Devotion

1         bhakti nisaini muktiki, sant charhe sab dhai;

            jin jin man alas kiya, janam janam pachhitai.

 

Meaning

 

Devotion is the ladder of salvation. All saints climbed it with great love and effort.

Those who were lazy, remained repenting and regretting for many births.

 

Commentary

 

The purpose of human birth is to get salvation. Therefore everyone should try to do devotion and make the best use of this life's opportunity. Otherwise, one will repent, and he has to take many incarnations to get salvation.

  

2          pura saheb seiye, sab vidhi pura hoi;

            ochhe neh lagay ke, mulahu awai khoi.

 

Meaning

 

Do devotion to the Supreme Lord who is Absolute.

By devotion to the other deities you will lose your capital (this birth).

 

Commentary

 

In business, people invest to make a profit. By unwise investment, they can lose their capital. In the same way, if a person does devotion to, or worships, other beings or deities, he can lose his life and get nothing. Mature judgment and spiritual discrimination are needed to ensure the right path.

 

3         kami krodhi lalachi, inase bhakti na hoi;

            bhakti karai koi surama, jati varan kul khoi.

 

Meaning

 

Lustful, angry, and greedy people cannot do devotion.

Only a brave person without pride for his clan or caste can do devotion.

 

Commentary

 

The mind of lustful, angry and greedy people cannot be concentrated because of passions. Devotion requires concentration. There are five states of mind: insane, stupid, restless, concentrated and controlled. The first two can't do devotion, the third has difficulty, the fourth can, and the fifth unites with God.

 

4          jab lagi bhakti sakamata, tab lagi nirphal seo;

            kahai kabir ve kyon mile, nihkami nij deo.

 

Meaning

 

As long as devotion is full of worldly desires, it is meaningless for realization.

Kabir says: "How can one realize the Supreme Lord who is above desires?"

 

Commentary

 

Devotion with worldly desires cannot lead the devotee to God realization. Only the devotion with renunciation of desires can lead to such a realization. A person cannot serve two masters at the same time. If he wants to satisfy his sensual tastes, he will not be able to satisfy God.

 

 5         jablag nata jati ka, tablag bhakti na hoi;

            nata todai hari bhajai, bhakta kahawai soi.

 

Meaning

 

As long as one has attachment and ego of caste and creed, he cannot do devotion.

When he gives up ego of caste and creed and performs devotion, then he becomes a true devotee.

 

Commentary

 

As darkness and light cannot stay together, similarly, ego and devotion cannot stay together. That is why a person has to give up his ego (pride) of high caste, creed and dogma before God will accept him as a devotee.

 

 6         jal jyoun pyara machhari, lobhi pyara dam;

            mata pyara balaka, bhakti pyara ram.

 

Meaning

 

Just as a fish loves water and a greedy person loves wealth,

or as a mother loves her child, just so God loves his devotee.

 

Commentary

 

Only devotees can enter into the kingdom of God. God makes the devotee pure by his devotion. He loves the devotee just as the mother loves her child. But the devotee has to dedicate everything to God, as a child entrusts everything to his mother, before God will shower His grace on him.

 

7         bhagati dwar ati sankara, rai dasave bhag;

            man toh maingal hwai raha, kaise awe jaya.

 

Meaning

 

The door of devotion is very narrow, ten times smaller than the mustard seed.

When the mind is behaving like an intoxicated elephant, how can it pass through it?

 

Commentary

 

On the path of devotion, humility is most important. There can be no devotion without humility. If the mind is occupied by ego, then it becomes like an intoxicated elephant, and it cannot walk on the very delicate path of devotion.

 

 8         kabir seep samund ki, ratai piyas piyas;

            aur bund ko na gahai, swati bund ki as.

 

Meaning

 

A thirsty oyster in the ocean utters “thirst”, “thirst”, but does not want the ocean water.

Opening its mouth, it calls for the pure water drops falling from the sky.

 

Commentary

 

The devotee does not want to be involved in the pleasure of worldly objects, because they can give pleasure initially but suffering in the end. He waits for the state of perfect bliss. We must rely on God alone, not on the world.

  

9         kabir dhani te sundari, jaya sadhu put;

            ram sumari nirbhai bhaya, sab jag gaya niput.

 

Meaning

 

Kabir says: "That lady is a great mother who bears a saint as a son.

He becomes fearless with the devotion of God. Compared to her the whole world is barren".

 

Commentary

 

When a saint takes birth in the world, he makes that clan great where he was born. He himself achieves greatness with the devotion of the Supreme, and his mother also achieves fame. He becomes free from the fear of the cycle of birth and death, and shares his fearlessness with others.

  

10        kabir kutta ram ka, mutiya mera nau;

            gale ram ki jewari, jit khechai tit jau.

 

Meaning

 

Kabir says: "I am the faithful dog of God. My name is Moti (pearl).

He put the collar of His name around my neck. Wherever He pulls, I follow".

 

Commentary

 

Kabir Saheb teaches the way of complete surrender for the devotee. Just as a loyal dog follows it's master and accepts whatever his master gives him, similarly, the devotee follows the will of God, and does not worry about anything. God takes care of the devotee.

 

11       kabir tu kahe dare, sir par sirjan har;

            hathi charhi kar doliye, kukar bhuke hajar.

 

Meaning

 

Kabir says: "O soul! Why are you afraid? God is your protector.

If you are riding on an elephant, what harm can the barking dogs do?"

 

Commentary

 

O devotee! Don't be afraid of the comments of worldly people. They are just like barking dogs. Their noise will not harm you. Keep your patience. God is with you. You will reach the high state with the help of Satguru under God's protection.