Bin rakhware bahira, chidiyo khaya khet

Ardha pardha ubre, cheti sake to chet

बिन रखवारे बाहिरा, चिड़ियों खाया खेत |

अरधा परधा ऊबरे, चेति सके तो चेत ||

Without protection the grain of the farm is being eaten up by the birds

Still, a little bit is remaining. Protect it if you can

MEANING

Without protection from lust, anger, greed, desires etc our devotion to God is being plundered. What little remains we must  protect it, otherwise our life will be wasted in vain 

Aaj kahe hari kal bhajuga, kaal kahe phir kaal

Aaj kaalke karat hi, avsar jaasi chaal

आज कहे हरी कल भजुंगा, काल कहे फिर काल |

आज कालके करत ही, अवसर जासी चाल ||

Today you say that you will do devotion to God tomarrow, and tomarrow you will again say tomarrow

Saying tomarrow and tomarrow you lose the opportunity in this life

Meetha sabse boliye, sukh upje chahu aur

Vasikaran yeh mantra hai, tajiye vachan kathor

मीठा सबसे बोलिए, सुख उपजे चाहू ओर |

वशीकरण यह मंत्र है, तजिये वचन कठोर ||

Speak sweetly and politely, you will make all happy

This is just like a charm, give up harsh words

MEANING

When you speak sweetly and politely you make many people happy, they attract people towards you. Harsh words are improper, they hurt people and can turn against you. Sweet words win hearts

Madhur vachan hai aushadhi, kutil vachan hai tir

Sravan dwar hai sanchre, sale sakal sarir

मधुर वचन है औषधि, कुटिल वचन है तीर |

श्रवन द्वार है संचरे, साले सकल सरीर ||

Sweet words are like medicine, harsh words are like arrows

Which enter through the doors of the ears, give distress to the whole body

MEANING

We have to speak truth but also politely, many problems are created by misuse of words. So we must use sweet, polite and proper words suitable to the occasion. Our words also reveal our personality

Kathni mithi khand si, karni vish ki loi

Kathni chhodi karni kare, vish ka amrit hoi

कथनी मीठी खांड सी, करनी विष की लोई |

कथनी छोड़ी करनी करे, विष का अमृत होई ||

Speech is sweet like sugar, deeds are like poison

Instead of merly speaking sweet we must do must do good deeds, the poison will turn into nector

MEANING

Actions are more important than words

Kabir sab jag nirdhana, dhanwanta naahi koye

Dhanwanta soi janiye, ram nam dhan hoye

कबीर सब जग निर्धन, धनवंता नाहि कोय |

धनवंता सोई जानिए, राम नाम धन होय ||

Kabir says “the  whole world is poor, no one is truly rich”

Who has the wealth of God’s name is truly rich

MEANING

People having material wealth are not prosperous, material things are perishable. True wealth is the name of God which is immortal

Rukha sukha khai ke, thanda pani pee

Dekh parai chupadi, mat lalchao jee

रुखा सुखा खाई के, ठंडा पानी पी |

देख पराई चुपड़ी, मत ललचाओ जी ||

Eat simple food and drink cold water

Do not look at the buttered bread of others and long for it.

MEANING

You have to try to live simply and be satisfied. If you try to pursue the luxurious lives of others, you will not have peace in your life. Materialism does not bring peace in life. The more a person gets the more he wants. There is no end to greed.

Nindak nihare rakhiye, aangan kuti chhaway

Bin pani bin sabun, nirmal kare subhav

निंदक नियरे राखिये, आँगन कुटी छवाय |

बिन पानी बिन साबुन, निर्मल करे सुभाव ||

MEANING

Keep your critic close, you get to know your faults if someone criticizes you, and you have a chance to correct them. Give your critics shelter in your courtyard and listen to the criticism without annoyance, because critic is not your enemy, he is helping you to clean the rubbish from your life without soap and water.

Aapa taje hari bhaje, nakh sikh taje vikar

Sab jiwan se nirbair rahe, sadhu mta hai saar

आपा तजे हरी भजे, नख सिख तजे विकार |

सब जीवन से निर्भैर रहे, साधू मता है सार ||

Give up the pride of caste and clan and do devotion to the God. Give up your faults like lust, anger, greed. Don't be an enemy to anyone. This is the basic principle of the saints.

Silvant sabse bada, sab ratno ki khan

Tin lok ki sampada, rahi sil mein aan

सीलवंत सबसे बड़ा, सब रतनो की खान |

तीन लोक की सम्पदा, रही सील में आन ||

MEANING

Whoever has good character is the greatest of all. He is mine of all jewels. The wealth of the three worlds is merged in good character

Pakha pakhi ke karan, sab jag raha bhulan

Nirpakh hoi ke hari bhaje, soi sant sujan

पखा पाखी के कारने, सब जग रहा भुलान |

निरपख होयके हरी भजे, सोई संत सुजान ||

MEANING

People are divided into various religions and thus the whole world is misguided, being impartial to the worldly groups (religions), one who performs the devotion to Almighty God is the true saint. A saint understands that all souls are the same, and that God is dwelling in every heart. The saint recognises God in all, and remains impartial to the various religions.

Ek shabd gurudev ka, taka anant vichar

Thake muni jan pandita, veda na pave paar

एक शब्द गुरुदेव का, ताका अनंत विचार |

थके मुनि जन पंडिता, वेद न पावे पार ||

The one word of Sat Guru gives limitless meanings.only a humble devotee can get it,  Munis and pandits (full of ego of their knowledge) became exhausted trying to find its meaning. Vedas cannot fathom its depth.

Guru bichara kya kare sikkhahi mahin chuk

Bhave tyon parbodhiye, baans bajaye phunk

गुरु बिचारा क्या करे, सिक्खहि माहिं चूक |

भावे त्यों परबोधिये, बांस बजाये फूँक ||

MEANING

What can the poor Guru does if the disciple has faults. The Guru can only guide, but the disciple has to walk. Guru  gives knowledge but it becomes useless, just as a broken flute does not produce music. The disciple must have 

Hari kripa tab janiye, de manav avtar

Guru kripa tab janiye, mukt kare sansar

हरी कृपा तब जानिए, दे मानव अवतार |

गुरु कृपा तब जानिए, मुक्त करे संसार ||

MEANING

We must thank God for giving us human life, but it is the grace of the Guru which liberates us from the cycle of birth and death.

Timir gaya ravi dekhte, kumati gayi guru gyan

Sumati gayi ati lobhate, bhakti gayi abhiman

तिमिर गया रवि देखते, कुमति गयी गुरु ज्ञान |

सुमति गयी अति लोभाते, भक्ति गयी अभिमान ||

MEANING

Darkness disappears when the sun arises and ignorance goes away by the Guru’s wisdom (gyan). wisdom is lost because of greed, and devotion is lost because of ego.

Keson kaha bigadia, je moonde soo bar

Man ko kahe na moondiye, jaa mein vishey vikaar

केसों कहा बिगडिया, जे मुंडे सौ बार 

मन को काहे न मूंडिये, जा में विशे विकार 

What harm have the hair done, you shave them hundred times

Why not shave the mind, there grow unchecked countless poisonous thoughts

Guru ko kije bandagi , koti koti paranam

Kit na jane bhring ko , guru karle aap saman

गुरु को कीजै बंदगी, कोटि कोटि परनाम |

कीट न जाने भृंग को , गुरु करले आप सामान ||

MEANING

One has to offer salutations and obeisances to Guru who takes the disciple on the path to God, and helps him in every way even though the disciple does not know it, just as a wasp takes a worm into its nest and another wasp emerges. The Guru imparts wisdom to him and makes the ordinary disciple as himself

