શ્રી કબીર બાવની

શ્રી કબીર બાવની
પરમાર્થી (શ્રી ઈશ્વરભાઈ પ્ર. પટેલ, કપુરા)
એપ્રિલ, ૧૯૯૬

Shree Kabir Bāvni (Sacred 52-verse composition praising Saint Kabir)
Parmarthi (The Seeker of Supreme Truth)
(Ishvarbhai P. Patel from Kapura)
April, 1996

English Translation by AI

Mahila Mandal - Shree Ramkabir Mandir (2022)

સદ્‌ગુરૂ બંદીછોડ કબીર, પ્રગટ્યા લહર સરોવર તીર
જડ ચેતનમાં થયો પ્રકાશ, જાણે વીતી દુઃખની અમાસ ... ૧
sadguru bandi-chhod kabir, pragatyā lahar sarovar teer
jad chetan-māň thayo parkāsh, jāne veetee dukh-ni amās … 1
The True Guru Kabir, the savior of the bound, upon the banks of Lahar Lake was miraculously found. A divine light flashed through all matter and the mind, as if the darkest night of grief was left behind.

પથિક જુલાહાનું દોર્યું ધ્યાન, કરવા લાગ્યું મન અનુમાન 
કોણ હશે ?  કોનું બાળક ?  રૂપ છે કેવું અતિ મોહક ! ... ૨
pathik julāhā-nu doryu dhyān, karva lāgyu man anumān
kon hase ?  konu bālak ?  roop chhe kevu ati mohak !  … 2
A passing weaver's eyes were drawn toward the place, his mind began to wonder at this sudden grace. "Who could it be? Whose child is this?" he softly sighed, enraptured by the beauty of the form he had espied.

નિર્જન નીરખી નીરુ નીમા, ઊંચકી ચુમિઓ ભરે ધીમા
દેવે દીધો શુભ અવસર, માની લઈ ગયા નિજને ઘર ... ૩
nirjan nirakhi niru nimā, uňchaki chumi-o bhare dhimā
deve didho shubh avsar, māni la-ii gayā nij-ne ghar … 3
Seeing the lonely spot, Niru and Nima stepped near, they lifted up the child and kissed him with a tear. "The Lord has blessed us with this hour," they both did say, and happily they took the infant to their home away.

દીનની ઉજળી કીધી કૂખ, શેર માટીની ભાંગી ભૂખ
પાલક દંપતિ દીનહીન સાવ, તો પણ કરી ના કદીયે રાવ ... ૪
din-ni ujali kidhi kookh, sher māti-ni bhāňgi bhookh
pālak dampati din-hin sāv, to pan kari nā kadi-ye rāv … 4
He illuminated the womb of a home so poor and mild, and quenched their lifelong hunger for a precious child. The foster parents lived in poverty and strain, yet never did they utter a complaint or cry in pain.

નગુરા રહેવું ગમ્યું નહીં, તેથી ઘટના ઘટી તહીં 
ઠોકર રૂપે ચરણો તણી, કૃપા ગુરૂ રામાનંદની ... ૫
nagurā rahevu gamyu nahiň, tethi ghatnā ghati tahiň
thokar roope charano tani, krupā guru rāmā-naňd-ni … 5
To live without a Master was a state he could not bear, and so destiny arranged a sacred moment there. Upon the steps he lay, a stumble touched his head, and Guru Ramanand's sweet grace upon his soul was shed.

ઉતરી એકદિન ગંગાતીર, ઝળક્યા જગમાં થઈ કબીર
ઉરથી ઉપદેશ સૂક્ષ્મ ગ્રહ્યો, રામમંત્રને સિદ્ધ કર્યો ... ૬
utari ek-din gaňgā-teer, jhalakyā jag-māň tha-ii kabir
ur-thi up-desh sookshma grahyo, rām-maňtra-ne siddha karyo … 6
Descending to the Ganges' bank that fateful day, Kabir shone bright to sweep the darkness of the world away. Deep in his heart, the subtle teachings took their root, the sacred mantra of 'Ram' bore its perfect fruit.

રામ રસાયણ પીને લીન, વણકર ધંધે થયા પ્રવીણ
તાણાવાણા સાંધી અનેક, મટાડતા ભેદ જાણે છેક ... ૭
rām rasāyan peene lin, vanakar dhaňdhe thayā pravin
tānā-vānā sāňdhi anek, matād-tā bhed jāne chhek … 7
Drunk on the nectar of Ram, in bliss he would reside, while weaving cloth with mastery and humble pride. As he joined the warp and weft with steady art, he erased all worldly differences from the human heart.

નવયુગનું કીધું નિર્માણ, હતાશ લોકે પૂર્યો પ્રાણ
વહાવ્યો નવચેતનનો સ્ત્રોત, આજે પણ તેની સળગે જ્યોત ... ૮
nav-yug-nu kidhu nirmān, hatāsh loke pooryo prān
vahāvyo nav-chetan-no strot, āje pan teni salage jyot … 8
He built a brand new era for the human race, and breathed a living soul into the hopeless face. He made a stream of consciousness and new life turn, and even to this very day, his sacred torches burn.

વિચાર સ્વાતંત્ર્યનું પણ, બળ વધાર્યું કરી આચરણ
બદલ્યા પ્રચલિત દુષ્ટ રિવાજ, સોહે તેથી સઘળો સમાજ ... ૯
vichār svā-taňtrya-nu pan, bal vadhāryu kari ācharan
badalyā prachalit dushta rivāj, sohe tethi saghlo samāj … 9
He championed freedom of thought by what he did and said, and by his own pure actions, a great strength was bred. He changed the cruel customs that the era did contain, because of him, society looks beautiful again.

સત્ય સમન્વય સદા કરી, જટિલ સમસ્યા હળવી કરી
સારું તેટલું ગ્રહ્યું બધું, બાકી સઘળું કર્યું જતું ... ૧૦
satya samanvay sadā kari, jatil samasyā halavi kari
sāru tetlu grahyu badhu, bāki saghalu karyu jatuň … 10
By blending truth and harmony, he walked a gentle line, resolving complex problems with a touch divine. Whate'er was good and noble, he gathered and retained, while letting go of all the worthless dross that remained.

હિંમત શ્રદ્ધા બધે વધ્યા, તત્વ આસુરી ધ્રુજી ઉઠ્યા
પીર શેખતકી હારી ગયા, પ્રભાવ રાજદરબારે વધ્યો ... ૧૧
himmat shraddhā badhe vadhyāň, tatva āsuri dhruji uthyā
peer shekhataki hāri gayā, prabhāv rāj-darbāre vadhyo … 11
Courage and faith grew strong across the land, while dark and demonic forces could not stand. Pir Shekh Taki faced defeat and lost his pride, as Kabir’s great fame reached the royal court inside.

અનંત શક્તિ આત્માતણી, કસોટી કાળે પ્રગટ બની
આત્માનું બળ નીરખી પ્રચંડ, ઉતર્યો સત્તાધીશનો ઘમંડ ... ૧૨
anaňt shakti ātmā-tani, kasoti kāle pragat bani
ātmā-nu bal nirakhi prachaňd, utaryo sattā-dheesh-no ghamaňd … 12
The infinite power of the soul broke free, in hours of testing, for the world to see. Beholding the soul’s fierce and mighty crown, the arrogant ruler's pride came crashing down.

ચકિત થયા સઘળાયે યવન, કરવા લાગ્યા તમને નમન
ચમત્કારી શૈલીથી કામ, થતાં રહ્યાં જીત્યા સંગ્રામ ... ૧૩
chakit thayā saghalā-ye yavan, karvā lāgyā tam-ne naman
chamat-kāri shailee-thi kām, thatā rahyā jeetyā saňgrām … 13
The foreign rulers watched in deep surprise, and bowed to him with newly humbled eyes. With miracles and wonder in his style of grace, he won each battle that he had to face.

મિલન થયું મગહરે એક રાત, યોગી ગોરખનાથની સાથ
તરુવર નીચે ગોષ્ઠિ કરી, સિદ્ધિ પ્રદર્શન કર્યું જરી ... ૧૪
milan thayu magahare ek rāt, yogi gorakh-nāth-ni sāth
taruvar niche goshthi kari, siddhi pra-darshan karyu jari … 14
In Magahar, beneath the shadows of the night, Yogi Gorakhnath arrived to test his might. They sat beneath a tree to talk and share, displaying mystic powers in the quiet air.

બતાવ્યું યોગીએ યોગબળ, જમીનમાંથી કાઢ્યું જળ
ખોબા જેટલા જળથી શું થાય ?  એકની પણ ના તૃષા છિપાય ! ... ૧૫
batāvyu yogi-e yog-bal, jamin-māňthi kādhyu jal
khobā jetlā jal-thi shuň thāy ?   ek-ni pan nā trushā chhipāy !  … 15
The Yogi showed his power, mystical and grand, and conjured up a little water from the sand. But what can a mere handful of water ever do? It cannot quench the thirst of even one or two !

