Rahim Ke Dohe — 15 Famous Dohas with Meaning

Doha

rahiman dhAgA prem kA mat toRo chaTakAy | TUTe se phir nA juDe juDe gAnTh pari jAy ||

Rahim says — do not snap the thread of love with a jerk. Once broken, it cannot be joined again; and if it is joined, a knot remains.

Doha

bigari bAt banai nahin lAkh karo kin koy | rahiman bigare dUdh ko mathe na mAkhan hoy ||

What is spoilt cannot be set right however hard one tries. Rahim says — curdled milk, however much you churn it, will not give butter.

Doha

rahiman pAni rAkhiye bin pAni sab sUn | pAni ga'e na Ubhare moti mAnus chUn ||

Rahim says — preserve your honour (water), for without it everything is empty. Without water, a pearl loses its lustre, a man his worth, and lime its use.

Doha

jo rahIm uttam prakRti kA kari sakat kusang | chandan viSh vyApat nahin liPaTe rahat bhujang ||

A person of noble nature cannot be corrupted by bad company. Just as serpents coil around the sandalwood tree, yet its poison never affects the wood.

Doha

ekai sAdhe sab sadhai sab sAdhe sab jAy | rahiman mUlahi sinchibo phUlai phalai aghAy ||

Accomplish one thing and all is accomplished; try to accomplish everything at once and all is lost. Rahim says — water the root and the tree will flourish and bear fruit in plenty.

Doha

rahiman nij man ki bithA man hi rAkho goy | suni aThilaihain log sab bAnTi na laihain koy ||

Rahim says — keep the pain of your heart within yourself. If you share it, people will mock you; no one will truly share your burden.

Doha

rahiman dekhi baDen ko laghu na dijiye DAri | jahAn kAm Ave sui kahA kare talvAri ||

Do not dismiss the small because you see the great. Where a needle does the work, what can a sword do?

Doha

ve rahIm nar dhany hain par upakAri ang | bAnTanavAre ko lage jyon mehandi ko rang ||

Rahim says — blessed are those whose very nature is to help others. Like the person who applies henna — their own hands too get coloured.

Doha

rahiman ochhe naran so bair bhalo na priti | kATe chATe svAn ke dou bhAnti viparIti ||

Rahim says — neither enmity nor friendship with a vile person is wise. Like a dog — whether it bites or licks, both are harmful.

Doha

je garib par hit kare te rahIm baR log | kahAn sudAmA bApuro kRSHN mitAi jog ||

Rahim says — truly great are those who do good to the poor. Consider poor Sudama — even so, Krishna counted him as a dear friend.

Doha

rahiman ve nar mar ga'e je kahUn mAnghan jAhi | unte pahale ve mue jin mukh nikasat nAhi ||

Rahim says — those who beg are as good as dead. But those who cannot give — the miserly — die even before them.

Doha

dhani rahIm jal pank ko laghu jiy piyat aghAy | udadhi baDAi koun hai jagat piyAso jAy ||

Rahim says — blessed is the muddy pool water from which small creatures drink and are satisfied. What greatness does the ocean have if the whole world goes thirsty?

Doha

rahiman chup ho baiThiye dekhi dinan ke pher | jab nike din A'ihain banat na lagihain der ||

Rahim says — stay quiet in bad times and watch the turn of days. When good times come, things will work out without delay.

Doha

khirA sir se kATiye maliyat namak lagAy | rahiman karue mukhan ko chAhiye yahi sajAy ||

To remove the bitterness of a cucumber, one cuts its head and rubs salt on it. Rahim says — this is the right treatment for those with bitter tongues.

Doha

ab rahIm mushkil pari gARhe dou kAm | sAnche se to jag nahin jhUThe milen na rAm ||

Rahim says — now I am in difficulty, for both tasks are hard. Speaking truth loses you the world; speaking lies loses you God.