Prayers of the lost soul
garihu taj ban khand jaa-ee-ai chun khaa-ee-ai kandaa.
Abandoning his household, he may go to the forest, and live by eating roots;
ajahu bikaar na chhod-ee paapee man mandaa.
but even so, his sinful, evil mind does not renounce corruption.
ki-o chhoota-o kaisay tara-o bhavjal niDh bhaaree.
How can anyone be saved? How can anyone cross over the terrifying world-ocean?
raakh raakh mayray beethulaa jan saran tumHaaree.
Save me, save me, O my Lord! Your humble servant seeks Your Sanctuary.
bikhai bikhai kee baasnaa tajee-a nah jaa-ee.
I cannot escape my desire for sin and corruption.
anik jatan kar raakhee-ai fir fir laptaa-ee.
I make all sorts of efforts to hold back from this desire, but it clings to me, again and
again.
jaraa jeevan joban ga-i-aa kichh kee-aa na neekaa.
Youth and old age - my entire life has passed, but I haven't done any good.
ih jee-araa nirmolko ka-udee lag meekaa.
This priceless soul has been treated as if if were worth no more than a shell.
kaho kabeer mayray maaDhvaa too sarab bi-aapee.
Says Kabeer, O my Lord, You are contained in all.
tum samsar naahee da-i-aal mohi samsar paapee.
There is none as merciful as You are, and none as sinful as I am.
raakh layho ham tay bigree.
Save me! I have disobeyed You.
seel Dharam jap bhagat na keenee ha-o abhimaan taydh pagree.
I have not practiced humility, righteousness or devotional worship; I am proud and
egotistical, and I have taken a crooked path.
amar jaan sanchee ih kaa-i-aa ih mithi-aa kaachee gagree.
Believing this body to be immortal, I pampered it, but it is a fragile and perishable
vessel.
jineh nivaaj saaj ham kee-ay tiseh bisaar avar lagree.
Forgetting the Lord who formed, fashioned and embellished me, I have become
attached to another.
sanDhik tohi saaDh nahee kahee-a-o saran paray tumree pagree.
I am Your thief; I cannot be called holy. I have fallen at Your feet, seeking Your
Sanctuary.
kahi kabeer ih bintee sunee-ahu mat ghaalhu jam kee khabree.
Says Kabeer, please listen to this prayer of mine, O Lord; please do not send me
sommons of the Messenger of Death.
dandaa mundraa khinthaa aaDhaaree.
He has a walking stick, ear-rings, a patched coat and a begging bowl.
bharam kai bhaa-ay bhavai bhaykh-Dhaaree.
Wearing the robes of a beggar, he wanders around, deluded by doubt.
aasan pavan door kar bavray.
Abandon your Yogic postures and breath control exercises, O madman.
chhod kapat nit har bhaj bavray.
Renounce fraud and deception, and meditate continuously on the Lord, O madman.
jih too jaacheh so taribhavan bhogee.
That which you beg for, has been enjoyed in the three worlds.
kahi kabeer kaysou jag jogee.
Says Kabeer, the Lord is the only Yogi in the world.
Abandoning his household, he may go to the forest, and live by eating roots;
ajahu bikaar na chhod-ee paapee man mandaa.
but even so, his sinful, evil mind does not renounce corruption.
ki-o chhoota-o kaisay tara-o bhavjal niDh bhaaree.
How can anyone be saved? How can anyone cross over the terrifying world-ocean?
raakh raakh mayray beethulaa jan saran tumHaaree.
Save me, save me, O my Lord! Your humble servant seeks Your Sanctuary.
bikhai bikhai kee baasnaa tajee-a nah jaa-ee.
I cannot escape my desire for sin and corruption.
anik jatan kar raakhee-ai fir fir laptaa-ee.
I make all sorts of efforts to hold back from this desire, but it clings to me, again and
again.
jaraa jeevan joban ga-i-aa kichh kee-aa na neekaa.
Youth and old age - my entire life has passed, but I haven't done any good.
ih jee-araa nirmolko ka-udee lag meekaa.
This priceless soul has been treated as if if were worth no more than a shell.
kaho kabeer mayray maaDhvaa too sarab bi-aapee.
Says Kabeer, O my Lord, You are contained in all.
tum samsar naahee da-i-aal mohi samsar paapee.
There is none as merciful as You are, and none as sinful as I am.
raakh layho ham tay bigree.
Save me! I have disobeyed You.
seel Dharam jap bhagat na keenee ha-o abhimaan taydh pagree.
I have not practiced humility, righteousness or devotional worship; I am proud and
egotistical, and I have taken a crooked path.
amar jaan sanchee ih kaa-i-aa ih mithi-aa kaachee gagree.
Believing this body to be immortal, I pampered it, but it is a fragile and perishable
vessel.
jineh nivaaj saaj ham kee-ay tiseh bisaar avar lagree.
Forgetting the Lord who formed, fashioned and embellished me, I have become
attached to another.
sanDhik tohi saaDh nahee kahee-a-o saran paray tumree pagree.
I am Your thief; I cannot be called holy. I have fallen at Your feet, seeking Your
Sanctuary.
kahi kabeer ih bintee sunee-ahu mat ghaalhu jam kee khabree.
Says Kabeer, please listen to this prayer of mine, O Lord; please do not send me
sommons of the Messenger of Death.
dandaa mundraa khinthaa aaDhaaree.
He has a walking stick, ear-rings, a patched coat and a begging bowl.
bharam kai bhaa-ay bhavai bhaykh-Dhaaree.
Wearing the robes of a beggar, he wanders around, deluded by doubt.
aasan pavan door kar bavray.
Abandon your Yogic postures and breath control exercises, O madman.
chhod kapat nit har bhaj bavray.
Renounce fraud and deception, and meditate continuously on the Lord, O madman.
jih too jaacheh so taribhavan bhogee.
That which you beg for, has been enjoyed in the three worlds.
kahi kabeer kaysou jag jogee.
Says Kabeer, the Lord is the only Yogi in the world.
31-35, M
