Gun me nirgun, nirgun me gun, baaT chaaDi kyu bahiye.
Ajar amar kathe sab koi, alakh na kathana jaai.
Naati saroop varan nahi jaake, ghaTi-ghaTi rahyo samaai.
PyanD brahmanD chaaDi je kathiye, kahe Kabir Hari soi.
Ved kahe sargun ke aage, nirgun ka bisaraam.
Sargun nirgun tajahu sohaagin, dekh sabahi nij dhaam.
Dukh sukh wahan kachhu nahi vyaape, darasan aaTho jam.
Noore Odhan, noore Daasan, noore ka sirahaan.
Kahe Kabir suno bhaai saadho, Satguru noor tamaam.
Whom shall I speak this deceiving stuff O Sadhus. It is the formless residing in various forms and virtues and forms and virtues in the formless, why then abandon the right path and go astray? Kabir here indicates the nature of duality and that everything came out of the One and that One is the meeting point of all-good and bad, Saint and Sinner, Form and Formless- nothing is spared by him, he is the sustainer of all. Till we think and divide things, we can’t see total reality.
Kabir says – they all say he is the immortal and indestructible, but how can the unfathomable be described in words? He doesn’t have any form or color yet he is penetrating in all things, all beings. When you see and speak beyond the PinD(Individual Being) and BrahmanD(universal Being), then only his true being can be perceived. Vedas and Holy Scriptures say that beyond the Forms is the region of Formless, but Kabir says unto you – O dear bride of the Lord, abandon the thoughts of Form or Formless and recognize your true place. At that place neither pain nor misery resides nor any happiness and pleasure. There you see the divine 24 hours all the time. There you wear the light, you sleep on light and the light is your pillow. It is all light, light of your true Master.(at the end, it is shown to the disciple that GOD and Guru are but one and it is all his playfulness – Light and Sound at the root).
2. Avadhu aisa gyaan vichaar.
Bhere chaDe su adhadhar Doobe, niraadhaar bhaye paar.
UpaT chale su nagari pahoote, baaT chale se looTe.
Ek jebaDi sab lapaTaane, ke baandhe, ke chooTe.
Mandir paisi chahu disi bheeje, baahari rahe te sookha.
Sari mare te sadaa sukhaare, anmaare te dookha.
Bin nainan ke sab jag dekhe, lochan achhate andhaa.
Kahe Kabir kachu samujhi pari hai, yah jag dekhya andha.
Kabir says - O Avadhu, think of this understanding. Those who took a boat were drawn (in this journey) and those who went ahead without any support have crossed the ocean. Those who abandoned the royal path have reached their own city and those who started their journey on the highway, are robbed in midway. This is the same chain by which all are tied up, whom can I say free and who would be called chained? Those who entered in the temple are drenched from all sides and those who stood outside are dry and thirsty. Those who have killed the mind are always at peace. But those who are not able to kill it, are always unhappy and suffering. Without eyes (these eyes) you see everything and you may be blind even when you are having these eyes. Kabir says – I am so surprised to see that whole the world is blind (without inner eyes, without the light of GOD).
In the above pad which is addressed to Avadhu, Kabir keeps a puzzle. Ordinarily a boat only can take you to the other shore and on the highway you are safe. But in the illusionary world of Maya it is opposite. Till you try to secure yourself by supports you can’t cross. You have to abandon all supports so the existence can show you the way and you can learn to swim. Support is provided but by the Lord. Our own supports are not going to help. So first thing is to surrender helplessly, without any support. The royal road is the road which is taken up by all people, so it is a mass mentality road. But in spiritual quest everyone has to walk his own path and this is abandoning the royal path and going to unknown ways. By transcending unknown one reaches his own true home. It is the same chain of own mind which makes everyone think that their way is the right one and they are all tied up. Those who have entered in the temple of their own being are drenched by his grace showering all over. But those who stand outside remain dry and thirsty. The mind is real trouble who doubts everything. Only when mind comes under control we can be happy. Those who have opened their inner vision are able to see without eyes and there are people who have eyes still they are blind. Kabir asks the Avadhu –“Did you understand? This whole world seems blind to me".
3. Dagmag chhaDi de man baura.
Ab to jare mare bani aawe, leenho haath sinhora.
Hoi nisank magan hwe naacho, lohb moh bhram chaaDo.
Sooro kaha maran te Darape, satee na sanche bhaaDo.
Lok ved kul ki marajaada, ihe gale me phaansi.
Aadha chali kar paachha phiriho, hoi hain jag me haansi.
Kah samsaar sakal hai mailaa, Ram kahe te soocha.
Kahe Kabir naav nahi chaaDo, girat parat chaDi unchaa.
O my mad mind, now stop wavering. Now it is high time to burn and die, now I have taken the SINHORA* in my hand.**
*(small pot in which Indian married woman keeps sindoor- a symbol of her love and dedication towards her husband) **(refers to the time when a woman gets ready to die with her husband after his death to accompany him in higher life).
Kabir indicates his dedication and commitment towards his Beloved and that mind must die before he could proceed further in his inner journey). Kabir says- now there is nothing to fear, all fears and worries are coming to an end with you, now is the time to celebrate. Sing and dance madly. Drop the habit of greed, attachment and illusions. A warrior never hesitates in sacrificing his head and a Sati would never decorate the body (to please anyone else). Both are ready to live and die for their Lord only.
People always laugh at them who walk on spiritual path. Sometimes the society norms and family restrictions are so high that they have to cross over it. Kabir says that if you keep thinking of prestige, society and family name and fame, they will become chains around your neck. Drop all of them. If you walk half way and return, people will make more fun of you, it is a real shame. I say to you, this world is a big place of filth and dirt, only those are pure who meditate upon Ram. Kabir says don’t leave the boat of Name; you will sure reach to the true place anyhow anyway.
4. Chalan chalan sab koi kahat hai.
Na jaane baikunTh kahan hai.
Jojan ek pramiti nahi jaane.
Baatan hi baikunTh bakhaane.
Jab lagi hai baikunTh ki aasa.
Tab lagi nahi Hari charan nivaasa.
Kahe sune kaise patiaiye.
Jab lag tahan aap nahi jaiye.
Kahe Kabir yahu kahiye kaahi.
Sadhu sangat baikunTh yahan hi.
Everyone speaks to travel (to the heavens) but who could tell us where this heaven is? Those people who don’t even know to measure YOJAN(a measurement unit for distance) here on the earth they also speak and describe about how far and how beautifully designed the heaven is!! Kabir says – I say to you my friends, till you hope for the heaven, you will not find place at the Lord’s lotus feet. How could you believe by speaking and hearing how it is till you don’t reach there by yourself? Kabir says whom should I tell this (who will believe me) that the heaven is right here right now in the company of true saints.
5. Re yaame kyat tera kya mera.
Laaj na marahi kahat ghar mera.
Chaari pahar nishi bhoraa, jaise taravar pankh basera.
Jaise baniye haaT pasaara, sab jag kaaso sirajanhaara.
Ye le jaare, ve le gaaDe, in dukhini dou ghar chhaDe.
Kahat Kabir sunahu re Loi.
Ham tum binasi rahega soi.
What is there in saying mine and yours? Don’t you feel ashamed when you say that this house is mine? This stay (in this world) is just like the birds taking shelter on a tree in night hours and flying away when the dawn arrives. Like a trader spreads all his trading goods in the daytime and in evening he winds up all of them, similarly the Creator has spread out this vast creation of universe(s) which he will wind up in night. When we die, some are burnt and some are buried. In this way they all leave this house (temporary). Kabir says – O Loi, listen to me. I and you all will die. Whatever will remain after that that is the real thing.
6. Man tu paar utari kah jaiho.
Aage panthi panth na koi, kooch-mukaam na paiho.
Nahi tanh neer, naav nahi khevaT, na gun khenchanhaara.
Dharati-gagan-kalp kachhu naahi, na kachhu vaar na paara.
Nahi tan nahi man, nahi apanapau, sunn me suddh na paiho.
Baliwaan hoy paiTho ghaT me, waahi Thaure paiho.
Barahi baar vichaar dekh man, ant kahu mat jaiho.
Kahe Kabir sab chhaDi kalpana, jyo-ke-tyo Thaharaiho.
O my wandering mind, what do you plan? Where will you go to the other shore? There neither is the path not the traveler; you will not find even a narrow path or destination. There neither is water nor any boat or boatman. There is no rope to pull the boat either. There neither earth nor sky or time remains. There is no limit or unlimited. There neither body or mind exists nor is self existent. You will not find anything (suddh – remembrance, memory) in that great void. You just be courageous and sit within your very own being you will find the real place there itself. You think it over again and again but at last you are not going to go anywhere. Kabir says – stop all kind of imaginations. Just stop where ever and in which condition you are. The way lies there.
7. Jyu man mera tujh so, yo je tera hoi.
Tata loha yo mile, sandhi na lakhai koi.
Kabit jako khojate, paayo soi thaur.
Soi phiri ke tu bhaya jaako kahata aur.
Maare bahut pukaariya, peer pukaare aur.
Lagi choT maramm ki, rahyo Kabira thaur.
Kabir as a Guru says – Like my mind is overflowing with love for you, only if your mind also could become like this. At that moment both would get sealed like two hot irons join together. Not even a join can be seen, both have become one. Kabir says what I was seeking for, I got that place. The thing you considered the other (the Lord, Ram, Guru) has become you. So many people cry out in pain and suffering, but a true PEER (Saint) cries out in a different way. He cries out of his love and not of pain and suffering. The love has struck in his very core of the heart and Kabir has found the real place.
8. Saai se lagan kaThin hai bhaai.
Jaise papiha pyasa boond ka, piya-piya raT laai.
Pyaase pran taDape din-raati, aur neer na bhaai.
Jaisa miraga shabd-sanehi, shabd sunan ko jaai.
Shabd sune aur prandaan de, taniko naahi Daraai.
Jaise satee chaDi sat upar, piya ki raah man bhaai.
Paawak dekhi Dare wah naahi, hansi baithi sada maai.
ChoDo tan apane ki aasa, nirbhay hwe gun gaai.
Kahe Kabir suno bhai saadho, nahi ta janm nasaai.
The love and devotion to the Lord is the most difficult thing o brother. It is similar to the rain bird who keeps calling PIU-PIU for rain water. Its life is at stake crying out in thirst but it doesn’t drink water from the other sources. Like the deer who loves the music played by the hunter runs towards the source of the music. It listens to the music so attentively that it doesn’t see the trap and without any fear, it gives it s life for the music. Like a dedicated wife loves to go with her husband even in the final journey and she sits on the pyre with her dead husband. She doesn’t fear a bit by seeing fire around her but laughs and goes joyously. In similar way if you don’t fear for your body and sing his praises fearlessly then only you are doing true devotion to the Lord. Otherwise think this life as a waste.
9. Loka jaani na bhoolau bhaai.
Khaalik khalak, khalak me khaalik,sab ghaT rahyo samaai.
Alah eke noor upajaaya, taaki kaisi ninda.
Ta noore te sab jag keeya, kaun bhala, kaun manda.
Ta alah ki gati nahi jaani, Guru guD deewa meeTha.
Kahe Kabir main poora paaya, sab ghaT sahib deeTha.
Don’t be deceived my brothers by seeing this world as it seems. The creator is in the creation and the creation is in the creator. He himself is residing in every form. The Lord has made all of them by the same light, how can we criticize them after all? All is born out of the same light, who is good and who is bad then? No one knows the real play of the Lord. My Guru gave me the sweet secret of the Lord. Now I say with true knowledge that I have found the WHOLE and not part or pieces. I see my Lord in each and everything.
10. Man laago mero yaar faqiri me.
Jo sukh paayo naam bhajan me, so sukh naahi ameeri me.
Bhala-bura sabki sun leeje, kar gujaraan ameeri me.
Prem-nagar me rahani hamaari, bhali bani aai saboori me.
Haath me koori, bagal me sonTa, charo disi jageeri me.
Aakhir yah tan khaq milega, kaha phirat magaroori me.
Kahe Kabir suno bhai saadho, sahib mile saboori me.
My mind and heart enjoys in simple way of living. I have found such a great joy in Nam –bhajan that could not be found in worldly riches. I have experienced it and I say to you- listen to all whatever good or bad they speak to you. Don’t react on them. Don’t be proud on hearing any good about you, don’t feel hurt or react if someone criticizes you. Live in your own richness. I live in the land of love and my contentment has taught me great lessons. When I take a bowl and a stick ( as a faqir), I see all four directions are my own property. At last this body will turn to dust, why you wander being so much arrogant? Kabir says O Sadhus, listen to me. The Lord is found in contentment.
11. Samajh dekh man meet piyarava, aashiq hokar sona kya re.
Paaya ho to de le pyaare, pay-paay phir khona kya re.
Jab ankhiyan me need ghaneri, takiya aur bichhauna kya re.
Kahe Kabir prem ka maarag, sir dena to rona kya re.
Satee ko kaun sikhaawata hai, sang swami ke tan jaarana ji.
Prem ko kaun sikhaawata hai, tyag maanhi bhog ka paawana ji.
O my dear friends, think and see this in your mind clearly. When you have become lover, how can you sleep? A lover is always thinking of his beloved, the sleep runs away from him. I you have got something share and distribute it. If you don’t share it, you will lose it soon (the base teaching of spiritual practice is that GOD shares each and everything with us without any expectations or conditions and if we want to be like him, this virtue is a must. Share whatever you have and you will have it doubled. If you want to hide and keep it for yourself only, soon it will start stagnating and you will lose it).
When your eyes are filled with sleep do you really need a soft bed and pillow? You fall in sleep wherever you are. Same way if your heart is filled with divine, you need not to seek what to do and where to sit(for prayer and meditation), you will fall in divine where ever you are, such is the case. Kabir says the way to Lord is the path of love. When you have offered your head to the beloved, then why you are crying (for the pain and suffering)? This is the path of love and these things come automatically. No one teaches a dedicated wife to burn with her dead husband but her own love-filled heart. No one teaches you to find joy in sacrifice when you are in love. Love itself is the teacher who shows that the more you sacrifice for the love, the more you enjoy it for the sake of love only.
12. Jhagara ek niberahu Raam.
Jau tum apane jan so kaam.
Ihu man baDa ki sau man maaniya.
Raamu baDa ki Ramahu jaaniya.
Brahma baDa ki jaasu upaaiya.
Vedu baDa ki jahan te aaiya.
Kahu Kabir hau bhaya udaasu.
Teerath baDa ki Hari ka daasu.
Kabir has got a big doubt. Whom he would call for advice? He calls his Ram, the Lord, the Guru, the all in all and the one. In heart touching yet so simple words he keeps his doubt in front of Ram. He says O Ram, you are my own and I come to you only for any question any doubt or any demand. Please make a solution of this fight. He puts below questions in front of Ram and the beauty of the questions is that they are not questions at all, they are answers. In such a simple and intimate way Kabir asks these questions as if two friends chatting over coffee. This is the beauty of this pad. They are being asked only to satisfy the mind and query of seekers-
You please tell me whether this mind is greater or the one who has witnessed this mind?
You please tell me whether Ram is greater or the one who has known Him?
Is Brahma greater or the one from which Brahma has come?
Are these Vedas greater or the place form where they came?
Kabir says- I am very desperate. You please just solve this problem. Those spiritual places are greater where these people are going or the servant of the Lord?
13. Jam te ulaTi bhaye hain Raam.
Dukh binase sukh kiyo bisaraam.
Bairee ulaTi bhaye hain meeta.
Saatak ulaTi sujan bhaye cheeta.
Ab mohi sarab kushal kari jaaniya.
Saanti bhai jab Gobind jaaniya.
Tan mahi hoti koTi upaadhi.
UlaTi bhai sukh sahaj samaadhi.
Aaapu pachhane aape aap.
Rogu na byaape teeno taap.
Ab man ulaTi sanatan hua.
Tab jaaniya jab jeevat mua.
Kahu Kabir sukh sahaj samaavau.
Aapi na Darau na avar Daraavau.
The death has transformed into Ram. The pain and misery have become the blissfulness. Those who seemed enemy to me, now they have become my dear friends. The SHAKT(A Spiritual practitioner who adopts fearful ways of devotion like meditating in graveyard, applying ashes of pyre and using human skull as bowl) now appear to me the cool nice people ( in some pads, Kabir has shown distaste for SAHKT and their methods of practices). Now everything appears to me peaceful and good. True peace descended upon me when I knew the Lord by myself. Earlier all those diseases appeared in my body as suffering, now they have turned to deep joyful absorption in meditation. I have come to know my real self. Now no disease of physical suffering comes to me. Now the restless mind has transformed to eternity. I knew it when I died while living. Kabir says – now I am naturally merged in joy and peace. Now I don’t fear anything and I don’t cause fear to anyone.
14. Dulhin gaavahu mangalchaar.
Ham ghar aaye raja Ram bhartaar.
Tan rati kar main man rati karihaun,, panchon tatva baarati.
Ramdev more paahun aaye, main joban me maati.
Sarir sarovar vedi karihaun, Brahma ved uchaar.
Ramdev sang bhanvar laihon, dhan-dhan bhaag hamaar.
Sur taiteeso kautig aaye, munivar sahas aThaasi.
Kahe Kabir ham byaahi chale hain, purus ek abinaashi.
O blessed and blissful brides, sing the songs of my divine wedding. Today my groom, the King Ram has come to my house. I will love through my body and my mind*; I will sacrifice them unto my groom. These five elements have become my wedding party. King Ram is my guest today; I am over bursting in my new youthfulness. I offer everything to him; today King Ram is my guest. I will make the Vedi(small square creation on which holy fire is lit and the couple make wedding vows and take seven rounds of it to commit their vows) of my body and Brahma shall utter the sacred words of Vedas (vows). Today I am taking vows and BHANWAR (walking around the holy fire to commit the vows) with King Ram what a great luck and fortune I have!! Thirty three crores of deities and eighty eight sages** have come to witness this great event and celebrate (the joy with Kabir)!! Kabir says today immortal one has wedded me and taken me to his place.
* Kabir refers to body and mind but not the soul as it is said that when the meeting happens at the soul level, there is no two but one, so the sacrifice can happen up to the level only where duality exists.
** Where ever any great spiritual event happens, those beings that are conscious enough to smell it are automatically pulled towards it and it is a real celebration for them to see one soul being united to ultimate reality.
15. Na main dharmi nahi adharmi na main jati na kami ho.
Na main kahata na main sunata na main sevak swami ho.
Na main bandha na main mukta na nirbandh sarvangi ho.
Na kaahu se nyara hoya na kaahu ka sangi ho.
Na hum narak lok ko jate na hum sarag sidhare ho.
Sab hi karam hamara keeya hum karman te nyare ho.
Ya mat ko koi birla bujhe so satguru ho baithe ho.
Mat kabir kahu ko thape mat kahu ko mete ho.
Na main kahata na main sunata na main sevak swami ho.
Na main bandha na main mukta na nirbandh sarvangi ho.
Na kaahu se nyara hoya na kaahu ka sangi ho.
Na hum narak lok ko jate na hum sarag sidhare ho.
Sab hi karam hamara keeya hum karman te nyare ho.
Ya mat ko koi birla bujhe so satguru ho baithe ho.
Mat kabir kahu ko thape mat kahu ko mete ho.
Neither I am religious or virtuous nor non-religious or commit sins. I am neither renunciate nor I am lustful. I don’t speak, I don’t hear. I am neither servant not I am a master. I am not bound nor I am free I am not even boundless infinite. Neither am I in enmity with anyone not I am friends with. I don’t go to hell or heaven. Everything is done by me still I am beyond actions or reactions. Rare are those who can understand this mystery, they are the true Satgurus. Kabir says I don’t project or destroy anything. I am beyond all.
Note*** - When reading to Kabir’s pads, we come to terms like Jogi,Avadhu Sadhu, Santo, Bhaai, Pundit and Mulla. These all have different meanings and refer to the level of Kabir’s speaking. When Kabir says Jogi or avadhu, he means those people who are wasting their time in those spiritual practices which are not going to be fruitful. So with them Kabir speaks jokingly and sometimes in a puzzling manner. When a Sadhu is referred, it means someone who is high in practices and Kabir speaks with a mutual understanding and respect. With Santo Kabir has very high level of respect. When Kabir says bhaai, he speaks to normal seekers. Pundit and Mulla are all those people who are trapped in rituals and under the burden of written knowledge but don’t know anything about real spirituality. Kabir is very much sarcastic to them. Sometimes he refers to Loi, his wife who is also a normal seeker whom Kabir tries hard to explain higher truths.
