Kabir Dohas - 14 Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye

Kabir Dohas - 14

Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye
Jo Sukh Mein Simran Kare, Tau Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye

duK maoM isamarna saba kro, sauK maoM kro na kaoe
jaao sauK maoM isamarna kro, tao duK kaho kao haoe

Translation
In anguish everyone prays to Him, in joy does none
To One who prays in happiness, how sorrow can come

My Understanding
Let someone suddenly wave his hand in front of your eyes and you will see that the eyes blink. And if you are caught unawares, you may just say 'O my God'!

Such is the nature of mankind. When we are in distress, in a state of helplessness, we invariably then look up in the skies and communicate with Him in our own silent prayer. However, when things are going good, we forget Him. Kabir in this doha highlights this and gives a promise when he says that we shall not suffer if we pray to Him during our good times.

Kabir Dohas - 13 Pothi Padh Padh Kar Jag Mua, Pandit Bhayo Na Koye

Kabir Dohas - 13

Pothi Padh Padh Kar Jag Mua, Pandit Bhayo Na Koye
Dhai Aakhar Prem Ke, Jo Padhe so Pandit Hoye

paoqaI pD, pD, jaga mauAa, pMiDt Bayaao na kaoe
Za[ AaKr p`oma ko, jaao pD,o saao pMiDt haoe

Translation
Reading books everyone died, none became any wise
One who reads the word of Love, only becomes wise

My Understanding
To understand this doha in its true perspective is important. We all read and now with tremendous media exposure, we are seemingly more informed. Everyone seems to know everything. Yet, the truth is that inspite of all this information, there is no awareness. We are not at peace. There is a lot of frustration all around. Our minds are not quiet and relaxed. We talk of Love but have no compassion. Selfishness, greed, fear, hatred and similar tendencies seem to grip us all the time. Why?

I have found myself in this quagmire a number of times.

Kabir in this doha shows the way, in his simple but dynamic style. He daringly says that despite all our readings, despite all our knowledge, we cannot become wise. Only if we 'read' Love, become loving and loveable, only then wisdom will dawn on us. Only then Life will be worth living.

Kabir Dohas - 2 Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye

Kabir Dohas - 2

Bura Jo Dekhan Main Chala, Bura Naa Milya Koye
Jo Munn Khoja Apnaa, To Mujhse Bura Naa Koye

baura jaao doKNa maOM calaa, baura na imalayaa kaoe
jaao mana Kaojaa AapNaa, tao mauJasao baura na kaoe

Translation
I searched for the crooked, met not a single one
When searched myself, "I" found the crooked one

My Understanding
This doha deals with our perception behavior and tendencies. It has been invariably noticed that we tend to find fault with someone else for our situations and circumstances. Our "I", the ego, always tries to put blame on others. Non-awareness of our own self is the cause of this attitude. Resultantly, we find ourselves being busy in criticizing and condemning others and conveniently term them as crooked or evil.

So Kabir says that instead of finding fault and maligning others, dive deep into your own-self. Amazingly, an honest introspection will reveal that all fault lies with "me" and "my" own perceptions and attitudes. If there is any evil or crookedness, it is in "me". Correcting this and opting for a loving and compassionate attitude will change one's perceptions and the world will appear wonderful all over again.

Kabir Dohas - 1 Chalti Chakki Dekh Kar, Diya Kabira Roye

Kabir Dohas - 1

Chalti Chakki Dekh Kar, Diya Kabira Roye
Dui Paatan Ke Beech Mein,Sabit Bacha Na Koye

calatI ca@kI doKkr, idyaa kbaIra raoe
du[- paTna ko baIca maoM, saabaut bacaa na kaoe

Translation
Looking at the grinding stones, Kabir laments
In the duel of wheels, nothing stays intact.

My understanding
This doha picks up a situation from our daily life. Kabir watches the woman grinding wheat on the flour mill. I have used the word woman here as generally it is the woman who does this work even today in the rural Indian society. The wheels are made of stone. One is stationary while the other on top is made to rotate by turning it with the help of a handle attached to it. The grain that is put into it gets crushed and the converted flour comes out. Thus the literal translation given above conveys that.

(Diya Kabira Roye) Kabir cries out, however, is what makes the reader to contemplate on this Doha and realize for oneself the hidden meaning behind this metaphor. Dui Patan here signifies earth (Prithvi) and sky (Akash) and within the ambit of these is all creation and life as also the manifestation of all natural phenomenon of dualities – day and night, life and death, joys and sorrows, thereby making life forever in motion (Chalti Chakki) and an ever changing process. Trapped in this duality, whatever we see is perishable. Nothing that we comprehend is eternal.