ਜੈਸੇ ਹਲਹਰ ਬਿਨਾ ਜਿਮੀ ਨਹੀ ਬੋਈਐ ॥
jaisay halhar binaa jimee nahee bo-ee-ai.
Without a farmer, the land is not planted;
ਸੂਤ ਬਿਨਾ ਕੈਸੇ ਮਣੀ ਪਰੋਈਐ ॥
soot binaa kaisay manee paroee-ai.
without a thread, how can the beads be strung?
ਘੁੰਡੀ ਬਿਨੁ ਕਿਆ ਗੰਠਿ ਚੜ੍ਹਾਈਐ ॥
ghundee bin ki-aa ganth charhHaa-ee-ai.
Without a loop, how can the knot be tied?
ਸਾਧੂ ਬਿਨੁ ਤੈਸੇ ਅਬਗਤੁ ਜਾਈਐ ॥੨॥
saaDhoo bin taisay abgat jaa-ee-ai. ||2||
Just so, without the Holy Saint, the mortal departs in misery. ||2||
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa
No farmer, no harvest. No thread, no way to string the beads. No little loop, no knot to hold.
Everything worth having leans on something that makes it possible — and for the soul, that something is true company and the Name.
Everything worthwhile leans on a helper — and so does the soul.
More homely images: the farmer for the field, the thread for the beads, the loop for the knot. Each is useless without its quiet helper. Kabir's point is gentle and freeing — needing help is not weakness; it's simply how everything worthwhile works. Even the soul has its helper, and there's no shame in leaning on it.
A Question to Sit With
What is something good in your life that only happened because of a helper behind the scenes?
Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI
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