Verse 217 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 159 — the queen and the water-carrier
ਕਬੀਰ ਹੈ ਗੈ ਬਾਹਨ ਸਘਨ ਘਨ ਛਤ੍ਰਪਤੀ ਕੀ ਨਾਰਿ ॥
kabeer hai gai baahan saghan ghan chhatarpatee kee naar.
Kabir, the wife of the king has all sorts of horses, elephants and carriages.
ਤਾਸੁ ਪਟੰਤਰ ਨਾ ਪੁਜੈ ਹਰਿ ਜਨ ਕੀ ਪਨਿਹਾਰਿ ॥੧੫੯॥
taas patantar naa pujai har jan kee panihaar. ||159||
But she is not equal to the water-carrier of the Lord's humble servant. ||159||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: a king's queen has horses, elephants and carriages in great numbers.
Yet she cannot equal the woman who carries water for the One's humble servant.
Serving the One's people is richer than a palace.
Humble service to the One's people is worth more than a queen's riches.
Hai gai baahan: horses, elephants and carriages. Chhatarpatee kee naar: the wife of a king, one who sits under the royal umbrella.
Taas patantar naa pujai: she cannot equal her. Har jan kee panihaar: the water-carrier of the One's servant. Kabir lifts up the lowliest kind of work, done for the One, above the highest rank.
A Question to Sit With
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Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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