છલકાવો જલધારા સદાય, જેથી જનહિત જરી સધાય
એવું કહીને આપે પણ, હાથે લીટી દોરી ત્રણ ... ૧૬
chhal-kāvo jal-dhārā sadāy, jethi jan-hit jari sadhāy
evuň kahi-ne āpe pan, hāthe leetee dori tran … 16
"Let water overflow to serve mankind's great need," said Kabir, and moved to do a greater deed. He quietly drew three long lines upon the ground, to let a bigger flow of holy grace be found.

વહેવા લાગી નદી સત્વર, લજવાય યોગી ક્ષણભર
તે જ નદીને આમી કહે, આજે પણ તે તહીં વહે ...  ૧૭
vahevā lāgi nadi satvar, lajvāy yogi kshan-bhar
te ja nadi-ne āmi kahe, āje pan te tahiň vahe … 17
A rushing river surged and started to awake, making the proud Yogi blush and deeply shake. That stream is known as 'Ami' by the village men, and even to this day, it flows just as it did then.

અશુભ ગણાતું મગહર સ્થાન, બનાવ્યું તેને તીર્થ સમાન
કાશી છોડી કર્યો નિવાસ, કીધો અંધશ્રદ્ધાનો નાશ ... ૧૮
ashubh ganātu magahar sthān, banāvyu tene tirth samān
kāshi chhodi karyo nivās, kidho aňdh-shraddhā-no nāsh … 18
The cursed town of Magahar, feared by one and all, he turned into a pilgrimage where blessings fall. He left the holy Kashi to make this place his home, to shatter superstitions under heaven's dome.

મનની સ્થિતિ પર મોક્ષ મળે, ભલે ગમે તે સ્થળે મરે
છોડી દેહ વિદેહ થયા, વિચાર અનેરો મૂકી ગયા ... ૧૯
man-ni sthiti par moksha male, bhale game te sthale mare
chhodi deh videh thayā, vichār anero muki gayā … 19
"Salvation rests upon the mind, wherever you may die, no matter where your bones or ashes choose to lie." Leaving the flesh behind, his soul took absolute flight, bequeathing to the world a rare and noble light.

હિન્દુ-મુસ્લિમ ભક્તો મળ્યા, દહવા દાટવા ખૂબ લડ્યા
દેહ મટી ફૂલ ઢગલો થયો, ત્યારે સૌનો ઝગડો શમ્યો ... ૨૦
hindu-muslim bhakto malyā, dahavā dātvā khub ladyā
deh mati ful dhagalo thayo, tyāre sa-u-no jhagado shamyo … 20
Both Hindu and Muslim seekers gathered to contend, fighting to burn or bury their departed friend. But when the shroud was lifted, a heap of flowers lay, and all their bitter arguments dissolved away.

કબીરવડ યશ ગાથા ગાય, નર્મદા માતા ખૂબ હરખાય
દર્શન કરી કરી પાવન થાય, ભક્ત જનોના ઉર મલકાય ... ૨૧
kabir-vad yash gāthā gāy, narmadā mātā khub harkhāy
darshan kari kari pāvan thāy, bhakta jano-nā ur malkāy … 21
The ancient Kabirvad banyan tree still sings his glorious praise, while Mother Narmada rejoices in its rays. To witness it cleanses the soul of every sin, filling the devotee's heart with joy within.

તત્વા જીવાની પૂરી ટેક, સાક્ષી થયા કંઈ સંત અનેક
હરિત બનેલી મરેલી ડાળ, ચરણોદકથી ત્યાં તત્કાળ ... ૨૨
tatvā jeeva-ni puri tek, sākshi thayā kaň-ii saňt anek
harit baneli marel dāl, charno-dak-thi tyāň tatkal … 22
The pledge of Tatva and Jiva was fully verified, as many holy saints stood watching side by side. A dead and withered branch turned green with leaves so bright, the moment holy water from his feet touched it with might.

સર્વક્ષેત્રોમાં ક્રાંતિ કરી, સત્ય જ્ઞાનની દૃષ્ટિ ધરી
ઢોંગ ધતિંગનો કરી વિરોધ, દીધો પ્રેમભક્તિનો બોધ ... ૨૩
sarva-kshetro-māň krānti kari, satya gnān-ni drashti dhari
dhoňg dhatiňg-no kari virodh, didho prem-bhakti-no bodh … 23
A revolution sparked in every earthly space, as he bestowed the vision of true wisdom's grace. Opposing every fake display and hollow guide, he taught the path of love and bhakti deep inside.

