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Dohas are two line poems in Hindi. The translation presented here is a literal translation of the Hindi
verses where this is possible, rather then a poetic re-phrasing of the original verses in English.
With this approach, in most cases, the meaning of the verse is conveyed to the reader, which is the most
important part, though sadly, much is lost, including the taste and aspects of the meaning. I have,
however, added text to further explain the meaning as best I can.
In my view, it is better to learn Kabir's verse in Hindi, and know its additional meaning from the use and
sound of the original words, otherwise the meaning that Kabir wanted to convey is lost. Hndi/Urdu is
considered the idal language for Poetry, but it often does not have equivalent expressions in English,
simply because the experience that those expressions contain don't exist in the English culture, where
different experiences exist.
There is power in Kabir's choice of words, the sounds convey the power and it is well worth learning the
sound and meaning of the Hindi words. The same as for example, the verses of Shakespeare, you would
need to learn English to start to understand Shakespeare.
A true poetic translation of Kabir into English that keeps the meaning, tone, meter, rhyme and maintains
the vocal and psychological power of the words is not possible. You would need a true genius like
Shakespeare to do that. Lesser Poets like Tagore have tried, but the end result is way, way short of the
original.
Rabindranath Tagore's work, One Hundred Poems of Kabir, for example, does not even convey the
simple, basic meaning of the original, never mind the subtler, spiritual meaning. In addition, his English is
lofty, high English, which conveys little to the average English reader, who would not be much impressed
by it. Tagore's language is not the simple, down to earth language used by the ordinary, generally poor
person as Kabir's use of Hindi was. This is because Tagore's command of common, native, everyday
English was poor, because he never lived in the slums of east London for example. Also even Tagore,
who is considered a mystical genius, did not have the required spiritual awareness to understand Kabir
fully.
Kabir tended to use simple, common, slang words, rather then the high minded Sanskrit words. Kabir was
familiar with Sanskrit, but he wanted to reach the ordinary person on the streets, so he used Hindi. Many
of Kabir's words are not in use today in modern Hindi, which makes understanding him more difficult.
For example, 'Punyah' would not be understood in today's Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi. Punyah is an
expression used in Pahati, my native Kashmiri tongue, which contains Hindi, Punjabi and Sanskrit terms.
It means 'under' as in 'under the feet', or 'floor' as in 'sit on the floor'.. In modern Hindi/Urdu, it would be
'Nicheh', in Punjabi it would be 'Thelah', but these do not convey the sense of Punyah:
This literally, in simple words explains what Kabir wanted to convey - that tomorrow you will be laying
in your grave, on top the grass will grow. There is humour, as well as meaning about the impermenance of
life, in Kabir's simple original, which is conveyed here.
Most Kabir translations available in English (like Kabir: Ecstatic Poems by Robert Bly), are based on
Tagore - they improve on Tagore's English only. Other English translations are no better then Tagore's for
the same reasons.
Here at least the English reader will have a truer understanding of the meaning of Kabir's poem/verse.
The tradition of Hindi Spiritual songs in India, rather then Sanskrit Bhajans, derives from the songs and
dohas of Kabir. They are still sung in India today. Scholars say that Kabir's influence on the development
of the modern Hindi/Urdu language was the same as Shakespeare's influence on the development of the
English language.
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Translation
Watching the grinding stones, the lamp Kabir Cries
Inside the Two Stones, no one survives
Meaning:
Kabir sees the two grinding mill stones as the duality that we live in. Heaven and earth, Good and Bad,
Male and Female, High and Low - all around is duality. This play of opposites, this Chalti Chakki, this
moving mill, this moving cosmos, it destroys everyone, no one is save from in it's powerful grip and
grinding action.
Whoever enters this duality is crushed. No one survives, which brings Kabit to tears. Kabir cries because
rarely, if ever, does one see the oneness, the divinity, behind the duality.
Words Used:
Hindi English
Chalti
Moving Mill
Chakki
Dekh Ker On Seeing
Diya Lamp, Light
Roye Cries
Do Paatan Two Stones
Ke Beech Within/Inside
Sabit Saved / Left
Bacha Intact
Na Koye No One
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
I went on the search for the bad guy, bad buy I couldn't find
When I searched my mind, then no one is as bad as me
Meaning
This doha is about observing ones own mind. Kabir says that he searched the world for the bad guy, the
real evil person reponsile for all the pain and suffering in the worrld, But he couldn't find the evil person
no matter where he looked.
Then he looked at and critically examined his own mind, his own thinking process.
There he found the real evil thing that lived hidden inside, and grew unchecked. All evil is caused by
thinking, which is the action of the unobserved mind.
When we accuse and condemn another, it is our mind that is doing the finger pointing, the other person is
probably innocent or the victim of his circumstances. Were we to inhabit the condemned persons body,
live his life, have his life conditioning, then we too would behave and act the same.
Hindi English
Bura Bad (person)
Jo That
Dekhan To See
Me Chella I went
Na Milya Not found
Koye Anyone
Jo Mann When
Khoja searched my
Apna own mind
To mujh se
No One is as
bura no
bad as me
loye
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir Washed His Mind Clean, Like The Holy Ganges River
Meaning
Kabir washed and cleaned his own mind, like the holy Ganges. That is, he removed all impurities from his
mind, from his thinking process, this letting the true light of divinity to shine forth.
Then everyone follows him whereever he goes, calling his name: Kabir, Kabir from behind him.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Tomorrows work do today, today's work now
If the moment is lost, how will the work be done?
Meaning
Do the work that needs to be done now. There is no other time then now.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Speak such words, you lose the minds Ego
Body remains composed, Others Find Peace
Meaning
In speech use such words that your ego is eliminated. Don't brag, don't gloat, don't make yourself out to
be big, important, rich or anything else that the ego attaches to. Building the Ego takes energy from the
body, takes away the bodies composure. If ego is lost in ones speech, the listener finds peace from
listening to it.
Hindi English
Aisee
Speak such
Vani
speach
Boliye
Mun Ka
The mind
Aapa
loses its Ego
Khoye
Apna Ons own bdy
Tan is at peace,
Sheetal composed
Kare
Auran Others are
Ko Sukh benefited, get
Hoye relief
_________________________________________________________________
Be Slow O Mind
Dheere Dheere Re Mana, Dheere Sub Kutch Hoye
Mali Seenche So Ghara, Ritu Aaye Phal Hoye
Translation
Be Slow O mind, Slowly everything happens
Gardner may water garden a hundred times, When the Season comes, there is fruit
Meaning
Kabir tells his mind to slow down, everything in life happens slowly, in its own time. The fruit only
comes when the season comes, so will the fruit of life come in its own time.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
God, give me so, so much wealth, that my community is fed
I don't remain hungry, the Sadhu does not go hungry
Meaning
In this doha, Kabir asks God for wealth in abundance - that his community is fed, he does not starve and
the visiting Sadhu (holy man) does not go hungry. For him, true wealth is in these simple things, the gift
of life, aily sustenence for the community and that the sadhu does not go hungry.
Kabir does not ask for a mansion, a Mercedes benz, a colour TV or millions in a swiss bank account, what
real use are they to him?
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
If You are Big so what? Just like a date tree
No shade for travelers, fruit is hard to reach
Meaning
Kabir likens this to a tall date tree whose fruit is out reach, and which does not give shade to the traveller.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Like the Oil is inside the Seed, Just as the Fire is Inside the Flint Stone
Your God is Inside You, If you have the Power to Wake Up, then Wake Up
Meaning
God is within, like the oil inside the seed, and the flint stones have the potential for fire inside them.
If you can realize this, then awaken and arise. It is said as challenge - if you have the power to wake up.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Begging is like dying, Let no one Beg
It is better to die than beg, this is the SatGuru's Message
Meaning
Don't beg - give that you may receive. Give time, give some service, give friendship, give love - don't
beg.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Neither Maya Died, Nor the Mind Died, Die and die again People/Bodies
Hope and delusion have not died, so said Das Kabir and left
Meaning
One of Kabir most meaningful doha's for me. Kabir observes the world from within, and sees the world as
Maya - illusion. It is projected by Mun, the mind, the collective mind. Shareer refers to the living body or
living person. Shareer's die and die again.
