Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 42 — burning what holds you back
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Kabir says: hardly anyone is ever born who will let go of the whole house of "mine," everything they cling to,
and, letting go of the five pulls inside — wanting too much, anger, greed, clinging and pride — stays lovingly tuned to the One.
It is very rare for someone to let go of everything they cling to and stay lovingly tuned to the One.
Kabir uses a shocking picture on purpose: apnai ghar laavai aag, setting fire to your own home, and paanchao larikaa jaar kai, burning your five sons. It is a riddle, never something to do. The home is the whole world of "mine" that we hold on to. The five sons are the five inner pulls that every person carries: wanting too much, anger, greed, clinging and pride.
When those are gone, a person rahai raam liv laag, stays lovingly tuned to the One. This is about the grip of clinging, never about harming a home or the people you love.
Think of a kite that finally pulls free of a tangled tree and flies.
Which of the five pulls tugs at you most often?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI