Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
To some, the One has given silks and satins, and soft beds trimmed with ribbon.
Some do not even have a patched old coat, and some live in huts with straw roofs.
Kabir starts by saying something true that children notice fast: life is not even.
Kaahoo deenhay paat patambar — to some, silks and satins are given. Some get soft beds. Some do not even have a patched old coat. Some live in huts with straw roofs.
Kabir does not pretend life is fair to look at. He names the gap plainly. Think of lunchtime at school. One kid has a big fancy lunch box. Another has almost nothing. Anyone can see it.
But Kabir will not leave us stuck feeling sour about it. The whole shabad is about how to hold this fact without letting it spoil your heart. Not proud if you have a lot. Not bitter if you have a little.
First he tells the truth: lives come out unequal. Then he shows the way through.
When you notice some people have much more than others, what feelings come up? What do you do with them?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI