One Hundred Poems of Kabir

by Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore

One Hundred Poems of Kabir

Genres: Poetry, India, Mysticism, Religion, Fiction, Classics, Spirituality

140 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1915

About the author

Kabīr was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement. The name Kabir comes from Arabic al-Kabīr which means "The Great" – the 37th name of God in Islam. Kabir's legacy is today carried forward by the Kabir panth ("Path of Kabir"), a religious community that recognises him as its founder and is one of the Sant Mat sects. Its members, known as Kabir panthis, are estimated to be around 9.6 million. They are spread over north and central India, as well as dispersed with the Indian diaspora across the world, up from 843,171 in the 1901 census.[5] His writings include Bijak, Sakhi Granth, Kabir Granthawali and Anurag Sagar.

Kabir's early life is not firmly established. In Indian tradition, he is commonly supposed to have lived for 120 years from 1398 to 1518, which "permits him to be associated with other famous figures such as Guru Nanak and Sikander Lodi" Historians are uncertain about his dates of birth and death. Some state 1398 as a date of birth,5 whereas others favour later dates, such as 1440Some assign his death date to the middle of the 15th century – for example, 1440 or 1448whereas others place it in 1518Lifespans commonly suggested by scholars include from 1398 to 1448, and from 1440 to 1518.

According to one traditional version of his parentage, Kabir was born to a Brahmin widow at Lahartara near Kashi (modern day Varanasi). The widow abandoned Kabir to escape dishonour associated with births outside marriage. He was brought up in a family of poor Muslim weavers Niru and Nima. They could not afford formal education for Kabir and initiated him into their trade of weaving.According to American Indologist Wendy Doniger, Kabir was born into a Muslim family and "all these stories attempt to drag Kabir back over the line from Muslim to Hindu".[Kabir's family is believed to have lived in the locality of Kabir Chaura in Varanasi. Kabīr maṭha (कबीरमठ), a maṭha located in the back alleys of Kabir Chaura, celebrates his life and times.

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“THE savour of wandering in the ocean of deathless life has rid me of all my asking:
As the tree is in the seed, so all diseases are in this asking.”

This book of poetry reads more like devotions. The lines are translated in such a way that Kabir understood the dilemmas of many who are seeking answers and who needed a better understanding of their thoughts and actions.

While the translation is very accessible and easy to read/follow, I just cannot help feeling that this collection would be far more closer to the heart when read in its original verses.

I did try as the book has both the original script as well as the English translation. I could understand a bit of the original writing which I feel is really good in its own right.

I would suggest you to read this collection if you enjoyed reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran as the themes are pretty similar in their expressions.

I couldn’t help but reread this collection after a year of reading it for the first time.

[Bidisha Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read for atheists and mystics alike.
this is above the rating system imho.

[Sharmin Sultana Shamoly · Rating 4 out of 5]

রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর কবীরের একশো গান ইংরেজিতে অনুবাদ করেছিলেন। ১৯১৫ সালে আমেরিকার নরউড প্রেস থেকে ম্যাকমিলান কোম্পানি প্রকাশিত বইটির ভূমিকা লিখেছিলেন ইভলিন আন্ডারহিল নামের একজন। একটা প্রবন্ধে কবীর ও মরমীবাদ নিয়ে এতো চমৎকার বিষয়াবলি উঠে এসেছে। রবীন্দ্রনাথের সেই বইয়ের বাংলা অনুবাদ 'কহেন কবীরে'।

"অনন্ত এক প্রাণ সায়রে ঘোরাঘুরি করে
ধীরে ধীরে গেল আমার চাহিদা সব মরে।
বীজের মাঝে থাকে যেমন বৃক্ষ লুক্কায়িত
তেমনি করে সকল অসুখ চাহিদারই জাত।"

[Vellum Voyages · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 helms


Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)

Never rush a book of poetry! I did rush this book admittedly and hence the lower rating as I didn't allow myself to savour the poems and let their meanings sink in. The translations were a little hard to follow and I didn't always understand much of the poems except for some, so I think this also detracted from my enjoyment :( Some of the poems were really lovely though and had Kabir's mystic views beautifully portrayed.

Definitely made a newbie error with Kabir as I didn't really research his ideas or have much background information to his work. If you are new to this style of poetry and his work, learn from my mistakes and have an overview of his ideas before you start as it will most likely help you appreciate it much more than I did. Kabir's ideas are very interesting as he criticizes ideals from both the Vedas (Hinduism) and the Quran (Islam) and states that the True God is always with a person who is good and true to mankind and animals and keeps himself separate from worldly affairs. Very forward thinking isn't it? Our crazy world could definitely use less religion induced problems these days!

I'm definitely going to have another go at reading Kabir in the near future, maybe even try a different translated version and next time a printed copy rather than an ebook version so that a few re-reads are possible!

[Vinayak Hegde · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book of poetry couplets (dohas) of Kabir transliterated and translated by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. This small book took a while to get through as the couplets are to be savoured and read slowly. The translation can be understood by someone who knows Hindi well though there are some archaic words both in the Hindi and the English translation. An enjoyable trip down memory lane if you have heard the songs of Kabir.

[Janice Raquela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Amrendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poet Kabir, a selection from whose songs is in this book was one of India's most popular mystics. Born around 1440, Kabir is known for his non-Brahminical, non-scriptural approach to God. He professes the path of Love and denounces asceticism and religious intellectualism. Himself throughout a family man, artisan and musician, Kabir's philosophy is one of feeling God while living in the family/home, the best theatre for such pursuit.

The book contains his verses in English devnagri as also it's English translation by Tagore. The English language takes away some beauty of the flow of lyrics but the collection is good.

दास कबीर गावें निर्गुण हो, साधो करी ले विचार
नरम गरम सौदा करी ले हो, आगे हाट न बाजार

[Kanchan Mandanekar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetic spiritual/ spirited route to God, integrating or rather dropping religions, books and rote traditions.

In the beginning I reached a point asking myself why I am reading it as it simply did not make sense. And then this line came up:

mriga haas kastoori baas, aap na khoje khoje ghaas
What that means is: The musk is in the deer, but it seeks it not within itself: it wanders in quest of grass.

And then the book takes on on a different ride altogether.

The book is like sugar, you can taste it and enjoy the sweetness for yourself. It is impossible to articulate sweetness to someone who has never tasted sugar. Or, has never been in love or never has her heart broken into smithereens.

[Rishabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first work of Kabir which I've read. Tagore has done a splendid job in translating this gem to English, fusing the words with his characteristic tranquility, without diluting the underlying philosophical message. Some of the poems even have an uncanny resemblance with his own works, particularly Gitanjali.

Having said that, I do believe that translated poetry can never deliver the same rasa as the original. I feel each language has its own characteristic sounds which the poet intends to make use of - and those are seldom invariably lost in the translation. Here also, the raw-earthedness of the hindi tongue is wanting, for which it is suggested to read the original.

[Ali Ridhwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

would probably given this three stars if I didn’t read it high on nag champa fumes and brahmanic visions

[Joseph Knecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sublime play with words aiming to touch the soul.

[Agrim Mishra · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not like it. the so called english written dohas are hard to read to me at least.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabir mi je, poput Rumija i sufijske poezije, vrlo blizak. Točno duhovnost i mogu doživjeti na ovaj način, kao nešto predivno, ekstatično, što je unutar i izvan mene, posvuda. Kad bi svi bili širokih vidika i otvorena srca, kao ovi ljudi prije više stotina godina...

[Bineydeep Singh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very difficult to understand as the Hindi he uses is not used these days. I think even the Hindi language has changed over period of time. So difficult to grasp the poetic beauty. English translation of course cannot do justice.
About Kabir - it seems he was very devotional and very secular. And he didn’t believe in any pretentious behaviour

[Shikha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is the spirit of quest which helps; I am the slave of this spirit of the quest".

"More than all else do I cherish at heart that love which makes me to live a limitless life in this world".

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sikhs like it, though the vibe is very Sufi

[Ben Koops · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabir is een man naar mijn hart, hij bevindt zich ergens tussen hindoe en moslim, en Rumi en Hafez. Net als die soefi dichters stelt hij de directe ervaring voorop en schuwt hij daarvoor geen enkel middel om de mens te doen ontwaken, zelf wat lijkt op godslastering. Een citaat uit een van de eerste gezangen van Kabir sierde ook de sneeuwluipaard. Kabir noemt zich de dienaar en richt zich tot de lezer meestal met het woord sadhoe, wat een soort zoeker of yoga asceet is die zich volledig wijdt aan meditatie. Hij lijkt voornamelijk een soort meditatie aan te prijzen, als hij het heeft over de tuin der bloemen die zich in het lichaam bevindt. Enorm afwisselende metaforen moeten de zoeker iets vertellen over zijn uiteindelijke doel. De vereniging met de geliefde zoals de soefi's het noemen, Henri Nouwen heeft het overigens ook over de geliefde, en in de Joodse leer is de shekshina of het vrouwelijke aspect van God altijd op zoek naar vereniging met de Tiferet of het mannelijke. Dat terzijde, Kabir spreekt de taal van het hart. Hij laat net als Rumi zien dat geen enkele weg moet worden geschuwd, behalve dan de traditie en het ritueel die hij ziet als weinig vruchtbaar. De vertaling van Tagore (wiens Gitanjali ik inferieur vond aan andere wijsheidsliteratuur maar dat zal de vertaling zijn geweest) doet wat ouderwets aan en het is dan ook jammer dat dit alleen bij Ankh-hermes uit kon worden gebracht.

Kabir speelt ook met humor hier en daar zoals in dit vers:
''De moella schreeuwt luide tot hem
Waarom? is uw Heer doof?''

Of als hij de yogi berispt die eruit ziet als een geit. De metafoor van het goddelijke instrument, de mens is een instrument wordt op dezelfde manier door Rumi gebruikt die de mens met een rietfluit vergelijkt. Kabir legt altijd de nadruk op het mysterie, God kan niet direct gekend worden en helemaal niet gevangen door woorden. ''Legt al uw kennis af. Woorden alleen zullen u nimmer tot hem brengen.'' Het verachten van schriften en heilige boeken is iets wat je ook in andere hindoe wijsheid teksten vindt zoals in de Ashtavakra Gita. Eigenlijk zijn die teksten door hun gebrek aan eerbied bestemd voor de ware zoeker die de dualiteit al is ontstegen of op de rand van de verlichting staat. Kabir laat zich niet vastpinnen: ''Kabir is kind van Allah en van Ram! Hij is mijn goeroe. Hij is mijn Pir!'' Hij leent dus rijkelijk uit de vocabulaire van alle religies om zijn punt te maken. Het brandende vuur van de liefde is zijn object. Hetzelfde vuur dat Johannes van het kruis bezingt. En dat alle mystici van alle tijden heeft bevangen.

Er zijn geen beperkingen meer voor hem die achter het gordijn heeft gekeken. 'Hindoes en moslims hebben beide dat einde bereikt waar geen onderscheidingsmerk meer achterblijft.' De voortdurende immanentie van het numineuze in de menselijke ziel is het hoogste raadsel, 'zij zijn altijd onderscheiden en toch een'. Voorbij alle kennis categorieën bestaat het oneindige principe, onaantastbaar. Misschien moeten we ook de woorden loslaten, 'er zijn geen woorden om te zeggen wat Hij is'. En dat is weer Pseudo-Dionysus die in een van zijn werken een via negativa geeft van God, alles opnoemt wat God niet is, om zo tot de kern te komen. Zo kun je er ook de Bijbel in terug lezen af en toe: 'Als gij uw ziel niet vindt, blijft de wereld onwezenlijk voor u.' Dat is bijna letterlijk: 'Wat baat het een mens als hij de hele wereld wint maar zijn ziel verliest.' De hoogste extatische visioenen van Kabir, tot op de toppen van verrukking worden ten zeerste aanbevolen. Wie ore heeft die hore.

[Poetic Subtlety · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before writing my review I wanna say-

I'm none to give a review on the works of the greatest poet, Kabir. Today, I'll just share my feelings as a slight reader.

This book is written by poet Kabir, translated by Rabindranath Tagore, and assisted by Evelyn Underhill.

This book has rich wisdom and phrases that are timeless. I love to read poems a ton and I try different genres quite often. I started to read this book (paperback) with great courage and curiosity but I ended up feeling like I'm quite burdened with its height. There're poems that I like to consume but at intervals. This book doesn't come under that section too. Even after taking a long space and breaths, I couldn't enter into its ambience even for a brief time.

Now, I'm not saying that the deliverance or translation is received as opaque at my end but these poems maintain a great length from an average human from beginning to end. Some of the segments that I'd like to borrow to make you understand the length that I'm talking about:

"I'm neither pious nor ungodly,
"I'm neither by law nor by sense,
I'm neither a speaker nor hearer,
I'm neither a servant nor master,
I'm neither bond nor free,
I'm neither detached nor attached
...."

Now, there're Rumi, Khalil Gibran too but I find Rumi's works can be understood after reflections. I cannot comment on Khalil Gibran as I read some of his works not the entire bundle.

It is for the first time I don't like something where the name 'Rabindranath Tagore' is included! I think one needs a certain age to get this book's songs a little. Therefore, I won't recommend this book to any newbie of poetry world. At the end, I like to conclude that I fail to make my mind prepare for this but maybe, someday, I too gather myself to hold this book again.

[Bernie Gourley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabir was a fifteenth century Indian poet and mystic. This collection was translated by the Bengali Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, and Tagore's stylistic imprint is felt in these poems. The poems are overwhelmingly of a mystic / spiritual nature. Kabir was non-sectarian but extremely oriented towards mystic belief. He references the Koran and Vedas alike, but is more likely to communicate in secular, if mystical, terms.

How much the godly emphasis works for the reader will vary greatly. For me it was a bit excessive, often reading more like prayers than poems, but your results may vary.

The only thing I found actually disturbing was the repeated romanticization of sati, a practice in use during Kabir's lifetime in which widows would be burned alive on their husband's funeral pyre. Kabir repeatedly writes of sati as if it was always a completely voluntary act of raw passion and connection and was never motivated by being old and destitute (not to mention being societally pressured or, even, physically forced into it.)

The poems are well composed and engaging, and if you can get past the periodic sati propaganda, it's a pleasant, almost euphoric, read.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lugesin raamatut “kirjandus 21. sajandil” valikainega seoses.

See raamat puudutas sügavalt mu hinge ning pani väga palju mõtlema ning analüüsima end.

Ma tunnen, et ükskõik mida ma siia ei kirjutaks, ei kirjeldaks see lõplikult hästi, seda millest see raamat räägib ning mida see sulle annab.

See on raamat, mida ma kindlasti soovitan inimestele, kes on mulle kallid ning kes ma tunnen, et on valmis seda lugema.

Lisan siia lõppu lihtsalt mõned salmid, mis mind tõesti külmavärinateni kõnetasid:

Millest räägib Kabir, on vaid see, mis ta läbi on eland.
Ta teab hästi, et miski muu ei tähenda midagi.

_________

Otsisin kelme ja kõveraid, ei leidnud ühtegi.
Otsisin ennast ja leidsin kelmi ja kõvera.

_________

Ma vaatan sind, sina teda.
Mismoodi küll lahendada seda mõistatust -
sina, tema ja mina?
küsib Kabir.

_________

Aednik kasta võib kaevud tühjaks;
vili sest varem ei valmi.

_________

Nagu seemnes varjul on õli,
ränikivis salajas säde,
su kehas Jumalik elab.

_________

Kabir ütleb: Märkamata puud,
iial ei mõista sa metsa.

[Mudita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Timeless wisdom from a great mystic. With that being said and acknowledged, I couldn't quite enter and fully immerse myself in the worlds of Kabir as much as I did with other mystic poets like Rumi (just to name one,which I understand he's quite unattainable when it comes to beauty and depths in poetry). However, no comparison and no blaming to the translation (which comes from one of the greatest intellectuals and poets from last century, Rabindranath Tagore) it is still a little book easy to carry and nice to read and reflect on the Absolute or the Divine, especially when living in India like I am doing at the moment.

[Sarthak Choudhary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kabir says that God is everywhere and to find him, we must look inwards. He criticises every religion, arguing that God is not in temples or mosques. There is no need to renounce the world and become an ascetic in search of God. Stop dyeing your clothes orange and growing out your beard thinking you are pursuing God.

Instead, Kabir advises to live your life as it is offered: marry, have children, celebrate with your friends and family. But, never forget to keep on looking inwards and not be afraid to seek the truth. Let your words and actions come not from fear. Let your love for yourself and for humanity overflow and show itself in your actions. That is Kabir's God.

[Shevaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

lovely, mystical, divine, pure.

this is a collection of eloquent translations of Kabirdas ji's dohe on love. I enjoyed the 'non-western' feel of peace and union they contain. so refreshing and profound as always.

[Vinod Varmah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I have heard some of Kabir's Dohas, this is the first time I am getting to read a collection like this. These poems are quite touching and thought provoking. The introduction part was a good read too and it helped to get a preview, and to get the right mindset to enjoy these poems

[Aditi Pansare · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘mrigaa haas kastoori baas, aap na khoje khoje ghaas’
(The musk is in the deer, but it seeks it not within itself: it wanders in quest of grass)

What review can do justice to a work with sentences like these ? ☺️

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me personally, its not something I can resonate with. I was more interested in the history and it's still interesting due to the cultural importance, it just didn't strike me the way I wanted it to.

[Geeky Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kabir brings faith in oneself and the universe!

[Mikita J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful.

[Mohnish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Transcendence

[Ritsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

My most fav book, I read it in one seating. This book has so much impact on me that I gave my musicians alter ego name Kabi_rar.