Wisdom
Amritvani
The couplets of Kabir Sahib — six centuries old and as true as ever.
कबीर, मानुष जन्म दुर्लभ है, मिले न बारम्बार। तरुवर से पत्ता टूट गिरे, बहुर न लगता डार॥
Human birth is rare and does not come again and again — just as a leaf that falls from the tree never returns to the branch.
— Kabir Sahib
दुःख में सुमिरन सब करें, सुख में करे न कोय। जो सुख में सुमिरन करे, तो दुःख काहे को होय॥
Everyone remembers God in sorrow, no one in joy. Whoever remembers Him in joy — why would sorrow ever come?
— Kabir Sahib
पोथी पढ़ि पढ़ि जग मुआ, पंडित भया न कोय। ढाई आखर प्रेम का, पढ़े सो पंडित होय॥
The world died reading books and none became wise. One who reads the two and a half letters of love is truly learned.
— Kabir Sahib
बुरा जो देखन मैं चला, बुरा न मिलिया कोय। जो दिल खोजा आपना, मुझसे बुरा न कोय॥
I went looking for the wicked and found none. When I searched my own heart, I found no one worse than me.
— Kabir Sahib
काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब। पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब॥
Do tomorrow’s work today and today’s work now. The end may come in a moment — when will you do it then?
— Kabir Sahib
साईं इतना दीजिए, जा में कुटुम समाय। मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ, साधु न भूखा जाय॥
Lord, give me only enough to keep my family — so that I do not go hungry, and no saint leaves my door hungry.
— Kabir Sahib