I.22. jab main bhula, re bhai
O BROTHER when I was forgetful, my true Guru showed me the Way.
Then I left off all rites and ceremonies, I bathed no more in the holy water:
Then I learned that it was I alone who was mad, and the whole world beside me was sane; and I had disturbed these wise people.
From that time forth I knew no more how to roll in the dust in obeisance:
I do not ring the temple bell:
I do not set the idol on its throne:
I do not worship the image with flowers.
It is not the austerities that mortify the flesh which are pleasing to the Lord,
When you leave off your clothes and kill your senses, you do not please the Lord:
The man who is kind and who practises righteousness, who remains passive amidst the affairs of the world, who considers all creatures on earth as his own self,
He attains the Immortal Being, the true God is ever with him.
Kabir says: 'He attains the true Name whose words are pure, and who is free from pride and conceit.'

কেমন করে তড়িৎ-আলোয়
      দেখতে পেলেম মনে
তোমার বিপুল সৃষ্টি চলে
      আমার এই জীবনে।
সে সৃষ্টি যে কালের পটে
লোকে লোকান্তরে রটে,
একটু তারি আভাস কেবল
      দেখি ক্ষণে ক্ষণে।
মনে ভাবি, কান্নাহাসি
      আদর অবহেলা
সবই যেন আমায় নিয়ে
      আমারি ঢেউ-খেলা।
সেই আমি তো বাহনমাত্র,
যায় সে ভেঙে মাটির পাত্র--
যা রেখে যায় তোমার সে ধন
      রয় তা তোমার সনে।
তোমার বিশ্বে জড়িয়ে থাকে
      আমার চাওয়া পাওয়া।
ভরিয়ে তোলে নিত্যকালের
      ফাল্গুনেরই হাওয়া।
জীবন আমার দুঃখে সুখে
দোলে ত্রিভুবনের বুকে,
আমার দিবানিশির মালা
      জড়ায় শ্রীচরণে।
আপন-মাঝে আপন জীবন
      দেখে যে মন কাঁদে।
নিমেষগুলি শিকল হয়ে
      আমায় তখন বাঁধে।
মিটল দুঃখ, টুটল বন্ধ--
আমার মাঝে হে আনন্দ,
তোমার প্রকাশ দেখে মোহ
      ঘুচল এ নয়নে।

FAR BELOW flowed the Jumna, swift and clear, above frowned the jutting bank.
Hills dark with the woods and scarred with the torrents were gathered around.
Govinda, the great Sikh teacher, sat on the rock reading scriptures, when Raghunath, his disciple, proud of his wealth, came and bowed to him and said, 1 have brought my poor present unworthy of your acceptance.'
Thus saying he displayed before the teacher a pair of gold bangles wrought with costly stones.
The master took up one of them, twirling it round his finger, and the diamonds darted shafts of light.
Suddenly it slipped from his hand and rolled down the bank into the water.
'Alas,' screamed Raghunath and jumped into the stream.
The teacher set his eyes upon his book, and the water held and hid what it stole and went its way.
The daylight faded when Raghunath came back to the teacher tired and dripping.
He panted and said, I can still get it back if you show me where it fell.'
The teacher took up the remaining bangle and throwing it into the water said, It is there.'