Contemplations – Kabir

तू तू करता तू भया मुझमे रही न हूँ ।
बारी फेरी बलि गई, जित देखू तित तू ॥

Too too kartaa too bhayaa
mujhme rahee na hoo.
Aapaa kabeer kaa miṭ gayaa
jit dekhaa tit-too

Thinking and thinking of You my Lord, You now permeate me. My ego and fears I gave up, All around You alone I see.

माला फेरत जुग भया, फिरा न मन का फेर,
कर का मनका डार दे, मन का मनका फेर॥

Malaa ferat jug bhayaa,
firaa naa man kaa fer
kar kaa manka daar de,
man kaa mankaa fer

Time passes by while we turn our rosary – and yet the mind remains restless. Give up the beads of the rosary, and rotate the beads of mind.

पत्थर पूजे हरी मिले, तो मै पुजू पहाड़ ।
उससे तो चाकी भली, पीस खाय संसार ॥

Patthar pooje haree mile,
to mai pujoo pahaaṛ.
Usse to chaakee bhalee,
pees khaay sansaar.

If God can be found by praying to an idol, then I would worship the whole mountain. Better is the stone that grinds grains for food!

कंकर-पत्थर जोरि के मस्जिद लई बनाय,
ता चढ़ि मुल्ला बांग दे का बहरा भया खुदाय

Kankar patthar joree ke
masjid layee banaai.
Taa chaḍhi mullaa baang de
kaa baharaa bhayaa khudaai

Gathering small pebbles you build a mosque and then you stand on it and shout at the top of your voice, do you think He is deaf?

कस्तूरी कुण्डली बसै मृग ढ़ूँढ़ै बन माहि।
ऐसे घटी घटी राम हैं दुनिया देखै नाँहि॥

Kastooree kuṇḍal base
mruga ḍhooḍhai ban maahi.
Aise ghaṭee ghaṭee raam hai
duniyaa dekhe naahi.

A deer has fragrance in its own navel but runs all over the forest in search of it. Similarly, Ram is everywhere but the world does not see.

निंदक नियरे राखिए ऑंगन कुटी छवाय,
बिन पानी, साबुन बिना, निर्मल करे सुभाय।

Nindak niyare raakhiye
aangan kuṭee chhavaai
Bin paanee saabun binaa
nirmal kare subhaai.

Keep your critics close to you, and give them shelter in your courtyard for it is without soap and water that he cleanses your character.

तिनका कबहूँ न निंदिये जो पावन तर होए ।
कभू उडी अँखियाँ परे तो पीर घनेरी होए ॥

Tinkaa kabahoo na nindiye
jo paavan tara hoi.
Kabhoo uḍee aakhiyaa pare
to peer ghaneree hoi.

A straw should never be underestimated even though it is always underfoot because when it flies into your eyes it can cause much pain and discomfort. (Never oppress the weak, when they counterattack, it will be very painful just like a speck of dust in the eye).

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तु क्या रौंदे मोय ।
एक दिन ऐसा आएगा, मैं रौंदूगी तोय ॥

Maaṭee kahe kumhaar se
tu kyaa raide moi.
Ek din aisaa aayegaa
Mai raidoogee toi.

Like a potter that uses his hands and feet to mold the soil to make things, the soil says – you think you are kicking me and kneading me with your feet but one day will come when you will be below me and I will be pressing and kneading you.

दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे, सुख में करै न कोय।
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे, दुःख काहे को होय॥

Dukh mè sumiran sab kare
Sukh mè karai na koi.
Jo sukh mè sumiran karai
Dukh kaahe ko hoi

We usually think of God when sorrow or sadness comes, but we do not think of him when we are happy. Know that those who worship him while happy will not be overcome by sadness, sorrow, or depression.

दुःख sadness, sorrow में in सुमरना calling God’s name (using rosary), to recall, remember सब करे all/everyone do सुख happiness करै do न कोय no one जो who काहे why

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब।
पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब॥

Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab
Pal mè pralaya hoyegi, bahuri karoge kab

Complete today’s work now and do tomorrow’s work today. In one moment a disaster can strike, when can you ever return to complete your duties?

काल करे tomorrow’s actions/activity सो आज कर do today आज करे today’s activity सो अब पल में in this moment परलय apocalypse, disaster, calamity होएगी will be बहुरना to return, to come back करेगा कब when will

बैद मुआ रोगी मुआ, मुआ सकल संसार।
एक कबीरा ना मुआ, जेहि के राम आधार॥

Vaid muaa rogee muaa, muaa sakal sansaar
Ek kabeeraa naa muaa, jehi ke raam aadhaar

The doctors (physicians) will die, the patients will die. The true devotee will not die because he has offered himself to God in whose support he will always be devoted.

बैद doctors, physicians मुआ die रोगी patients सकल all, everywhere संसार world एक one, this one कबीरा Kabeer ना मुआ not die जेहि where राम Raam, God आधार support

ऊँचे पानी ना टिके, नीचे ही ठहराय।
नीचा हो सो भारी पी, ऊँचा प्यासा जाय॥

Òòche paanee naa ṭike, neeche hee ṭhaharaay.
Neechaa ho so bhaaree pee, òòchaa pyaasaa jaay.

Water flows down, it cannot stay in the air. It stays on the ground and does not hang in the air. You can satisfy your thirst when you are at the level of the water, but not when you are too high above it. (Humble yourself when seeking fulfillment of your thirst for spirituality and bliss) 

ऊँचे high, upper पानी water ना not टिकना stay in place, stop नीचे beow, down, low ठहरा stop, rest सो भार change, पी drink प्यासा thirst

बाहर क्या दिखलाये, अंतर जपिए राम।
कहा काज संसार से, तुझे धानी से काम॥

Baahar kyaa dikhlaaye, antar japiye raam.
Kahaa kaaj sansaar se, tujhe dhaanee se kaam.

What can be seen externally, when God’s name can be recited internally? Do not be overcome by the world out there – instead, focus on the One whose work caused the entire world to be.

सोना सज्जन साधू जन, टूट जुड़े सौ बार।
दुर्जन कुम्भ कुम्हार के, एइके ढाका दरार॥

Sona sajjana saadhoo jan, ṭoota juṛe sau baar.
Durjana kumbh kumhaar ke, aike ḍhaakaa daraar.

Good people are like gold which is malleable and not brittle. They do not give up even after hundreds of problems. Evil, wicked, and bad persons are like a clay pot that once shattered can never mend.

सोना gold सज्जन good people साधू saints जन knowledgeable टूट break जुड़े connect, join सौ बार hundred times दुर्जन wicked, devil कुम्भ कुम्हार pottery ढाका cover दरार cracks, leak

हरी सांगत शीतल भय, मिटी मोह की ताप।
निशिवासर सुख निधि, लाहा अन्न प्रगत आप्प॥ 

Hari Saangat sheetal bhaya, Miṭi moh kee taap.
Nishivaasar sukh nidhi, laahaa anna pragat aap.

Those who think of God constantly are always calm and not overcome by any fear. Because they are not overcome by attachment or wealth, they do not lose an iota of their spiritual progress.

हरी god सांगत harmonized, compatible शीतल भय calmness from fear मिटी wash way मोह attachment, infatuation ताप heat निशिवासर always, at all times सुख happiness निधि wealth, treasure लाहा ले अन्न take even a grain sized portion of प्रगत progress आप्प you your

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तू क्या रौंदे मोहे।
इक दिन ऐसा आवेगा जब मैं रौंदूंगी तोहे॥

Maaṭee kahe kamhaar se, too kyaa raunde mohe
Ek din aisaa aavegaa, jab mai raundoogee tohe

The clay says to the potter, you walk on on me now and the day will come when I will trample on you.

माटी soil कहे saying कुम्हार से to potter तू क्या what/why you रौंदे मोहे trample me इक दिन one day ऐसा आवेगा will come like this जब when मैं I रौंदूंगी will trample तोहे on you

आवत गारी एक है, उलटन होए अनेक।
कह कबीर नहीं उलटिए, वही एक की एक॥

Aavat gaaree ik hai, ulṭan hoy anek.
Kah kabeer nahee ulaṭiye, vahee ek kee ek.

If someone hurls us one bad word we give many bad words in return. Desist from such actions. Let one word of abuse remain as one word.

आवत inflow गारी एक है one fast word उलटन invert, in return  होए अनेक many कह कबीर नहीं kabir says no उलटिए reversal वही एक की एक let one remains as one.

उज्जवल पहरे कापड़ा, पान सुपारी खाय।
एक हरी के नाम बिन, बंधा यमपुर जाय॥

Ujjval pahare kaapṛaa, paan supaaree khaay.
Ek haree ke naam bin, bandhaa yampur jaay.

We wear stylish, beautiful clothes and keep our words and breath sweet. But if we truly want to avoid hell, then adorn your mind with God.

