Dohas By Kabir

Kal chichana hai khara,
jag piyare meet
Ram sanehi bahire,
kyo sobay nihchint.

The death hawk is standing, my dear friend awake.
Affectionate Ram is standing, why then are you sleeping carelessly.

Kabir says – WAKE UP…
It is mind that is your sleep. You are sleeping either in the past or in the future. Both are ways of sleeping. When…[Read more]

Kal jeev ko grasai,
bahut kahyo samujhaye.
Kahain Kabir main kya karun,
koyee nahi patiyaye.

Death devours the living, and has told this many times.
Kabir says what can I do if nobody believes me.

Kabir says if you have not lived rightly, you will not be able to die rightly. Death is the final offering. It is the highest; it is the…[Read more]

Kaga kay chhipay ke,
kiyo hans ka bhesh.
Chalo hans ghar aapne,
lehu dhani ka desh.

The crow has concealed his body, has kept the dress of swan
Go to your own house swan, adopt the place of the Almighty.

Kabir says – From the smallest blade of grass to the biggest star, everybody is needed, equally needed, in their originality. Be…[Read more]

Kabir sab sukh Ram hai,
aaur hi dukh ki rashi
Sur, nar, muni, jan, asur, sur,
pare kal ki fansi.

Kabir says Ram is the only happiness, others are all store of pain
The demi-gods, men, hermits, demons, all are in the trap of death.

Kabir says that Fear of Death Means a Partially-lived Life.

How is it possible to relax in this certainty…[Read more]

Kabir Hari so het kar,
korai chit na laye
Bandhyo bari khatik ke,
ta pashu ketik aaye.

Kabir says love the Almighty, do not allow rubbish in your head.
The animal is tied at the gate of butcher, how much of its age is left.

Kabir says the greatest calamity that has happened to the human mind is that he is against death. Being against…[Read more]

Kabir tuk tuk dekhta,
pal pal gayi bihay.
Jeev janjalay pari raha,
diya damama aaye.

Kabir stares in nothingness as life lessens every moment.
The living is fallen in perplexity while the death has started beating its drum to move.

Kabir says to be a watcher. In that – You simply are – clear, neither confused nor certain, just a c…[Read more]

Kabir jeevan kuchh nahi,
Khin khara khin meeth
Kalhi alhaja mariya,
Aaj masana theeth.

Kabir says this life is nothing. One moment it is salty and in another sweet
The brave warrior who was slaying yesterday is today dead in burning ground.

Kabir says that Life Is Flux. Unless you are totally destroyed as a mind, there is no hope for…[Read more]

Kabir gafil kyon firay,
Kya sota ghanghor
Tere sirane jam khara,
Jyon andhiyare chore.

Kabir why do you roam in doubt, why are you in deep slumber
The God of death is standing near your headrest as a thief in the darkness.

Kabir is saying Everybody Is Afraid of Death.

Everybody is afraid of death for the simple reason that we have not…[Read more]

Andhon ka haathi sahi,
hath tatol-tatol
Aankhen se nahi dekhiya,
tate vin-vin bol.

The elephant as known by a blind is learnt only by groping in the dark.
To know Him you need an eyes of a different kind.

Kabir says the mind is a judge; it allows only that which suits it, which fits with it, which nourishes it, strengthens it. It does…[Read more]

Gyani bhulai gyan
kathi nikat nij roop
Bahir khojay bapurai,
bhitar vastu anoop.

A so called wise is lost in describing his wisdom, the God is near to him
But he is searching Him outside when inside him is the matter most excellent.

Kabir says the majority of people waste their lives trying to change the periphery. They stake their all…[Read more]

Vachan ved anubhav yugati
aanand ki parchhahi
Bodh roop purush akhandit,
kahbai main kachhu nahi

Sayings of vedas, experiences of skill are only shadows of pleasure
God is the wisdom incarnate indivisible which can never be explained.

Kabir says – Men of knowledge have certain answers, absolute certainty—that is part of their s…[Read more]

Gyani mool gawanyiya
aap bhaye karta
Tate sanasari bhala,
sada rahta darta.

Man of bookish language looses all basics, becomes God (doer) himself
A worldly person is better than Him as at least he is always fearful.

According to Kabir worldly person who is having fear of God is better than the person who has become knowledgeable.

The…[Read more]

Jyon gunga ke sain ko gunga hi pachichan
Tyon gyani ke sukh ko gyani habai so jan

The signs of a dumb can be understood by a dumb only
Likewise the pleasure of a knowledgeable can be known by a wise only.

Kabir is talking regarding language of Silence.

Silence is a profound language. Real communication happens in silence. When you…[Read more]

Aatam anubhav gyan ki,
jo koye puchhai bat
So gunga gur khaye ke,
kahe kaun mukh swad

Knowledge of self experience can not be explained if one asks about it.
If a dumb eats the molasses, how can he explain its taste.

You can not realize God, Love from anywhere. Only way is self-experience. Once you have your own experience you cannot say…[Read more]

Andhe mili hathi chhuwa,
aapne aapne gyan
Apni apni sab kahai,
kis ko deejay kaan

Many blinds touched the elephant explained as per their sense
Everyone told his own, whom should we then believe.

Kabir says everyone is eager to say before knowing. Like all the blindman were right regarding their information but without knowing the whole…[Read more]

Aatam anubhav sukh ki,
jo koi puchaai bat
Kai jo koyee janayee
kai apno ki gat.

If one asks about the experiences of heart, it cannot be explained.
It can be known through one’s own efforts and deeds.

Kabir is saying that God cannot be known through the knowledge or following anyone. One needs to have his own experience through one’s…[Read more]

Aatam anubhav jab bhayo,
tab nhi harsh Vishad.
Chitra deep sam habai rahai,
taji kari bad-Vivad.

When one experiences in heart, there is no pleasure or pain.
He becomes constant like lamp in a picture, there is then no debate or discussion.

Kabir is saying be watcher and everything will disappear. You will find stillness in you.

When…[Read more]

Gyani to nirbhay bhaya,
manai nahi sank
Indrin kere basi para,
bhugte narak nishank

A wise is always fearless, he is never in doubt.
If he comes under the control of sensual desires, he will go to hell without doubt.

Kabir says that a person who has realized himself or Godliness in him, he is never in doubt.
But it is human, once in a…[Read more]

Bhara hoye to reetai,
reeta hoye bhray.
Reeta bhara na paiye,
anubhav soyee kahay.

Full may become empty and empty becomes full.
There is neither full nor empty, experience says that.

Kabir says to experience that there is neither full nor empty one has to live his own life.
Life is in living. It is not a thing, it is a process. There…[Read more]

Bhitar to bheda nahi,
bahir kathai anek.
Jo payi bhitar lakhi parai,
bhitar bhahir ek.

There is no difference inside, there are many outside.
If you see him from inside, it is one from inside and outside.

Kabir is saying that we are searching for God outside and he is inside of you as emptiness.
If God comes to your home and knocks,…[Read more]