World

1         yaha aisa sansar hai, jaisa semal phul;

            din das ke vyouhar ko, jhute rangi na bhul.

 

Meaning

 

The world is just like the flower of the semal (silk-cotton) tree.

Its pretty colour is for a few days. Don't forget its deceiving nature.

 

Commentary

 

The semal flower is very pretty and when the bird is attracted, expecting sweet nectar, it is disappointed, a it finds it filled with cotton. Remember the world is used for a short while. Don't become absorbed in its false "colours".

 

2         kajal keri kothari, taisa yaha sansar;

            balihari wa das ki, paithi ke niksan har.

 

Meaning

 

The world is like a coal cellar, and nobody comes out of it unsoiled.

Kabir says: "That devotee is great who comes out of it unsoiled".

 

Commentary

 

Whoever comes into the world becomes involved in the worldly desires, actions and passions, and gets his heart soiled. But whose heart is full of devotion to God remains clean, because the mask of devotion protects him.

 

 3        mor tor ki jewari, bali bandha sansar;

            kasi kanduwa sut kalit, dajhan barambar.

 

Meaning

 

The world is tied with the rope of "mine" and "thine", just like a goat going to be slaughtered.

The relationships torture like the sword grass, and the person burns in the fire of attachment.

 

Commentary

 

Thoughts of mine and thine create the attachments for the person trapped in them. Then the soul wanders in the cycle of birth and death, and feels burning pain. Only non-attachment can give liberation to a person.

 

 4         jihi  ghar  sadhu  na  pujiye, hari  ki  seva  nahi;

            te  ghar  marghat  sarikhe, bhut  basai  tin  mahi.

 

Meaning

 

That house where a saint does not receive respect and hospitality, and where no one does devotion to God; that house is like a cremation ground, and only ghosts live there.

 

Commentary

 

The duty of a householder is to serve the saints and to do devotion to the Supreme Lord. This makes his home holy and his heart pure. He thus washes out effects of bad actions, and gets the grace of God. The test of the greatness of a person is devotion to God.

 

5         deha dhare ka dand, sab kahu ko hoi;

            gyani bhogai gyan se, murakh bhogai roi.

 

Meaning

 

With the body, there is suffering for everyone.

A saint accepts that suffering with knowledge, but an ignorant person cries out with it.

 

Commentary

 

When understanding develops about creation, and how the Law of Karma operates, it gives tolerance to physical suffering. This is the difference between a saint who understands and accepts, and the average person who does not, and thus suffers.

 

 6        bairagi birkat bhala, girahi chitt udar;

            dui chuka rita padai, taku war na par.

 

Meaning

 

Kabir says: "A renunciate must live with detachment, and the householder must live with a generous heart.

If both give up these qualities it will be a limitless loss".

 

Commentary

 

This is the advice of Kabir Saheb for the renunciate and the householder to maintain the balance of living on the devotional path.

If a renunciate becomes attached and a householder becomes miserly, both will spoil devotion.

 

 7         jaisa bhojan khaiye, taisa hi man hoi;

            jaisa pani pijiye, taisi bani hoi.

 

Meaning

 

The type of food you eat determines the type of mind you'll have.

Similarly, the type of drink you take determines the type of words you'll speak.

 

Commentary

 

Because eating and drinking play a great part in human lives, every person has to be careful about them. Eating violent (killed) types of food produces a violent mind. Similarly, intoxicating drinks produce their own type of speech.

 

 8        put piyaro pitah ko, gohari laga dhai;

            lobh mithai hathi de, apan gaya bhulai.

 

Meaning

 

The son (soul) wants to embrace the father (God) with love. He calls and runs towards his father.

But the father places some attractive sweets into his son's hands, and hides himself.

 

Commentary

 

The soul, because of its nature, loves God and wants to meet Him. On the path he faces temptations (sweets of worldly pleasures) that become obstacles for God realization. Therefore, a devotee must try to avoid those pleasures that distract him from the goal.

 

 9        tum jani jano yaha geet hai, yaha nij brahm vichar;

            keval kahi samujhaiya, atam gyan sar.

 

Meaning

 

This is not a song as you think. This is knowledge of the Supreme dwelling in your self.

I only explain with words, but it is the essence of knowledge of the Supreme Being.

 

Commentary

 

Kabir Saheb did not write songs for entertainment as many other poets did, but his poetry is full of wisdom of the Supreme Being. He explained that God and the Soul are one. Thus the knowledge of the Soul is knowledge of God.

 

 10      kahata hun kahi jat hun, kahu bajawat dhol;

            swasa khali jat hai, tin lok ka mol.

 

 Meaning

 

I am saying again and again, and with the beating of drums.

Your breaths, more valuable than the three worlds, are wasted in vain.

 

Commentary

 

Kabir saheb says that the main purpose of life is to do devotion and get salvation, but people do not pay attention to his advice. He spoke loudly and instructed everyone to take the name of God, because the breath (life) is most valuable. There is salvation in life, but not in death.