Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 237 — the Brahmin and the Guru of the devotees
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: the Brahmin may be the guru of the world, but he is not the Guru of the devotees.
He gets tangled up and wastes away in the puzzles of the four Vedas.
Learning and titles do not make anyone the guide of those who love the One.
In Kabir's time the Brahmin, from the priestly class, was seen as everyone's teacher. Baaman guroo hai jagat kaa: the Brahmin is guru of the world. Bhagtan kaa gur naahi: but not the guru of devotees. Arajh urajh kai pach moo-aa: tangled and tangled again, he wore himself out. Chaara-o baydahu maahi: in the four Vedas.
Kabir aims at pride in learning and position, which can grow hollow in any tradition, and honors the devotion that is open to every person.
Who has shown you love for the One without any title?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI