Tag: Kabir

I have dyed myself

In the colour of Rama / Lord;

It’s the only die

That doesn’t spoil or run.

All the others, says Kabir,

Fade in the sun,

like a Kite on a string

Growing Saint in the sky.

Picture Courtsey: Zatoichi.

Translated by :Arvind Krishna Mehrotra.

Sweet words are balm,

but harsh speech is an arrow.

It enters through the year,

hearing’s vestibule,

And pierces the body

from head to toe.

Sakhiya- madhur vachan aushadhi.

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker

As soon as they speak, you recognise.

The ploys of Saint and thief:

The working of the inner self,

Surface through the channel of the mouth.

Sakhiyan- bolte hi pahichaniyr.

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker

Think twice before you keep,

the bad or good company.

the bitter neem that keeps,

the company of a sandalwood tree,

begins to smell like Sandalwood.

The piece of Iron,

that keeps the company of

the philosophers stone,

turns into gold.

Water that drain into the Ganga,

become the Ganga.

And those who keep

the Company of Almighty

says Kabir end up a bit like

Almighty / Rama.

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker

I don’t know

What sort of master

You have.

Is he deaf?

That the mullah screech

From the mosque?

Surely he can hear

Even the anklets that tinkle

On an ant’s feet !

You count your beads,

You smear your brow with marks,

You grow long matted locks.

But deep inside yourself

You carry the vicious vicious dagger

Of apostasy –

This isn’t the way

To attain the master!

— Kabir vani

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker

When greed hits you like a wave,

you don’t need water to drown.

Whether it is a king or his throne,

or a pretty Queen,

chanting Pandit, Or a

Miracle working Yogi,

they will all die by drowning

In a waterless sea.

Who survives?

The ones whose minds, Kabir says,

are tied to god / Almighty.

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker

Listen carefully,

neither the vedas

nor the Quran

will teach you this:

put the bit in its mouth,

The saddle on its back,

your foot in the stirrup,

And ride your wild runway mind,

all the way to heaven.

Meaning –

Self – rider

chariot – the body

The intellect – charioteer,

Our mind – reins

The senses – horse,

The parts around them are the objects of the senses.

Translated by : Vinay Dharwadker