Kabir Ke Dohe — 20 Famous Dohas with Meaning

Doha

burA jo dekhan main chalA burA na miliyA koy | jo dil khojA ApanA mujhase burA na koy ||

When I went looking for evil in the world, I found none. When I searched within myself, I found no one worse than me.

Doha

sA'in itanA dijiye jA men kuTum samAy | mai bhI bhUkhA na rahUn sAdhu na bhUkhA jAy ||

O Lord, give me only as much as my family needs. Let me not go hungry, and let no holy person leave my door unfed.

Doha

kAl kare so Aj kar Aj kare so ab | pal men parlay hoe'gi bahurikaregA kab ||

What you plan for tomorrow, do today; what you plan for today, do now. In a moment all can be lost — when will you act then?

Doha

guru govind dou khaDe kAke lAgUn pAy | balihAri guru Apne govind diyo batAy ||

Both the Guru and God stand before me — whose feet should I touch first? The Guru comes first, for it is he who showed me the path to God.

Doha

pothi paDhi paDhi jag muA panDit bhayA na koy | DhAi Akhar prem ke paDhe so panDit hoy ||

The world has read countless books and gone, yet no one became a true scholar. Whoever reads just the two-and-a-half letters of love (prem) becomes the real learned one.

Doha

aisI vANi bolie man kA ApA khoy | auran ko shital kare Apahu shital hoy ||

Speak words that come without pride or ego. Such words cool others down and bring peace to the speaker as well.

Doha

nindak niyare rAkhiye Angan kuTi chhavAy | bin pAni sAbun binA nirmal kare subhAy ||

Keep your critic close — build a hut for them in your courtyard. Without soap or water, they cleanse your character.

Doha

mAlA pherat jug gayA phirA na man kA pher | kar kA mankA DAri de man kA mankA pher ||

Ages passed turning beads on a string, yet the restlessness of the mind never turned. Drop the beads in hand and let the mind itself turn toward God.

Doha

tinakA kabahUn nA nindiye jo pAnv tale hoy | kabahUn uDi Ankhin pare pir ghaneri hoy ||

Never look down on even a straw lying beneath your feet — if it flies up and enters your eye, it causes great pain.

Doha

mATi kahe kumhAr ko tu kyA raunDe moy | ek din aisA A'egA mai raunDUngi toy ||

The clay says to the potter: 'Why do you knead me? A day will come when I will knead you.' After death, all return to the earth.

Doha

jAti na pUchho sAdhu ki pUchh lijiye gyAn | mol karo talvAr kA paDi rahan do myAn ||

Ask not a holy man's caste — seek his wisdom. Value the sword; the sheath can be left aside.

Doha

baDA bhayA to kyA bhayA jaise peD khajUr | panthI ko chhAyA nahin phal lAge ati dUr ||

What is the use of becoming great? Like the tall palm tree — it gives no shade to the traveller and its fruit hangs out of reach.

Doha

dhire dhire re manA dhire sab kuch hoy | mAli sinche sau ghaDA ritu A'e phal hoy ||

O mind, be patient — everything happens slowly in its own time. The gardener may water a hundred pots, but the fruit comes only in its season.

Doha

kabIr sotA kyA kare jAgo japo murAr | ek din sonA hogA lambe pAnv pasAr ||

Kabir says — why do you sleep? Wake up and chant the name of God. A day will come when you will sleep forever with legs stretched out.

Doha

chAh miTi chintA miTi manavA beparavAh | jisko kuch nahin chAhiye vah shAhan kA shAh ||

When desire is gone, worry is gone and the mind is carefree — the one who wants nothing is the king of kings.

Doha

jo toko kAnTA buvai tAhi boy tu phUl | tohi phUl ko phUl hai vAhi hai tirsUl ||

If someone sows thorns for you, sow flowers for them. You will receive flowers, while they will bear the thorns themselves.

Doha

kartA thA to kyon kiyA ab kari kyon pachhatAy | boyA peD babUl kA Am kahAn se khAy ||

If you were going to do it, why did you? And now why do you repent? You planted a thorn tree — where will you get mangoes from?

Doha

jab gun ko gAhak mile tab gun lAkh bikAy | jab gun ko gAhak nahin tab kauDi badle jAy ||

When you find a connoisseur, virtue fetches a price beyond measure. When no one appreciates it, that same virtue is worth nothing at all.

Doha

man ke hAre hAr hai man ke jite jit | pArabrahm ko pAiye man hi ki paratIt ||

When the mind loses, you lose; when the mind wins, you win. Even the Supreme is found through the mind's own faith and conviction.

Doha

kabIr tan panchhi bhayA jahAn man tahAn uDi jAy | jo jaisI sangati kar pare so taisA phal pAy ||

Kabir says — the body is like a bird that flies wherever the mind goes. As is one's company, so is one's fruit.