1 1. Haman hai ishq
mastaana haman ko hoshiyaari kya.
Rahen aajad ya
jag me, haman duniya se yaari kya.
Jo bichhade
hain piyaare se, bhatakate dar-b-dar firate,
Hamara yaar hai
hamame, haman ko intejaari kya.
Na pal bichhade piya hamase, na ham bichhade
piyaare se,
Inhi se neh
laaga hai, haman ko bekaraari kya.
Kabira ishq ka maata, dui ko door kar dil se,
Jo chalana raah
naajuk hai, haman sar bojh bhaari kya.
I am bursting in love, what is the use of being clever or
smart? I am ever free in this world; I need not any friendship in this world.
Those who are separated from the Beloved, wander here and there aimlessly. My
Beloved is within me, there is no need to keep waiting. Now my Beloved doesn't
leave me for a single moment, nor am I separated from my Beloved anytime. My
love is forever towards my Beloved (who is always by my side), why should I
feel restless? Kabir is forever intoxicated in love. He says - drop the duality
from your heart and behold the unity. If you want to walk on the narrow path (the
spiritual path is said to be very narrow) you shouldn't keep any heavy burden
on your head.
2 2. Sadho so Satguru
mohi bhaawe.
Sattnaam ka
bhar-bhar pyaala, aap piwe mohi pyave.
Mele jay na
mahant kahaawe, pooja bhenT na laawe.
Parada door
kare aankhin ka, nij darasan dikhalaawe.
Jaake darsan
sahib darasen, anahad shabad sunaawe.
Maaya ke sukh
dukh kari jaane, sang na supan chalaawe.
Nisi din
sat-sangati me raache, shabad me surati samaawe.
Kah Kabir tako
bhay naahi, nirabhay pad parasaawe.
O Sadhus, I love the Satguru who himself drinks the cup full
of divine nectar (Satnam- the Ultimate Truth) and offers the same to me. He
doesn’t go to marketplace calling himself great pious man, he doesn’t accept
any offering or gifts. He is far away from any show off that he is a holy man.
He pulls veils of illusions from our eyes and shows his true essence. His
essence, his glimpse is such that even GOD longs to see it, he makes the divine
celestial sound audible to us. He sees all worldly pleasures as the root of
pain and doesn’t enjoy it, he doesn’t entertain himself in this dream world. He
stays day and night in the company of Truth, the Ultimate Reality, his whole
attention is fixed in the celestial sound, the divine melody, and he is totally
devoted to it. Kabir says – He is fearless and he makes us realize our true
fearless and free essence. I love the Satguru.
3 3. Man tu kyu bhoola re
bhaai.
Sudh-budh teri
kahan heraai.
Jaise panchhi
rain-basera, base birichh par aai.
Bhor bhaye sab
aapu-aapu ko, jaha-taha uD jaai.
Supane me tohi
raaj milyo hai, hakim-hukum dohaai.
Jaagi paro, tab
laav na lashkar, palak khule sudhi paai.
Maat-pita,
bandhu, sut, tiriya, na koi sago sagaai.
Yah to sab swaarath
ke sangi, jhooThi lok-baDaai.
Saagar manhi
lahar uThat hai, ganita gani na jaai.
Kahat Kabir
suno bhai saadho, dariya lahar samaai.
O my mind, why do you forget and wander
again and again? Where have you lost all your senses? Like birds take shelter
on a tree at night and fly away in the morning towards their own destination,
so is this world’s nature. Here no one is yours. Whatever you possess now, is
like a kingdom, a fortune found in the dream. All those who work under you and
admire you are nothing but characters in a dream state. These all will vanish
like things in the dream vanish after we wake up. But this can be realized only
when you open your eyes. Your parents, friends, son or wife – none is truly
yours. They all are related to you by their own selfish interests. The name and
fame of this world is false. Like waves rise from the ocean, infinite and
uncountable – so is the nature of this world which arises from the GOD. Kabir
says - at the end the waves will fall back and merge to the ocean.
4 4. Jiyara javage ham
jaani.
Paanch tatt ko
bano peenjara, jaame bastu biraani.
Aavat-jaavat
koi na dekhyo, Doobi gayo bin paani.
Raja jaihe,
raani jaihe au jaihe abhimaani.
Jog karante
jogi jaihe, katha sunante gyaani.
Paap-punn ki
haaT lagi hai, dharam danD darbaani.
Paanch sakhi
mili dekhan aayi, ek se ek sayaani.
Chanda jaihe,
surajo jaihe, jaihe pavano-paani.
Kahe Kabir ek
bhakt na jaihe, jinaki mati Thaharaani.
I know this soul shall leave the body one
day. This body is like a cage built by five elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water
and Ether) and the soul is alien thing kept in it. None has seen it coming (at
birth) or going (at death), it just gets drawn without water (at the time of
death). The king shall leave, the queen shall leave, the proud and arrogant has
to leave this body. The yogi who practices yoga, shall perish and the Gyaani
Pundit who listens to holy scriptures shall also perish. Here the market
consists of good deeds (virtues) and bad deeds (sins) and the DHARMRAJ (a deity
who keeps score of souls’ actions and punishes and rewards it accordingly) is
the keeper of this market. Five friends (Five lower tendencies- Anger, Lust, Greed,
Attachment and Egotism) have come to see the market and trade here (these five
foes make the mind and soul entangled in this worldly marketplace), they all
are very smart (in deceiving the mind and soul). Kabir says even the moon and
the Sun shall perish, only a devotee whose mind has become still and who is
unshaken in his devotion, shall never perish.
5 5. Rahana nahi des
biraana hai.
Yah sansaar
kagad ki puDiya, boond pare ghuli jaana hai.
Yah sansaar
kaanT ki baaDi, ulajhi-pulajhi mari jaana hai.
Yah sansaar
jhaar ka jhankhar, aag lage jari jaana hai.
Kahe Kabir suno
bhai saadho, Satguru naam Thikana hai.
I will not live in this alien country, this
world. This world is so vulnerable; it is ever changing and perishable. It is
like a sheet of paper which will be dissolved by a drop of water. This is a
garden of thorns, one will get entangled in it so badly, and he will die. This
world is like a pile of dried bushes, anytime any fire will burn it to ashes.
Kabir says – listen to me O sadhu, only Nam given by Satguru is your true
refuge.
6 6. Jo dekha so dukhiya
dekha, tan dhari sukhi na dekha.
Uday-ast ki
baat kahat ho, taakar karahu bibekha.
Baate-baaTe sab
koi dukhiya, kya girahi-bairaagi.
Shukracharya
dukh hi ke kaaran, garabhe maaya tyaagi.
Jogi dukhiya,
jangam dukhiya, taapas ko dukh doona.
Aasha-trishna
sab ghaT vyaape, koi mahal nahi soona.
Saanch kaho to
sab jag kheejhe, jhooTh kahyo nahi jaai.
Kah Kabir tei
bhaye dukhiya, jin yah raah chalaai.
I have seen only miserable people here, I
couldn’t see anyone who has come into a body and is happy and joyous. You speak
about the rise and fall, so please explain it to me (joy and sorrow, birth and
death- in one’s life). Where ever I have gone, I have seen people sorrowful and
miserable whether they are householder or a person of renunciation. Shukracharya*(a
holy character in hindu scripture) felt this miserable nature of the world and
he abandoned this MAYA (worldly attachments and pleasures) when he was in the womb
of his mother. Here even yogis are unhappy(they are still separated from the
Lord), the worldly people are unhappy(they don’t have all what they want) and
people doing austerities are even more unhappy(they are facing lots of trouble
in austerities, away from the worldly pleasures, still not able to get the divine knowledge).
The hope and desires are prevalent in all people, no one is excluded. When I
speak the truth, everybody is irritated and angry at me and I can’t lie. Kabir
says – they all are unhappy who started these paths (of those spiritual
practices which don’t lead to realization).
7 7. Ab kanh chale akele
meeta/ UThi kin karahu gharahu ki
chinta.
Kheer,
khaanD, ghrit pinD savaara/ So tan lai baahar kari Daara.
Jehi sir
rachi-rachi bandhyo paaga/ So fir ratan
bidaarahi kaaga.
HaaD jare jas
lakaDi jhoori/ Kes jare jas trin ke
koori.
Aavat sang na jaat
ki saathi/ Kaah bhayo dal saaje haathi.
Maaya ko ras
lei na paaya/ Antar jam bilaar hwe dhaaya.
Kah Kabir nar
ajahu na jaaga/ Jam ko mogara* dham sir laaga.
(After the death of someone)
Where are you going alone my friend? Wake
up and take care of your household now (of which you took so much care that you
never got to think of the Lord). The same body which was so much taken care of
by providing sweet rice, jaggary and Ghee, they have taken it out of the house
(after death).
You used to tie the turban on your head
with so much effort. The same head is being torn apart by crows. Your bones are
being burnt like dry wood and your hair are burnt like the pile of dried grass.
The great wealth and possessions, the elephants (people used to keep as a
symbol of pride possession) for which you put so much effort, were neither with
you when you came here nor did they accompany you when you have left. These
things are not worth putting that much effort. You couldn’t even taste the
enjoyments of this material world and the Messenger of Death ran to you like a cat
(running after its prey). Kabir says- these ignorant people don’t wake up to
this bitter reality even when they see the Messenger of Death striking one of them
(*with big log).
8 8. Man na rangaaye,
rangaaye jogi kapaDa.
Aasan maari
mandir me baiThe, naam chhaDi, poojan lage pathara.
Kanava faDaay
jogi jaTawa badaule, daDhi badhaay jogi hoi gele bakara.
Jangal jaay
jogi dhuniya ramaule, kaam jaraay jogi bani gele hijara.
Mathawa muDaay
jogi kapada rangaule, geeta baanchi ke hoi gele labara.
Kahe Kabir suno
bhai saadho, jam daravajawa baandhal jaibe pakara.
When Kabir comes to scold people doing
wrong spiritual practices, he spares none. Kabir is merciful and understanding
towards ignorant people, but he is very harsh to those claiming to be spiritual
and misguiding other people. The worst hit are jogis, pundits and maulavi.
Kabir says – these yogis don’t color their
mind with love and devotion, rather they color their cloths to show the world
that they are divine. These pundits- they sit in the temple and worship the stone
(idol) rather than worshipping true Nam. These yogis – they get their ears
pierced and grow big hairs(as was common among yogis those days). They grow big
beards and look like a goat. They think that by doing these things, they will
get to know the Lord. They go to forests and keep the holy fire burning. They suppress
their sexuality and become impotent (these things are not going to help). Other
yogis shave their head and color their cloths; they recite the verses from Gita
and become too loud and talkative. Kabir says –these things are not going to
help in GOD-realization. At the time of departure, the messenger of death will
come and tie you to his court.
9 9. Avadhu bhajan-bhed
hai nyaara.
Kya gaaye, kya
likhi batalaaye, kya bharame sansaara.
Kya
sandhya-tarapan ke keenhe, jo nahi tatt vichaara.
MoonD muDaaye,
jaTa rakhaaye, kya tan laaye chhaara.
Kya pooja
paahan ki kenhe, phal keeye aahaara.
Bin parache
Sahib hoi baiThe, kare vishay-vyopaara.
Gyaan-dhyaan ka
maram na jaane, baad kahe hankaara.
Agam athaah
maha ati gahiro, beejan-khet nivaara.
Maha so dhyaan
magan hoi baiThe, kaaT karam ki chaara.
Jinake sada
ahaar antar me, kewal tatt vichaara.
Kahe Kabir suno
ho Gorakh, tare sahit parivaara.
Kabir says to Avadhu (practicing yogic
exercises)- O avadhu, the secret of true
worship is beyond any description. How can one sing or write about it? The
whole world is misguided and led astray. What good it is to do rituals of
offering water and evening prayers if you didn’t realize the real essence of
the Lord? By shaving head or growing long hairs, by applying ashes all over the
body, by worshipping idols made of stone or eating fruits only will not help
you in GOD-realization. Without knowing the GOD, you became big priest and
spiritual leader and are still indulged in all sense pleasures. You don’t know
the essence of true knowledge and contemplation and you have started your own
school of spirituality out of your inflated ego. The reality is inaccessible,
unknowable and so deep (that it is beyond words) and we have to weed out all
potential actions which could bear fruit in future. In that deep inaccessible
region, we have to contemplate and remain absorbed, ever blissful and cut all
the threads of action. Those whose whole sole life source is absorption in the
true essence of reality, they will cross this ocean of illusionary world with
their family and acquaintances.
1 10. Sunata nahi dhun ki
khabar, anahadd baaja baajata,
Rasmand Mandir
gaajata, baahar sune to kya hua.
Gaanja*, afim*
au posta*, bhang* au sharaab peevata,
Ek premras
chaakha nahi, amali hua to kya hua.
Kasi gaya aur
dwarika, teerath sakal bharamat phire,
GanThi na kholi
kapaT ki, teerath gaya to kya hua.
Pothi kitaabe
baanchata, auro ko nit samajhaavata,
TrikuTi mahal
khoje nahi, bak-bak mara to kya hua.
Kaaji kitaabe
khojata, karata nasihat aur ko,
Maraham nahi us
haal se, kaaji hua to kya hua.
Sataranj,
chaupaD, ganjifa, ek nard hai badrang ki,
Baaji na kheli prem ki, khela jua to kya hua.
Jogi digambar
se baDa, kapaDa range rang laal se,
Wakif nahi us
rang se, kapada range se kya hua.
Mandir
jharokhe, raavaTi, gul-chaman me rahte sada,
Kahate Kabira
hain sahi, ghaT-ghaT me Sahib ram raha.
You are not aware; you don't listen to that
celestial sound which keeps resounding all the time. It resonates in the
delightful temple of the body. You keep listening to outward sound and music,
what is the use? You keep taking all kinds of drugs* and drink wine to get
intoxicated and feel high. If you didn't taste the nectar of love, what is the
use of being a drug addict? You went to Kaasi and Dwarika(holy places) and all
other holy places(in search of the divinity) but if you didn't untie the knot
of your cunning and mean nature, what was the use of visiting those holy
places? You keep reciting holy books and scriptures and explain them to others
but what is the use of all your talks if you didn't search within and looked
for TrikuTi*(a stage in santmat). Kazi recites from his holy books and gives
suggestions to others but he himself doesn't know the state of divine
intoxication. What is the use of being a Kazi(holy man)? You play all games of
gambling, these all are lifeless. If you didn't play the game of love, what is
the fun in gambling? These jogis think themselves higher than Digambers(Jain
followers) and they color their cloths red. But they are not aware of that
color (of his Nam). Coloring cloths are not going to be any help. Kabir says
the Truth. You look anywhere- at the temple, at the windows, at the roads,
flowers or gardens - everywhere the same GOD is residing (search for him).
1 11.
Naiher me daag
lagaay aayi chunari.
U rangrejava ke
maram na jaane, nahi mile dhobiya kaun kare ujari.
Tan ke kundi,
gyan ke saudan, saabun mahang bikaay ya nagari.
Pahiri-odhi ke
chali sasuriya, gauwa ke logan kahe badi fuhari*.
Kahe Kabir suno
bhai sadho, bin Satguru kabahu na sudhari.
1 12.
Piya unchi re
aTaraiya tori dekhan chali.
Unchi aTariya,
jarad kinariya, lagi naam ki doriya.
Chand Suraj sam
diyana baratu hai, ta bich bhooli dagariya.
Panch,
pachchees, teen ghar baniya, manua hai chaudhariya.
Munshi hai
kotawal gyan ko, chahu dishi laagi bajariya.
AaTh maraatib,
das daravaja, nau me lagi kivariya.
Khiraki baiThi
gori chitavan laagi, upara jhaanp –jhanpariya.
Kahe Kabir suno
bhai sadho, Guru charanan balihariya.
Sadh-Saint mili
sauda karihe, jheenkhe murukh anariya.
1 13.
Ratan jatan karu,
prem ke tat dharu, Satguru imarit naam, jugat ke rakhab re.
Baba ghar
rahalau, babui kahaulo, Saiya chatur sayaan, chetab gharava aapan re.
Khelat rahalau
ham supali-mauniya*, auchak aaye lenihaar, chalab kesia jhaar re.
Yah to andheri
raat, musal choraba thala, saiya ke baan kuban, sutaile godaba taan re.
Chun-chun
kaliya me sejiya bichhaulo, bina re purukhaba ke naari jhakhele din-raati re.
Taal jhuraay
gele, phool kumhilaay gele, Hansa udat akel koi nahi dekhal re.
Ab ka jhakhelu
naari, hiye baiThalu man maari, ehi baaTe motiya heraail re.
Das Kabir ehe
gaave nirgunava, ab ki uhawa jaav to fir nahi aaub re.
(The girl says-) This is such a dark night and the thief has entered in my house (senses which take the attention away from the practice).My husband's words are piercing (to my heart – call to go higher, shabd) and he himself is sleeping peacefully stretching his legs (how can I overcome the thief myself).(Trying to please her husband)The girl says - I picked up buds and made the bed but my husband is not there. Without the husband, how can the wife be happy? She is moaning day and night. (Slowly and gradually) the pond is dried up, all flowers are faded (of the body) and the swan flew away, nobody could see it flying. Now what is the use of crying and moaning (when the time has gone)? Now you can only grieve upon what is lost. You lost your precious pearl in this way (by not following the advices given to you to do the practice).Kabir sings Nirgun pad and says - I shall go there this time (to my Beloved) and shall never come back.
Kabir refers to Nirgun in some of his pads. As per my understanding, his nirgun refers to a state in spiritual ascend where the difference of seer and scene is lost. There are states below it which are also considered as enlightened state and practitioner experiences oneness there too. However, in those states; the oneness and manyness both are experienced simultaneously and the experiences a soul gained during his sojourn, remains with it. It can reincarnate at will anytime with same characteristics it had in previous life. When Kabir says nirgun pad-it refers to a state where manyness is totally lost and a soul's separate identity doesn't exist anymore. That is why Kabir says again and again-I shall not come back. (This is just my understanding and may not be correct).
This beautiful pad is in Maithili-a language spoken in Bihar's few districts. This pad is told for those who are newly initiated and trying to practice the spiritual methods. They don't know about the Lord, they often falter in their practice and most of the time, it takes more than one life to complete the journey to ultimate destination. To make it simple and understandable, Kabir takes analogy of a girl who is innocent and ignorant of practical life, the taste of love and doesn't know how to please her husband. She is adored by her parents and is taken care of by them. She need not think anything or bother about anything. After she is married and is taken to her husband's home, it is totally new surroundings. She has to be very careful in her deeds; she has to take care of all practical things she never thought about. On top of it, she has to sacrifice all of her previous interests and do each and everything to please her husband else she will lose his love.
The same process applies for initiates. Till they are not initiated and don't know about the path, they do whatever they like and bother about nothing. Once GOD has chosen them to come back and a messenger in the form of Guru comes to claim them and teaches them the methods, gives the precious gift of Nam and puts some restrictions, they are in a new environment, facing new expectations and off course new love, but they have to make it through the life. Sometimes they falter and they feel bad losing the opportunity and they have to come again to complete the journey.
1 14.
Saai mor basat agam
purava, janh gaman hamaar.
AaTh kuwa, nav
bavaDi, sorah panihaar.
Bharal
ghayalava Dharaki gaye re, dhani ThaDi man maar.
ChhoT moT
DanDiya* chandan ke ho, chhoT chaar kahaar.
Jaay utarihe
wahi desva ho, jaha koi na hamaar.
Unchi mahaliye
Sahib ke ho, lagi bikhami bajaar.
Paap-punn dou
baniya ho, heera laal apaar.
Kah Kabir sun
saaiya mor yaahiya des.
Jo gaye so
bahure na, ko kahat sandes.
1 15.
Aayo din gaune* ke
ho, man hot hulaas.
Paanch bheeT ke
pokhara ho, jaame das dwaar.
Paanch sakhi
bairin bhayi ho, kas utarab paar.
ChhoT-moT
doliya chandan ke ho, laage chaar kahaar.
Doliya utaare
beech banama ho, jaha koi na hamaar.
Paiya tori
laagu kaharava ho, doli ghar chhin baar.
Mil lev sakhiya
saheli ho, milo kul-parivar.
Sahib Kabir
gaawe nirgun ho, sadho kari lo vichaar.
Naram-garam
sauda kari li ho, aage haaT na bazaar.
Kabir refers to this world as the market where we can trade anything - good or bad, worldly pleasures or we can seek the Lord. Once we cross the portal of death, there is no option to do anything as free will, we can't trade anything there. Hence Kabir warns that do here whatever you want to do. After leaving this place, no one will go with you neither you will be given a chance to do anything.
1 16.
DanDiya phanDaay
dhani chaalu re, mili lehu saheli.
Dina chaari ko
sang hai, firi ant akeli.
Din das naihar
kheliye, saasur nij bharana.
Bahiya pakari
piya le chale, tab ujur na karana.
Ek andhiyari
koThari, dooje diya na baati.
De utaari tehi
ghara, Jaha sang na saathi.
Ek andhiyaara
kuiya, dooje lejur TooTi.
Nain hamaare as
Dhur, jaise gaagar phooTi.
Das Kabir yo
kahe, jag naahin rahana.
Sangi hamare
chali gaye, hamahu ko chalana.
(The girl says-) This room is so dark and there is no lamp or wick. They have dropped me at such a place where I have no one with me. This is so dark well and the rope is broken (refers to the spot of meditation and the rope refers to the Sushumna Nadi which is supposed to pull the attention from the body and bring it to eye center). Tears are falling down from my eyes as if a broken pot filled with water. Kabir says- I will not stay in this world. My friends are gone; I also have to leave (this world).
The above refers to the condition of new initiate who is trying to practice meditation. In meditation one has to be all alone, leaving all worldly attachments, fun and pleasure behind and try to gather all attention behind the eye center where it is all darkness and there is nothing to hold the attention there. Kabir encourages them by referring those people who have previously gone on the path.