Kabir Compositions Presented with English Translation/Meaning

Kiran Nath

1. Chadaraiya Jhini re Jhini

Kabir discusses the importance of utilizing this birth as a human.  He uses metaphors from weaving, and advises that he is fortunate to be born as human in a body that is a precious gift.  It is important to make good use of this gift, wear it with great care and return it back as good as was received.  

चदरिया झीनी रे झीनी, रे राम नाम रस भीनी
The body is like finely woven cloth and is permeated by the raam naam
अष्ट कमल का चरखा बनाया, पांच तत्त्व की पूनी
The eight-petaled lotus was used as a spinning wheel, and the 5 elements as yarn
नौ दस मॉस बुनन को लागे, मूरख मैली कीनी
It took 9-10 months to knit it, Oh fool you soiled it!
जब मोरी चादर बन घर आई, रंग रेज को दिनी
This sheet of mine, I gave it to the dyer (person who dyes – my guru). 
ऐसा रंग रंगा रंगरे ने, लालो लाल कर दिनी
It was dyed beautifully , totally red in color
ध्रुव प्रह्लाद सुदामा ने ओढी, शुकदेव ने निर्मल किन्ही
Dhruv, prahlad, and sudama wore their sheets well, and Suhkdev made it pure. 
दास कबीर ने ऐसी ओढी, ज्यों की त्यों धर दिनी
das kabeer wore it in such a way, he left it as it is(as he got it) 

2. Nirgun Galiyan Sankri

Kabir speaks to a fellow devotee about how the path to Nirgun Bramh is not easy, but single minded dedication will get one there.  And the result will be brightness, peace and comfort.

Nirgun galiyan saankri, mhaari heli Vahaan chadhhyo nahin jaaye 

The path of the attribute-less Is a narrow one, my friend… It is not an easy journey to make. 

Vahaan chadhhe to piya mile, mhaari heli , aava gaman mit jaaye Mhaari heliye. Chalo hamaara des 

But if you do make it through, you shall meet the beloved! And the cycles of birth and death shall end! Oh my friend, let’s go to my world

Kahaan uge kahaan aasate, mhaari heli Kahaan ujaala hoye? Yahin uge yahin aasate, mhaari heli Yahin ujaala hoye. Mhaari heliye, chalo hamaara des

Where does the sun rise? Where does it set? Where does the illumination happen? It rises right here, sets right here.  This is where illumination happens! Oh my friend, let’s go to my world… 

Kahaan ko garje, kahaan barse, mhaari heli Kahaan sookha ka hariya hoye? Yahin garje yahin barse, mhaari heli Yahin sookha ka hariya hoye. Mhaari heli vo, chalo hamaara des…

Where does it thunder, where does it shower? Where does the dry turn green? It thunders here, it showers here. Here, it turns from dry to green!  Oh my friend, let’s go to my world… 

Yo toh laagya bhajan vala baan Mhaari helo vo, chalo hamaara des 

I’ve been struck by the arrow of the sacred song… Oh my friend, let’s go to my world! 

Nirgun ka baazaar mein, mhaari heli Heero ko hove vyaapaar. Sugura maanav to saudo kare, mhaari heli.  Ee to nugura mool ganvaaye.  Mhaari heli vo, chalo hamaara des

In this divine marketplace, beyond all qualities… Invaluable jewels are being traded! One guided by his Guru, makes the right deal. he one without his Guru, loses his deal! Oh my friend, let’s go to my world… 

Yo toh paachho janam nahin aaye Mhaari heli vo, chalo hamaara des

Such beings don’t return to be born… Oh my friend, let’s go to my world! 

Anahad ka maidaan mein, mhaari heli Mhaara saahib ji ki sej. Kahe Kabir Dharamdas se, mhaari heli Na to mare na boodhha hoye Mhaari heli vo, chaalo hamaara des…

In the limitless field, oh my friend… My Master resides. Kabir says to Dharamdas, There is no death or aging there… Oh my friend, let’s go to my world… 

Yo toh yahi ujaala hoye Mhaari heli vo, chalo hamaara des

That is where light happens… Oh my friend, let’s go to my world… 

Ya toh laagyaa bhajan wala baan Mhaari heli vo, chalo gura ji ra des I’ve been struck by the arrow of the sacred song… Oh my friend, let’s go to my world!

Amandeep Singh

Shabad 1

आसा ॥ लंका सा कोटु समुंद सी खाई ॥ तिह रावन घर खबरि न पाई ॥१॥

किआ मागउ किछु थिरु न रहाई ॥ देखत नैन चलिओ जगु जाई ॥१॥ 

इकु लखु पूत सवा लखु नाती ॥ तिह रावन घर दीआ न बाती ॥२॥

चंदु सूरजु जा के तपत रसोई ॥ बैसंतरु जा के कपरे धोई ॥३॥

गुरमति रामै नामि बसाई ॥ असथिरु रहै न कतहूं जाई ॥४॥

कहत कबीर सुनहु रे लोई ॥ राम नाम बिनु मुकति न होई ॥५॥८॥२१॥

The Mighty Ravan lived in a fortress like Lanka, with the ocean as a moat around it, yet today that house of Raavan is not heard of ||1||
What shall I ask for? Nothing is permanent.  I see with my eyes that the world is passing away. ||1|
Despite having thousands of sons & grandsons, in that house of Raavan, the lamps & wicks are gone. ||2||
The moon & the sun cooked his food; fire washed his clothes. ||3||
Under Guru’s Instructions, one whose mind is filled with the Lord’s Name, becomes permanent, and does not go anywhere.||4||
Says Kabeer, listen, Loiee without Ram’s name, no one is liberated. ||5||8||21||

Shabad 2

आसा ॥ करवतु भला न करवट तेरी ॥ लागु गले सुनु बिनती मेरी ॥१॥

हउ वारी मुखु फेरि पिआरे ॥ करवटु दे मो कउ काहे कउ मारे ॥१॥ रहाउ॥

जउ तनु चीरहि अंगु न मोरउ ॥ पिंडु परै तउ प्रीति न तोरउ ॥२॥

हम तुम बीचु भइओ नही कोई ॥ तुमहि सु कंत नारि हम सोई ॥३॥

कहतु कबीरु सुनहु रे लोई ॥ अब तुमरी परतीति न होई ॥४॥२॥३५॥

Shabad 2

I would rather be cut apart by a saw, than have You turn Your back on me.
Hug me close, and listen to my prayer.||1||

I am a sacrifice to You – please, turn Your face to me, O Beloved Lord. Why do You turn Your back to me? ||1||

Even if You cut my body apart, I shall not pull my limbs away from You. Even if my body falls, I shall not break my bonds of love with You. ||2||

Between You and I, there is no other.  You are the Husband Lord, and I am the soul-bride. ||3||

Says Kabeer, listen, O people: Now, I place no reliance in you. ||4||2||35||

Krishnakali Dasgupta

Moko Kahan Dhoonde re bande

TranslationWhere do you for search me? I am always with you
Not in pilgrimage, nor in icons, and not in solitudes
Not in temples, nor in mosques; In neither in Kaba nor in Kailash
I am always with you, I am with you
Not in prayers, nor in meditation, Not in fasting
Not in yogic exercises, Nor in renunciation
Neither in the vital force nor in the body, Not even in the infinite space
Neither in the womb of Nature, Not in the breath of the breath
Seek earnestly and discover, In but a moment of search
Says Kabir, Listen with care, Where your faith is, I am there.

Uttarkhandi’s Of New England

1. Chadariya Jhini re Jhini

चदरिया झीनी रे झीनी, रे राम नाम रस भीनी

The body is like finely woven cloth and is permeated by the raam naam
अष्ट कमल का चरखा बनाया, पांच तत्त्व की पूनी
The eight-petaled lotus was used as a spinning wheel, and the 5 elements as yarn
नौ दस मॉस बुनन को लागे, मूरख मैली कीनी
It took 9-10 months to knit it, Oh fool you soiled it!
जब मोरी चादर बन घर आई, रंग रेज को दिनी
This sheet of mine, I gave it to the dyer (person who dyes – my guru). 
ऐसा रंग रंगा रंगरे ने, लालो लाल कर दिनी
It was dyed beautifully , totally red in color
ध्रुव प्रह्लाद सुदामा ने ओढी, शुकदेव ने निर्मल किन्ही
Dhruv, prahlad, and sudama wore their sheets well, and Suhkdev made it pure. 
दास कबीर ने ऐसी ओढी, ज्यों की त्यों धर दिनी
das Kabir wore it in such a way, he left it as it is(as he got it) 

Meaning:

O Kabira, when I was born on this earth, I was crying while the world was rejoicing.

But I have lived my life in such a way that on my leaving, I will be rejoicing while the world will be crying.

The sheet that I am wrapped in is woven with the nectar of Ram’s name  – and this sheet is a delicate, transparent sheet

Woven from eight- petal lotus at naval (Manipura Chakra) with five essences and three attributes, 

This sheet was woven over ten months with care and free of any impurity, Yet foolish make it dirty.

When my sheet was ready, I gave it to get it dyed, The dyer colored it all red

This means that once ready, he searched for his Guru, who colored him completely in the supreme knowledge. 

All of us, wearing this sheet, do not take it for granted. It is loaned to you for a few days, as you have a short time with this body.  The ignorant and foolish make it dirty day by day. But devotees as Dhruv Prahlad, Sudama also wore this sheet, and Saint Shukdev kept it spotless.

Your servant Kabir wears with great care and is returning it as is 

2. Dohe

ऐसी वाणी बोलिये , मन का आप खोये…२|औरन को शीतल करे, आपहु शीतल होये |
Speak such words that eliminate your ego. Others will be soothed, you will be calm too

बुरा जो देखन मैं चला , बुरा ना मिल्या कोई…२|| जो मन देखा अपना , तो मुझसे बुरा ना कोई ||

I went around trying to find fault in others failed me. But when I looked inside me, I found myself as worst. Instead of finding problems in society, first kill all bad in yourself

गुरु गोविंद दोऊ खड़े , काके लागूं पाए . ..२| बलिहारी गुरु आपने , गोविन्द दियो बताय ||

Teacher and God present same time then who do I pay my respect first Guru as he showed me the path to find/meet God. 

दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे , सुख में करे न कोई …२||जो सुख में सुमिरन करे , तो दुःख कहे को होये ||

When there are tough times, everyone prays, during good time, no one does so. If you always remember then there will be no sorrow

काल कर जो आज कर, आज कर जो अभी, पल में परलय हो जाएगी, बहुरि करोगे कभी।

Whatever you want to accomplish, instead of doing it tomorrow, do it today & do it now

After life is gone, then you will not be able to go back, so, utilize your life well

धीरे धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होये. माली सींचे सौ घढ़ा, ऋतू आये फल होये।

Work with a calm mind to make things happen.  Even if a gardener waters the plant a hundred times, the tree will only bear fruit in the season

 Subdrift

1. Brother I have seen some astonishing sights

Brother, I’ve seen some astonishing sights:

A lion keeping watch over pasturing cows;

A mother delivered after her son was;

A guru prostrated before his disciple;

Fish spawning on treetops;               

A cat carrying away a dog;

A gunny-sack driving a bullock-cart;

A buffalo going out to graze,  sitting on a horse;

A tree with its branches in the earth, its roots in the sky;

A tree with flowering roots.

This verse, says Kabir, is your key to the universe.

If you can figure it out.

2. Adi Shah: Avadhuta Yugan yugan hum hogi

Avadhuta Yugan Yugan Hum Yogi 
Avayna Jay Mitaina Kabahun, Sabad Anahat Bhogi 
Subhi Thor Jamat Humri, Sub Hi Thor Pur Mela 
Hum Sub May, Sub Hai Hum May,Hum Hai Bahuri Akela 
Hum Hi Sidh, Samadhi Hum Hi, Hum Mauni Hum Bole 
Rup Swarup Arup Dikhake, Hum Hi Mein Hum Toh Khelen 
Kahe Kabira Jo, Suno Bhai Sadho,Nahi Na Koi Icha
Apni Madhi Mein Aap Mein Dolu, Kheloon Sahaj Swa-Icha 

Oh unattached being I am a yogi from many aeons
I don’t come or go nor do I get erased
I relish and enjoy the un-struck Anahat Shabad
In every direction I see only a collection and carnival of me
I am in everybody and everybody is in me. I am utterly alone
I am the Siddha, I am the Samadhi
I am the one who remains silent, I am the one who speaks
The form is my own form manifesting the formless
I am the one who plays with himself
Kabir says, listen oh Sadhu, there is no desire anymore
I am floating in myself in my own little hut playing effortlessly by own desire

Jago World

Kabir’s songs denote some deep philosophical truths. The beauty of Sant Kabir’s poetry simply explains them with situations that surround our daily lives. 

कबीरा खड़ा बाज़ार में, मांगे सबकी खैर, ना काहू से दोस्ती,न काहू से बैर।

Coming to this world, Kabir wishes welfare and well-being for all and neither friendship nor enmity with anyone

साहिब तुम्हारी साहिबी, सब घट रही समाय। ज्यों मेहंदी के पात में,  लाली लखी न जाय॥

Oh Lord! Your spirit is living in every being. Your glory is all-pervasive but invisible, just as the red color in green Mehndi leaves.

इनका भेद बता मेरे अवधू ,अच्छी करनी करले तू। डाली फूल जगत के माही , जहां देखुं वहां तू का तू॥

हाथी में हाथी बन बैठो  , कीड़ी में हैं छोटो क्यो? होई महावत ऊपर बैठे , हांकण वाला तू का तू॥

चोरों के संग चोरी करता, बदमासो में भेडो तू । चोरी कर तू भागन  वालो, पकड़ने वाला तू का तू॥

दाता के संग दाता बणग्यो, भीखारी में भेडो तु। मंगतों होकर मांगण लागे , देणे वाला तू का तू॥

नर नारी में एक बिराजे , दो दुनिया में दीखे क्यो? बालक होकर रोवन लागे , राखण वाला तु का तु॥

जलथल जीवमें तूही बिराजे , जहां देखूं वहां तू का तू । कहे कबीर सुनो भाई साधु ,गुरु मिल्या है तु का तु॥

LearnQuest

Ud Jayega Hans Akela

Ud Jayega Huns Akela, Jug Darshan Ka Mela 
Jaise Paat Gire Taruvar Se, Milna Bahut Duhela 
Naa Jane Kidhar Girega, Lageya Pawan Ka Rela 
Jub Howe Umur Puri, Jab Chute Ga Hukum Huzuri
Jum Ke Doot Bade Mazboot, Jum Se Pada Jhamela 
Das Kabir Har Ke Gun Gawe, Wah Har Ko Paran Pawe 
Guru Ki Karni Guru Jayega, Chele Ki Karni Chela  

Translation

The Swan Will Fly Away All Alone,
Spectacle of the World Will Be a Mere Fair
As the Leaf Falls from the Tree
Is Difficult to Find
Who Knows Where it Will Fall
Once it is Struck with a Gust Of Wind
When Life Span is Complete
Then Listening to Orders, Following Others, Will Be Over
The Messengers of Yama are Very Strong
It’s an Entanglement with the Yama
Servant Kabir Praises the Attributes of the Lord
He Finds the Lord Soon
Guru Will Go According to His Doings
The Disciple According to His

Explanation

Here Swan represents our free-spirit that continues to live beyond the death of the body. When the physical death comes, the “less-constrained” life leaves every worldly thing behind (including the body) and the whole spectacle of the world is like a fair or carnival that we witness and now know its true transient nature. 

Kabir reminds us that we are much like a leaf if when severed from the universal spirit (the tree) is liable to be blown away by the gust of unfulfilled desires. In such a state it is difficult to predict where the leaf (spirit) will finally land on getting dismembered from the tree of universal oneness. 

All through our physical life we are listening to either orders of others or are ordered by our own desires. When death comes nobody is really with us and we finally realize that the obeying and following others is not as meaningful as following our inner voice. “Kala” (Yama) or time, is relentless even in the wake of our last-minute realizations and feeling unfulfilled.

Finally Kabir reinforces that a continuous dedication to God yields instantaneous results. But warns that its our own effort that bear fruits and everybody (both Guru and Disciple) progresses according to their own actions.  

Maya Maha Thugni Hum Jaani 

Tirgun Phans Liye Kar Dole Bole Madhuri Bani
Kesav Ke Kamla Ve Baithi Shiv Ki Bhavan Bhavani
Punda Ke Murat Ve Baithi Tirath Mein Bhai Pani
Yogi Ke Yogin Ve Baithi Raja Ke Ghar Rani
Kahu Ke Hira Ve Baithi Kahu Ke Kodi Kani
Bhaktan Ke Bhaktin Veh Baithi Brahma Ke Brahmani
Kahe Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho Yeh Sab Akath Kahani

Translation

I Have Come to Know the Illusory Power to be a like a Great Thug

Her Hands Sway Holding a Web-like Trap 
She Speaks in a Sweet Voice

For Kesava, the Sustainer, She is Seated as the Embodiment of Abundance 
For Shiva, the God of Dissolution, She is the Empress of the Worlds
For the Priest She is Seated as the Idol of Worship 
And in Places of Pilgrimage She Manifests as the Holy Water 

For Yogis She is Seated as the Spiritual Partner 
In the King’s Palace She is the Queen
For Some She is Seated as a Priceless Diamond 
For Some She is a Mere Penny

For Devotees She is Seated in the Object of Devotion
For Brahma She is His Consort
Says Kabir Listen Oh Practicing Aspirant 
All this is an Untold Story

Explanation

Maya has been traditionally described as illusion. Often the physical world itself is referred to as being not real or an illusion. However, in my experience, the illusion is really in our perception of the physical reality where we experience the outside world as different from ourselves. We believe that happiness is a function of this outside world, thereby making us put extraordinary effort in changing this external reality. This dynamic experience stimulated by the external world is seductive and change is its inherent property. Even though this changing transient reality is unable to give us lasting joy or happiness, we continue to fervently believe in its capability to give us exactly that. This is Maya or illusion.

Kabir succinctly describes this fact by illustrating how the life’s focus, for everybody, is on an external reality. And this continuing externally-directed focus is illusory because of the transient nature of the relationship between the subject and the object. Whether it is a rich man looking for a diamond, a beggar wanting a penny, a devotee seeking the object of her worship – they all are rooted in Maya.