaning them as well by doing

meditation and devotion to Lord, so we could submit

this soul as pure as he has made it.

Dash dware kaa pinjaraa, taame panchhe paun.

Rahibe ko acharaj hai, jaaye to acharaj kaun.

This cage has ten doors (ten exit organs of body), and

encaged bird (soul) is just like air. It is strange that it

still remains in this cage; no wonder if it leaves it and

flies away.

Mori chunaree me pari gayo daag piyaa.

Panch tatt kee bane chunariya, sorah sai band

mora laage jiyaa.

Ye chunaree more maike te aai, sasure me

manwaa khoy diyaa.

Mali mali dhoyi, daag na chute, gyaan ko saabun

laaye piyaa.

Kahe Kabeer daag tab chhutihe, jab sahib

apanaay liyaa.

Oh my dear beloved!! I got my chunri dirty with spots.

This chunari is made of five elements (earth, air, water,

fire and ether), and there are sixteen designs on it( five

sense organs, five work organs, three gunas, mind,

ego, and prana - vital life energy). I got this chunari

from my parents – and my mind got it lost at my in-

laws house!! Now I try hard to wash it, but the spots

are not washed away. O my dear beloved, please give

me the soap of knowledge so I could get it washed.

Kabir says – nothing will work on it, only when Sahib

(Lord) hugs you and takes you by his side, only then all

your filth and spots will be cleansed.

Our Mayaka or Naihar(parents’ home, though

sometimes Kabir takes it in opposite meaning, e.g.

Naihar indicates this world) as Kabir calls it -is true

home of the soul and in-laws house is this illusionary

world where we get engaged so many wrong deeds.

Our chunri or shawl is the layers of body on our soul

which gets dirty here, how will we be able to meet our

Lord? Only by applying knowledge we can make it

clean, and Lord’s grace will help cleaning it.

3. Kabir on death scenes......................

HaaD jale jyo laakadee, kes jale jyu ghaas.

Sab tan jalata dekhakar, bhaya Kabir udaas.

The undeniable reality in this world is that who ever is

born, will die one day and the greatest fear in this

world is the fear of unknown- death. We feel this

sorrow when we see someone dear leaving this world,

and we feel this fear for ourselves as well. But our

whole effort goes not to face, encounter and defeat this

fear, but to escape away from this reality as soon and

as often we can. Only way to defeat this fear is to face

it and then try to find a way to get out of it. We need

to keep in mind this ultimate truth – the death. Kabir

has said this sad truth so many times. He says – I saw

the bones burning like wood, and hairs burning like

gross. I saw the whole body burning in this way, I

became very sad.

Panee kera budbuda, as manus ki jaat.

Dekhat hi chhup jaayega, jyu tare parbhaat.

This human race (and this world as well) is nothing but

like a bubble on the surface of the sea, it will vanish in

little time like stars vanish when dawn falls. So short is

this humans life and earth’s as well.

Kabir yah jag kuchh nahee, khin khaara khin

meeTh.

Kaalh jo baitha mandape, aaj masaane deeTh.

This world is nothing; it is so suffering and painful, one

moment is so sweet and another moment it is just

bitter. Whom I saw under Mandap (Mandap – rectangle

structure under which marriage ceremony is performed

– under Mandap means getting married) yesterday, is

lying in funeral today (yesterday he was enjoying his

greatest joy, today he is dead).

Aaaye hai to jaayenge, raja rank phakeer.

Ek sinhaasan chadi chale, ek bandhe janjeer.

Who ever has come here, has to leave one day, doesn’t

matter he or she is a beggar, a poor or a King. At the

time of final journey, everyone goes on the same cot

tied by the same chain ( rope used to tie the dead

body).

Ek din aisaa hoyega, kou kaahu kaa naahi.

Ghar kee naaree ko kahe, tan kee naaree jaahi.

Dear why do you forget the death? It is unavoidable,

accept it. The day will come when Nadee of your body

will leave you, what to say about Nadee( woman/wife)

at your home? No one will go with you, not even your

breaths (so try to be un-attached in this world and

attach your soul to your Lord).

Kabir jantra na baajai, TuTi gayae sab taar.

Jantra bichara kya kare, gayaa bajaawanhaar.

Now this instrument doesn’t play a bit. All wires are

broken, it is now of no use. What will this instrument

do when the player has left it alone? This instrument is

body and the player is the soul, when death ceases life

and soul leaves the body, it is useless.

Kabir kaahe garabiyo, Kaal gahe kar kesh.

Naa jaane kahn maarisee, ke ghar ke pardes.

Kabir says what you are being so proud of? Time (Kaal)

is standing nearby to grab your head by hairs in his

hand. You never know where he will get you killed – in

your house or in foreign land.

Kyaa bharosa deh ka, binas jaat chhan maanh.

Saans-saans sumiran karo, aur jatan kachhu

naah.

This body is unreliable; no one knows when it will cheat

you, when it will get destroyed by death. Do HIS

simaran as you take breathes, don’t keep thoughts of

anything else.

Patta TooTa daar se, lai gayi pawan udaay.

Abake bichhaDe kab milenge, door parenge jay.

When a leaf breaks off from a branch, it flies far away,

doesn’t come back to the tree. So are we souls, death

takes us apart from all dear ones and we never return

to them (always speak sweet and wear loving attitude).

4. Tricks of the mind.................

Bajigar kaa bandara, aisaa jeev man ke saath.

Nana naach nachaay kar, raakhe apane saath.

Like a Monkey performs so many acts by the order of

his master, so has this soul become with its mind. Mind

keeps full control over it and makes it running from one

desire to another thus never lets it be free.

Chalti chaaki dekhke, diya kabira roy.

Dui paaTan ke beech me, saabut bachaa n koy.

Kabir wept when he saw the grinder running. Nothing

could escape from this grinder; the two stones grind

everything into pieces.

Two stones of grinder are assumed as Kal and Maya or

the earth and sky, sorrow and happiness. Kabir was so

loving and full of compassion; he used to feel for others

like his own. So even being enlightened, he often

speaks about the trouble and pain souls get in this

world.

6. Spider’s Net.........................

Ko chhutyo ihi jaal pari, kat kurang akulay.

Jyo jyo surajhi bhajyo chahe, tyo tyo arujhat jay.

Who is so strong, so clever to escape out from the web

of this world? This is the web of illusion (MAYA); no one

is able to cut its threads. Like a deer falls in a net, tries

hard to get out of it, but more he tries to untie its

knots, more it gets tied, and gets trapped more

densely so is the net of this MAYA.

Kabir yah sansaar hai, jaisaa semal phool.

Din das ke byohaar me, jhooThe rang na bhool

This world is like flower of Semal(red and very

attractive flower), which is attractive for few days.

Don’t get misled by it. Like a parrot keeps looking and

waiting for this flower, thinking that one day it will bear

sweet fruit, but when this flower gets fully flourished,

the fruits are broken and cotton is spread away,

leaving the parrot disappointed. So is this world, you

keep working and guarding your business and relations

that one day they will give you happiness and

satisfaction, but when time comes, they start going

their own way leaving you alone and disappointed. Find

your true happiness, don’t go for this illusion.

Kabir gaaphil kyo phire, kyu sotaa ghanaghor.

Tere siraane jam kharaa, jyu andhiyaare chor.

Why do you wander so ignorant? Why do you waste

your time in sleeping (sleeping is used here in both

sense- sleeping physically and sleeping spiritually – not

in awaken state of consciousness)? Yam (deity of

death) is standing near your bed, like a thieve stands

silent in darkness (waiting to get a chance). Wake and

save yourself from being slave at Yam’s hand.

Kabir naubat aapanee, din das lehu bajaay.

Yah pur paaTan yah galee, bahuri na dekhe aay.

Beat your drum for ten days (very short period), play

this drama of name and fame, richness and grandeur,

power and kingdom (Naubat – kind of drum which was

used to announce new rules of King in his whole

kingdom). You will not be visiting this state, this

kingdom and this street again (so it is better to make

best use of it).

Jap-tap deesai thotharaa, Teerath-brat besaans.

Suwe semal seviya, tau jag chalyaa niraash.

No jaap, no tap(couldn’t find exact word in English –

similar to haThyoga or giving trouble to body in hope to

find GOD) seems to work out, all seem worthless to

me. Going to holy places, doing fasting is useless. Like

the parrot keeps looking on Semal flower in hope to get

sweet fruit, so are these ceremonies, at last we will

have to be disappointed (GOD can’t be realized in this

way).

JhooThe sukh ko sukh kahe, maanat hai man

mod.

Khalak chabenaa kaal ka, kachhu mukh me

kachhu god.

This world enjoys in false things and becomes happy. It

doesn’t know this world is only snacks of Kaal, some

are in his mouth and some are on lap (he will eat it

soon!!!)

Neend nishanee maut kee, Uth kabiraa jaag.

Aur rasaayan chhaDi ke, naam rasaayan laag.

Sleeping is the sign of death, O Kabir! Wake and stand

up. Leave all other medicines /drugs and take the drug

of Naam, so you will be immortal.

Deh dhare ko danD hai, sab kahoo ko hoy.

Gyanee bhugate gyan kari, moorakh bhugate roy.

All pains and sufferings are kind of the punishment of

taking this body. The wise person bears this

punishment knowingly and wisely, and ignorant ones

keep crying.

Maya mui na man muaa, mari mari gaya shareer.

Asha trishna na mui, yo kahi gyaa kabeer.

Kabir says- We have gone through so many

incarnations, our body died so many times, still we are

not able to control our mind, neither we are able to

defeat this illusion. Our hope and desires didn’t die;

they are still alive to keep us engaged in this illusionary

world.

Kabir maya papinee, hari su kare haraam.

Mukh kadiyaalee kumati ki, kahan na dei Raam.

Kabir says, this illusion (Maya) is great sinner, it does

unfaithfulness to GOD. And our bad thoughts don’t let

us do simaran.

Karata tha to kyu raha, ab kari kyu pachhtaay.

Boye ped babool ka, amua kaha se paay.

When you were doing all wrong deeds then you never

thought about it. Why you are regretting it now? You

saw seed of acacia (one tree with thorns only), how will

you get mango fruits from it? What you saw, so shall

you reap.

Makhee gud me gari rahe, pankh rahe lipataay.

Hath male aur sir dhune, laalach buri balaay.

The bee went to taste the sweetmeat, and got trapped

in greed. Now it is stuck in the sweetmeat and is

unable to fly. Now it regrets that greed is the cause of

great danger. So is the soul, got stuck in worldly

pleasures, now it is unable to fly in infinite which is its

true nature.

Kagad kero naav dee, panee kera gang.

Kahe kabeer kaise phirun, panch kusangi sang.

Kabir says this world is full of great problems, how will

I cross this river (bhavsaagar-world of illusion)? Here is

the boat made by paper (body so vulnerable and easily

perishable), and the river is full of water. Again five

bad friends (lust, greed, anger, attachment and ego)

are with me, who try to lead me to wrong directions. O

GOD, how will I be able to cross this huge river??

Main bhawaraa tohi barajiyaa, ban-ban baas na

ley.

ATakegaa kahun beli me, taDap-taDap jiy dey.

Kabir says – O my dear wasp! I forbade you so many

times not to go wandering in jungles and taste the

sweetness of flowers. It might be that you will get

hooked by thorns and will have to die there.

The wasp is the soul searching for sensual pleasures

and mostly seeking for lust. The soul will get trapped

and will not be able to progress further!!

7. Normal Human Behavior....................

Jihi ghat preet na premras, puni rasana nahi

raam.

Te nar is snsaar me, upaji bhaye bekaam.

