Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
Some gifts are wasted on someone who can't appreciate them, like fine perfume offered to a crow.
It's not unkind to notice this — it's just being wise about where things fit.
Kabir gives two more homely images of mismatched gifts: offering camphor (a precious fragrance) to a crow, or milk to a snake — good things given where they can't be appreciated or will even be misused. He's not being cruel to crows or snakes; he's making a point about fittingness: not every good thing belongs everywhere. Precious things should go where they'll be received well. For a child, this is a bit of everyday wisdom: it's not unkind to notice that some gifts, some words, some efforts are wasted in certain places — it's just wise to give your best where it will actually be welcomed and do good. Discernment about where to give is part of generosity, not the opposite of it.
Why might it be smart to share something special with people who'll truly appreciate it?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI