Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 45 — what I won't give up

ਕਬੀਰ ਮੈ ਜਾਨਿਓ ਪੜਿਬੋ ਭਲੋ ਪੜਿਬੇ ਸਿਉ ਭਲ ਜੋਗੁ ॥

kabeer mai jaani-o parhibo bhalo parhibay si-o bhal jog.

Kabir, at first, I thought learning was good; then I thought Yoga was better.

ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਛਾਡਉ ਰਾਮ ਕੀ ਭਾਵੈ ਨਿੰਦਉ ਲੋਗੁ ॥੪੫॥

bhagat na chhaada-o raam kee bhaavai ninda-o log. ||45||

I shall never abandon devotional worship of the Lord, even though people may slander me. ||45||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Kabir says: at first I thought reading books was good; then I thought yoga was better than reading.

I will never give up loving devotion to the Lord, even if people speak badly of me.

Hold on to loving the One, whatever people say.

The deeper layer

Loving devotion to the One is the thing to hold on to, whatever people say.

First Kabir thought parhibo, reading and study, was good. Then he thought jog, yoga practice, was better still. Both are good paths, and Kabir does not put them down.

But one thing he will never leave: bhagat, loving devotion to raam, the One. He holds on to it bhaavai ninda-o log, even if people speak badly of him.

Think of a kid who keeps playing the music they love even when others call it uncool.

A Question to Sit With

What is something you love that you would keep even if others made fun of it?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

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