I was on fire; now I have found the Water of the Name, and it has cooled me — and it never runs dry.
The Arc
This opening shabad of the Gauree Bhagats' Bani carries Kabir's own Mool-Mantar header, planting the Oneness at the threshold. Its single sustained image is thirst answered by Water. The Rahao (Pauri 0) states the turn — burning cooled by raam jal. Pauri 1 relocates the Water: not in the forest of withdrawal but in the presence available within daily life. Pauri 2 universalizes the fire (even sur nar, gods and mortals, feel it) and the rescue. Pauri 3 discloses the miracle of abundance — an ocean of peace inside the world-ocean, never exhausted. Pauri 4 closes on the rainbird's single-hearted longing as the shape of remembrance.
Key Vocabulary
jalat / raam jal: the inner burning of craving vs. the "Water of the Name," the felt presence of the One
man maaran: stilling the mind — here linked to forest-withdrawal, which Kabir gently relativizes
bhav saagar / sukh saagar: the world-ocean vs. the ocean of peace hidden inside it
sarang (saringpaanee): the rainbird longing for the raindrop — the model of whole-hearted simran
Themes and Cross-Connections
The thirst-and-water motif recurs across Kabir's Gauree set (see B00C578, which deepens it into paradox). The inexhaustible Water embodies philosophy.md's teaching on grace — always present, received not earned. The leveling touch in Pauri 2 (gods and mortals share one fire) foreshadows Kabir's caste-leveling shabads later in this section.
For Raag Gauree
Gauree's sober, reflective mood suits a shabad about a burning quieted into steadiness. The opening is not ecstatic but relieved — the calm of someone who has finally drunk.
Translation Notes
Bhav saagar ("terrifying world-ocean") softened to "wide, stormy world" for young readers, keeping the sense of vastness without dread (wellbeing rule).
The householder framing of Pauri 1 was foregrounded — Kabir honors the forest-seekers rather than mocking them, per the interfaith/evenhandedness rules (the point is where the Water is, not that seekers are foolish).
I was on fire; now I have found the Water of the Name, and it has cooled me — and it never runs dry.
The Arc
This opening shabad of the Gauree Bhagats' Bani carries Kabir's own Mool-Mantar header, planting the Oneness at the threshold. Its single sustained image is thirst answered by Water. The Rahao (Pauri 0) states the turn — burning cooled by raam jal. Pauri 1 relocates the Water: not in the forest of withdrawal but in the presence available within daily life. Pauri 2 universalizes the fire (even sur nar, gods and mortals, feel it) and the rescue. Pauri 3 discloses the miracle of abundance — an ocean of peace inside the world-ocean, never exhausted. Pauri 4 closes on the rainbird's single-hearted longing as the shape of remembrance.
Key Vocabulary
Themes and Cross-Connections
The thirst-and-water motif recurs across Kabir's Gauree set (see B00C578, which deepens it into paradox). The inexhaustible Water embodies philosophy.md's teaching on grace — always present, received not earned. The leveling touch in Pauri 2 (gods and mortals share one fire) foreshadows Kabir's caste-leveling shabads later in this section.
For Raag Gauree
Gauree's sober, reflective mood suits a shabad about a burning quieted into steadiness. The opening is not ecstatic but relieved — the calm of someone who has finally drunk.
Translation Notes
Last updated: 2026