उज्जवल bright, impressive पहरे कापड़ा outer garments पान सुपारी खाय eating breath fresheners एक हरी के नाम बिन without God’s name बंधा tied up यमपुर hell जाय going

कबीरा गरब ना कीजिये, कभू ना हासिये कोय।
अजहू नाव समुद्र में, ना जाने का होए॥

Kabeeraa jarb naa keejiye, kabhoo naa haasiye koi.
Ajahoo naava samudra mė, naa jaane kaa hoi.

Do not feel superior and laugh at others, life is like a boat in the middle of the ocean without knowing what wave, what force, what wind, whatever comes next. 

गरब fashionable, proud ना कीजिये don’t be कभू ना हासिये laugh don’t at others अजहू today your नाव समुद्र में boat is in the ocean ना जाने not knowing का होए what’s next

काह भरोसा देह का, बिनस जात छान मारही।
सांस सांस सुमिरन करो, और यतन कुछ नाही॥

Kaah bharosaa deh kaa, binas jaat chhaan maarahee.
Sȧȧs sȧȧs sumiran karo, aur yatan kuchh naahee.

Why rely on a body that, regardless of its beauty, caste or power, can lose its life at any moment? Waste no effort on that. Instead focus on each breath and each moment of life.

काह why भरोसा rely, trust  देह का of the body बिनस without जात छान caste or class मारही die, kill सांस सांस करो with with each breath सुमिरन remember  और यतन कुछ नाही nothing else, no other effort

कुटिल बचन सबसे बुरा, जासे हॉट न हार।
साधू बचन जल रूप है, बरसे अमृत धार॥

Kuṭil bachan sabse buraa, jaase hȧȧṭ na haar.
Sadhoo bachan jal roop hai, barse amrit dhaar.

Bad words, hurtful words, and insults can cause much pain and anguish. Good words, sweet words are like soothing water that rains non-stop nectar over and over. Good words will create a lasting impression.

कुटिल बचन bad speech, bad words सबसे बुरा are worst जासे those हॉट are painful, are searing न हार don’t give साधू बचन good or saintly words जल रूप है like water बरसे raining अमृत धार non-stopping nectar

कबीरा लोहा एक है, गढ़ने में है फेर।
ताहि का बख्तर बने, ताहि की शमशेर॥

Kabeeraa lohaa ek hai, gaṙne mė hai pher,
Taahi kaa bakhtar bane, taahi kee shamsher.

Metal is one and the same, but it can be used to make different shapes and things. The same item can give protection but the same item can make a weapon.

लोहा iron, metal एक है is one and the same गढ़ने forging, shaping फेर turning, twisting बख्तर armour, protective wear बने become शमशेर sword

कबीरा सोता क्या करे, जागो जपो मुरार।
एक दिन है सोवना, लंबे पाँव पसार॥

Kabeeraa dotaa kyaa kare, jaago japo muraar.
Ek din hai sovanaa, lambe pȧȧv pasaar.

Why are you asleep? Arise, awake and immerse in reciting God’s name. The day will come when you will sleep and relax forever, so be alert now when you can.

सोता sleep क्या करे why do जागो alert awake जपो japa, chanting मुरार God’s name एक दिन one day सोवना sleep लंबे long पाँव legs, feet पसार spread, stretched out

कबीरा आप ठगिये, और न ठगिये कोय।
आप ठगे सुख होत है, और ठगे दुःख होय॥

Kabeeraa aap ṭhaagiye, aur na ṭhagiye koi.
Aap ṭhage sukh hot hai, aur ṭhage dukh hoi.

If we lie or cheat to ourselves, we know the real truth and can safeguard against any harm. But lying or cheating others can create great harm because they will never know the truth.

आप you ठागइए cheat, fool, swindle और and न not ठगिये कोय cheat, fool, swindle others ठगे cheated सुख happiness दुःख sadness

गारी ही से उपजे, कलह कष्ट और भीच।
हारी चले सो साधू है, लागी चले तो नीच॥

Gaaree hee se upaje, kalah kaṣhṭ aur bheech.
Haaree chale so saadhoo hai, laagee chale to neech.

A bad word or insult can create conflicts and ill will. Whereas a good person will let a bad word end without being affected by its conflict or ill will, a bad person will take it on and will let it lower his standards even more.

गारी ही से slurred, bad words उपजे produce, create कलह discord कष्ट suffering, hardship और and भीच too हारी चले end, stop, lose साधू good person लागी engaged, nurture चले go नीच down, below

जो तोकू कांता बुवाई, ताहि बोय तू फूल।
तोकू फूल के फूल है, बंकू है तिरशूल॥

Jo toku kaantaa buvaai, Taahi boya too phool.
Toku phool ke phool hai, bankoo hai tirashool

If someone sows a thorny cactus for you, you should sow a flower plant for him. You will get many flowers and others will have thorns.

जो तोकू who can कांता thorn, cactus type plant बुवाई sow ताहि बोय thus whether तू you फूल flower बंकू है तिरशूल the pointiness of the thorns

तन को जोगी सब करे, मन को बिरला कोय।
सहजी सब बिधि पिये, जो मन जोगी होय॥

Tan ko jogee sab kare, man ko biralaa koi.
Sahajee sab bidhi piye, jo man jogee hoi.

Very easily we can make our body appear like that of a saint, but rarely can we make our mind saintly. When one’s mind becomes saintly, then life becomes easily managed.

तन body जोगी saint, yogi सब all करे do मन mind बिरल rarely सहजी comfortably सब all बिधि rituals पिये drink, consume जो मन जोगी होय of saintly mind

नहाये धोये क्या हुआ, जो मन मेल न जाय।
मीन सदा जल में रही, धोये बॉस न जाय॥

Nahaaye dhoye kya huaa, jo man mel na jaay.
Meen sadaa jal me rahee, dhoye baas na jaay.

What effect does washing and cleaning have on our mind or body? Fishes live in water but always smell unwashed. Go beyond the mere washing of the body.

नहाये bathed धोये washed क्या हुआ what happened जो मन the mind मेल न जाय irreconcible मीन fishes सदा जल में रही all always in water धोये बॉस न जाय yet they smell unwashed.

पत्ता बोला वृक्ष से, सुनो वृक्ष बनराय।
अब के बिछड़े न मिले, दूर पड़ेंगे जाय॥

Pattaa bolaa vriksh se, suno vriksh banaraay.
Ab ke bichhṙe na mile, door paṙenge jaay.

A leaf will one day say to the tree, we will now part company and never meet again as I will be going far away.

पत्ता leaf बोला speaks वृक्ष tree सुनो listen वृक्ष tree बनराय become अब now बिछड़े separate न मिले not meet दूर पड़ेंगे जाय will go far away

माया छाया एक सी, बिरला जाने कोय।
भागत के पीछे लगे, सन्मुख भागे सोय॥

Maayaa chhaayaa ek see, biralaa jaane koy.
Bhaagat ke peechhe lage, sanmukha bhaage soy.

Delusions are like our shadows. They chase and follow us when we try to go away and they disappear when we try to come face to face with them.

माया illusion, delusion छाया shadow एक सी are one, alike बिरला rare, scarce जाने कोय unknowing, who knows भाग part के पीछे लगे follows back सन्मुख face-to-face भागे सोय ran away

रिद्धि सिद्धि मांगूं नहीं माँगू तुम पी यह।
निशिदिन दर्शन साधू को प्रभु कबीर कहू देह॥

Risshi Siddhi mȧȧngoo nahėė mȧȧngoo tum pee yah.
Nishidin darshan saadhoo ko prabhu kabeer kahoo deh.

I did not ask God for wealth and fame, but you can imbibe in that all you want! I ask God every night and day for me to see Him in every person that I see. 

रिद्धि prosperity, wealth सिद्धि accomplishment मांगूं नहीं I did not ask माँगू ask, call तुम you पी drink यह this निशिदिन night and day दर्शन glimpse, vision, sight, philosophy साधू saint, saintly प्रभु God कहू say देह body

न गुरु मिल्या ना सिष भय, लालच खेल्या डाव।
दुनयू बड़े धार में, छधी पाथर की नाव॥

Na Guru milyaa na siṣh bhay, laalach khelyaa ḍaav.
Duniyoo baṙe dhaare mė chhadhee paathar kee naav.

Greed makes us lose everything. Even a teacher or student can be overcome by greed. Greed is like being caught in the ocean while being in a boat made of stone.

न no गुरु Guru मिल्या meeting ना not, nor सिष student भय fearful लालच greed खेल्या play डाव game, move दुनयू world बड़े big धार stream में in छधी possessing, owning पाथर stone नाव boat.

क्या मुख ली बिनती करो, लाज आवत है मोहि।
तुम देखत ओगुन करो, कैसे भावो तोही॥

Kyaa mukh lee binatee karo, laaj aavat hai mohi.
Tum dekhat augun karo, kaise bhaavo tohee.

How should I make God any request? He knows all, he knows my shortcomings. How should he like me with these shortcomings?