There is hope that this will end, that there will be the emergence of a new Shareer that will wake up, and
then Maya and Mun will instead die.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabira Stands in the market place, Asks for everyone's prosperity
Neither special friendship nor enmity for anyone
Meaning
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Meaning
Forget about book learning, no mater how many books you read, you won't become wise, you won't
became the true Pundit. Just a few words of love and you'll become Pundit. Try it.
_________________________________________________________________
In Sorrow all Pray
Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye
Jo Sukh Mein Simran Kare, Tau Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye
Translation
While Suffering everyone Prays and Remembers Him, in joy no one does
If one prays and remembers Him in happiness, why would sorrow come?
Meaning
The suffering you experience in the world is designed to wake you up. You wake up when you realize
God. If you did that during your happy times, then you will not experience suffering because there woud
be no need for it.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Guru is the wash man, Sikh is the cloth , God the soap
Wash the mind thoroughly clean, Out Comes The Glow of Truth
Meaning
Life is process of cleansing - hence this site, which is about Mind and Body Cleansing.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Alive one sees, alive one knows, find your liberation while alive
If Alive you do not cut the noose of your attachments , how will there be liberation with death?
Meaning
You need to wake up while you are alive, it is your only chance. You need to drop the ties of attachments
to illusory things that bind you in illusion. This can only be done while alive, death is not a liberator.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Inexpressible is the story of Love , It goes without Saying
Like the dumb guy who eat sweet Sarkara, he only Smiles
Meaning
The story of love is to be experienced, it can not be expressed, it can be known and felt - but not by the
five senses.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir , Don't be so proud and vain, Looking at your high mansion
Tomorow you'll lie under feet, On top will grow Grass
Meaning
Don't be proud and vain, tomorrow you'll be lying six foot under feet, on top will grow grass that goats
and sheep will eat!
_________________________________________________________________
Dont be Proud
Kabira Garv Na Keejiye, Kaal Gahe Kar Kes
Na Jaane Kit Mare Hai, Kya Des Kya Pardesh
Translation
Kabir , Don't be so proud and vain, The clutches of Time are dark
Who knows where it will kill , Whether at home or abroad
Meaning
Again don't be proud and vain, who knows when or where time will kill.
_________________________________________________________________
Nothing is Kabir's Doing
Kabira Kiya Kutch Na Hote Hai, Ankiya Sab Hoye
Jo Kiya Kutch Hote Hai, Karta Aur Koye
Translation
On Kabir's saying nothing happens , What I don't do does come to pass
If anything happens as if my doing, It is done by someone else
Meaning
All things happen as per Gods wish, it just seems that we are doing them.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Like the pupil is in the eyes , Your God lives inside you,
The ignorant don't know this, they search Him on the outside
Meaning
_________________________________________________________________
Meaning
Do good work.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
First the pain of separation, then the thirst for Love
Says Kabir, only then will you know Joy of the Union.
Meaning
First the pain of separation, then the thirst for love. Only from the pain of separation do we feel the pangs
of love. There is then hope of union. This is the story of life - the lovers meeting, separating, the pangs of
love and the urge for union and the eventual union. In Sufi tradition it is a reflection of man and God -
realization of the separation from God, the pangs of love and urge for union with God, and the eventual
joy of union.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
The Ocean is on Fire, The Smoke is not Visible
Meaning
Experience teaches, the one who has felt the fire knows it - when you know, you know.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir, save the wealth that remains in this Moment
Departing with a bag of material wealth, no one has yet been seen.
Meaning
Enjoy the present moment. Accumulating wealth for tomorrow is a waste because tomorrow you will die.
This is a certainty. No one has been seen that managed to take his material wealth with him.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Hope yet lives, the world dies, people die and die again
Perish yet hoarding wealth, spend and freedom attain
Meaning
Hope is that people will wake up, drop their attachments and hoardings and be free from the clutches of
illusion.
