Kabir's dohas

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Kabir Dohas - 1

Chalti Chakki Dekh Kar, Diya Kabira Roye

Dui Paatan Ke Beech Mein,Sabit Bacha Na Koye

 

Translation:-

Looking at the grinding stones, Kabir laments

In the duel of wheels, nothing stays intact.

Explanation:-

This doha picks up a situation from our daily life.

Kabir watches the woman grinding wheat on the

flour mill. I have used the word woman here as

generally it is the woman who does this work

even today in the rural Indian society. The

wheels are made of stone. One is stationary

while the other on top is made to rotate by

turning it with the help of a handle attached to it.

The grain that is put into it gets crushed and the

converted flour comes out. Thus the literal

translation given above conveys that.

(Diya Kabira Roye) Kabir cries out, however, is

what makes the reader to contemplate on this

Doha and realize for oneself the hidden meaning

behind this metaphor. Dui Patan here signifies

earth (Prithvi) and sky (Akash) and within the ambit of these is all creation

and life as also the

manifestation of all natural phenomenon of dualities – day and night, life and

death, joys and

sorrows, thereby making life forever in motion (Chalti Chakki) and an ever

changing process.

Trapped in this duality, whatever we see is perishable. Nothing that we

comprehend is eternal.