મિથ્યાચાર ને બાહ્યાચાર, કલંક માની ધોયા ધરાર
સ્વચ્છ કર્યા ભક્તિના અંગ, પૂરી તેમાં પ્રેમનો રંગ ... ૨૪
mithyā-chār ne bāhyā-chār, kalaňk māni dhoyā dharār
svachchha karyā bhakti-nā aňg, puri temāň prem-no raňg … 24
False rituals and outer shows he clearly did condemn, and washed away the ugly stains that clung to them. He cleansed the sacred parts of worship from all taint, and colored them with love to bless the simple saint.

કરાવી યોગેશ્વરનો સંગ, ચઢાવ્યો પરમાર્થીને રંગ
એક જ દેવ તે આતમદેવ, તેની સદાયે કરવી સેવ ... ૨૫
karāvi yogeshvar-no saňg, chadhāvyo parmārthi-ne raňg
ek ja dev te ātam-dev, teni sadāye karvi sev … 25
Connecting souls to God, the Master of all light, he dyed the seekers in the colors of the right. There is but only one true God, the Soul divine, serve Him forevermore within your inner shrine.

દર્શન દઈ ભટકણ ભાંગી, કર્યો અનેરો અનુરાગી
ખીલવી પાનખરે જ વસંત, આણ્યો સૌ દુઃખોનો અંત ... ૨૬
darshan da-ii bhatakan bhāňgi, karyo anero anu-rāgi
khilavi pān-khare ja vasaňt, ānyo sa-u-no dukho-no aňt … 26
Granting his vision, all our wandering came to stop, filling the seeker's heart with love in every drop. He made a vibrant spring bloom in the autumn's freeze, and brought a final end to all our miseries.

(દોહરો)
ગાશે સુણશે પ્રેમથી ને કરશે રસપાન
મળ ધોવાશે સર્વ તે પામશે મુક્તિદાન
(Dohro)
gāshe sun-she prem-thi ne kar-she ras-pān
mal dhovā-she sarva te pām-she mukti-dān
Whoever sings or hears these words with love and deep delight, will drink the nectar of the soul and wash their spirit white. All inner stains and sins of life will surely fade away, and they shall claim liberation's gift on that glorious day.

જય જય સદ્‌ગુરૂ સંતની જય 
જય જય બંદીછોડની જય 
જય જય રામકબીરની જય
jay jay sadguru saňt-ni jay
jay jay baňdi-chhod-ni jay
jay jay rām-kabir-ni jay
Victory, victory to the True Guru and the Saints of Light ! 
Victory, victory to the Liberator who breaks the chains of night ! 
Victory, victory to Ram-Kabir, the eternal and the bright !

Parmarthi (The Seeker of Supreme Truth)
Kapura
April, 1996

...
 
The spiritual essence of this entire work centers on the journey from bondage to absolute liberation (Mukti) through the grace of a Living Master.
While the text uses the biographical milestones of Sant Kabir's life as a narrative thread, every stanza serves as an allegory for the awakening of the human soul.

Here is the deep spiritual breakdown of its core themes:

1. The Descend of Divine Grace (Stanzas 1–4)

• The Allegory: Kabir appearing on the waters of Lahar Lake and being adopted by poor weavers.
• The Spiritual Essence: The divine principle (Satguru) does not take birth out of karmic bondage; it manifests out of sheer compassion to rescue souls lost in the darkness of ignorance (Amas). The humble home of Niru and Nima signifies that God does not look for intellectual wealth or social status; the divine chooses to dwell where there is pure, uncomplicated devotion (Bhav). 

2. The Necessity of the Satguru (Stanzas 5–6)

• The Allegory: Kabir seeking out Swami Ramanand on the steps of the Ganges.
• The Spiritual Essence: An unawakened soul remains a Nagura (one without a Master), drifting aimlessly. Spiritual awakening requires a catalyst. The "stumble" or shock on the steps represents the breakdown of the ego, which is immediately followed by the transmission of the Ram Mantra—the sonic seed of truth that completely alters the seeker's consciousness.

3. The Warp and Weft of Non-Duality (Stanzas 7–10)

• The Allegory: Kabir working as a master weaver and uniting a fractured society.
• The Spiritual Essence: This is the practical application of Advaita (non-duality). The warp and weft (Tana-Vana) of the loom represent the dualities of the world—good and bad, pain and pleasure, caste and creed. The true spiritualist weaves these dualities into a single, seamless fabric of divine harmony, realizing that everything stems from the same cosmic seed.

4. Soul Force vs. Worldly Power (Stanzas 11–13)

• The Allegory: Kabir facing down religious orthodoxies (Pir Shekh Taki) and kings.
• The Spiritual Essence: This highlights the supremacy of Atma-Bal (soul-force) over Ahankar (egoic/political power). When a person aligns completely with the Supreme Truth, the illusions of worldly authority and dogmatic religious structures naturally tremble and submit.

5. The Miracle of Unconditional Abundance (Stanzas 14–17)

• The Allegory: Kabir drawing three lines to turn Gorakhnath’s handful of water into the flowing Ami River.
• The Spiritual Essence: Gorakhnath represents Hatha Yoga and Riddhi-Siddhi—mystic powers that are often limited, prideful, and individualistic ("a handful of water"). Kabir represents Sahaj Yoga (effortless devotion) and Parmanand (supreme bliss). The three lines represent transcending the three Gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) to unleash an endless river of grace (Ami means nectar) meant for the collective welfare of all beings. 

6. Transcending Geography and Superstition (Stanzas 18–21)

• The Allegory: Kabir leaving holy Kashi to die in the "cursed" town of Magahar.
• The Spiritual Essence: Liberation is entirely an internal state of mind (Man ni Sthiti), not an external geographical location. Dying in Kashi or Magahar makes no difference to a liberated soul (Videhi). Kabir shatters the religious superstition that salvation is a physical transaction, proving that the body is just an empty vessel of clay, while the soul remains unbound.

7. The Alchemical Power of Faith (Stanzas 22–26)

• The Allegory: The dead branch turning green, and the body turning into flowers.
• The Spiritual Essence:
  o The dry branch blooming represents Sharanagati (absolute surrender). Under the glance of the Master, a spiritually dead, dry heart can instantly blossom into vibrant life.
  o  The dispute over burning or burying the body represents the foolishness of sectarian divides. The transformation of the body into flowers reveals the ultimate truth: the physical form is temporary, but the fragrance of a pure, liberated soul is eternal and belongs to all of humanity equally. 

Summary: The Ultimate Destination (The Dohro)
The work concludes by emphasizing that spirituality is an active, experiential process. You cannot just intellectualize it; you must "drink the nectar" (Raspan). By singing, hearing, and living these truths, the debris of past karmas is washed white (Mal dhovashe), leading to the ultimate goal of human birth: complete immersion of the drop back into the ocean of the Divine. 

...
Here are the core practical and spiritual takeaways from the Kabir Bavni, formatted for quick reading and reflection:

Core Spiritual Principles

• True Guru is Essential: You cannot cross the ocean of ignorance alone; finding a living Master (Satguru) is the first step to destroying the ego and unlocking inner light.
• God Lives Within: The ultimate deity is your own soul (Aatamdev). Stop searching for the Divine in external structures, holy cities, or rigid rituals.
• State of Mind Matters: Liberation (Mukti) is decided by your internal state of consciousness (Man ni Sthiti), not by geographic locations or the place where you die.
• Unity of All Creation: Everything emerges from a single cosmic source. Divisions based on caste, creed, religion, or social status are completely artificial and false.

Practical Guide for Daily Living

• Walk the Talk: True spirituality relies on personal action and integrity (Aacharan), not just intellectual concepts or hollow preaching.
• Filter Your Experiences: Adopt a mindset of harmonious synthesis (Satya Samanvay). Absorb everything that is pure, noble, and good, and let go of the rest without judgment.
• Practice Loving Devotion: Replace blind rituals and religious theater with quiet, inward-looking love (Prem Bhakti).
• Choose Selfless Service: True spiritual power should never be hoarded for personal pride. It must flow like a river to serve the collective welfare of humanity (Janhit).

Key Takeaways for Personal Transformation

• Soul-Force Over Ego: Inner spiritual strength (Atma-Bal) is infinitely more powerful than political, financial, or dogmatic authority.
• Surrender Brings Renewal: Just like the dead branch that turned green, complete surrender to truth can instantly revive a cold, spiritually dry heart.
• Leave a Legacy of Love: Your physical form will eventually dissolve like clay. Focus your life on sowing seeds of kindness so you leave behind a beautiful fragrance for society.

----------

YouTube video(s):
1. Mahila Mandal - Shree Ramkabir Mandir