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1 kabir khade bazar me, sabki chahe khair;
na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair.
Meaning
Kabir says: "I stand in a market place and I desire the welfare of all.
I am neither related to anyone, nor am I an enemy to any one."
Commentary
Kabir Saheb was above all religious conflicts, so he went neither to the temple, nor to the mosque. He chose the market place to preach, because people of all religions go there. Kabir Saheb preached the truth and wanted the spiritual welfare of all equally.
2 pachha pachhi ke karane, sab jag raha bhulan;
nirpachh hoi ke hari bhaje, soie sant sujan.
Meaning
People are divided into various groups (religions) and thus the whole world is misguided.
Being impartial to the worldly groups (religions), one who performs the devotion to Almighty God is the true saint.
Commentary
There are many religions in the world and people stick to their favourite religions. But a saint understands that all souls are the same, and that God is dwelling in every heart. The saint recognizes God in all, and remains impartial to the various religions.
3 chalti chakki dekh ke, diya kabira roi;
dou patan ke bichame, sabut bacha na koi.
Meaning
Kabir says: "Looking at the millstones, I wept.
One who is caught between the two stones, never comes out safely.
Commentary
The cycle of birth and death, and all other pairs of opposites (pleasure and pain, love and hate, virtue and sin) are like mill stones, and a person who is caught between them becomes figuratively crushed. Liberation is obtained by transcending the pairs of opposites.
4 silwant sabse bada, sab ratano ki khan;
tin lok ki sampada, rahi sil may an.
Meaning
Whoever has good character is the greatest of all. He is the mine of all jewels.
The wealth of the three worlds is merged in good character.
Commentary
Without good character all other qualities are useless. When a person loses his good character he loses everything. It is very difficult to remove the spots on the character. Therefore, we have to try to keep our character spotless, and perform devotion for God realization.
5 apa taje aw hari bhaje, nakh sikh taje vikar;
sab jiwan se nirbair rahe, sadhu mata hai sar.
Meaning
Give up the pride of clan and caste and do devotion to God. Give up your faults (lust, anger, greed, etc.).
Don't be an enemy to anyone. This is the basic principle of the saints.
Commentary
Saints want the welfare of everyone and advise tolerant behaviour towards all. People, who are full of ego, easily develop enmity towards others. Saints are free of ego and enmity.
6 nindak niyare rakhiye, angan kuti chhawai;
binu pani bin sabuna, nirmal kare subhaw.
Meaning
Keep your critic close to you; give him shelter in your courtyard.
Without soap and water he cleanses your character.
Commentary
You get to know your faults if someone criticizes you, and you will have a chance to correct them. Listen to the criticism without annoyance, because the critic is not your enemy. He is helping you to clean the rubbish from your own life.
7 manus janam durlabh hai, mile na barambar;
pakka phal jo gir para, bahuri na lage dar.
Meaning
Human birth is difficult to obtain, and you will not get it again and again.
When a ripe fruit falls, it does not re-attach to the branch.
Commentary
In this world human life is the best in which you have the opportunity to do good deeds. It is difficult to get the same type of opportunity again and again. If you will not perform proper actions, your karmas will prevent you from getting this chance another time.
8 sain itana dijiye, jame kutum samai;
mai bhi bhukha na rahu, sadhu na bhukha jai.
Meaning
God, please give me only that much which will maintain my family. I also will not remain hungry, nor will any sadhu go hungry.
Commentary
In reality, there is no satisfaction without peace, and satisfaction does not come with material wealth, because the more we get the more we want. We require only enough for our daily needs. That is why the devotee is asking only for enough to maintain himself and his family, and to help others. Thus he remains contented and peaceful.
9 rukha sukha khaike, thanda pani pee;
dekh parai chupadi, mat lalchao jee.
Meaning
Eat dry and simple food and drink cold water.
Do not look at the buttered bread of others and long for it.
Commentary
You have to try to live simply and be satisfied. If you try to pursue the luxurious lives of others, you will not have peace in your life. Materialism does not bring peace in life. The more a person gets the more he wants. There is no end to greed.
10 kabir sab jag nirdhana, dhanwanta nahi koi;
dhanwanta soi janiye, ram nam dhan hoi.
Meaning
Kabir says: "O brother! The whole world is poor. No one is rich.
Only he is rich who has the wealth of God's name."
Commentary
In this world people think that the person who has material wealth is prosperous, but in reality all material things are perishable and cannot be recognized as true wealth. True wealth is the name of God that is Immortal. So the person who has the wealth of God's name is really rich.
