Thursday, January 29, 2009

Aise Bani Boliye

We learnt this by-heart, thanks to Saukar Sir at school:
ऐसी बानी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोये ।
औरन को सीतल करे, आपहू सीतल होए ॥

(Aise Bani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye
Auran ko Seetal kare, Aaphu Seetal hoye! )

A quick translation for my non-Hindi speaking friends:
Speak such words, which trancends ego,
Giving the listener peace, and which give peace to oneself!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Kabira Garv Na Keejiye

Here's another doha by Kabir:
कबीरा गर्व ना कीजिये, ऊँचा देख आवास ।
काल परों भुइन लेटना, ऊपेर जमसी घास ॥
(Kabira Garv Na Keejiye, Uncha Dekh Aavaas
Kaal Paron Bhuin Letna, Ooper Jamsi Ghaas)

To translate in English:
Says Kabira, Don’t be so proud and vain, Looking at your high mansion
Death makes one lie on bare land, And grass will grow thereon

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Kabira khada bazaar mein

Was watching "Kabira khada bazaar mein", a documentary on NDTV 24X7 by Shabnam Virmani - loved it and decided to lookout for the dohas by Kabir.

Will try collecting as many as I can. Will also dig out that book of Kabir Dohas that Giri bought some years back.

Here's the first one...
कबीरा खड़ा बाज़ार में, माँगे सबकी खैर ।
ना कहू से दोस्ती, ना कहू से बैर ॥

(Kabira khada bazaar mein, Mange sabki khair,
Na kahu se Dosti, Na kahu se Bair )

To translate in English:
Kabira in the market place, wishes welfare for all
Neither friendship nor enemity with anyone at all

The Aurobindo ashram at Auroville held a Kabir Festival - "Koi Sunta Hai", last year where this film was screened. More info here: AurovilleRadio.org