Those people who have hearts empty from love and

devotion, and who don’t do simaran of Ram, are a

waste in this world. They didn’t use their potentials;

they just wasted their time and life.

Jo ghar saadhu na poojiye, hari ki sewa naahi.

Te ghar marghaT saa dikhe, bhoot base tin maahi.

The home where Saints are not welcome and praised

and people are not at the service of GOD, are like

cemetery, like full of ghosts (empty of virtues, people

are like ghosts and not a living being).

Manuaa to panchhi bhaya udke chalaa akaash.

Uper hi te gir pada, yaa maya ke paas.

Our mind is like bird, when it gets full swing into

positive thoughts, it flies higher and higher in sky, but

it is not certain that it will remain so high, it can go

swinging to another extreme, which is negative one,

can drop down to this worldly illusions, so powerful is

this MAYA.

Aache din pachhe gaye, hari se kiyo na het.

Ab pachhataye hot kya jab chidiya chug gayi

khet.

O dear soul!! Your good days are passed away when

you had energy and time to do love and devotion to

GOD. You didn’t do it at that time, what is the use of

regretting now? (Famous saying – what will you do

when you didn’t keep guarding your farm and birds

have eaten all your grains). All your enemies-(five

enemies – lust, greed, anger, ego and attachment)

have eaten all your potentials.

Bada hua to kya hua jaise ped khajoor.

Panthi ko chhaya nahi, phal lage ati door.

What if you are a great personality, what if you have

got enormous wealth and what if you are world famous

if you don’t do any good for anyone? What are you

worth of then?? You are like the date tree who is taller

but neither travelers can get a shadow to rest for a

while to protect them from heat neither they can get

their hands on fruits.

Kabir Hari sabakun bhaje, Hari ku bhaje na koi.

Jab jag aas sareer kee, tab lagi daas na hoi.

Kabir says – GOD almighty loves everyone, in fact he

can’t help loving because he is made of love, but no

one loves him actually. Till people are attached with

bodily pleasures and keep hope for that, they don’t

serve the Lord.

Jab tum aaye jagat me, jagat hansaa, tum roy.

Aisee karanee kari chalo, tum haanso, jag roy.

Kabir says -Oh dear soul! When you came in this world,

you cried (a new born baby always cries- myth is that

it feels very bad coming in this world from the heaven)

but people around the baby laugh with joy to welcome

new soul. Kabir says do such kind of work so you would

leave this place laughing (because you did perform all

work assigned to you and did some good to this world)

and people weep for you (because you became so dear

to them).

Raat gawaai soy ke, diwas gawaya khay.

Heera janam amol tha, kaoDee badle jay.

You spend whole night sleeping and whole day in

eating (and taking pleasure in worthless things). O

dear, your life was like diamond (human life is said to

be availed by great luck and it is not sure you will get it

again soon) and you are trading it in exchange of

seashells!!

Heera wahan na kholiye, janh KhoTee hai haat.

Chup kari bandho gaaTharee, uthi kar chalo baat.

You shouldn’t open your gems in the market where

people don’t differentiate between diamond and coal.

They will not evaluate it, so better put your diamonds

in bag and go ahead on your way.

Kabir is referring here about true knowledge – people

are not able to understand reality and true knowledge.

As they like polishing and sparkling, so even glass work

attracts them and not diamond. The same way, they

don’t differentiate true Guru and so called Gurus – who

keep a big disciples’ lobby and big ashram. They get

attracted to name fame and crowd. So a true Guru

should better keep mum and go ahead in his journey,

only true seekers are eligible to get this knowledge.

Raini gayi mat din bhi jaai, Bhawanr uDe bag

baiThe aayi.

Tharhar kampe bala jeev.Na jane ka kariho peev.

Kanche karave rahe na paanee.

Hanas uDaa kaaya kumhilaani.

Kaag udaawat bhujaa piraane.

Kahe Kabir yah katha siraanee.

Kabir say- the night is gone, watch whether the day

would not be spent in this way. The wasps are flied

away, now cranes are sitting here. The young girl

trembles in fear and distrust, she is so young she

doesn’t know how her husband will treat to her. Kabir

says water can’t be kept in unbaked pot. The swan flied

away, now the body is faded. The bride calls the crows

to ask about her husband, her whole life was gone

doing this and her story is finished.

This is again a beautiful example of high level poetry

by Kabir. Here is a chain of allegories unfolding so

many meanings and truth. When Kabir says night is

gone, means half the time to do devotion is gone doing

useless things. He warns that you should take care that

another half- the day is not spent in that way. Here

Wasp refers to black hairs or youth and crane refers to

whiteness in hairs means old age. This line says that

even you have spent half your life doing worthless

things, you should make better use of another half one.

The young bride refers to new devotee of the Lord who

wants to meet her beloved but is not mature and brave

enough to walk on the path. The soul has doubt how

she will be able to progress, how the Lord will treat

her? Shall she have to drop her identity (fear of death

or end of separate identity)? Again Kabir says

immature people can’t keep the words of true

knowledge, the devotion of Lord. The soul has to be

strong enough to walk on the path. The famous ritual –

make a wish to crow to make the beloved come back

home is done by village brides. Here Kabir is referring

it to symbolize the soul’s waiting to get her beloved at

home/in heart. Kabir says the soul remains in the state

of indecision whether she should walk on the path or

not. This way life is finished and the love story of the

soul doesn’t have a happy ending.

This is the common story of the people who want to

walk on the path but don’t make firm determination

and thus they die unfulfilled.

Poot piyaarau pita ko, gauhani laagyo dhaai.

Lobh-miThaai haath de, aapan gayo bhulaai.

Kabir says we all are his children. When a kid runs to

his father and grabs his legs showing his love, the

father, being in a hurry to leave for some work gives

some sweets to the kid thus makes him forget about

his father. Same way our divine father – the GOD has

given us so many things in this world to get involved

and thus forget about our true home and true father.

We shouldn’t fall in this illusion and grab his feet for his

love.

Kabir maaya papinee, Phand le baiThee haaTi.

Sab jag to phande paryaa, gyaa Kabeera kaaTi.

Kabir says this MAYA (illusion) is a great sinner. It is

always ready with net in the market (world) to get you

trapped. This whole world has got trapped in this net,

but Kabir was able to cut its threads and to fly away.

1. Adopt Life Principles...................

Jhirmir-jhirmir barasiyaa, paahan upar meh.

Nadiyan neeraa bhar gayee, paahan wohi teh.

It has been raining heavily. Rivers are filled with water,

but those high mountains are remained the same, no

water harvesting for them. In these lines, what Kabir is

trying to say is that his blessings are showering upon

all, but only those get fulfilled by it who have empty

hearts, vacant souls (from ego). Those with firm ego

couldn't keep it with them because they have filled

themselves with unnecessary thoughts and ego and

they simply slip it. Be open in mind and heart and

receive unlimited blessing from HIM, it is always

showering upon you.

Juaa, chori, mukhbiree, byaaj, ghoos, par-naar.

Jo chaahe deedaar ko, etee vastu nivaar.

Kabir says if you want to meet your Lord, please drop

these things completely-betting, stealing, acting

approver, earning interest, taking bribe and company

of other women.

Man beena kuchh aur hi, tan saadhun ke sang.

Kahe kabir karee gaji, kaise laagyo rang.

Those people who go to Satsang, but are not able to

control their mind, their mind keeps chattering all the

time. They don’t get benefited from the company of

Saints. This is like if you want to dye a black cloth, you

will not be able to get a color put on it. If you want to

get a particular color, you will have to get a white

cloth. So is true for satsang. If you want to keep the

love and devotion of your Lord in your heart, you will

have to clean your mind and heart first so it is dyed in

the true color of love.

RoDa hoi rahu baaT ka, taji paakhanD abhimaan.

Aisa je jana hoi rahe, taahi mile bhagwaan.

O dear, be as humble as the pebble on the path, where

it is under everyone’s feet. Leave all kind of cheating

and ego behind. The person, who becomes humble like

this, will be able to meet the Lord.

RoDa bhaya to kya bhaya, panthi ko dukh deh.

Harijan aisa chaiye, jyu dharani ki kheh.

Again Kabir thinks that being like pebble is not enough,

so he says – even if you become like a pebble on the

pathway, still there is a chance that a traveler’s feet

may be hurt by you. It is not good. So be like the soil

of the earth, which has no sharp edges and is very

much soft, it will not trouble anyone.

Kheh bhayi to kya bhaya, uDi-uDi laage ang.

Harijan aiasa chahiye, jyu paanee sabrang.

Again Kabir says- even if you become like soil, it is not

enough. It flies with air and makes people dirty. So

Kabir says that just be like water – it is without color,

but it can be of any color if you mix a color in it.

Panee bhaya to kya bhaya, taataa-seeraa hoy.

Harijan aisa chahiye, Hari jaiasa hi hoy.

Again Kabir thinks all possibilities and says that being

like water is still not good enough. Water sometimes

gets hot with the heat and becomes too cold in winter.

So Kabir says there is no other way for a true devotee

(harijan) to meet him, but to be just like HIM.

Jaisee mukh te neekase, taisee chaale chaal.

Parbrahm neDa rahe, pal me kare nihaal.

O dear, be absolute true in your words. Following the

truth is the way which leads to HIM. If you act just like

as you speak, and there is no difference in your saying

and actions, GOD will be pleased with you and will give

you his grace.

Aisi vanee boliye, man kaa aapa khoy.

Auran ko sheetal kare, aapahu sheetal hoy

Always speak so sweet that our heart feels the bliss

and coolness and never be rude to anyone. Speaking

sweet words makes others cool and blissful and so it

does to the speaker.

Kutil bachan sabase buraa, Jase hot na chaar.

Sadhu bachan jal roop hai, barase amrit dhaar.

Rude words are worst kind of harm, they burn you to

ashes (they hurt you to the core of your being). Loving

and caring words of Saints are like cool water; they

enter in your heart and heal all pain like the rain of

nectar which turns even dead to living one. (We should

therefore never speak rude words to anyone- even we

don’t like their attitude).

Jaha daya tah dharm hai, jaha lobh taha paap.

Jahan krodh taha kaal hai, jaha Kshama waha

aap.

Where there is kindness, there is religion, and where

there is greed, there is sin.

Anger brings this Kaal or destruction, and forgiveness

brings godliness in us.

Jag me bairee koi nahee, jo man sheetal hoy.

Ye aapa to daal de, dayaa kare sab koy.

No one can be your enemy if your mind and heart is

cool and calm. It is your ego that creates all problems,

just drop it. When you don’t think about you and think

only the OTHER, true egoless ness happens. Following

the forgiveness brings absolute calmness.

Jaat na Poochho saadhu ki, poochh lijiye gyan.

Mol karo talwaar ka, paree rahan do myan.

Never ask a Saint about his or her caste, always ask

about his or her knowledge. We evaluate a sword by

the sharpness because it is the real thing and not by

the beauty of sheath. This way the knowledge of a

Saint is important and not his or her caste.

Kabir Kshudha hai kookari, karat bhajan me

bhang.

Yako Tukra Darike, sumiran karo nishank.

Kabir says that this hunger is like bitch, it will keep

barking until you give it a piece of bread. So first feed

yourself and satisfy this hunger, then sit to do bhajans.

This body has its requirements and it needs its food. A

cool and calm body is necessary to go into meditation.

It is noticeable that everywhere in Gurudwara, there is

a system of lunger(free food to sangat).

Sahaj sahaj sab koi kahe, sahaj na cheenhe koi.

Jini sahaje vishiyaa taji, sahaj kaheeje soi.

