Kabir As I Read It
Jai Guru Granth Sahab. Today, the 29th. Of June 2026, on the occasion of Kabir Jayanti, I bow to the Guru Sahiban, post a set of Kabir Doha that have found place in the Guru Granth Sahab. I , with my devotion, have taken, from internet search, “Some Kabir Dohas in Guru Granth Sahib” and Transcreated ( translated) them into English.
Kabir As I Read It © Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved
1.
अवल अल्लाह नूर उपाया, कुदरत के सब बंदे।
एक नूर ते सब जग उपज्या, कौन भले को मंदे॥
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
First - the Supreme Luminance:
Then, everyone emanates, thence
All thus, is His primal extension
Who then: a good or a bad person.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved.
Idiom and Imagery
The Supreme Luminance is the exclusive source to bring everyone in this universe.
Inference
All beings emerge from the same Divine Light and everything is the extension of this primordial source. Kabir challenges human judgments of superiority and inferiority by reminding us that all come from the same common spiritual origin.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved
2.
जो तू चाहे मुझ को छांड सकल की आस l
मुझ ही ऐसा होय सब सुखतेरे पास ll
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
Want to have a love-bond with Me
Shed worldly temptations to be free.
Live Consciousness as I do, and be -
to get the Bliss of the Supreme, to see.
Idiom and Imagery.
Renouncing all worldly temptations and living like Kabir gets the bliss essence.
Inference
Individual consciousness shall not fall prey to the temptations of worldly illusions for having pleasures. The bliss of supreme consciousness is the ultimate joy.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved
3.
कबीर मेरी सिमरनी रसना ऊपरि रामु ॥
आदि जुगादी सगल भगत ता को सुखु बिस्रामु ॥
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
Kabir: the constant chant of Ram
Sets me in vibration, blissful to become
All those in devotion of Ram, since
Live the peace of Supreme Bliss, thence.
Idiom and imagery
Chanting Ram is the Bliss taste of life, a means of merging with the Supreme
Inference
Constant chanting transforms to have the Divine Taste, to live the Divine Peace.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved.
4.
गंगा की लहरि मेरी टुटी जंजीर ॥
मृगछाला पर बैठे कबीर ॥
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
The waves of Ganga water, divine
Broke the withholding chain-hold, of mine
Since, I am liberated from the detention
And Kabir experiences True Devotion.
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
Idiom and Imagery
The Holy water waves of Ganga break the Chain-holdings, a metaphor used to convey that the water of Ganga is Divine to liberate from universal bondage.
Inference
The flow of divine awareness shatters the chains of worldly bondage. Freed from illusionary attachments, Kabir is now in meditation experiencing bliss.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved.
5.
सूरा सो पहिचानीऐ जु लरै दीन के हेत ॥
पुरजा पुरजा कटि मरै कबहू न छाडै खेतु ॥
Transcreation © Arvind Shah
The true brave individual is one
Who fights for the oppressed person
Even if Chopped into pieces, life to relent
A brave will not run away from a righteous fight.
Idiom and Imagery
Bravery of a person who prefers to face any challenge, but will not abandon the battlefield of the righteous fight.
Inference
True bravery lies in firmness in one's righteous principles to stand by the weak and oppressed, even at the cost of severe suffering, sacrifice, or death. A brave keeps up the determination. Righteous war is Divine.
© Arvind Shah All Rights Reserved
