A baby smiles at his mom
A bee sits on an orchid
An azure sea spans across the horizon
A doc looks at the sick patient
A moth stares at the lamp
Truth is in what you see
Who knows what lies deep inside their hearts.
…
The baby coos at his mama
The bee buzzes over the tulip
The wave screams as it hits the hard rocks
The doc counsels his sick patient
The moth whines over the light
Truth is in what you hear
Who knows what lies deep inside their hearts.
…
The baby clings to his mummy
The bee drinks up the nectar from the rose
The wave retreats back from the shore
The doc operates on his sick patient
The moth burns with the flame
Truth is in what really happens
Who knows what lies deep inside their hearts.
…
The baby feels calm sleeping in his maa’s lap
The bee feels contented with the honey it makes
The wave feels agitated as it hits the hard rocks
The doc feels proud as he treats his sick patient.
The moth feels hurt as it vanishes in the flame
No one sees, hears, or knows how they feel.
Because who knows what lies deep inside their hearts.
With the current state of woman in the subcontinent, we need to remind ourselves of how progressive poets like Kaifi Azminot just dreamt, but sketched in verses an image of a woman of subatance, way back in 1942.
Today well into the 21st Century, we still just dream to realize this. And we have miles to go…
Aurat
Woman
qalb e mahaul meN larzaN sharar e jung haiN aaj hausle vaqt ke aur zeest ke yek rang haiN aaj aabgeenoN meN tapaN valvala e sang haiN aaj husn aur ishq hum avaz o hum aahang haiN aaj jis meN jalta huN usi aag meN jalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
Todaysparks of war waver in the air
time and life have the same spirit
delicate decanters hiss with the heat of rocks
beauty and love harmonize melodiously
You too have to be ignited by the fire that burns me
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
zindagi jahd meN hai, sabr ke qaboo meN nahiN nabz e hasti ka lahu kaanpte aansoo meN nahiN uDne khulne meN hai nikhat, Kham e gesoo meN nahiN jannat ek aur hai jo mard ke pahloo meN nahiN is ki aazad ravish par bhi machalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
Life is in struggle, not in the restraint of patience
The blood of pulsating life is not in trembling tears
Fragrance lies in free-flight, not in the tresses, of hair
There is another Paradise which is not by the side of men
On its free pathways too you have yet to pirouette
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
goshe goshe meN sulagti hai chita tere liye farz ka bhes badalti hai qaza tere liye qahr hai teri har ek narm ada tere liye zahr hi zahr hai duniya ki hava tere liye ruth badal Daal agar phoolna phalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
For you burning pyres wait at every corner
death disguised as duty
your every delicate gesture, a curse
nothing but poison in the breeze
Change the season if you wish to flourish
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
qadr abtak teri tareeKh ne jani hi nahiN tujh meN sholay bhi haiN bas ashk fishani hi nahiN tu haqeeqat bhi hai dilchasp kahani hi nahiN teri hasti bhi hai ek cheez javani hi nahiN apni tareeKh ka unvaan badalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
History has not known your worth thus far
You have burning embers too, not merely tears
You’re reality too, not a mere amusing anecdote
Your personality is something too, not just your youth
You’ve to change the title of your history
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
toD kar rasm ke but band e qadamat se nikal zo’f e ishrat se nikal vahm e nazakat se nikal nafs ke kheenche hue halqa e azmat se nikal qaid ban jaye mohabbat to mohabbat se nikal raah ka Khaar hi kya gul bhi kuchalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
Emerge out of ancient bondage, break the idols of tradition,
the weakness of pleasure, this mirage of fragility
these self-drawn boundaries of imagined greatness
the bondage of love, for this too is a bondage
Not merely the thorns on the path but you have to trample on flowers too
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
toD ye azm shikan daGdaGa e pand bhi toD teri Khatir hai jo zanjir vo saugand bhi toD tauq ye bhi hai zammarud ka guluband bhi toD toD paimana e mardan e Khiradmand bhi toD ban ke tufan chalakna hai ubalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
Shatter these resolve breaking suspicions of sermons
these vows that have become shackles
this too, this necklace of emeralds
these standards set by the wise men
You have to turn into a tempest, bubble and boil over
Get up, my love, you have to walk with me
tu Falatoon o Arastu hai tu Zohra ParviN tere qabze meN hai gardun teri Thokar meN zamiN haN uTha jald uTha pa e muqaddar se jabiN main bhi rukne ka nahiN vaqt bhi rukne ka nahiN laDkhaDayegi kahan tak ke sanbhalna hai tujhe
uTh meri jaan mere saath hi chalna hai tujhe
You are Aristotle’s philosophy, Venus, Pleiades’s
You control the sky, the earth at your feet
Yes, raise, fast, raise your forehead from the feet of fate
I too am not going to pause, nor will the time
How long would you falter, you have to be firm
Sab hi thaur jamat hamri, sub hi thaur par mela
Hum sub maye, sub hum maye, hum hain bahuri akela.
~Kabir.
(In all places my community, in all places I meet them
I am in all, all are in me, I am alone & together).
~Kabir
Whatever a woman happens to be—whether a home maker or a working woman, whether a successful or an ordinary woman—-if she is a mother of a boy as well, she will have to walk through the same journey that every ‘boy’s mama’ travels. The journey with girls is somewhat different. As they say, and I agree, you can raise 4 girls instead of one boy.
And the journey goes:
.
Test comes ‘positive’
Nause, morning sickness
Anxieties, apprehensions
Back aches, as weeks pass by
Yeyy, the angel kicks.
Oh what a feel!
Thy name is Mom.
…
Midnight heartburns
Pale eyes, puffy face
Torment of unease and fear
Pain progresses, as hours pass by
Wow, the baby cries aloud.
Oh what a bliss!
Thy name is Mama.
…
Hundreds of feeds
Thousands nappy changes
Restless days, sleepless nights
Burns out, as days pass by.
Yeah, the kiddo crawls, runs, jumps
Oh what a sight!
Thy name is Maa.
…
Baking favourite cookies
Reading bedtime stories
Lessons on good manners
Million scolds and hugs
Unending kisses on cuts n bruises
Shoes grow smaller, as years pass by
Aah, the naughty boy grows
Oh what a comfort!
Thy name is Ummi.
…
Daily tug of war
High spirited, roguish teen
Naggings on deaf ears
Endless worries and woes
For exam grades, as terms pass by
Pheww, the playful graduates .
Oh what a tranquility!
Thy name is Amma.
…
Constant vigil
Assertive, youthful
Heart breaking arguments
Amidst endless love, selfless care
A constant referee between Dad and him
Egos collide, generation gap manifests.
Differences pile, as life passes by.
Alas, a youngman, independent, comesforth
Oh what an atonement!
Thy name is Ammi.
Jaise paat gire taruvar ke
Milna bahut duhela
Naa jaanu kidhar girega
Lageya pawan ka rela
Jab howe umar puri
Jab chutega hukum huzuri
Jam ke doot bade mazboot
Jam se pada jhamela
Das kabir har ke gun gaawe
Wah har ko paran pawe
Guru ki karni guru jayega
Chele ki karni chela
Ud Jayega hans akela
Jag darshan ka mela
Translation by Tagore (1915):
The Swan Will Fly Away All Alone,
Spectacle of the World Will Be a Mere Fair
As the Leaf Falls from the Tree
Is Difficult to Find
Who Knows Where it Will Fall
Once it is Struck with a Gust Of Wind
When Life Span is Complete
Then Listening to Orders,
ollowing Others,
Will Be Over
The Messengers of Yama are Very Strong
It’s an Entanglement with the Yama
Servant Kabir Praises the Attributes of the Lord
He Finds the Lord Soon
Guru Will Go According to His Doings
The Disciple According to His
Explanation
Here Swan represents our free-spirit that continues to live beyond the death of the body. When the physical death comes, the “less-constrained” life leaves every worldly thing behind (including the body) and the whole spectacle of the world is like a fair or carnival that we witness and now know its true transient nature.
Kabir reminds us that we are much like a leaf if when severed from the universal spirit (the tree) is liable to be blown away by the gust of unfulfilled desires. In such a state it is difficult to predict where the leaf (spirit) will finally land on getting dismembered from the tree of universal oneness.
All through our physical life we are listening to either orders of others or are ordered by our own desires. When death comes nobody is really with us and we finally realize that the obeying and following others is not as meaningful as following our inner voice. “Kala” (Yama) or time, is relentless even in the wake of our last-minute realizations and feeling unfulfilled.
Finally Kabir reinforces that a continuous dedication to God yields instantaneous results. But warns that its our own effort that bear fruits and everybody (both Guru and Disciple) progresses according to their own actions.
Notes Courtesy-Rajender Krishan, NY.
Moko Kahan Dhundhere Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Teerath Mein, Na Moorat Mein Na Ekant Niwas Mein
Na Mandir Mein, Na Masjid Mein Na Kabe Kailas Mein
Mein To Tere Paas Mein Bande Mein To Tere Paas Mein
Na Mein Jap Mein, Na Mein Tap Mein Na Mein Barat Upaas Mein
Na Mein Kiriya Karm Mein Rehta Nahin Jog Sanyas Mein
Nahin Pran Mein Nahin Pind Mein Na Brahmand Akas Mein
Na Mein Prakuti Prawar Gufa Mein Nahin Swasan Ki Swans Mein
Khoji Hoye Turat Mil Jaoon Ik Pal Ki Talas Mein
Kahet Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho Mein To Hun Viswas Mein
Translation
Where do you search me? I am with you
Not in pilgrimage, nor in icons, Neither in solitudes
Not in temples, nor in mosques Neither in Kaba nor in Kailash
I am with you o man, I am with you
Not in prayers, nor in meditation, Neither in fasting
Not in yogic exercises, Neither in renunciation
Neither in the vital force nor in the body, Not even in the ethereal space
Neither in the womb of Nature, Not in the breath of the breath
Seek earnestly and discover, In but a moment of search
Says Kabir, Listen with care, Where your faith is, I am there.
My Understanding
In spite of the different approaches of all religious and philosophical teachings, it is very clear that the all-pervading, omniscient, omnipresent factor is finally God. Due to our customs, traditions, languages we only address Him by various names. Yet, it is also true that in spite of this awareness, we spend a lot of time in arguing about God and try to impose attributes.
Kabir noticed this centuries old phenomenon in his times also. And this great Master, in the above verse highlights the underlying principle that God is everywhere.
Kabir reveals in this verse the various search patterns adopted by mankind. And each one seems to be justifying his chosen method. Some say God will be realized through pilgrimages while some justify the idol worship. Some say He is up in the mountains while some believe that He is in places of worship. Some proclaim prayers and meditation the path, others believe realization through fasting. Many talk about yogic exercises (activity) and renunciation.
In this verse Kabir seems to be saying that God is NOT in any of these. However, this cannot be true. To my understanding, Kabir is saying that God is everywhere and therefore in all these too. However, his saying “No” simply means that we should apply our faith to One and follow it up sincerely. This will lead to instant realization of the divinity within us. However, if we “switch” our approach from one path to another, then we are simply conducting a sort of gymnastic. In his typical mystical ways, Kabir shows us the omniscience of God.
Rajender Krishen
Baalam Avo Humre Geh Re, Tum Bin Dukhiya Deh Re
Sab Koi Kahet Tumhari Nari, Mo Ko Eehe Andeh Re
Dil Se Nahin Dil Lagayo,Tub Laga Kaisa Sneh Re
Ek mek Ve Sej Na Soyo,Tub Lug Kaisa Neh Re
Anna Na Bhave Neend Na Aave, Ghar Bar Dhare Na Dheer Re
Kamin Hai Balam Pyara, Jyon Pyase Ko Neer Re
Hai Koi Aisa Upkari, Piv Se Kahun Sunaye Re
Ab To Behal Kabir Bhayo Hai, Bin Dekhe Jiya Jaye Re
Translation (by Tagore, 1915)
O my Love! come to my house
My body is in intense pain
While all say I am your spouse
I have the very doubts
So long your heart isn’t immersed in mine
What kind of love is that
I don’t relish food neither do I sleep
I feel discontent in my own home
Passionate is my Love
Like the thirsty longs for water
Will someone do me a favor
And narrate my predicament to my beloved
Kabir is now in total distress
Without seeing the beloved, he is going to die
My Understanding (by Rajendra Kishan)
A poem full of sublime love and mounting passions, Kabir in this verse picks up the pangs and pains of separation. As has invariably been the case, Kabir’s verses depict situations that occur naturally in everyday life.
In this particular verse, Kabir sounds like an average person. Given the literal meaning or translation of the verse, he establishes the pain of separation from one’s loved one. If the intensity of this pain can be understood, then one will realize how intense is the longing to realize the God – that inexpressible Self.
Imagine a tense atmosphere and the couple in the same bed sleeping in distress. There is no contact, no communion. What kind of agony it must be, all in the name of Love? Now view the same situation as a seeker of Truth and one will realize that it takes a very intense longing, an unshakable intent, an unbending desire to achieve one’s desired goals. Success is not easy, it takes a lot of patience, fortitude and endurance. Such is the path of Love.
Blind to Bounds 
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