There is one way – sahaj Samadhi or natural

meditation for spiritual journey. There are many

explanations of Kabir’s “Sahaj Samadhi”. Here Kabir

tries to explain it – People say opt for Sahaj. But no

one understands its meaning. It is absolutely natural

way. When we do different kind of devotion/meditation

– we try to raise our consciousness to higher realms. At

the time of meditation we are able to control our mind

conflicts, desires and thoughts. When our meditation

breaks, we come down to normal life. But when we

become so much calm and controlled that every

moment is like moment of meditation and there is no

difference in waking state and meditative state in

context of our desires and conflicts, then Sahaj or

natural Samadhi happens. When all worldly

attachments and pleasures are dropped naturally, this

is the state of Kabir’s Sahaj Samaadhi. Kabir says

whoever has dropped all desires and attachment to

worldly pleasures naturally, is in real Sahaj state.

Tan ko jogi sab kare, man ko birla koy.

Sahje sab bidhi paaiye, jo man jogi hoy.

People try to control the body and its needs. Even they

are successful doing it, their mind is uncontrolled and

desires, pride and ego still occupy the mind. Kabir says

true Yogi is who has made his mind Yogi… and he will

get everything by controlling his mind and get it in

contact with GOD.

2. Meditation is a

must......................................................

Hari mor rahanTa main ratan piuriyaa.

Hari ka nam le kaatal bahuriyaa.

Chhau maas tag, baras din kukaree.

Log kahe bhal kaatal bapuree.

Kahahi Kabir sut bhal kaataa.

RahanTa na hoy mukti kar daata.

My Lord (Hari, Ram are few names by which Kabir calls

his beloved) is RahanTa( weaver’s tool) and I am the

Chunari embroidered with gold and gems woven on it.

His dear beloved bride weaves the threads by his

Name. She weaved threads for six months and then

made Kukaree (piece of wood on which linings of

threads are coiled to keep it safe -I am not able to find

exact word in English) for one year. People say this

poor lady has woven very nicely. Kabir says O dear,

you have woven really very nice, but this weaving thing

will not give you liberation!!

Here Kabir is trying to explain that Karmas will not give

you liberation, even if you do it on the name of GOD

and if you are doing good karmas. They will keep you

busy here and you will not find a way out.

Kabir yahu tan jaat hai, rakhi sako to bahor.

Khali haathon wah gaye, jinke laakh –karor.

Kabir says this body is running out of life. Try and save

it if you can. You can only meet your Lord while you

are in this body, so try to meet and save yourself. Even

those people leave this earth with blank hands that had

lacs and crores of wealth.

Baahar kya dikhalaaiye, antar japiye Raam.

Kaha kaaj sansaar se, tujhe dhanee se kaam.

What are you looking for outside?? Go inside and keep

doing simaran of Ram (Lord). What do you have to do

with this world? You have only one job to be with your

beloved (dhanee-husband), only keep remembering

him.

Jabahi naam hirde dharaa, bhayaa paap kaa naas.

Mano chingaaree aag kee, paree puraanee ghaas.

As soon as you put the Naam in your heart, all your

sins are burnt. Just like a little burning coal put in the

grass will soon burn all the grass to ashes.

Jo darsan dekha chahiye, to darpan manjat

rahiye.

Jab darpn laage kaai, tab darsan kiya na jaai.

If you want to envision the reality, keep wiping your

mirror daily. If mirror gets dirty, how will you be able

to see yourself? This mirror is mind which is covered by

desires, constant thoughts, prejudices and pride and

we are not able to see our true self. When we give time

to meditation, actually we start dropping all bits of dirt

from our mind and eventually from our soul, thus we

become aware of our true self and the ultimate reality

gets reflected here.

Kabira so dhan sanchiye, jo age ko hoy.

Shees uthaye gaanThree, le jaat na dkhya koy.

Kabir says - oh dear, please collect the wealth which

could go with you after death – wealth of good deeds,

love, compassion and Naam(devotion to GOD-sound

within). What ever you have been earning and

collecting and think that that these are mine, will not

go with you. No one has been seen to take all those

treasures on his head in his final journey.

3. Drop the Ego and identity completely…………..

Main-Main baDee balaay hai, nikasi sakai to

bhaaji.

Kab lag raakhau he sakhee, rooi lapeTi aagi.

This ME is the real trouble. O my dear Sakhi, try to

come out of it as soon as possible. How long will you

save this ME, it is like cotton which is put around fire,

and it will give you great trouble if you don’t drop it.

Nindak niyre raakhiye, aangana kuTi chhawaay.

Bin pane saabun binaa, nirmal kare subhay

O Kabir, Always welcome and keep your critics near

you. You should make a hut for them in your house so

you will always get benefited by them. Critics are great

cleansers; they make your nature neat and clean

without any water and soap. Kabir is very definite

about it, that we should always welcome any kind of

criticism; even we should seek it from friends and

enemies. Criticism makes us realize our faults and

problems we need to pay attention and make them

clean which otherwise we couldn’t realize. This way

critic is more well wisher of us than our fans.

Bura jo dekhan main chala, bura na miliya koy.

Jo dil dhundha aapna, mujhsa bura na koy.

When I went to search for crooked people, there was

no one crooked outside. When I started searching

inside me, I was the worst kind of crooked.

This is the very basic rule for a seeker, we should

never try to find a fault in the other, and we should

always look within whether there is any fault in us. It is

normal human tendency that we try to come out clean

in any situation and blame others for any wrong deeds.

We need to change this attitude. This doesn’t mean we

should condemn ourselves, but it simply means that if

there is .01% chance that we are at fault, first we

should search and clean it. We can’t change the other,

so better do what is within our reach.

Kabira garv na kijiye, kabahu na hansiye koy.

Ajai naav smundra me, kaa jane kyaa hoy.

Kabir says - never be proud of what you have got and

how much you have progressed in spirituality and

never laugh at someone who is not so much well

behaved, and advanced in spirituality. You might never

know how and when you will reach your destination.

Your ship is still in the mid sea, and you don’t know

what would happen to you, you will reach your goal or

will go astray (pride itself is a great barrier in

spirituality).

Kul gela kul ubare, kul rakhya kul jaai.

Ram nikul kul bhent le, sab kul rahya samaai.

Here is another beautiful example of the great Saint’s

poetic expression. Kabir likes to play with words. Here

he repeats word kul(caste) in so rhythm that it sounds

very cool. Kabir says After dropping your kul(caste -

identity) you will be able to make your family(Kul)

shine( will make your family proud of you). If you keep

your caste and identity(kul), you will loose the

whole(kul). Meet Ram(Lord) who is casteless(nikul)

where all castes(sab kul) merge at the end.

Jab lag naataa jagat ka, tab lag bhakti na hoy.

Naata toDe Hari bhaje, bhakt kahaawe soy.

Till you have relations with this world, you are not a

true devotee. When all your relations with this world

are finished, then only you become a true devotee of

the Lord.

4. Only Love Matters……………

Jihi ghat prem na sanchare, So ghat jaan msaan.

Jaise khaal lohaar ki, saans let binu praan.

If there is no love grown in a person, he or she is like

cemetery, living by breathe still dead in heart. Just like

the furnace of blacksmith operates well by air given to

it, but it is a dead thing, so is the person who is

stranger to love.

Jihi ghat preet na premras, puni rasana nahi

raam.

Te nar is sansaar me, upaji bhaye bekaam.

If there is no love, neither is the divine feeling of the

same and the person even doesn’t keep remembering

his dear beloved Ram, his birth in this world is useless.

He was born and will die without getting anything out

of this life.

Hari jananee main baalak teraa.

Kaahe na augun bkasahu meraa.

Sut aparaadh kare din kete.

Janani ke chit rahe na tete.

Kar gahi kes gahe jo maataa.

Tau nah het utaare maataa.

Kahe Kabir ek budhi bichaaree.

Baalak dukhi, dukhi mahataari.

Kabir says that my Lord is my mother, I am her little

kid. O my dear mother, please forgive me for my faults

and mistakes. A son does so many sins, but mother

never minds that and never keeps it in heart. She is

always forgiving. Even a little kid is so ignorant that he

grabs mother’s hairs thus troubles her and even then

mother never stops loving him. Kabir knows only one

thing by his knowledge- if the son is sad; his mother is

ought to be sad, because her happiness lies in son’s

happiness. So is true for the GOD. He is happy in our

happiness only.

Kabir soi peer hai, jo jaane parpeer.

Jo parpeer na jaanai, so kafir bepeer.

Kabir says real Peer (Saint) is someone who

understands others troubles and sorrows. If someone

doesn’t understand it, he or she is without emotions

and not a Saint, but a person against godliness (Kafir).

Prem bhav ek chahiye, bhesh anek batay.

Chahe ghar me baas kare ,chaahe ban ko jay.

Your Lord seeks only love in you; this is the true bhav

or prayer. It doesn’t matter what is the method, what

is the form of devotion. If there is love for the Lord, it

doesn’t make any difference even if you stay at home

or go to jungles for prayer.

Pothee padhi-padhi jag mua, pundit bhayaa na

koy.

Dhai aakhar prem ka, padhe so pandit hoy.

This world died reading books and scriptures, but no

one could become Knower (pundit- who knows the

mystery of the universe). This is love – two and half

letters of Perm (it counts two and half letter in

devnagari script) which is only readable thing. Who so

ever reads it; shall become the Knower (Pundit). All

saints have been stating that what remains at last is

love – and GOD is nothing but ocean of love, try to

read it, be it, let it flow through you and you will know

all the mysteries of the universe and the GOD.

Kabira prem na chaakhya, chakhi na leeyaa sav.

Sune ghar ka paahuna, jyo aawe tyo jaw.

Kabir says, who didn’t taste the love while was here on

earth and in human form, is like the guest who comes

to vacant home, from where he returns unattended. He

doesn’t find anyone to welcome, any food offered and

any warm reception. Our whole purpose to come in this

human form is to taste that divine drink – love –

without which our visit is useless.

5. Act on the right time…………..

Aache din paachhe gaye, hari se kiyo na het.

Ab pachhtaye hot kya jab chidiya chug gayi khet.

Your good days are gone (when you were young and

were able to do some good deeds/meditation) but you

didn’t feel affection for your Lord. Why are you

regretting now (in old age)? When it was time to save

your fields, you were sleeping. Now birds have eaten

your fields, what is the use regretting your deeds?

This is famous saying – means when your valuable

things are destroyed, what is the use to remember and

regret it? We should act at the right time and save our

spiritual treasure.

Dukh me sumiran sab kare, sukh me kare na koy.

Jo sukh me sumiran kare, to dukh kaahe ko hoy.

People always pray in trouble and sorrow, they never

remember GOD in their good days. If only we could

pray him wholeheartedly in our good days, why we

would get in any trouble??

Karta tha to kyu raha, ab kari kyu pachhtaay.

Boye ped babool ka, amua kaha se paay.

When you were doing all wrong deeds then you never

thought about it. Why you are regretting it now? You

saw seed of acacia (one tree with thorns only), how will

you get mango fruits from it? What you saw, so shall

you reap.

Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab.

Pal me parlay hoyga, bahuri karga kab.

Just do today what you are planning to do tomorrow,

and do right now whatever you are planning to do

today. You might never know when this life ends, even

dissolution might happen and then you will not get time

to do anything.

Te din gaye akaarathee, sangat bhayee na sant.

Prem bina pashu jeevanaa, bhakti bina bhagwant.

Those days are gone worthless which are not spent in

the company of Saints. Those who didn’t know love and

devotion of Lord are like animals in human form,

getting only their natural needs fulfilled.

Mooye peechhe mat milo, kahe kabira Raam.