1 kabir khade bazar me, sabki chahe khair;
na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair.
Meaning
Kabir says: "I stand in a market place and I desire the welfare of all.
I am neither related to anyone, nor am I an enemy to any one."
Commentary
Kabir Saheb was above all religious conflicts, so he went neither to the temple, nor to the mosque. He chose the market place to preach, because people of all religions go there. Kabir Saheb preached the truth and wanted the spiritual welfare of all equally.
2 pachha pachhi ke karane, sab jag raha bhulan;
nirpachh hoi ke hari bhaje, soie sant sujan.
Meaning
People are divided into various groups (religions) and thus the whole world is misguided.
Being impartial to the worldly groups (religions), one who performs the devotion to Almighty God is the true saint.
Commentary
There are many religions in the world and people stick to their favourite religions. But a saint understands that all souls are the same, and that God is dwelling in every heart. The saint recognizes God in all, and remains impartial to the various religions.
3 chalti chakki dekh ke, diya kabira roi;
dou patan ke bichame, sabut bacha na koi.
Meaning
Kabir says: "Looking at the millstones, I wept.
One who is caught between the two stones, never comes out safely.
Commentary
The cycle of birth and death, and all other pairs of opposites (pleasure and pain, love and hate, virtue and sin) are like mill stones, and a person who is caught between them becomes figuratively crushed. Liberation is obtained by transcending the pairs of opposites.
4 silwant sabse bada, sab ratano ki khan;
tin lok ki sampada, rahi sil may an.
Meaning
Whoever has good character is the greatest of all. He is the mine of all jewels.
The wealth of the three worlds is merged in good character.
Commentary
Without good character all other qualities are useless. When a person loses his good character he loses everything. It is very difficult to remove the spots on the character. Therefore, we have to try to keep our character spotless, and perform devotion for God realization.
5 apa taje aw hari bhaje, nakh sikh taje vikar;
sab jiwan se nirbair rahe, sadhu mata hai sar.
Meaning
Give up the pride of clan and caste and do devotion to God. Give up your faults (lust, anger, greed, etc.).
Don't be an enemy to anyone. This is the basic principle of the saints.
Commentary
Saints want the welfare of everyone and advise tolerant behaviour towards all. People, who are full of ego, easily develop enmity towards others. Saints are free of ego and enmity.
6 nindak niyare rakhiye, angan kuti chhawai;
binu pani bin sabuna, nirmal kare subhaw.
Meaning
Keep your critic close to you; give him shelter in your courtyard.
Without soap and water he cleanses your character.
Commentary
You get to know your faults if someone criticizes you, and you will have a chance to correct them. Listen to the criticism without annoyance, because the critic is not your enemy. He is helping you to clean the rubbish from your own life.
7 manus janam durlabh hai, mile na barambar;
pakka phal jo gir para, bahuri na lage dar.
Meaning
Human birth is difficult to obtain, and you will not get it again and again.
When a ripe fruit falls, it does not re-attach to the branch.
Commentary
In this world human life is the best in which you have the opportunity to do good deeds. It is difficult to get the same type of opportunity again and again. If you will not perform proper actions, your karmas will prevent you from getting this chance another time.
8 sain itana dijiye, jame kutum samai;
mai bhi bhukha na rahu, sadhu na bhukha jai.
Meaning
God, please give me only that much which will maintain my family. I also will not remain hungry, nor will any sadhu go hungry.
Commentary
In reality, there is no satisfaction without peace, and satisfaction does not come with material wealth, because the more we get the more we want. We require only enough for our daily needs. That is why the devotee is asking only for enough to maintain himself and his family, and to help others. Thus he remains contented and peaceful.
9 rukha sukha khaike, thanda pani pee;
dekh parai chupadi, mat lalchao jee.
Meaning
Eat dry and simple food and drink cold water.
Do not look at the buttered bread of others and long for it.
Commentary
You have to try to live simply and be satisfied. If you try to pursue the luxurious lives of others, you will not have peace in your life. Materialism does not bring peace in life. The more a person gets the more he wants. There is no end to greed.
10 kabir sab jag nirdhana, dhanwanta nahi koi;
dhanwanta soi janiye, ram nam dhan hoi.
Meaning
Kabir says: "O brother! The whole world is poor. No one is rich.
Only he is rich who has the wealth of God's name."
Commentary
In this world people think that the person who has material wealth is prosperous, but in reality all material things are perishable and cannot be recognized as true wealth. True wealth is the name of God that is Immortal. So the person who has the wealth of God's name is really rich.
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