Gems Of Kabir

By Munindra Misra

Gems of Kabir are written in English rhyme by the author from the universally renowned writing of Sant Kabir Das and translated by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. This work makes easy comprehension of the illusive works of Sant Kabir Das.

 

WHERE DO YOU SEEK ME?

mo ko kahândhûnrobande

Where do you seek Me? I am besides you only;

- 1 -

I not in temple, mosque be, Nor in Kaaba, Kailash be;

- 2 -

I not in rites, ceremonies, Nor in yoga, renunciation be;

- 3 -

If you a true seeker do be, You shall at once see Me:

- 4 -

Kabir says dear Sadhu hear me, In breath of all the breaths I be.

- 5 -

• Language: English
• Publisher: Munindra Misra
• Release date: Jun 4, 2022

Book preview

01. WHERE DO YOU SEEK ME?

mo ko kahân dhûnro bande

Where do you seek Me?

I am besides you only;

1

I not in temple, mosque be,

Nor in Kaaba, Kailash be;

2

I not in rites, ceremonies,

Nor in yoga, renunciation be;

3

If you a true seeker do be,

You shall at once see Me:

4

Kabir says dear Sadhu hear me,

In breath of all the breaths I be.

5

02. ASK NO SAINT WHAT HIS CASTE BE

Santan jât na pûcho nirguniyân

Ask no saint what his caste does be,

No priest, warrior, tradesman surely;

6

As all thirty six castes but truly,

Are alike and seek God definitely;

7

To ask a saint his caste is a folly,

Barber, washer, carpenter, raidas be;

8

All are the seekers of Divinity only,

Rishi Swapacha, tanner by caste be;

9

Hindus, Muslims attain end finally,

There no mark of distinction does be.

10

03. HOPE AND KNOW HIM WHILE ALIVE

sâdho bhâî, jîval hî karo âs'â

Friend! Hope and know Him while alive be,

Realise while you live, then deliverance be;

11

If your bonds broken while living be,

What hope of deliverance in death be?

12

Soul has union with Him – a dream empty,

Because it has passed from the very body;

13

If He is found now, He found then will be,

If not, we but go to dwell in Death City;

14

If you unite now, you have it subsequently,

Bathe in truth, know true Guru, faith fully!

15

Kabir says spirit of quest which helps truly,

I the slave of this Spirit of that quest do be.

16

04. DO NOT GO TO GARDEN REPEATEDLY

bâgo nâ jâ re nâ jâ

Do not go to garden repeatedly!

In your body the real garden be;

17

On thousand lotus petals seated be,

Gaze on Him that Infinite Beauty.

18

05. HOW TO RENOUNCE MAYA

avadhû, mâyâ tajî na jây

Just how to renounce Maya, tell me?

I if not in ribbons, in cloth rapped be,

19

If not in dress, I covered by my body,

If I shed passion, anger remains in me;

20

If I forsake anger, greed is still in me,

If greed is rid pride, vain, glory be;

21

When mind, Maya rid, letter still be,

Kabir says: True path is found rarely.

22

06. HE WITHIN VISIBLE BE

candâ jhalkai yahi ghat mâhîn

Moon shines within, my blind eyes not see,

Moon is within me and the sun too does be;

23

The unstruck drum of Eternity echo in me,

But my deaf ears not hear it half heartedly;

24

So long as man clamours for I, Mine clearly,

All his works are as naught unquestionably;

25

When all love of I and Mine dead does be,

Then work of Lord is done undoubtedly;

26

For work no aim than getting knowledge be:

When it comes, work is put away certainly;

27

Flower blooms for fruit: when fruit but be,

The flower but will wither unquestionably;

28

Musk is in deer, it seeks it not within sadly:

Wanders in quest of grass uninterruptedly.

29

07. BRAHMA DIFFERENT BE

Brahm alakh lakhâyâ

When He reveals Self, Brahma brings truly,

Into manifestation which can never seen be;

30

As seed in the plant, shade in the tree be,

As void in sky, infinite forms in void be;

31

From beyond infinite, Infinite comes surely

From Infinite, finite extends undoubtedly;

32

Life is in Brahma, Brahma in all life be,

They are distinct but yet ever united be;

33

He is the tree, seed and germ certainly,

He the flower, fruit and the shade