Loha maatee mi gaya, phir paaras kehi kaam.

Kabir says don’t hope and opt to meet your Lord after

the death. What a philosopher’s stone can do to an iron

when it is destroyed and got lost in soil?? You can try

and meet your Lord only while living, he will make you

just like HIM. If you are not able to meet him here,

how will you meet him after death??

Raat gawaya soy ke, diwas gawayo khaay.

Heeraa janam amol tha, kauDi badle jay.

You spent all nights sleeping and days eating. Your life

was so precious, it was like diamond and you

exchanged it with seashells!!

This human form is supposed to use to progress

spiritually but we don’t pay attention to it and live the

whole life doing stupid things!!

Durlabh maanush janam hai, deh na barambaar.

Taruwar jyo patta jhare, bahuri na laage daar.

We get this human body by great luck and chance; it is

difficult to get it again and again, like when a leaf

breaks off from the branch, it would never be attached

to the branch again. Make the best use of it, so you

could meet the Lord in this lifetime.

6. Be a Giver- That is the virtue of GOD and

Godliness………….

Bada hua to kya hua jaise ped khajoor

Panthi ko chhaya nahi, phal lage ati door.

What is the goodness in being so great if we can’t help

others? A palm-tree grows so high but it is so far from

our reach, we can’t get its fruits neither a traveler can

find a shadow to rest for a while.

Deh dhare ka gun yahi, deh deh kachhu deh.

Bahuri na dehi paaiye, abaki deh to deh.

The virtue of getting this human body is that you

should give others as much and as often as you can.

You will not get this human body again and again, only

those things will remain with you what ever you

provide and serve to others.

Santan hee sat baanTai, Rotee me te Took.

Kahe Kabir ta daas ko, kabahu na aawe chook.

Share goodness and truth among saints and devotees,

and always eat the bread after sharing it to the needy.

Kabir says who so ever keeps this habit in life, will

never go astray from the path of dear Lord.

7. Develop conscience…………

Saadhu aisa chahiye, jaisa soop subhay.

Saar-saar ko gahi rahae, thotha dei uDaay.

Sadhu /Saints should be like the SOOP (a thing made

by bamboo wood, which is used to get grains cleaned

from its husk). They should know to extract correct

facts from the mix-ups so they never get misled. In

fact Saints say that this world is all mix-ups – mixing of

good and bad, GOD and maya, reality and illusion- and

we should learn to get this mix-up undone. Like a swan

gets milks and leaves the water, like an ant will take

the sugar from the mix of sugar and sand, so we

should take the good and positive things and leave the

rest, we should know to differentiate facts from

fictions, rights from wrong details. Only then we will be

able to find right way and won’t get misled.

8. God’s clock is neither early nor late……………

Dheere-dheere re mana, dheere sab kuchh hoy.

Malee seenche sau GhaDa, ritu aaye phal hoy.

O dear, slowly everything will happen. Don’t make

hurry. Everything has a time and season, and so is true

for meditation and liberation!! Keep trying but be

patient, Lord knows when your time comes. Just like

even a gardener waters hundred buckets to trees, they

will get fructified only when the season comes. So is

true for the Lord. Keep faith in him and keep doing

your devotion.

9. Our own self is the real temple…………

Mala pherat jug gaya, miTa na man ka pher.

Kar ka manaka Dhadi ke, man ka manaka pher.

You spent so much time doing Jaap and prayers with

the help of rosary; still your mind is in constant

conflict. O dear, you spent so many lives visiting and

leaving this earth, still you are bound to this world. Just

drop this rosary in your hand, and start doing simaran

in heart. This way you will be able to go beyond this

illusion.

Here is beautiful word repetition with different

meanings which gives it a live rhyme (Manaka – beads

and manaka – of mind).

Man mathura dil dwaraka, kaayaa kashee jaani.

Dashwa dwara dehura, tame joti pichhani.

O dear, think your mind like Mathura(birth place of

Lord Krishna), your heart as Dwarka (Kingdom of Lord

Krishna) and your body like Kashi(holy place famous

for Lord Shiva). The tenth door is the place of the Lord

(ajna chakra, place between both eyebrows), try to find

the light there, it is the place of the Lord within you.

10. MAYA is just illusion………….

Maaya chaaya ek si, birla jaane koy.

Bhayat ke peeche pade, sanmukh bhaage soy.

This MAYA (illusion) and shadow are of same nature;

rare are those who are able to understand this

mystery. It chases to those who keep running from it,

and runs away from those who stop, stare at it and

face it. Shadow is a good example. When we turn our

back, it seems behind us and if we fear it and want to

escape from it, it will seem chasing us where ever we

go. But when we turn our face towards it, it will seem

running away from us. The same way, this MAYA or

worldly illusion seems chasing us, in fact we are afraid

facing it – all kind of troubles, cheatings, misbehaves,

pride, ego, anger- to name a few - so we just try to

escape from it, to suppress it, but more we try to

suppress it, more it troubles us. When we get courage

to face it, bring it on surface and fight to it, it is

vanished. It depends how we deal with it.

Gyan ratan ka jatan kar, maatee ka sansaar.

Aaye kabira phiri gayaa, pheekaa hai sansaar.

O dear, try to get the gem of true knowledge, this

world is nothing but made of soil (ready to get

destroyed at any time). Kabir visited this place and

returned back; realizing this world is worthless.

Maaya to Thaganee banee, Thagat phire sab desh.

Jo Thag ya thaganee Thago, ta Thag ko aadesh.

Kabir says this MAYA is like cheater, it cheats all in the

world. Who so ever is able to cheat this

Thaganee(female cheater), will get the order of the

Lord. I assume that the order here means the order to

teach people, to show them the way ahead by this

“order of Lord”. Only those great Saints who are able

to defeat this illusion and have been able to meet Lord,

are capable to lead other seekers, and so by the will of

the Lord.

Kaajal keree koTharee, taisaa yahu sansaar.

Balihaaree taa das ki, paisike nikasanhaar.

This world is like the room of black soot. That devotee

is truly welcomed who comes in this place and goes

back without getting a single spot on his cloth.

11. God is only thing prevailing everywhere………

Daya kaun par keejiye, kaapar nirday hoy.

Saai ke sab jeev hain, keeree kunjar doy.

Whom you will be kind to and to whom you would be

rude?? All are the souls of GOD, be it insect or

elephant. Nothing exists beyond GOD, so be generous,

loving and kind to all.

Mera mujhme kuchh nahi, jo kuchh hai so tera.

Tera tujhko saumpata, kya laage hai meraa.

There is nothing in me which is mine, it is all yours.

When I surrender and offer everything which belongs

to you, it doesn’t take anything from me; it is only that

I am offering your things to you (like in Sanskrit it says

– “ Tvadeeyam Vastu Govindam, Tubhyamev

Samarpayet).

12. Being pure to purer………….

Sona sajjan saadhu jan, tooti jure sau baar.

Durjan kumbh kumhar ke, eke Dhaka daraar.

Saints and good people are like gold, they are mended

up again and again, doesn’t matter how many times

they are broken. Evil ones are like pot of the potter,

even a slight push breaks them and they won’t get

mended. Kabir is describing the tolerance capacity and

character of people, and how we should understand

their level.

13. Cut all the threads of Karma………….

Ek karm hai bowanaa, upaje beej bahoot.

Ek karm hai bhoonanaa, udai na ankur soot.

There are two kinds of karmas. One is like to sow the

grain (it will bring more trees and fruits-both sweet and

bitter) and another is to boil the grain (we burn the

grain’s all potentials to grow, to become a tree and

bear fruit).First kind of karma is done by us in

ignorance and mostly in hope that we will get more

good fruits. All good and bad karmas (seeds) will get

fructified with time. But the devotee, who wants to get

out of this MAYA and KAAL, will have to burn all

karmas, so it doesn’t bear any tree and fruits.

***The same example is given by Ramkrishna through

raw paddy and boiled paddy. Seeds of raw paddy will

grow with time, but boiled paddy can’t. So is the

devotee who has burned all karmas with devotion, thus

has become free form all.

14. Greatest barrier on the spiritual path………….

Kabir Mayaa tajee to kya bhaya, maan tajaa nahi

jay.

Maan bade muniyar gile, Maan saban ko khaay.

What if you are able to defeat the MAYA and drop all its

desires? It is very difficult to get rid of the desire to get

respect and fame. This desire has gulped so many

Monks and Saints, this eats everyone (after practicing

and mastering all other things, this desire comes as

last greed, and is hard to overcome, only a person mad

in love can overcome it, in fact it will not exist for him

at all).

15. Keep the company of devotees and

saints……..

Kabir taasu milaai, jisake hiraday tu base.

Nahi te beg uThaai, nit ka ganjan ko sahe.

Kabir is sad among these worldly people. He asks his

Lord to let him meet to true devotees, who carry the

Lord in their heart. Kabir will find the peace only in

their company. Kabir even requests his Lord to call him

back soon if it is not possible; it is a torture living with

these loveless people.

*** (We see the same thing in Ramkrishna, he was

here to be with seekers and to show them the path.

After realization, he used to call them loudly on the top

of the temple. It is said that within few years all of

them gathered with him).

Moorakh sang na keejiye, lohaa jal na tiraay.

Kadalee seep bhujang mukh, ek boond tihu bhaai.

Company makes a big difference. Kabir says- don’t be

friends with ignorant fools. Doesn’t matter how hard

you work, you wont be able to make iron floating on

the water. And there is a chance that you would get

some wrong impression from them. When it rains,

water drops fall randomly, one goes to banana tree and

becomes Karpoor(inflammable thing used in Aarti),

another falls in oyster and becomes pearl and the one

which falls in the mouth of snake becomes nothing else

but poison. In beginning all drops were equal, but

different places and company made a huge difference

for them.

(Famous saying is that a wise enemy is better than an

ignorant friend).

Jo ghar saadhu na poojiye, hari ki sewa naahi.

Te ghar marghaT saa dikhe, bhoot base tin maahi.

If there is no service and praise of Saints and GOD,

that home is like mortuary and people living there are

like ghosts.

16. Do work to get your earning………

Maangan gaye so mari rahe, mare jo maangan

jaahi.

Unte pahile ve mue, jin mukh nikasat naahi.

Kabir never supports who have left this world’s works

and responsibility in the search of GOD, and get their

needs fulfilled by other families. He says asking for

something makes you lacked from respect and dignity.

Those who beg or ask something are like dead people

while breathing (life is sure a shame without respect

and dignity). They are like dead when they decide to

ask, and when they actually ask for something, they

are really dead in their dignity, but those who deny

providing the help are more dead, because having

something they can provide, and denying it is even

worse then asking for something.

17. Un-attachment doesn’t mean

detachment…………….

Kamal patra hain saadhujan, basen jagat ke

maahi.

Baalak keree dhaay jyu, apano jaanat naahi.

Saints live here like leaves of lotus. Lotus grows in

water and flourishes there, but even being in water; its

leaves are untouched by water. So are Saints, they live

in this world, but still they are un-attached from

worldly affairs. Just like baby-sitter does all work and

loves baby as much but she knows exactly that baby is

not hers. So Saints live here, knowing that this world

doesn’t belong to them and they are just doing their

duty towards Lord by serving humankind.

***The same example of baby-sitter is given by

Ramkrishna.

18. Others……….

Sab kaahu ka leejiye, saachaa shabd nihaar.

Pachchhapaat na keejiye, kahe kabir vichaar.

We should get all good and true thoughts from all. We

should never get pride, prejudice and partiality in our

mind-that is Kabir’s teaching for all.

Saai itna deejiye, jaame kuTum samaay.

Main bhee bhukha na rahun, saadhu na bhukha

jay.

