Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 39 — don't laugh at the poor
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: do not be proud, and do not laugh at anyone who is poor.
Your own boat is still out at sea. Who knows what will happen?
No one's journey is finished yet, so there is no reason to look down on anyone.
Garab na keejee-ai, rank na hasee-ai ko-ay: do not be proud, and do not laugh at the poor. Kabir puts the two together. Pride is what makes a person laugh at someone with less.
Then comes the picture: ajahu so naa-o samundar meh, your boat is still out on the ocean. Ki-aa jaan-o ki-aa ho-ay, who knows what will happen? Storms can come to any boat.
Think of a race that is only half run. Laughing at someone behind you makes no sense when the finish line is still far off.
Why is it unkind, and unwise, to laugh at someone who has less than you?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI