Kabir Dohas

Jis Marne te Jag Darey Mere Mun Anand
Marne Hi Te Paiye, Puran Paramanand

Translation

That death the world is terrified of
Fills my heart with Joy
For only after its annihilation one attains
The state of complete bliss

Explanation

Death grants freedom from worldly entanglements. Elimination of physical existence is truth. Its inevitability is fact. Physical existence is a storehouse of transient joys and pains, whose death, the end is predictable. Perhaps, he also signals of a new life of fulfillment where man attains the Supreme, the ultimate truth. For, whatever a man achieves on earth faces extinction. He is anxious to know what death is. It is death of ego and pride.

When man thinks that he is the doer, he commits errors, for he does not do anything. It is He, the Supreme, who is the propelling and indistinguishable force within that is engaged in activities of current existing. A man is simply a medium. But then, what happens after the end of mortal existence? The question stares gawkily …seers and wise men fumble for answer. Freedom from the thought of death and ego is the actual objective also that the medieval saint hints at that a man trapped in worldly affairs, must get rid of to attain a state of supreme bliss - ‘Puran Paramanand’.

I understand the deep thought from this viewpoint, which looks at the saint’s intensity of thought and experience and makes it simple, and it is the way of the mystics to reach eternal truth of life, and indirectly it is denial or abandonment of external things, the cause of joys and sorrows. A difficult proposition to put into practice it is. Realization of ‘the inner self’ is another area that needs inquiry, which in truth, mystic Kabir had attained.  I am often reminded of a tale from Upanishad Brihadaranyaka I wish to share.

Once sage Yagyavalkya told his wife Maitreyi, “I have decided to forsake the world and so, I shall begin a new life of denials, abandonment and renunciation. I wish to divide this wealth between you and Katyayani.” Katyayani was his second wife.

“O lord, if the whole world belongs to me with all the wealth, will it help me attain immortality? Will I conquer death?” She asked.

Holy man said, “No. You would live like a rich person. No one, not even you can attain a state of deathlessness with power of riches and possessions.” She heard and said, “Then, what is the use of wealth? Reveal O swamy, and tell me about the path to immortality.”

The sage listened and was happy, and said gently, “You are dear to me O Maitreyi that you asked me about the eternal truth and it is very close to my heart. I will tell you about it. You, deliberate and reflect on what I say.” He said, thought deeply and resumed, “It is not for the sake of husband that he is a beloved, a precious relation. It is for sake of ‘the self’. I say, it is not for the sake of wife, that she is dear to the husband, but for the sake of ‘the self’. Similarly, I shall love children not for them but for the reason that you love ‘the self’, my beloved.” She simply looked at him and after a pause, he said, “Therefore, it is not for the love of wealth, dear Maitreyi that wealth is dear, but for ‘the self’ so that you live happily.”

The great mystic was away from the snares of material opulence and relations and so, he conveys obliquely that in life of relinquishment and desertion, a man attains the state of supreme bliss.

June 20, 2020

Read also on the same doha the view of Rajender Krishan