Hindi poetry -- Translations into English; Indic poetry -- Translations into English
Where is the need of words, when love has made drunken the heart?
I have wrapped the diamond in my cloak; why open it again and
again?
When its load was light, the pan of the balance went up: now it
is full, where is the need for weighing?
The swan has taken its flight to the lake beyond the mountains;
why should it search for the pools and ditches any more?
Your Lord dwells within you: why need your outward eyes be
opened?
Kabîr says: "Listen, my brother! my Lord, who ravishes my eyes,
has united Himself with me."
XXXIV
II. 110. _mohi tohi lâgî kaise chute_
How could the love between Thee and me sever?
As the leaf of the lotus abides on the water: so thou art my
Lord, and I am Thy servant.
As the night-bird Chakor gazes all night at the moon: so Thou art
my Lord and I am Thy servant.
From the beginning until the ending of time, there is love
between Thee and me; and how shall such love be extinguished?
Kabîr says: "As the river enters into the ocean, so my heart
touches Thee."
XXXV
II. 113. _vâlam, âwo hamâre geh re_
My body and my mind are grieved for the want of Thee;
O my Beloved! come to my house.
When people say I am Thy bride, I am ashamed; for I have not
touched Thy heart with my heart.
Then what is this love of mine? I have no taste for food, I have
no sleep; my heart is ever restless within doors and without.
As water is to the thirsty, so is the lover to the bride. Who is
there that will carry my news to my Beloved?
Kabîr is restless: he is dying for sight of Him.
XXXVI
II. 126. _jâg piyârî, ab kân sowai_
O friend, awake, and sleep no more!
The night is over and gone, would you lose your day also?
Others, who have wakened, have received jewels;
O foolish woman! you have lost all whilst you slept.
Your lover is wise, and you are foolish, O woman!
You never prepared the bed of your husband:
O mad one! you passed your time in silly play.
Your youth was passed in vain, for you did not know your Lord;
Wake, wake! See! your bed is empty: He left you in the night.
Kabîr says: "Only she wakes, whose heart is pierced with the
arrow of His music."
XXXVII
I. 36. _sûr parkâs', tanh rain kahân pâïye_
Where is the night, when the sun is shining? If it is night,
then the sun withdraws its light. Where knowledge is, can
ignorance endure?
If there be ignorance, then knowledge must die.
If there be lust, how can love be there? Where there is love,
there is no lust.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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