O my lord, provide me as much to keep my family well,

I can get food and can serve the saints as well. I don’t

need more than that.

Here are some pads and dohas said by Kabir which

speak about the journey.

Ham ghar jaara aapana, liya muraDa* haath.

Ab ghar jaaro taasu ka, jo chale hamaare saath.

*(MuraDa-Burning wood)

Kabir says he has burnt his home, and has taken

burning wood in his hand. Now he will burn homes of

those who are ready to go ahead with Kabir.

Home represents not only a house but all comfort,

attachment and relations as well. Those who want to

walk on this path should be ready to go any where,

face everything and break all kind of attachment. Home

again represents our own home – means stay place of

the soul- the physical, astral, casual, super casual and

spiritual bodies. Kabir says we need to drop all our

layers of existence to see our true self and be one with

GOD. He says he burnt his home and his ego-all layers

of existence are dropped now and now he will do it to

all who want to follow the path. Without doing this,

going ahead is impossible.

Kabira khaDa bajaar me, sabaki maange khair.

Apani sabase dosti, nahi kisi se bair.

Kabir stands in mid market (represents here the world)

and prays peace to all, he is friends to all and no one is

his enemy.

Till a Saint gets this equilibrium of mind to see all and

everything as friend and one, he has not got ultimate

enlightenment.

Unai badariyaa parigayo sanjhaa,

Aguaa bhoole bankhand manjhaa,

Dhani anate piya anate rahai,

Chaupari kaamari maathe gahai,

Phulwaa bhaar na le sake, kahe sakhin so roy,

jyon-jyon bheeje kaamari, tyon-tyon bharee hoy.

Clouds are spreading all over the sky in the dark

evening. The guide is abandoned in mid jungle followed

by the bride. Dear beloved lady is somewhere else far

from her lover. She has covered her head with folded

blanket to save herself from heavy rain and dark

dangerous night but it is of no use. She can't bear the

burden now and weeps bitterly. She says to her

sakhee(friend)- blanket is being wet and heavier, it is

just unbearable to hold it on the head!!

Here Kabir says about the journey of the soul. The dark

cloudy and rainy night is the life of the soul in which

she has started searching her beloved. The guide or

Sakhee refers to the Guru. The blanket is the social

securities and relations which the soul wants to keep

with her (but it is a burden in this journey). So the soul

weeps and says - it is being heavy now, I can’t keep it

on head. I wanted it to save me, but it is pulling me

down!!

Harau to Hari maan hai, jo jeetun to daav.

Parbrahm sau khelataa, jo sir jay to jay.

Now Kabir is all set to play this game with GOD. This

game is of love and devotion, surrender and death of

self. If GOD wins, it is his greatness, and I shall be

proud that my master won. If I win, then sure I win

(either way it is a win-win situation). So Kabir is

playing this game, and he doesn’t care a bit, if he

looses his head (life, ego, self, me).

Surati samaani nirati me,ajapaa maahe jaap.

Lekh samaana alekh me, yun aapa maahe aap.

My surat ( dhyan, concentration) is absorbed in nirati

and jaap (bhajan, simaran) got dissolved in

ajapaa(dhyan or simaran without practice, done

naturally). The visible dissolved in invisible and my self

got merged in my own self (supreme self).

Pahunchenge tab kahenge, utarenge us Thay.

Ajahoo beDa samand me, boli biguche kaay.

I shall tell the truth when I reach at that place, when I

land on that shore. My ship is still in mid sea, why to

speak and spoil the journey?? Kabir is on the way to

meet his Lord, he is still traveling through this

BhavSagar(Lower Worlds) and is not well aware of

ultimate reality, so speaking anything will destroy the

essence of the truth.

Kasturee kunDali basai, Mrig DhunDhe ban

maahi.

Aise ghaTi-ghaTi Ram hain, duniyaa bujhe naahi.

The deer has Kasturi (material of sweet fragrance) in

his novel, but he doesn’t know it. He runs one jungle to

another searching the source of it. The same way our

Lord prevails in everyone but this world is un-aware of

HIM and is running one place to another to find HIM.

Shabd nirantar se man laaga, malin vaasanaa

tyagee.

UThat baiThat kabahu na chhuTe, aisee taaree

laagee.

My mind got attached to the unbroken melody, and all

filthy desires are lost. Now all the time my mind is

attached to that sweet melody, doesn’t matter whether

I sit in mediation or do any other work.

Jin DhunDhaa tin paaiyaa, gahare paanee paiTh.

Main bauree Dooban Daree, rahee kinaare baiTh.

Whoever searched going deep into the sea, found that

gems. I was ignorant and stupid(woman), I feared to

go deep in water and just sat there at the shore….with

empty hands………

This is an metaphor of meditation, going deep, leaving

senses of this physical body and turning upwards to

seek the unknown……fear grabs us that we leave this

known and we don’t know about the unknown when we

start the journey……..the soul fears and sometimes

gives up its efforts, brave and courageous are those

who dive deep and find the beloved………

Jal me kumbh, kumbh me jal hai, baahar bheetar

paanee.

PhooTaa kumbh jal jalahi samaanaa, yah tat

kathau gyanee.

This whole universe is like an ocean, we all are like

pots in this infinite sea. As water is within the pot and

water itself is around the pot, only a thin veil of the

form of pot keeps the water within it apart from the

water of sea. So we live in the infinite consciousness of

existence which we call by different name, but it is

within us, around us and we are it, only a thin veil of

ego keeps us separated from that infinite ocean of

consciousness. When the pot is broken, the water

within it merges in the infinite water of the sea, so our

consciousness merges in the infinite when we are able

to drop the ego.

Sumiran man me laaiye, jaise naad kurang.

Kahe kabeer bisare nahee, pran taje tehi sang.

Withdraw your attention from outside and keep it in

doing simaran (and bhajan) like a deer pays concrete

attention to the melody a hunter is playing to catch it.

The deer doesn’t bother a bit about upcoming danger

when it gets absorbed in the melody even the hunter

kills it. We should put our attention on the unstuck

melody like that then we will be able to reach our

source.

Sumiran surat lagaay kar, much se kachhu na bol.

Bahar ka pat band kar, andar ka pat khol.

Attach your consciousness to simaran(dhyan and

bhajans), don’t speak or do simaran in words. Shut all

your outer senses down and open the door within you;

(there you will find a way which leads to your beloved’s

palace)…….

Gyan ratan ka jatan kar, maatee ka sansaar.

Aaye kabeera phiri gayaa, pheekaa hai sansaar.

Try to collect the gems of true wisdom and knowledge.

This world is so unstable, it is nothing but made of soil.

Kabir visited this place and returned back knowing that

this world is meaningless and without bliss.

Jaa karan jag dhundhiya, so to ghat hee maanhi.

Parda diyaa bharam kaa , taate sujhe naahi.

This world is searching madly for him, and he is within

our own self!! He wants this play go on, so he has

given this veil of illusion, and no one is able to see him

and the reality.

Khet na chode soorama, jujhe do dal maanhi.

Ashaa jeevan maran kee, man me raakhe naahi.

The great warrior doesn’t leave the battle field. He

fights between two armies. He doesn’t keep a bit hope

of life or fear of death. The seeker is also like that

warrior- he doesn’t hope for life or have fear of death;

he just keeps fighting (for the light of truth in this

illusionary world).

Jaap mare ajapaa mare, anahad hu mari jay

Ram sanehee na mare, kahe Kabeer samujhay

Those who do sumiran and jaap will die, those who do

ajapaa jaap or maanas sumiran will also die. The

person who has gone till the region of anahad or Sound

may die. But the person who loves HIM can’t die. This

is the nectar of love, which makes us immortal!!

Baitha haia ghaT Bheetre, baitha hai Saachet.

Jaisi Jisko chahiye, waisee buddhi det.

The Lord, the being of consciousness is sitting within

you, he is all aware of your dreams and desires. He

provides knowledge and wisdom to you what is needed

to get all those dreams and desires realized. But the

interesting thing is that he gives it to you according to

your own wishes, he is just provider.

Ramkrishna used to give example of light. He used to

say GOD is like light, he provides light to everyone and

everything which is in existence, it is up to us how we

make use of it. A person can write a book in this light

and another one can perform murder. Light is

unaffected yet it doesn’t withdraw from you

irrespective to what you do. He is in everything, in

everywhere.

Utate kou naa aata hai, jaaso poochhun dhaay.

Itate hee sab jaat hai, bhaar ldaaay ladaay.

No one returns from that land, whom I could ask about

HIM. All keep going from here never to return back.

Who will tell us what happens after death? Where is

our home, where shall we go after final journey?? No

one is able to tell us.

Lambaa maarag, doori ghar, vikaT panth bahu

maar.

Kaho santo kyu paaiye, durlabh hari deedaar.

The way is too long, our home is so far and the path is

way too difficult to walk on. And then there are so

many troubles and sufferings in the way. Kabir says –

O my dear Saints!! How will we get to him, this is very

difficult to see him, to meet him!!

Jihi marane the jag dare, so mere aanand.

Kab marihu kab dekhihu, pooran parmaanand.

The world fears dieing, but this death is of my great

pleasure. I pray when I will die and I will see the

whole, the ocean of bliss. Here death indicates in two

ways – one is to go into meditation and do beyond

physical existence, but at another level it is about to

drop the last cover of ego, death of existence as

separate entity, only then we will be able to see the

whole, the ONE. Till two exist, we can’t feel the

ONENESS and this intimacy is what a soul is longing for

(keep searching in so many things, relations etc.)

Ab to jujhyaa hee bane, mudi chalya ghar door.

Sir sahib ko saumpataa, soch na keeje soor.

Now it is time to do or die, you had left your home far

behind. You can’t turn to way back home. Now

surrender your head to your Lord, don’t keep a bit

doubt and continue your fight. Kabir indicates here

about the seekers who are in the way to search the

Lord. When they are progressed a little, it is worse to

look back and live the life they had been living earlier.

Home here is a symbol of this world, this physical plane

with all relations, desires and attachments. When a

person totally lives in this illusion, he or she suffers

through sorrows and enjoys joy as well, but then he or

she is accustomed to that. People feel at ease in that

case. When a soul is fully realized, it will also be at

ease with forever joy and bliss. But a seeker, who has

realized that this world is illusionary and has started his

journey but is in mid way, is in constant danger

according to Kabir. There are so many temptations and

after realizing the worthlessness of this world, there is

no option to return and live in this illusion again. That

is why Kabir again and again emphasizes to burn the

home, the danger of the journey and the courage and

commitment needed for the journey.

Aapaa metya hari mile, hari metya sab jaai.

Akath kahaanee prem kee, kahe na kou patiyaai.

When you finish yourself (Ego, Identity as separate

entity), only then you will be able to meet the Lord. (If

you keep yourself) the Lord is ended where you begin

and with the Lord everything is ended (not in reality

but the person who has kept his ego is unable to see

the Lord) .This story of love is unspeakable, if I say it,

no one will agree with it.

TooTe girat akaas so, kaun sakat hai jhel.

Saadhu satee aur soor ka, anee upar kaa khel.

Kabir often gives the example for the dedication of a

true devotee by three type of people – Sadhu – who

has left everything in search of GOD and lives a true

satwik life, Satee (the bride who is dedicated and

committed to her husband for life and afterlife, who

burns herself to ashes with her husband if her husband

dies) and the warrior – who is fighting for his Lord and

doesn’t have fear of death neither hope of life(fighting

with negativity, temptations and for the work of Lord).

When a devotee develops these three types of

dedication, then his path becomes easy and he meets

with Lord. But at the same time, Kabir warns that

these types of devotions need certain level of caution,

these are like if they fall from their path, it is hard to

survive, like you fall from the great height just to be

broken into pieces.

Saadhu kahaavan kaThin hai, lambaa peD

khajoor.

Chadhe to chaakhe prem ras, gire to

chakanaachoor.

This is very difficult to become a Saint; it is like

climbing the palm-tree. If you are able to climb till the

top of the palm-tree, you will be able to drink the

nectar, but if you loose the grip and fall from the tree,

you will be broken into pieces. Same way if you keep

progressing in meditation- with love and devotion of

GOD, you will be able to meet the Lord, to dink the

divine love and shall become immortal forever. But if

you get diverted, falling from a height will make

greatest damage to you.

Satee bicharee sat kiya, sulee sej bichhay.

Lai sutee piy aapno, chahu dis agan lagaay.

Satee(dedicated and committed bride) made up her

mind and decided to be with her beloved. She made a

bed of thorns, and slept over it with her beloved, and

put the fire on all around herself.

Satee is the symbol of devoted and single minded soul,

bed of thorns is the living of the devotee who goes

through all troubles and pain and the fire around the

bride and her beloved is the holy fire burning all

worldly desires and impurities. Sleeping with beloved is

the symbol of merging with beloved.

Here are some Dohas and Pads by Kabir on this love

factor felt by the seeker.

1. Nature of love……….

Kabir nij ghar prem ka, maarag agam agaadh.

Sees utaari pagatal dhare, tab nikaTi prem ka

swaad.

Kabir says – the path of our true home is quite difficult.

This is world of love and we can enter into it when we

drop our head (ego) and make our way upon our own

self. Only then we can taste the divine drink of love.

Kabir yah ghar prem ka, Khala ka ghar naahi

Sheesh utaare bhui dhare, tab paiThe ghar

maanhi.

Kabir says it is not your aunt’s home where you can

enter when ever you want. His home is home of love,

you can enter here only when you take your head off

and put it on the earth. Then only you can enter this

house. Our beloved one is the ONE, which is prevailing

in everything. And to know him, we need to feel the

oneness with everything, to say feel love for everyone

and everything. Until we think ourselves as separate

entities, we can’t feel the absolute love. And the

interesting thing is that we seek absolute love and

everlasting bliss, and so we start searching GOD, but at

the end we find that is has to come through us, that we

have to be a medium only to flow this pure energy

which is unconditional love. So dropping the thought of

our being as separate entity and then make this flow a

reality is what is all about taking off your head.

Prem na baree upajai, prem na haaT bikaay.

Raja paraja jehi ruche, sheesh dei lai jay.

This love doesn’t grow in field; neither can it be traded

in the market. Doesn’t matter who wants to buy it.

Whether it is a king or the public, its price would the

same- your head. Give your head and take love in

exchange of it. That is the only price possible for this

trade.

Saai sent na paaiye, baataan mile na koy.

Kabir sauda raam so, sir bin kadain na hoy.

You can’t get your beloved without great effort. You

can’t find him by only big talks. Kabir says this trade is

for Ram (Lord); you can trade for him only in exchange

of your head. Without dropping your self completely,

you can’t find him.

Kabir rekh sindoor ki, kaajal diya na jay.

Nain ramaiyaa rami raha, dooja kahan samaay.

Kabir says- a devoted wife can’t put black kajal in place

of sindoor. In the same way no one else can enter in a

true lover’s eyes apart from his beloved.

Kabir kutta Ram ka, Mutia mera naau.

Gale Ram ki jewadi, jit khenche tit jaau.

To-to kare to bahurau, dur-dur kare to jaau.

Jyu Hari rakhe tyu raho, jo deve so khaau.

Someone has said right that no human being can love

you like your pet dog loves you! In human love there is

certain kind of expectations. But a pet dog loves for the

sake of love.

Kabir is referring here that pure love. He says - I am

like the dog of my Lord. He has the chain in his hand

with which he has bound me. I go where ever he pulls

me. When he calls me with love, I come back to him

and when he scolds me, I go away from him!! I live the

way he keeps me and eat what ever he provides!!

Can we imagine loving him like that? What ever he

provides is acceptable with pleasure, his love and his

punishment are equal to us and we need not anything

else, but to be with him, to love him!! When we are

able to attain this kind of love, it is sure he will show

up!!

Jal me base kamodinee, chanda base akaash.

Jo hai jako bhwatam so tahee ke paas.

The Kamodini(A white flower growing in water which

blossoms when it is moonlight and fades in sun light)

lives in the water and the Moon is in the sky still they

love each other. Distance doesn’t make a difference to

them. In the same way, love is what matters, and if

there is love, distance doesn’t make any difference (so

is true for your Lord and Guru).

Agini aanch sahana sugam, sugam khaDg kee

dhaar.

Neh nibaahan ekras, maha kaThin byohaar.

It is easy to jump into fire and it is also comparatively

easy to bear wounds of sword. The brave and

courageous people go through it, but it is far more

difficult to love someone in the same way throughout

the life.

Kabir says the difference between temporary passion

and true love, whether it is worldly or divine. People

tend to fall in love, do a lot of madness and then they

start loosing the passion. But love is something which

might be little but it will go through all ups and downs

and throughout all your life. This love is rare, but it is

the practice what is needed in this path.

Kaanch kadheer adheer nar, taahi na upajai

prem.

Kah Kabir kasanee sahe, kai heeraa kai hem.

Immature and impatient man can’t get what love is all

about. Kabir says it is only gold or diamond which is

able to go through touchstone. Likewise a brave and

courageous person will be able to walk on the path of

love.

2. Birah-Baan Jihi Lagiya………....................

Virah kee oodee laakaree, sapuchai aur

dhudhuaay.

Dukh se tab hee bachihaun, jab sakalau jari jaay.

The wet wood of Birah(separation from the beloved,

mostly taken in the context of two true lovers) just

burns a little and gives smokes only. How to get rid of

this sorrow o my dear friend, only way to get out of

this pain is to get completely burnt out. (Here wet

wood refers to our mind full of filth- desires, thoughts

and karmas).

Here separation is from our beloved Lord, and pain

comes when we start feeling Lord’s existence and our

relation with him but we are not able to meet him. Our

karmas and attachments start burning one by one but

we feel the heat and pain till everything is turned into

ashes and we come out glittering like pure gold. There

is no other way to come out of this pain and to meet

the Lord, but to burn all impurities, attachments,

dreams and desires.

Hawas kare piy Milan ki, au sukh chaahe ang.

Peer sahe binu padminee*, poot na let ulang.

(Padmini – Poetic word used for most beautiful woman)

Kabir says you desire to meet your beloved and want

happiness and joy? That is not possible, even the most

beautiful woman goes through great pain to bear and

give birth to a child and to take him in her arms. Yes,

when she takes the little bundle of joy in her arms, she

will feel great joy but the way she gets this joy is

through pain and sufferings. Likewise when we meet

our Lord, our all pain is gone and we are in infinite

bliss, but the journey goes though great sufferings and

difficulty so be used of it.

Birah bhuwangam paisi kari, kiya kaleje ghav.

Saadhu ang n moDahi, jyu bhave tyu khaav.

This Birah is like poisonous snake entered into the

body, it has bitten me at the very core of my heart.

True Sadhu is who doesn’t even tremble by this pain

and has surrendered his body to this Birah, to be eaten

as it likes (body here refers to all layers of soul).

Yahu tan jaalon masi karo, jyu dhuwaan jaai

saraggi.

Mati wai Raam daya karen, barasi bujhaawe aggi.

I will burn this body to the ashes and the smoke will

reach to the heaven. Even if Lord doesn’t have mercy

on me seeing this smoke, it will turn into rain and will

put off this fire which is burning me.

Yahu tan jaalo masi karo, likho Raam ka naam.

Lekhani karau karank ki, likhi-likhi raam

paThaau.

I will burn my body to ashes and will make ink of it. I

will make pen of my skeleton and will write name of

Ram and will send it to him.

Nainaa neejhar laaiyaa, rahaT bahai nis jam.

Papeeha jyu piv-piv karo, kabahu miloahuge

raam.

My two eyes are like waterfalls, always dropping tears

like the RahanT( two buckets used to pull water from

the well) keeps throwing water. I keep calling his name

like Papeeha( a bird which sounds like piyu meaning

beloved) calls piyu –piyu. O my dear Ram, tell me

when you will come to meet me.

Sukhiya sab sansaar hai, khaabe aur sobe.

Dukhiya das Kabir hai, jaage aur rowe.

(Kabir lost his home in this world, in search of his

beloved.) He is still unable to meet his love and he

sees that whole the world is happy eating in days and

sleeping in nights. What to say about Kabir who wakes

up in nights and weeps for his beloved (without whom

Kabir can’t find peace and happiness).

Chakai bichhudi raini kee, aai mili parbhaati.

Je jan bichhuDe Raam se, te din mile na rati.

Chakvi (a famous bird in India – it is said that the

couple are separated in night hours and meet each

other in day time only) is separated from her beloved

in nights but she is able to meet him in dawn hours.

But we souls, who are separated from our beloved

Lord, can’t meet him in day or night. This separation is

extremely painful.

Dhyaan na aawe, neend na bhaawe, birah

sataawe mohi.

Ghaayal see ghoomat phirun, darad naa jaane

koi.

Now I can’t concentrate (on anything) nor I can sleep,

this separation is being hard to me. I wander like a

wounded person (who is going through great pain and

can’t feel rest anywhere), and no one is able to

understand my pain and suffering.

Parbat parbat main phira, nain gawaye roy.

Wah booTi paaun nahi, jaate jeewan hoy.

I wandered in mountains and I lost my eyes weeping

for you still I couldn’t find the herb anywhere which

could bring life back to me(refers to love what Kabir

had been searching for).

Aage aage dau jale, paachhe hariar hoy.

Baliharee ta birakh ki, jaD kaaTe phal hoy.

This jungle behaves strangely (the jungle of

consciousness), the more you burn its woods, the more

it grows green. The fire goes burning ahead and behind

the fire it grows greener. Kabir says this tree is of great

importance, when you cut its roots, then only it bears

the fruits.

Kabir is here talking about the consciousness spread to

all senses in our body. When we start turning off our

outer senses, our spiritual world starts growing and

when you are able to cut the root of attachment to this

world then only our soul bears the fruit of GOD

Realization.

Birah jalaai main jalauan, jalati jalahari jaau.

Mo dekhya jalahari jale, santo kahan bujhaau.

I am getting burned in the fire of separation. I went to

the river in hope to put off the fire, but the river itself

caught fire seeing me. O saints, where else now would

I turn to put this fire off?

Birah jalanti main phiru, mo birhin ko dukh.

Chhanh na baiThun darapati, mati jal uThe bhuk.

I wander here and there burning in the fire of

separation, but poor me has great trouble. I can’t even

find a shadow in hope of some coolness. I fear sitting

in the shadow of the tree, so the tree wouldn’t catch

fire from me.

Aai sakon na tujjh pe, sakaun na tujjh bulaai.

Jiyaraa yonhi lehuge, birah tapaai-tapaai.

I can’t come to you; neither can I ask you to come to

me. I know you will take my life burning in your

separation only.

AankhaDiyaa jhaai paree, panth nihaari-nihari.

JeehaDiya chhalaa paDyaa, Ram pukaari-pukaari.

O my dear, my eyes are blackened watching your way

and my tongue is burned calling your name (yet you

didn’t come to me!).

Kabir dekhat din gaya, nis bhi dekhat jaai.

Birhin piy pawe nahi, jiyara talafe maai.

Kabir says – O mother, the day was gone watching his

way, now the night is also at the end. This dear bride

who is separated from her husband is restless without

him.

Lakadee jali koyala bhai, Koyalaa jal bhayo raakh.

Main papan aisee jaee, koyalaa bhayi na raakh.

The wood burnt to coal and coal burnt to ashes. But I -

the great sinner, kept burning yet couldn’t become coal

or ashes.

Kabir is saying about the karmas and sins which need

to be burnt when we start meditating. Slowly our

karmas and desires start burning, but it gives us pain

and some kind of suffering also. Until these all are

burnt and we become pure, we will not be able to meet

our Lord and find the ultimate love.

Birah-baan jihi laagiyaa, aushadhi lage na taahi.

Sisaki-sisaki mari-mari jiwe, uThe karaahi-

karaahi.

Someone who is bored by the pang of separation can’t

be cured. No medicine, no drugs will help him. He has

to live crying, weeping and moaning. (Till a soul is

become pure and is able to see the true self, it feels

this pain and suffering).

Mans gaya pinjar raha, taakan laage kaag.

Sahib ajahu na aaya, mand hamare bhaag.

The Birhin (the bride separated from her husband)

keeps waiting and watching for her husband, can’t

enjoy anything now. She is so desperate and sad, her

health has gone down. Now flesh is not on her body,

only skeleton remains. Knowing that her death is

nearing, crows are watching (for her flesh).Still her

beloved didn’t come. Kabir says my luck is so bad, my

Sahib still didn’t consider me worth him.

Kaaga sab tan khaaiyo, chun chun khaaiyo

maans.

Do naina mat khaaiyo, mohe piya Milan kee aas.

Kabir is in the state that now he can’t bear the pain of

separation and will die. He requests to crows (it is

common in Parasis to leave the dead body for flesh

eater birds to finish it) – Please eat my whole body, eat

all the flesh, but please don’t eat my eyes. I am still

waiting to see my beloved!! I have still hope even I am

dieing, he will come to meet me and my eyes will show

him to me!!

Birhin udee panth siri, panthee bujhe dhaai.

Ek shabad kah peev ka, kab re milenge aai.

Birhin waits near the path and runs to the traveler

when someone goes on the way. She asks – tell me

something about my beloved, when he will come to

meet me? This is a metaphor of the souls waiting to

meet the Lord, and they keep asking to their Guru

when they will be so lucky to meet their Lord.

Atakee bhaal shareer me, teer raha hai TooT.

Chumbak bina nikale nahee,koti Jatan ko PhooT.

Imagine an arrow which was broken while it was in our

body and its sharp piece is still in the body. When all

things fail, a magnet works to pull it out. Here Kabir is

saying about our soul trapped in these physical and

other layers of body and is unable to come out of it by

itself. There we need a Guru, who has met with the

Lord, has become charged and magnet like and he can

pull our soul upwards.

Birah bhuvangam tan base, mantra na laage koy.

Raam-biyogee na jiwe, jiwe to bauraa hoy.

This poisonous snake of Birah(is Kabir referring

Kundalini here??) entered in my body, now no mantra

works on it. (It bites me from within), people say it

right- who have felt this separation from Ram, will not

survive anymore. Even if they survive, it is sure they

will become insane. When this love truly happens to

devotee, he starts being aloof from the outer world,

and not being able to meet the Lord, he looks like

insane. (When he meets the Lord, he becomes

saturated with love and bliss, thus even then he looks

like insane to the outer world).

Jo roun to bal ghaTe, hansu to Raam risaay.

Jiyara yonhee lehunge, birah tapaai-tapaai.

If I cry for him, my strength lessens and if I laugh (I

take pleasure in worldly things), my Lord will get angry

of me. O my dear Lord, I know you will take my life in

this way only, burning me slowly in this pang of

separation.

Kabir hari ka bhawata, Jheenaa pinajr saans.

Raini na aawe neendDee,angi na chaDhai maans.

Kabir says – the lover of the Lord looks like skeleton

taking breathe somehow. He can’t sleep in nights and

is even worse in his health and body.

Raam biyogee tan bikal, taahi naa cheenhe koi.

Tambolee ke paan jyu, din-din peela hoi.

The person who is separated from Ram and is

searching for his beloved is restless and even careless

about his physical appearance. People don’t recognize

(his condition). He grows pale day by day like the betel

leaves.

Yaa birhin ko maut de, yaa aapaa dikhalaay.

AaTh pahar kaa daajhaNaa, mope sahyaa na jay.

Oh my dear beloved, please give me death or show

yourself. Now it is unbearable to bear this 24 hours

pain and suffering (I can’t live without seeing you and I

would prefer death than living without you).

Kabeer hansanaa doori kari, kari rowan so chitt.

Bin rowan kyu paaiye, prem piyaara mitt.

Kabir says stop laughing (enjoying worldly things) and

make commitment to weeping. No one is able to meet

him without crying for him.

***The same example is given by Ramkrishna. He says

when a child is playing and laughing, his mother

doesn’t pay attention. But when the kid wants to go to

mother and doesn’t enjoy playing anymore, he starts

crying. At that time, even his mother is busy with

something, she comes running and picks her child. So

is true for the Lord. Till he sees that we are enjoying

here, he doesn’t bother showing himself. But when we

cry from the heart for him, he comes to us.

Ramkrishna used to say even if you cry constantly for

three days and nights reminding only him, it is sure he

will show himself to you, but this cry should be from

the core of heart as the child cries.

Sab rang taant rabaab tan, birah bajaawe nitt.

Aur na akoi sun sake, kai saai kai chitt.

This body is like all colored (all notes of music)

Rabab(a musical instrument), the Birah plays is day

and night. Its melody is hearable only to my soul or my

dear beloved.

3. Baalam Aao Hamare Geh(O dear, come to my

home)………….................

Naina antar aav tu, tyuhi nain jhapeun.

Na haun dekhun aur kun, n tujh dekhan deun.

Kabir says, O my beloved, come into my eyes. As soon

as you come, I will close my eyes, thus will keep you

closed in my eyes. My love is so firm, neither shall I

see anyone else, nor shall I let you see anyone else.

Kabir supine Hari milaa, sowt liyaa jagaay.

Aankhi na kholun darapata, mati sapana hoi jay.

Kabir says – My Lord came to me in dream, and called

me to wake up. Now I fear opening my eyes that this

sweet meeting wouldn’t turn into mere a dream and I

would loose sight of my beloved!!

Is tan kaa deewaa karun, baatee melyun jeev.

Lohee seenchu tel jyu, Kab mukh dekhyu peev.

I will make the lamp of this body and will make the

wick of my soul. I will pour the blood as oil in this lamp

and in the light of this lamp; I shall see the face of my

beloved.

Eke grih ek sang me, hau birhin sang kant.

Kab preetam hansi bolihe, joh rahee main panth.

Me and my beloved live in the same home with each

other, yet I am Birhin(the bride separated from the

groom). I am still waiting -when he will come to me

and will take me and talk to me happily.

Man parteet na premras, na is tan me Dhang.

Na jano us peev su, kaise rahasee sang.

My mind is not firm in faith neither I have love in me. I

don’t know any good manner. I wonder how will I be

able to meet my beloved and how I will live with him

(Kabir is here referring the immaturity and innocence

of the soul when she fears about the unknown-the

existence, the love, the Lord).

Bahut dinan ki johatee, baaT tumharee Raam

Jiy tarase tujh milan ko, man naahee bisaraam

I am waiting and watching your way for so long time.

My heart is craving to meet you; my mind can’t find

peace and rest (until I see you).

Patibartaa mailee bhalee, kaalee kuchit kuroop.

Patibartaa ke roop par, waro koTi saroop.

A Satee( dedicated and committed wife) is the most

beautiful woman even she is ugly and black and is

dirty. She is the dearest and the most beautiful woman

in eyes of her husband. I will sacrifice crores of

beautiful (woman) for that one.

Kabir is indicating here that single minded devotion is

what matters in the eyes of the Lord. Even if a soul is

not so advanced and is not so pure but she is devoted

to his beloved, the Lord considers her beautiful and

loves her and makes her path smooth.

Talafai bin balam mor jiya.

Din nahi chain raat nahi nindiyaa, talaf-talaf ke

bhor kiyaa.

Tan-man mor rahanT as dole, soon sej par janam

chhiya.

Nain thakit bhaye, panth na soojhe, saai bedardi

sudh na liyaa.

Kahat kabir suno bhai saadho, haro peer dukh jor

kiyaa.

(*Language – Bhojpuri mixed Hindi)

My heart aches without my beloved. I can’t find peace

in day and can’t even sleep in nights. I spend whole the

night this way. My body and mind (soul) trembles like

ranahT(buckets used to pull water from the well),

sleeping on this vacant bed (where my beloved is not

with me) is a great shame for me. My eyes got tired

watching the path ( on which he will come to me), now

I can’t see even my way to go ahead, still my heartless

beloved doesn’t remember me, doesn’t care for me.

Kabir says – O Saints, I call him desperately to come

and take all my pains away.

Baalam aao hamare geh re.

Tum bin dukhiya deh re.

Sab koi kahe tumharee naree, moko yah andeh

re.

Ekmek hwai sej na sowe, tab lag kaisaa neh re.

Ann na bhawe, neend na aawe, grih ban dhare na

dheer re.

Jyo kamee ko kamini pyaree, juy pyaase ko neer

re.

Hai koi aisa par upakaaree, hari so kahe sunaai

re.

Ab to Kabir behal bhaye hain, bin dekhe jiu jaai

re.

O my dear, please come to my home. My body (being)

is in great pain. All people say that I am your bride, but

I have doubt in it. Until I sleep with you being

absolutely one with you, how can I feel your love? Now

I don’t like eating, nor can I sleep a bit. I can’t find

peace at home or in jungle. My heart is restless without

you like a lustful person feels for the woman and a

thirsty person searches for the water. Kabir cries his

heart out – O dear, is there anyone who can tell my

beloved about my situation so he could come to me.

Kabir is going through great suffering, now he will die

without seeing his beloved.

Avinaashee dulha kab miliho, sab santan ke

pratipaal.

Jal upajee, jala hee so neha, raTat piyaas piyaas.

Main birhin ThaDhee mag joun, Ram tumhaaree

aas.

Chhadyo geh neh lagi tumse, bhai charan

laualeen.

Talaabeli hot ghaT bheetar, jaise jal binu meen.

Diwas na bhukh, raini nahi nidra, man angana na

suhaai.

Sejariyaa barin bhai moko, jaagat raini bihaai.

When I will find my immortal groom, who is the care

taker of all saints? It is like I was born in the water,

and am in love with the water still I am dieing crying

for water (because I am not able to drink it and I am

still thirsty. It is said that this existence is nothing but

love or GOD, we are born in it, we are made of it and

we search for it, but are unable to find it.). I am

standing by the side of the way watching your visit, O

my Lord; I have only hope of you. I left the home and

absorbed in your love, attached myself to your feet.

There is great restlessness in me, like a fish would be

dieing out of water. I don’t feel hunger in days neither

am I able to sleep in nights and even don’t like my

courtyard. Now my bed seems enemy for me (I can’t

sleep) and I spend whole night waking and waiting for

you.

Dagamag ChaaDi de man bauraa.

Ab to jare mare bani aawe, leenho haath

sinhoraa.

Hoi nisank magan hwai nacho, lobh-moh bhram

chhaaDo.

Sooro kaha maran the darape, satee na sanchay

bhanDo.

Lokbed kul ki marjaada, yahe gale me phansee.

Aadha chal kar paachha phirihe, hoihe jag me

haansee.

Yahu sansaar sakal hai mailaa, Ram kahe te

soochaa.

Kahe Kabir naav nahi chaaDo, girat-parat chaDhi

unchaa.

Kabir says – now don’t keep a doubt in your mind.

Don’t think twice, now it is time to burn yourself to

death. Like a Satee woman doesn’t fear for her life for

a second when she takes SINHORA( small box used to

keep sindoor) in her hands(when she decides to burn

herself with the dead body of her husband, she takes it

as a symbol of commitment) so you keep your

commitment to the Lord. Now be doubtless and dance

with great ecstasy, drop all greed, attachment and

illusion. A warrior doesn’t have fear of death and a

Satee woman won’t collect pots (She is going to be

with her husband, it is useless for her).

This world, society and prestige of your family – these

all are just obstacles, chains around your neck. Drop all

these thoughts. Now don’t look or come back from the

half way, people will laugh at you and will make big fun

of you. This world is all filthy, only name of Ram is pure

and true. Kabir says don’t leave the boat, just follow

your journey; you will reach at the highest somehow.

Kabir is describing the commitment, determination and

un-attachment needed in the path of spirituality. He

always gives example of Sadhu(un-attachment),

Satee(dedication and commitment) and

Warrior(fearlessness and determination) for that

purpose. Here he is taking an example of Satee who is

all three in one when she decides to burn with the dead

body of her husband.

Karo jaatan sakhee saai milan kee.

GuDiya GuDawa soop supeliya, taj de budhi

larikaiyaa khelan kee.

Dewata pittar, bhuiyaa bhawaanee, yah maarag

chaurasee chalan kee.

Unchaa mahal ajab ranag ranglaa, saai sej wahan

phulwa phulan kee.

Tana-man-dhan arapan karu wahan, surat

samhaaru paru paiyana sajan kee.

Kah Kabir nirbhay hoy hansaa, kunji bata deu

talaa khulan kee.

Kabir says O dear sakhee (friend who is girl, refers to

soul), do everything in pursuit to meet your beloved.

Now you are grown up, abandon all your dolls and

playthings (soop supeliya – things to do house chores,

little girls play with their models) and drop this childlike

attitude to play with dolls (fake things). Here Kabir is

indicating to the ways people do worship of different

deities and think they are real one. According to Kabir,

it is like playing with dolls. Till a girl is not grown up,

she will not be able to understand the true meaning of

marriage and groom. So it is useless to tell her about

real things, she likes to play at that time. Same is true

for souls, until they are grown up and are ready to

meet the Lord, they like to do these worship and

prayers.

Kabir says-It is time to get real life experience (you are

grown up and now are ready to be bride). Worship of

all deities and dead ancestors and worshiping mother

earth and mother power are all the ways to come in

this 84 lacs species again and again. Your true groom

resides where he has highest palace, and he is colored

in such strange color (you have not seen before). There

your groom’s bed is made of blossomed flowers.

Surrender your body, mind and wealth to him, hold up

your all consciousness and bow down to his feet. Kabir

says your soul (swan -free souls) shall become fearless

there; I will tell you the key of the lock which when

opened, leads to that place.

Jaagu piyaaree ab ka sowe.

Raini gayee din kaahe ko khowe.

Jin jaaga tin maanik paaya.

Tain bauree sab soy gawaayaa.

Piy tere chatur tu moorakh naaree.

Kabahu na piy ki sej sanwaaree.

Tain bauree bauraapan keenho.

Bhar joban piy apan na cheenho.

Jaag dekh piy sej na tere.

Tohi chhaDi uTh gaye sabere.

Kah Kabir soi jan jaage.

Shabd-baan ur-antar laage.

Oh my dear, wake up, why are you sleeping now? Your

whole night is spent sleeping, now don’t get your days

lost. Those who keep awaken, find the gems. You poor

soul, you spent all your life sleeping. Your beloved is a

smart one and you are a dumb woman (who can’t

compete to her husband in love); never did you make

your husband’s bed. You poor dumb woman, you did all

foolish things, never recognized your beloved one while

you were young. Wake up and see, your husband is not

with you, he woke up early leaving you on the bed.

Kabir says - only those are awaken whose heart is

bored by the arrow of words (shabd, celestial music, in

worldly sense it refers to words of love).

Kabir is simplifying the soul’s consciousness and

recognition towards her Lord, like a foolish wife doesn’t

understand her husband’s standards and doesn’t care

for her husband and soon her husband gets bored with

her and leaves her behind. Later the wife searches for

her husband madly. Same way, our own Lord is within

us, with us, but we never care for him, and we do all

worldly things but not anything to please him. Soon he

leaves us (bed-body, our self with all layers of being).

We spend our all life in sleeping state (our

consciousness is not in waken state) without

recognizing our beloved and tasting the nectar of love.

Piya Milan ki aas, raho kablo kharee.

Unche nahi chaDhi jaaye, mane lajja bharee.

Paanv nahi Thaharaay, chaDhun giri-giri paDun.

Phiri-phiri chaDhun samhaari, charan aage

dharun.

Ang-ang thaharaay to bahu bidhi Dari rahun.

Karam kapaT mag gheri to bhram me pari rahun.

Baree nipaT anaari to jheenee gail hai.

ATapaT chaal tumhaar, milan kas hoi hai.

Chhoro kumati vikaar, sumati gahi leejiye.

Satguru shabd samhaari charan chit deejiye.

AntarpaT de khol shabd ur laav ree.

Dil bich das Kabir mile tohi baawaree.

How long I will stand here in the hope to meet my

beloved? The path is so narrow and high, how will I

climb up? My heart is full of shame (a bride is supposed

to wait for her husband and not to make a move by

herself to meet her husband). My feet don’t hold the

ground properly and I fall again and again while trying

to climb up. I again try to climb up with great care and

put my foot ahead. When my whole body trembles (the

path is so slippery), I fear I will fall. My karmas and

bad habits try to entangle me on the way and I fall in

great illusion. Kabir says (to the bride) - Oh dear, you

are so young and so immature, and the path is so

narrow. You keep your walk straight, or how will you

be able to meet your husband? Abandon all wrong

thoughts and get attached to good thoughts, keep

remembering your Guru’s words and his feet in your

heart. Open the door within you and keep the sound in

your heart. Kabir says your beloved will meet you in

your own heart only.

This metaphor represents the efforts, obstacles, hope

and disappointments of the soul when she tries to go

within and to meet her beloved one, the Lord.

Kaise din katihe, jatan bataye jaiyo Rama.

Ehi paar Ganga, wohi paar Jamana,

Bichwa maraiya hamka, chawaye jaiyo Rama.

Anchara phadi ke kagaj banay lai,

Apnee suratiyaa hiyare likhaye jaiyo Rama

Kahat Kabeer suno bhai saadho,

Bahiya pakad ke, rahiya bataay jaiyo Rama.

Kabir asks -how I will spend my days (without you)

.Tell me the ways I could survive without you. The

Ganga is this side and the Yamuna on the other side.

Please make a hut for me in between, where I could

live in these days (while I have not found you). (Here

Ganga and Jamuna indicate Ida and Pingla Nadi and

hut in between indicates Sushumna through which we

go inside in meditation.)

Kabir says - I will tear my saree and will make paper of

it. I request you to imprint your face on it; I will keep it

with my heart. Kabir says, O saints, please get me by

arms and show me the path to my beloved.

Ye ankhiyan alsaanee, piy ho sej chalo.

Khambha pakaD patang as Dole, bole madhuri

baanee.

Phoolan sej bichhay jo raakhyo, piya bina

kumhalaanee.

Dhere paanv dharo palangaa par, jaagat nanad

jiThaanee.

Kahe Kabir suno bhai sadho, lok-laaj bichhalanee.

Kabir was a poet before a saint and he was kind of

lover rather than a devotee, so he has told so many

pads regarding this love factor. He considers himself as

a dedicated and committed bride who has only one

pleasure in this world, and that is to meet her groom.

Though mystics take so many relations with the Lord to

make their attachment so firm that nothing could

shake them from their path, but the most loving and

unbreakable bond is that of husband and wife, or to

say true committed lovers. Kabir brings this divine

experience to the level where even a human can

understand its overwhelming feeling and influence. So

he sings absolutely like a bride who is so mad for her

husband and nothing is dear to her except the

company of her groom. In this pad Kabir says- O my

dear beloved, come to the bed (bed here refers to the

body where meeting of the soul and her Lord takes

place), my eyes are being sleepy, I want to sleep with

you. My heart sings sweet and trembles like a kite

stuck to a poll (Feelings lovers get – Sensations during

meditation in context of divine love). I had made a bed

of flowers but it is being faded without my beloved. O

my dear soul, put your feet on the bed so noiselessly,

your sister-in-law and mother-in-law (villains in real life

love stories, our physical senses in spiritual language)

are awaken (they will disturb your meeting with your

beloved). Kabir says- O dear saints, now I have

dropped all the thoughts of shame and prestige of this

world and society for my love, I am going to meet my

dear beloved.

***Ramkrishna has also said- drop these three things

also-Shame, Hatred and Fear, to pursue the path of the

beloved………

Milana kaThin hai, kaise milaungi piy jay.

Samujhi soch pag dharo jatan se, baar-baar dig

jay.

Unchi gail raah rapaTeelee, paanv nahee

Thaharaay.

Lok-laaj kul kee marjaadaa, dekhat man

sakuchaay.

Naihar baas basa peehar me, laaj tajee nahi jay.

Adhar bhoomi janh mahal piya ka, hampe chadyo

na jay.

Dhani bhai baree, purush bhaye bhola, surat

jhakora khaay.

Dootee satguru mile beech me, deenho bhed

bataay.

Sahib Kabir piya so bhetyo, seetal kanTh lagaay.

This meeting is too difficult, how I will go and meet to

my beloved? Oh dear, think carefully and put your feet

carefully ahead, it trembles again and again. What I

will do, this path is going so high and so slippery, and

my feet are unable to stand on it. The pressure and

fear of society (Kabir says it again and again, because

even worldly love is a shame in society and people

don’t have good thoughts about lovers, though later

they sing thousands of songs about their love, and so is

true for the love and devotion to the Lord, people laugh

at the mystics in their lifetime and later they praise

them). When I see all these obstacles, I feel ashamed.

I spent my life in my parents home(Naihar – Kabir

speaks a lot about it- represents this world where this

soul has come to be born, to grow up and then to meet

her beloved- the Lord) so I have difficulty dropping this

feeling of shame. My beloved’s palace is high in the

sky; I can’t climb up to it. Kabir says – the bride is too

young and the groom is innocent, the surat

(consciousness) trembles (like a tree in the wind) while

it tries to go upside. Kabir says - my Guru, the

messenger of love met to me in mid way and he told

me the secret. Now Kabir has met to his beloved. It

was so cool and blissful when he met and hugged me!!

Toko piya milenge, ghunghaT ke paT khol re.

GhaT-ghaT me wah saai rahata, kaTuk bachan

mat bol re.

Dhan-joban ka garab na keeje, jhooTha

panchrang chol re.

Sunnmahal me diyana bari le, aasan so mat Dol

re.

Jag jugut so rangmahal me, piya paayo anamol

re.

Kahe Kabir aanand bhayo hai, baajat anahad Dhol

re.

Oh my dear, don’t put it on, open the veil and you will

find the beloved. The Lord prevails in everything; never

speak a bitter word to anyone. Never be proud of the

wealth, youth or power. This body –colored in five

colors (made of five elements) is a fake. Light your

lamp in the void palace, and don’t wave from your

position. Kabir says I have found my priceless beloved

in this palace by waking and making great effort. Now I

am in infinite bliss and the unstuck melody is

resounding everywhere.