Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
The wise have a sharp way of putting it: a person who never wakes up inside is only half-living, on autopilot. But those who let goodness in find real peace, even in a hard and restless world.
This one says that a heart that never wakes up just runs on autopilot, while the good find peace even in hard times.
Chaar charan kaheh baho aagar — the wise call such people "four-footed." It is a stern picture of someone living by habit and instinct alone, never waking up inside. It means living on autopilot, only half awake. Kabir's aim is to wake people up, not to put them down.
Then the bright side. Saadhoo sukh paavahi kal saagar — the saadhoo, the good-hearted, find peace in kal saagar, the ocean of this hard age.
Think of a lighthouse keeper who stays calm while storms crash all around. The sea is rough, but inside the lighthouse there is light.
What helps you feel awake and alive inside, rather than just going through the motions of a day?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI