Verse 70 of 450
Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 12 — the one that stayed hard
ਕਬੀਰ ਬਾਂਸੁ ਬਡਾਈ ਬੂਡਿਆ ਇਉ ਮਤ ਡੂਬਹੁ ਕੋਇ ॥
kabeer baaNs badaa-ee boodi-aa i-o mat doobahu ko-ay.
Kabir, the bamboo is drowned in its egotistical pride. No one should drown like this.
ਚੰਦਨ ਕੈ ਨਿਕਟੇ ਬਸੈ ਬਾਂਸੁ ਸੁਗੰਧੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੧੨॥
chandan kai niktay basai baaNs suganDh na ho-ay. ||12||
Bamboo also dwells near the sandalwood tree, but it does not take up its fragrance. ||12||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: the bamboo is drowned in its own pride; may no one drown like that.
The bamboo lives right beside the sandalwood, yet it never takes on its sweet smell.
Being near something good does you no good if pride keeps you closed.
Being near something good does not change you if pride keeps you closed.
Baa(n)s badaa-ee boodi-aa: the bamboo is drowned in its own greatness, tall, stiff and hollow. It grows chandan kai niktay, close to the sandalwood, and still takes on no fragrance. Next to the salok before it, the lesson is clear: nearness to the good changes only the one humble enough to let it in.
A Question to Sit With
What makes it hard sometimes to let good things change you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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