_________________________________________________________________
If I say One
Ek Kahun To Hai Nahin, Do Kahun To Gaari
Hai Jaisa Taisa Rahe, Kahe Kabir Bichari
Translation
If I say one, It is not; If I say two, it will be a violation
Let 'It' be whatever 'It' is, so says Kabir contemplating
Meaning
There is a oneness behind the apparent diversity. But oneness is not seen. Yet if I accept duality, it would
be a violation, a false acceptance. Let it be, whatever it is - I'll drop the analyzing.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir, this is the House of Love , Not the house of your Aunt
Who has dropped his barriers, He can pass in to the House
Meaning
You are born to Love, not sit around as if at your Aunts place. Love is not a process of seeking, but a
process of dropping ones own mental barriers to love.
_________________________________________________________________
The Rosary bead
Maala To Kar Mein Phire, Jeebh Phire Mukh Mahin
Manua To Chahun Dish Phire, Yeh To Simran Nahin
Translation
The rosary rotating by the hand, the tongue twisting in the mouth,
With the mind wandering everywhere, this isn't meditation
(Counting the Rosary, Repeating Mantras, If the Mind is Traveling - this is not meditation)
Meaning
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir, the rosary made of wooden beads, what can it teach you?
If you don't control your minds motion, why control the beads motion?
Meaning
_________________________________________________________________
When I Was
Jab Mein Tha Tab Hari Nahin, ab Hari Hai Mein Nahin
Sab Andhiyara Mit Gaya, Jab Deepak Dekhya Mahin
Translation
When I was, then Hari (God) was not, Now Hari is and I am not
All the darkness dissolved, When I saw the light within.
Meaning
When we see ourselves as individuals, there is the concept of "I". This is in duality - that is, there is me,
you, him, this computer, that sofa, this hand, that chair. When we see beyond the duality, where "I" no
longer exists, then only God exists, and I don't.
The word Hari comes from the Hindi Her, meaning every (everyone, everything), and is a reference to
God. The mantra Hari Ohm, literally means God, God, or everywhere God.
So, before duality, God was and I was not. Now in duality, I am, and God is not seen. This darkness
dissolves when I see that God is within me. Then I realize that "I" don't exist as my mind would have me
believe that I do.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
What harm have the hair done, you shave them hundred times
Why not shave the mind, there grow unchecked countless poisonous thoughts
Meaning
There is a tradition of monks having their hair shaved. They do this again and again. Kabir asks: what has
the hair done that yo cut it hundreds of times? Why don't you cut the mind, where are born the Vishey
Vikaar?
Vishey means nasty, poisonous things. Vikars are:serious faults or major weaknesses that we have.
Serious vikars include:
Kama - Lust
Krodh - Rage or uncontrolled anger
Lobh - Greed
Moh - Attachment or emotional attachment
Ahankar - Eego
We need to cut these vikars, that is purify or clean the Mind. For more information, see Mind Detox
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Shaving the head Ages have passed, yet no union with God
Recitation of Gods Name is futile, when the mind is doing something else
Meaning
Being a monk, shaving the head, praying and observing for years, all the days have passed, but have not
united with God. Why recite Gods name, when the mind is doing some other work?
Kabir is saying that the mind needs to be controlled, the thoughts need to be controlled and focussed on
the divine, focussed on what is real, not on things made from duality.
_________________________________________________________________
Meaning
Self explanatory verse. Focus on the thing that you really love to do, don't be distracted, don't sleep.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir, Your Hut Is Next to the Butchers
Who does, he will face the consequnces, Why are you sad?
Meaning
Don't concern your self too much with other peoples actions - they will have to face the consequences, not
for you to be sad.
_________________________________________________________________
Translation
Kabir, He alone is the Warrior , who takes on the mind head-on
Crushing the sensual five, all duality gone
Meaning
The real fighter, the real warrior is the one who takes on his own mind.
The Mind controls the 'sensual five', the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell and taste
These five senses and the mind that interprets the vibrations that the senses deliver to the brain, they all
tell us lies. The mind and the five sesnses tell us that duality exists, though in truth it does not. Like a
dream, everything around us does not exist - only God exists, everything else is part of duality.
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