There is nothing but water at the holy bathing places; and I know that they are useless, for I have bathed in them.
The images are all lifeless, they cannot speak; I know, for I have cried aloud to them.
The Purana and the Koran are mere words; lifting up the curtain, I have seen.
Kabir gives utterance to the words of experience; and he knows very well that all other things are untrue.
XLIII
I. 82. pani vic min piyasi
pani vic min piyasi,
mohin sun sun aave haansee
ghar mein bastu najar nahin aavat,
ban ban phirat udaasee
aatam-gyaan binaa jag jhoonthaa,
kyaa mathura kyaa kaasi
I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty:
You do not see that the Real is in your home, and you wander from forest to forest listlessly!
Here is the truth! Go where you will, to Benares or to Mathura; if you do not find your soul, the world is unreal to you.
XLIV
I. 93. gagan math gaib nisan ude
gagan math gaib nisan ude
chandrahaar chandwaa jahn taange, muktaa-maanik madhe
mahimaa taasu dekh man thir kar, ravi-sasi jot jare
kahyen kabir piye joi jan, maanaa phirat mare
The Hidden Banner is planted in the temple of the sky; there the blue canopy decked with the moon and set with bright jewels is spread.
There the light of the sun and the moon is shining: still your mind to silence before that splendour.
Kabir says: "He who has drunk of this nectar, wanders like one who is mad."
XLV
I. 97. sadho, ko hai kanh se ayo
sadho, ko hai kanh se ayo?
tehi ke man dhoun kahaan basat hai, ko dhoun naach nachaayo
paavak sarv ang kaathahime, ko dhoun dahak jagaayo
ho gayaa khaak tej puni vaako, kahun dhoun kahaan samaayo
ahye apaar paar kachhu nahin, satguru jinhye lakhaayo
kahyen kabir jehi soojh-boojh jas, teyeen tas aaj sunaayo
