Kabir Das 500th Death Anniversary: 7 Profound Dohe of Kabir Translated in English, to Guide You Through Life

June 28 marks the 500th death anniversary of mystic poet and saint Kabir Das. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day 'Kabir Mahotsav' at Maghar (Kabir's birth place) in Uttar Pradesh's Sant Kabir Nagar district on Thursday. Saint Kabir's couplets are known for their deep philosophy, centered on the path of righteousness and detachment from worldly desires. His dohe (couplets) too are a guiding force to lead such a life. Even in today’s world, his couplets hold a lot of meaning and significance.  Here are seven profound dohe from Kabir Das about love, life and desires.

Through his couplets, Kabir Das used sharp sarcasm to point out the meaninglessness in people’s ways and criticized the way religion was being practiced.

बुरा जो देखन मैं चला, बुरा न मिलिया कोय,

जो दिल खोजा आपना, मुझसे बुरा न कोय॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that he kept searching for the bad person, but he couldn't find one anywhere. But when Kabir Das searched within his own self, he realized there was nobody worse than him.

पोथी पढ़ि पढ़ि जग मुआ, पंडित भया न कोय,

ढाई आखर प्रेम का, पढ़े सो पंडित होय॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that even after reading many books and scriptures, everyone died and nobody could become a saint. But only he who read the two and half letter of love, (the lesson of love) became a saint.

बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ जैसे पेड़ खजूर।

पंथी को छाया नही फल लागे अति दूर ॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that only to be very big in size is of no use. It is like being a date tree. The date tree is so tall that it can't provide shade to the travellers and its fruits are beyond one's reach.

दुर्बल को न सताइये, जाकी मोटी हाय |

मरी खाल की सांस से, लोह भसम हो जाय ||

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that one should not oppress somebody weak assuming that the weaker one can do no harm to you. A weak person’s curse can do great harm. It is just like the hide of a dead animal which is capable of melting iron.

माला फेरत जुग भया, फिरा न मन का फेर ।

कर का मन का डार दे, मन का मनका फेर ॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that one spends the whole life turning the beads of a mala (rosary) but fail to change their hearts. Instead one should give up the rosary and try to change one's own heart (because that is true religion).

ऐसी बानी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोय |

औरन को शीतल करे, आपहु शीतल होय ॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that one should speak in such a way that it is free of any malice. One's words should make both the listener and the speaker feel pleasant.

पाथर पूजे हरि मिले , तो मैं पूजू पहाड़ .

घर की चाकी कोई ना पूजे, जाको पीस खाए संसार॥

English Translation:

Kabir Das says that if worshiping an idol of stone can make one meet god, he will worship a mountain. But nobody worships the flour-mill (also made of stone) at home, which actually provides food (survival) to them.

The saint's legacy continues to survive through the community Kabir Panth, which recognizes Kabir as its founder. It is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members are known as Kabir Panthis. 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 01:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).