Verse 156 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 98 — preaching while your own field is eaten
ਕਬੀਰ ਅਵਰਹ ਕਉ ਉਪਦੇਸਤੇ ਮੁਖ ਮੈ ਪਰਿ ਹੈ ਰੇਤੁ ॥
kabeer avrah ka-o updaystay mukh mai par hai rayt.
Kabir, those who only preach to others - sand falls into their mouths.
ਰਾਸਿ ਬਿਰਾਨੀ ਰਾਖਤੇ ਖਾਯਾ ਘਰ ਕਾ ਖੇਤੁ ॥੯੮॥
raas biraanee raakh-tay khaa-yaa ghar kaa khayt. ||98||
They keep their eyes on the property of others, while their own farm is being eaten up. ||98||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: those who only preach to others end up with sand in their mouths.
They keep watch over other people's crops, while their own field at home is being eaten up.
Tend your own field before you guard anyone else's.
Teaching others is empty if your own life is left untended.
Avrah ka-o updaystay: always giving advice to others. Kabir's picture for where that ends is mukh mai par hai rayt, a mouth full of sand: words that turn dry and useless.
Raas biraanee raakh-tay: guarding someone else's crop, while khaa-yaa ghar kaa khayt, the field at home is eaten bare. Your own heart is the field to tend first.
A Question to Sit With
What advice do you give others that you could practice more yourself?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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