Friday, May 1, 2009

You, only you....

Yet another Kabir gem that points to the underlying unity between the individual and God and creation; where we are both the giver and the taker, the thief and the cop, the infant and the mother - so let one man not exalt himself over another, for in everything you see you, only you. (or another interpretation that in everything you see God, only God).

इनका भेद बता मेरे अवधू, अच्छी करनी कर ले तू
डाली फूल जगत के माही, जहाँ देखूं वहां तू का तू

हाथी में हाथी बन बैठा चींटी में है छोटो तू
होय महावत ऊपर बैठे, हाँकन वाला तू का तू

चोरों के संग चोर बन जावे, डाकूओं में भेलो तू
चोरी कर के तू भाग जावे, पकड़ने वाला तू का तू

दाता के संग दाता बन जावे, भिखारी में भेलो तू
मंगतो हो कर मांगन लगे, देने वाला तू का तो

नर नारी में एक बिराजे, दो दुनिया में दीसे क्यों
बालक हो कर रोवन लगे, राखन वाला तू का तू

जल थल जीव में तू ही विराजे, जहाँ देखूं वहां तू का तू
कहे कबीर सुनो भाई साधो, गुरु मिल्या है ज्यूँ का त्यूं

Rough translation:

Hey my wise one! What's the secret?
Just do good work.
In this world flowers, branches—
wherever I look,
you, only you.

An elephant is you in elephant form,
an ant is just a little you.
As an elephant driver you sit on top.
The one saying “Go!” is you, only you.

With thieves you become a thief,
you’re among the outlaws.
You rob somebody and run.
The cop who nabs the thief is you, only you.

With givers you become a giver.
You’re among the paupers too.
As a beggar you go begging.
The donor is you, only you.

In man and woman you shine the same,
Who in this world would call them two?
A baby arrives and starts to cry.
The one who holds it is you, only you.

In earth and ocean, every creature, you shine forth, you alone.
Wherever I look, it's only you.
Kabir says, listen seekers,
You’ve found the guru right here!

1 comment:

Amrithaa said...

oh yay! thanks again for posting! :)