1 kal kare so aj kar, aj kare so ab;
palme parlay hoyagi, bahuri karega kab.
Meaning
What you have to do tomorrow, do today; what you have to do today, do now.
Death can strike at the next moment; then what can you do?
Commentary
The person who puts off till tomorrow what he should do today, will never really be successful in life. Laziness and procrastination cause loss of opportunities and failures. They destroy valuable life, and cause regrets instead. Promptness is a great virtue.
2 aj kahe hari kal bhajunga, kal kahe phir kal;
aj kal ke karat hi, awasar jasi chal.
Meaning
Today you say that you will do devotion to God tomorrow, and tomorrow you will again say tomorrow.
Saying tomorrow and tomorrow, you lose the opportunity in this life.
Commentary
We must do devotion to God now. It is not good to think of doing it when we get older. We may not reach old age, and if we did, we may not be able to do devotion due to disabilities. We will then have regrets.
3 aya hai so jayega, raja rank fakir;
koi singhasan charhi chale, koi bandhe jat janjir.
Meaning
Who has come will go, whether he is king, pauper or fakir.
But one goes sitting on a throne, and another tied in chains.
Commentary
Life in this world is very short; who is born will certainly die, even if he spends huge amounts of wealth to save his life. We must therefore do virtuous actions so that our departure will be safe and peaceful, and we will not go crying and regretting for our own actions.
4 ek din aisa hoyega, sab so pare bichhohu;
raja rana rao rank, sawadh kyon nahi hohu.
Meaning
A day will come when you will be separated from everything.
Whether you are an emperor, king, landlord or pauper, why do you not awaken?
Commentary
One has to depart from this world leaving everything behind. Why don't you give up attachment to this material world, and do devotion to the Supreme Lord that will lead you to immortality. Kabir Saheb said to "detach" and "attach" - detach from this world and attach to God.
5 achhe din pachhe gaye, kiya na hari se het;
ab pachhtaye hot kya, jab chidiya chug gai khet.
Meaning
All good days are gone, and you did not show love for God.
What will you do by regretting now when the birds have eaten up the grain of the farm?
Commentary
You have to try to make the best use of your opportunity. If you are lazy, you will lose it and then have regrets. In the same way try to make time for devotion to God when you are healthy and strong. As old age and death approach, you can do nothing.
6 bin rakhware bahira, chidiyon khaya khet;
adha pradha ubare, cheti sake toh chet.
Meaning
Without protection, the birds are eating up the grain of the farm.
Still, a little bit is remaining. Protect it if you can.
Commentary
Oh man! Without protection from thieves (lust, anger, greed, etc.) and birds (desires), your farm of devotion to God is being plundered. What little remains protect it with the help of Satguru. Otherwise your life will be wasted in vain.
7 kachi kaya man athir, thir thir kam karant;
jyon jyon nar nidhadak phire, tyon tyon kal hasant.
Meaning
The body is perishable like an unbaked clay pot, and the mind is restless.
Still, man delays in worldly actions unmindful of fear. Death looks at him and laughs.
Commentary
People don't care about their short life in the world. They don't do devotion to God, but remain involved in worldly affairs, and get trapped by death. They want liberation but put themselves in bondage.
8 paw palak ki sudhi nahi, kare kal ka saj;
kal achanak marasi, jyon titar ko baj.
Meaning
You do not know what will happen at the next moment, but you are preparing for the distant future.
Death will come suddenly, just as hawks pounce upon other birds.
Commentary
People try to secure their future by collecting wealth through many proper or improper actions. They do not prepare themselves to overcome the cycle of birth and death. At last, death overtakes them, and they lose their opportunity to gain liberation.
9 kali kal tat kal hai, bura karo jini koi;
an bowai loha dahine, bowai su lunata hoi.
Meaning
In this Iron Age, you get quick results for your actions, so do not commit evil.
Whatever you sow, that is what you will reap.
Commentary
Every action has its equal and opposite reaction. If one does wrong, he does not have to wait long to get the results of his actions. A farmer who sows wheat or corn reaps the same. Therefore every one must try to sow good actions, to get good results.
10 mali awat dekhake, kaliyan kari pukar;
fule fule chun liye, kal hamari bari.
Meaning
Seeing the gardener coming, the buds started to lament.
Today he plucks the blossoms, and tomorrow it will be our turn.
Commentary
Every mature person knows that one day he has to leave this world. Everyone, without exception, goes through the same process. Death is like a gardener waiting to pluck the mature flowers. Therefore live wisely so that you do not have to lament later. Attain God realization and liberation in this life.
11 mati kahe kumbhar se, tu kya rundhe mohi;
ek din aisa ayega, mai rundhungi tohi.
Meaning
The earth says to the potter: "Why are you kneading on me now?
One day will come when I will be kneading you".
Commentary
At death every person will have to mix with the earth. We must therefore not be proud of the body. We must be humble and kind, and try to learn from everything. We have to be careful about our actions because what we will sow that is what we shall reap. What you do to others will return to you.
12 kabir garva na kijiye, rank na hasiye koi;
ajahu naw samund me, na jane kya hoi
Meaning
Kabir Saheb says: "Do not be proud (of your wealth) and do not laugh at any pauper.
Your boat is still in the ocean, and you do not know what will happen".
Commentary
People are very proud of their power and wealth, and some, unsympathetically, laugh at the poor. Kabir says that you are also in the "boat" of this world, and the same poverty can befall you. It is thus foolish to be proud, or to laugh at the less fortunate.
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