Dohas of Kabir

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बुरा जो देखन मैं चला, बुरा न मिलिया कोय। जो मन खोजा आपना, मुझसे बुरा न कोय॥ burā jo dekhan maiṁ calā, burā na miliyā koy. jo man khojā āpnā, mujhse burā na koy. Bura jo dekhan main chala, bura na miliya koy. Jo man khoja aapna, mujhse bura na koy.

burā jo dekhana maiṃ calā, burā na miliyā koya| jo mana khojā āpanā, mujhase burā na koya|| burā jo dekhan maiṁ calā, burā na miliyā koy. jo man khojā āpnā, mujhse burā na koy. Bura jo dekhan main chala, bura na miliya koy. Jo man khoja aapna, mujhse bura na koy.

पोथी पढ़ि पढ़ि जग मुआ, पंडित भया न कोय। ढाई आखर प्रेम का, पढ़े सो पंडित होय॥ pothī paḍhi paḍhi jag muā, paṇḍit bhayā na koy. ḍhāī ākhar prem kā, paḍhe so paṇḍit hoy. Pothi padhi padhi jag mua, pandit bhaya na koy. Dhai aakhar prem ka, padhe so pandit hoy.

pothī paṛhi paṛhi jaga muā, paṃḍita bhayā na koya| ḍhāī ākhara prema kā, paṛhe so paṃḍita hoya|| pothī paḍhi paḍhi jag muā, paṇḍit bhayā na koy. ḍhāī ākhar prem kā, paḍhe so paṇḍit hoy. Pothi padhi padhi jag mua, pandit bhaya na koy. Dhai aakhar prem ka, padhe so pandit hoy.

दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे, सुख में करे न कोय। जो सुख में सुमिरन करे, दुःख काहे को होय॥ duḥkh meṁ sumiran sab kare, sukh meṁ kare na koy. jo sukh meṁ sumiran kare, duḥkh kāhe ko hoy. Dukh mein sumiran sab kare, sukh mein kare na koy. Jo sukh mein sumiran kare, dukh kahe ko hoy.

duḥkha meṃ sumirana saba kare, sukha meṃ kare na koya| jo sukha meṃ sumirana kare, duḥkha kāhe ko hoya|| duḥkh meṁ sumiran sab kare, sukh meṁ kare na koy. jo sukh meṁ sumiran kare, duḥkh kāhe ko hoy. Dukh mein sumiran sab kare, sukh mein kare na koy. Jo sukh mein sumiran kare, dukh kahe ko hoy.

चलती चक्की देख के, दिया कबीरा रोय। दो पाटन के बीच में, साबुत बचा न कोय॥ caltī cakkī dekh ke, diyā kabīrā roy. do pāṭan ke bīc meṁ, sābut bacā na koy. Chalti chakki dekh ke, diya Kabira roy. Do paatan ke beech mein, sabut bacha na koy.

calatī cakkī dekha ke, diyā kabīrā roya| do pāṭana ke bīca meṃ, sābuta bacā na koya|| caltī cakkī dekh ke, diyā kabīrā roy. do pāṭan ke bīc meṁ, sābut bacā na koy. Chalti chakki dekh ke, diya Kabira roy. Do paatan ke beech mein, sabut bacha na koy.

बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ, जैसे पेड़ खजूर। पंथी को छाया नहीं, फल लागे अति दूर॥ baḍā huā to kyā huā, jaise peḍ khajūr. panthī ko chāyā nahīṁ, phal lāge ati dūr. Bada hua to kya hua, jaise ped khajoor. Panthi ko chhaya nahin, phal laage ati door.

baṛā huā to kyā huā, jaise peṛa khajūra| paṃthī ko chāyā nahīṃ, phala lāge ati dūra|| baḍā huā to kyā huā, jaise peḍ khajūr. panthī ko chāyā nahīṁ, phal lāge ati dūr. Bada hua to kya hua, jaise ped khajoor. Panthi ko chhaya nahin, phal laage ati door.

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब। पल में प्रलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगो कब॥ kāl kare so āj kar, āj kare so ab. pal meṁ pralay hoegī, bahuri karego kab. Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab. Pal mein pralay hoegi, bahuri karego kab.

kāla kare so āja kara, āja kare so aba| pala meṃ pralaya hoegī, bahuri karego kaba|| kāl kare so āj kar, āj kare so ab. pal meṁ pralay hoegī, bahuri karego kab. Kaal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so ab. Pal mein pralay hoegi, bahuri karego kab.

गुरु गोविन्द दोऊ खड़े, काके लागूँ पाय। बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविन्द दियो बताय॥ guru govind doū khaḍe, kāke lāgūṁ pāy. balihārī guru āpne, govind diyo batāy. Guru Govind dou khade, kake lagoon paye. Balihari Guru aapne, Govind diyo batay.

guru govinda doū khaṛe, kāke lāgūm̐ pāya| balihārī guru āpane, govinda diyo batāya|| guru govind doū khaḍe, kāke lāgūṁ pāy. balihārī guru āpne, govind diyo batāy. Guru Govind dou khade, kake lagoon paye. Balihari Guru aapne, Govind diyo batay.

ऐसी वाणी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोय। औरन को शीतल करे, आपहुँ शीतल होय॥ aisī vāṇī boliye, man kā āpā khoy. auran ko śītal kare, āpahūṁ śītal hoy. Aisi vaani boliye, man ka aapa khoy. Auran ko sheetal kare, aapahun sheetal hoy.

aisī vāṇī bolie, mana kā āpā khoya| aurana ko śītala kare, āpahum̐ śītala hoya|| aisī vāṇī boliye, man kā āpā khoy. auran ko śītal kare, āpahūṁ śītal hoy. Aisi vaani boliye, man ka aapa khoy. Auran ko sheetal kare, aapahun sheetal hoy.

जाति न पूछो साधु की, पूछ लीजिए ज्ञान। मोल करो तलवार का, पड़ा रहन दो म्यान॥ jāti na pūcho sādhu kī, pūch lījiye jñān. mol karo talvār kā, paḍā rahan do myān. Jaati na pucho sadhu ki, puch lijiye gyan. Mol karo talwar ka, pada rahan do myaan.

jāti na pūcho sādhu kī, pūcha lījie jñāna| mola karo talavāra kā, paṛā rahana do myāna|| jāti na pūcho sādhu kī, pūch lījiye jñān. mol karo talvār kā, paḍā rahan do myān. Jaati na pucho sadhu ki, puch lijiye gyan. Mol karo talwar ka, pada rahan do myaan.

धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय। माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतु आए फल होय॥ dhīre-dhīre re manā, dhīre sab kuch hoy. mālī sīṁce sau ghaḍā, ṛtu āe phal hoy. Dheere-dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoy. Maali seenche sau ghada, ritu aaye phal hoy.

dhīre-dhīre re manā, dhīre saba kucha hoya| mālī sīṃce sau ghaṛā, ṛtu āe phala hoya|| dhīre-dhīre re manā, dhīre sab kuch hoy. mālī sīṁce sau ghaḍā, ṛtu āe phal hoy. Dheere-dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoy. Maali seenche sau ghada, ritu aaye phal hoy.

तिनका कबहुँ न निन्दिए, जो पाँवन तर होय। कबहुँ उड़ि आँखिन पड़े, तो पीर घनेरी होय॥ tinkā kabahūṁ na nindiye, jo pāṁvan tar hoy. kabahūṁ uḍi āṁkhin paḍe, to pīr ghanerī hoy. Tinka kabahun na nindiye, jo paanvan tar hoy. Kabahun udi aankhin pade, to peer ghaneri hoy.

tinakā kabahum̐ na nindie, jo pām̐vana tara hoya| kabahum̐ uṛi ām̐khina paṛe, to pīra ghanerī hoya|| tinkā kabahūṁ na nindiye, jo pāṁvan tar hoy. kabahūṁ uḍi āṁkhin paḍe, to pīr ghanerī hoy. Tinka kabahun na nindiye, jo paanvan tar hoy. Kabahun udi aankhin pade, to peer ghaneri hoy.

साईं इतना दीजिए, जा मे कुटुम समाय। मैं भी भूखा न रहूँ, साधु न भूखा जाय॥ sāīṁ itnā dījiye, jā me kuṭum samāy. maiṁ bhī bhūkhā na rahūṁ, sādhu na bhūkhā jāy. Saain itna dijiye, ja me kutum samay. Main bhi bhukha na rahun, sadhu na bhukha jaay.

sāīṃ itanā dījie, jā me kuṭuma samāya| maiṃ bhī bhūkhā na rahūm̐, sādhu na bhūkhā jāya|| sāīṁ itnā dījiye, jā me kuṭum samāy. maiṁ bhī bhūkhā na rahūṁ, sādhu na bhūkhā jāy. Saain itna dijiye, ja me kutum samay. Main bhi bhukha na rahun, sadhu na bhukha jaay.

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तू क्या रौंदे मोय। एक दिन ऐसा आएगा, मैं रौंदूँगी तोय॥ māṭī kahe kumhār se, tū kyā raunde moy. ek din aisā āegā, maiṁ raundūṁgī toy. Maati kahe kumhaar se, tu kya raunde moy. Ek din aisa aayega, main raundungi toy.

māṭī kahe kumhāra se, tū kyā rauṃde moya| eka dina aisā āegā, maiṃ rauṃdūm̐gī toya|| māṭī kahe kumhār se, tū kyā raunde moy. ek din aisā āegā, maiṁ raundūṁgī toy. Maati kahe kumhaar se, tu kya raunde moy. Ek din aisa aayega, main raundungi toy.

निंदक नियरे राखिए, आँगन कुटी छवाय। बिन पानी साबुन बिना, निर्मल करे सुभाय॥ nindak niyare rākhiye, āṁgan kuṭī chavāy. bin pānī sābun binā, nirmal kare subhāy. Nindak niyare rakhiye, aangan kuti chhawaay. Bin paani saabun bina, nirmal kare subhay.

niṃdaka niyare rākhie, ām̐gana kuṭī chavāya| bina pānī sābuna binā, nirmala kare subhāya|| nindak niyare rākhiye, āṁgan kuṭī chavāy. bin pānī sābun binā, nirmal kare subhāy. Nindak niyare rakhiye, aangan kuti chhawaay. Bin paani saabun bina, nirmal kare subhay.

माया मरी न मन मरा, मर-मर गए शरीर। आशा तृष्णा न मरी, कह गए दास कबीर॥ māyā marī na man marā, mar-mar gae śarīr. āśā tṛṣṇā na marī, kah gae dās kabīr. Maya mari na man mara, mar-mar gaye shareer. Asha trishna na mari, kah gaye Das Kabir.

māyā marī na mana marā, mara-mara gae śarīra| āśā tṛṣṇā na marī, kaha gae dāsa kabīra|| māyā marī na man marā, mar-mar gae śarīr. āśā tṛṣṇā na marī, kah gae dās kabīr. Maya mari na man mara, mar-mar gaye shareer. Asha trishna na mari, kah gaye Das Kabir.

Word by Word

देखन to see, to look for

मन खोजा searched the mind

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पोथी book, scripture

ढाई आखर two-and-a-half letters (the Hindi word 'prem' has two-and-a-half characters)

पंडित scholar, wise person

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सुमिरन remembrance, recollection (of God)

काहे को why, for what reason

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चक्की grinding mill

पाटन the two stone slabs of a mill

साबुत whole, intact, unbroken

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पंथी traveler, wayfarer

खजूर date palm tree

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काल tomorrow, future time

प्रलय destruction, death, end

बहुरि again, once more

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गोविन्द God, the Lord

बलिहारी sacrifice, devoted to

लागूँ पाय touch the feet (show reverence)

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वाणी speech, words

आपा ego, pride

शीतल cool, soothing, peaceful

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साधु saint, virtuous person

मोल value, price

म्यान sheath, scabbard

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मना O mind

सींचे to water, to irrigate

ऋतु season, proper time

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तिनका a straw, a blade of grass

निन्दिए to belittle, to scorn

पीर pain, suffering

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साईं Lord, God, Master

कुटुम family, household

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माटी clay, earth, soil

कुम्हार potter

रौंदे to trample, to tread upon

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निंदक critic, fault-finder

नियरे near, close

निर्मल pure, clean, spotless

सुभाय nature, temperament

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माया illusion, worldly attachment

तृष्णा craving, insatiable desire

Introduction

The dohas of Kabir Das are an invaluable treasure of Indian literature and folk culture. These couplets, which present profound life philosophy in simple language, have been on the lips of the common people for centuries. In his dohas, Kabir conveyed messages of self-reflection, humility, truth, devotion, and practical wisdom. His words remain as relevant today as they were in his time. Here are his most famous and beloved couplets with meanings.

Meanings are compiled and edited by the Ved Path team, and are being progressively reviewed for accuracy.

Dohas of Kabir

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Kabir Das