Moond mundavat din gaye, ajhun na miliya Ram

Ram naam kahu kya kare, je man ke aurey kaam

मूंड मुंडावत दिन गए, अजहूँ न मिलया राम |

राम नाम कहू क्या करे, जे मन के औरे काम ||

Ages have passed shaving the head, yet union with Ram is not here

Recitation of Ram Naam is futile, when mind is engaged elsewhere

Kabira maala kaath ki, kahi samjhave tohi

Man na phirave aapna, kaha phirave mohi

कबीरा माला काठ की, कहि समझावे तोही |

मन न फिरावे आपना, कहा फिरावे मोहि ||

Kabir, the rosary made of wooden beads explicitly proceeds to educate

(If) you set not your mind in (a focused) motion, (then) to what end you rotate

Maala to kar mein phire, jibh phire mukh maahi

Manua to chahun dish phire, yeh to sumiran naahi

माला तो कर में फिरे, जीभ फिरे मुख माहि |

मनुआ तो चहुं दिश फिरे, यह तो सुमिरन नाहि ||

The rosary rotating by the hand (or) the tongue twisting in the mouth,

With the mind wandering everywhere, this isn't meditation (Oh uncouth!).

MEANING

Counting the Rosary, Repeating Mantras, If the Mind is Traveling - this is not meditation. So control the mind, not the beads or the words.

Kabir yeh ghar prem ka, khala ka ghar naahi

Sis utare hathi kari, so paise ghar maahi

कबीर यह घर प्रेम का, खाला का घर नाहि |

सीस उतारे हाथि करि, सो पैसे घर माहि ||

Kabir, this is the abode of love, Not the house of an aunt

Only that one can enter here who has relinquished all pride

Ek kahu to hai nahi, do kahu to gari

Hai jaisa taisa rahe, kahe Kabir vichari 

एक कहूँ तो है नहीं, दो कहूँ तो गारी |

है जैसा तैसा रहे, कहे कबीर विचारी ||

If I say one, It is not, if I say two, it will be a violation

Let 'It' be what 'It' is, says Kabir upon contemplation

MEANING

There is a oneness behind the apparent diversity. But oneness is not seen. Yet if I accept duality, it would be a violation, a false acceptance. Let it be, whatever it is - I'll drop the analyzing.

Aasha jive jag mare, log mare mar jayee

Soyee sube dhan sanchate, so ubrey je khayee

आशा जीवे जग मरे, लोग मरे मरी जाई |

सोई सूबे धन संचते, सो ऊबरे जे खाई ||

Hope lives in a dying world, people die and die again

Perish yet hoarding wealth, spend and freedom attain

MEANING

Hope is that people will wake up, drop their attachments and hoardings and be free from the clutches of illusion.

Aag jo lagi samunder mein, dhuan na pargat hoye

So jane jo jarmua, jaki lagi hoye

आग जो लगी समुंदर में, धुंआ न परगट होए |

सो जाने जो जरमुआ जाकी लगी होए ||

With the ocean set ablaze, the smoke yet manifests not

Only the one who gets burnt, envisions the heat of loving thought

Pehle agan birha ki, pachhe prem ki pyas

Kahe Kabir tab janiye, naam milan ki aas

पहले अगन विरहा की, पाछे प्रेम की प्यास |

कह कबीर तब जानिये, नाम मिलन की आस ||

First the pangs of separation, next grows the thirst for Love

Says Kabir then only hope, the union to materialize

MEANING

First the pain of separation, then love. Only from the pain of separation do we feel the pangs of love. There is then hope of union. This is the story of life - the lovers meeting, separating, the pangs of love and the urge for union and the eventual union. 

Jab tu aaya jagat mein, log hanse tu roye
Aise karni na kari, pachhe hanse sab koye

जब तू आया जगत में, लोग हँसे तू रोय |

ऐसी करनी ना करी, पाछे हँसे सब कोय ||

When you were born in this world, Everyone laughed while you cried

Did not conduct yourself in manner such that they laugh when you are gone

Jyon naino mein putli, tyon malik ghat mahin

Moorakh log na janhin, bahar dhudhan jahin

ज्यों नैनों में पुतली, त्यों मालिक घट माहिं |

मूरख लोग न जानहिं, बाहिर ढूढ़न जाहिं ||

Like the pupil in the eyes, the Lord resides inside

Ignorant do not know this fact, they search Him outside

MEANING

God is within, the ignorant look for Him on the outside.

Kabira kiya kuch na hot hai, ankiya sab hoye

Jo kiya kuch hot hai, karta aur koye

कबीरा किया कुछ ना होत है, अनकिया सब होय |

जो किया कुछ होत है, करता और कोय ||

Kabir says “By my doing nothing happens, what I don't does come to pass”

If anything happens as if my doing, then truly it is done by someone else

MEANING

All things happen as per Gods wish, it just seems that we are doing them.

Kabira garv na kijiye, ooncha dekh aavas 
Kaal pado bhu letna, ooper jamsi ghaas

कबीरा गर्व ना कीजिये, ऊंचा देख आवास |

काल पड़ो भू लेटना, ऊपर जमसी घास ||

Kabir says “Don't be so proud and vain, looking at your high mansion”

Death makes one lie on bare land, and grass will grow thereon

MEANING

Don't be proud and vain, tomorrow you'll be lying six foot under feet, on top will grow grass that goats and sheep will eat!

Chinta aisi dakini, kaat kaleja khaye
Vaid bechara kya kare, kaha tak dawa lagaye

चिंता ऐसी डाकिनी, काट कलेजा खाए |

वैद बेचारा क्या करे, कहा तक दवा लगाए ||

Worry is the bandit that eats into one's heart

What the doctor can do, what remedy to impart?

MEANING

Don’t worry be happy 

Akath kahani prem ki, kuch kahi na jaye

Goonge keri sarkara, baithe muskaye

अकथ कहानी प्रेम की, कुछ कही न जाए |

गूंगे केरी सरकारा, बैठे मुस्काए ||

Inexpressible is the story of Love, It cannot be revealed by words

Like the dumb eating sweet-meat,Only smiles, the sweetness he cannot tell

MEANING

The story of love is to be experienced, it can not be expressed, it can be known and felt - but not by the five senses.

Jeevat samjhe jeevat bujhe, jeevat hi karo aas

Jeevat karam ki fansi na kate, mue mukti ki aas

जीवत समझे जीवत बुझे, जीवत ही करो आस |

जीवत करम की फाँसी न कटे, मुए मुक्ति की आस ||

Alive one sees, alive one knows, thus crave for salvation when full of life

Alive you did not cut the noose of binding actions, hoping liberation with death

Kabir soyee surma, man soon maande jhoojh

Panch pyada paadi le, door kare sab dooj

कबीर सोई सूरमा, मन सूं मांडे झूझ |

पंच पयादा पाडी ले, दूर करे सब दूज ||

O Kabir, he alone the warrior, who takes on the “mind” head on

Crushing the shield of the sensual five, all duality is gone

MEANING

The real fighter, the real Warrior is the one who takes on his own mind. The Mind controls the 'sensual five', the five senses of sight, sound, touch, smell. These senses tell us lies, they tell us that duality exist, though we know that it does not.

Kabir soota kya kare, koode kaaj niwaar

Jis panth tu chalna, soy panth sawar

कबीर सूता क्या करे, कूड़े काज निवार |

जिस पंथ तू चलना, सोय पंथ सवार ||

Arise from stagnation O Kabir, divert yourself of the rubbish deeds

Be focused and illumine the path on which you were meant to tread

MEANING

Focus on the thing that you really love to do, the path you were meant to follow.

Guru  dhobi sikh kapda, saboo sirjan har

Surti sila par dhoiye, nikse jyoti apaar

गुरु धोबी सिख कपडा, साबू सिरजन हार |

सुरती सिला पर धोइए, निकसे ज्योति अपार ||

Guru the washerman disciple is the cloth, God himself is the soap

Wash the mind on foundation firm, to realize the glow of  Truth

Jaise til mein tel hai, jyon chakmak mein aag

Tera sai tujh mein hai, tu jaag sake to jaag

जैसे तिल में तेल है, ज्यों चकमक में आग |

तेरा साईं तुझ में है, तू जाग सके तो जाग ||

Like seed contains the oil,  fire in flint stone

Your temple seats the Divine, realize if you can

MEANING

God is within, like the oil in the seed - wake up if you have the power to.

Boli to anmol hai, jo koi jane bol

Hridya taraju tol ke, tab much bahar khol

बोली तो अनमोल है, जो कोई जाने बोल |

हृदय तराजू तोल के, तब मुख बहार खोल ||

Words are indeed priceless, if one knows what to say

Says kabir, weigh inside all that you wish to convey

MEANING

All relations between human beings are formed by their words of mouth. In order to keep the relation good and sweet, each should carefully weigh what he is saying to the other. Then their relationship remain cordial

Kabira tahan na jaiye, jaha kapat ka het

Jaalu kali anar ki, tan rito man set

कबीरा तहां न जाइये, जहा कपट का हेत |

जालू कली अनार की, तन रीतो मन सेत ||

Says kabir, do not go there, where people are not frank

Like the pomegranate bud, colourful but inside dark

MEANING

Kabir implies here that it is difficult to know the unknown cunning people and so no intimacy should be built with such a man. Kabir implies of whom man should be aware and from whom keep away

Laghuta mein prabhuta base, prabhuta te prabhu door

Chinti le sakkar chali, haathi ke sir dhoor

लघुता में प्रभुता बसे,प्रभुता ते प्रभु दूर |

चींटी  ले शक्कर चली, हाथी के सर धूर ||

You gain in power by becoming humble

Little ants move with sugar in mouth, mighty elephants in dust bath foul

MEANING

Sant Kabir give example of the little creature ant and the mighty animal elephant. He observes that the ant because of its humility collects sugar to carry home whereas the proud elephant showers on his head dust from road sucked by its trunk

Anmanga uttam kaha, madyam mangi jo ley
Kahe Kabir nikrisht so par dharna dey

अन्मंगा उत्तम कहा, मद्यम मांगी जो लेय |

कहे कबीर निकृष्ट, सो पर धरना देय ||

The best is not to beg at all, middling who collects his needs

Says Kabir, the worst is he who demands and tight sits

MEANING

Sant kabir has held clearly that begging is same as death and as such the best is not to beg at all. The medium type is to beg and collect one’s need and not more. The worst is to demand alms and sit till the demand is fulfilled

Sajjan jan wahi jo, dhal sarikha hoye

Dukh mein aage rahe, sukh mein piche hoye

सज्जन जन वही है जो, ढाल सरीखा होए |

दुःख में आगे रहे, सुख में पाछे होए ||

Noble man is like the shield, comes forward in distress

Remains quite far behind in peace and happiness

MEANING

The noble man acts like the shield by coming forward to help the neighbour in times of disaster and distress, but remains quietly at home in times of peace.

Kabira jab hum paida huye, jag hanse hum roye

Aisi karni kar chalo, hum hanse jag roye

कबीरा जब हम पैदा हुए, जग हँसे हम रोये |

ऐसी करनी कर चलो, हम हँसे जग रोये ||

Says Kabir, “when I was born( I cried ) all laughed in happiness

Let me do such deeds that when I will die, I will laugh and others cry in distress

MEANING

When a son is born all laugh in happiness on the birth of the son. Kabir says that he should do such deeds on earth that all will praise and be happy. And, when he departs on death others will be sorry to have lost such a good and helpful soul but he will be happy as he did not harm anybody

Aachhe din paachhe gaye, hari se kiya na het

Ab pachhtaye hot kya, chidiya chug gayi khet

आछे दिन पाछे गए, हरी से किया हेत |

अब पछताए होत क्या, चिड़िया चुग गयी खेत ||

O  dear soul ! your good days are passed away when you had energy and time to do love and devotion to God

you didn't do it at that time, what is the use of regretting now

MEANING

We have to try to make the best use of our opportunity. If we are lazy, we will lose it and

then have only regrets.