50+ Famous Couplets of Sant Kabir (Sant Kabir ke Dohe)

Sant Kabir (1440–1518) was a 15th-century mystic poet and saint whose dohas (couplets) continue to inspire generations. His verses emphasize devotion, self-realization, and the futility of materialistic pursuits. Kabir’s poetry bridges the gap between different religious ideologies, advocating love, unity, and inner truth over ritualistic practices.

His dohas are simple yet profound, carrying lessons that remain relevant even today. Below are some of his famous couplets along with their meanings:

Do tomorrow’s work today, and today’s work now. If the moment is lost, how will it return? (Kabir urges us to act promptly and not delay tasks. Time is fleeting, and procrastination only leads to regret.)

Speak in such a way that you lose your ego, Your words should soothe others and bring peace to yourself. Words have the power to heal or hurt. (Kabir highlights the importance of kind and humble speech, encouraging us to choose words that spread positivity.)

Neither wealth nor the mind perishes, though bodies die every day. Desires and greed never end, says Kabir. (Even though people die, their desires continue to drive humanity. Kabir warns against being trapped in materialism and urges spiritual awakening.)

If both my Guru and God stood before me, I would bow to my Guru first, for he showed me the path to God. (Kabir emphasizes the role of a Guru (teacher) in guiding us toward enlightenment. A Guru helps us realize divine truth.)

O seeker, why do you search for me? I am within you. I am neither in temples nor in pilgrimages, nor in seclusion. (Kabir teaches that God resides within us and not in external rituals or places. Self-realization and inner purity lead to divine connection.)

Chanting "You, You," I lost myself. Now, wherever I look, I see only you. (Kabir expresses the depth of spiritual surrender, where one's ego dissolves completely in devotion to the divine.)

Nothing belongs to me; whatever exists is Yours. I surrender all to You, for what do I truly own?

(Kabir speaks of detachment and surrender, acknowledging that everything in this world is God’s and nothing belongs to us.)

Defeat or victory lies in the mind, Kabir says. God is found through the conviction of the heart. The mind is the key to success or failure. (One who has faith and determination attains the divine.)

No austerity is greater than truth, and no sin is worse than falsehood. He who has truth in his heart, God dwells within him. (Truth is the highest virtue, and those who embrace it wholeheartedly are closest to the divine.)

Kaba has turned into Kashi, and Ram into Rahim. The flour has become fine wheat, and now Kabir sits and eats. (Kabir speaks of the unity of faiths, stating that different religions ultimately lead to the same divine truth.)

My Lord is a merchant who conducts His trade with ease. Without a weighing scale or balance, He measures the entire world. (Kabir describes God as the ultimate merchant who judges the world effortlessly, without any material tools, emphasizing divine justice and wisdom.)

This house of love is not your aunt’s home (not an easy place). Only those who can sever their heads and offer them in their hands may enter. (Kabir signifies that true love and devotion require complete surrender and sacrifice; it is not a path of comfort but of absolute dedication.)

The Brahmin of the Kali Yuga (present age) is a fool; do not give him charity. He leads a hundred families to hell, taking along his benefactors. (Kabir criticizes the hypocrisy of some religious figures who, instead of leading people to righteousness, misguide them, leading them away from the truth.)

Do not ask about the caste of the sage; ask about his knowledge. Value the sword itself, not the sheath in which it is kept. (Kabir teaches that spiritual worth lies in wisdom and knowledge, not in outward appearances or social status.)

The insult comes as one, but it turns into many. Kabir says, Do not retaliate; the One remains the same. (Kabir advises against responding to insults with anger or retaliation. Instead, focus on maintaining equanimity, as true spiritual wisdom sees the unity in all.)

There is no enemy in the world if the mind remains calm. If you let go of your ego, compassion will arise for all. (Kabir teaches that external conflicts are a reflection of internal disturbances. By calming the mind and shedding the ego, one develops compassion for all beings.)

What is the use of going to a mosque if your mind remains deaf? The reason you call out is that the truth lies within your heart. (Kabir emphasizes that external rituals are of no use if the heart remains disconnected. True devotion and understanding come from within, not from outward practices.)

One whose Guru is blind, the disciple remains in darkness too. The blind lead the blind; both fall into the pit. (Kabir warns against following a misguided spiritual teacher. A true Guru must have vision and wisdom; without it, both the Guru and disciple fall into ignorance.)

The bubble on the water is like our existence. One day, it will disappear, just like the stars vanish with the dawn. (Kabir compares human life to a bubble of water, which is short-lived and fragile. Just as the stars disappear at dawn, so too do we fade with time.)

The three worlds are like a cage, and the net of sin and virtue entangles us. All living beings are like prey, and death is the hunter. (Kabir reflects on the impermanence of life. Despite our actions, whether good or bad, we are all ultimately caught in the cycle of life and death, with time as the inevitable hunter.)

The name of God is like sweet milk, and worldly affairs are like water. A swan-like soul knows the essence of this milk, and the true knower understands this difference. (Kabir compares the name of God to sweet milk, which is nourishing, while worldly affairs are like water, which is fleeting and transient. A true seeker can discern between the divine and the worldly.)

If I say one thing, it is not enough; if I say two, it turns into an insult. It is as it is, Kabir says, and this is the essence of contemplation. (Kabir reflects on the ineffable nature of truth. Sometimes, trying to explain the truth only leads to misunderstanding, yet the truth remains as it is, beyond words and concepts.)

The swan sells pearls, and the pot of gold is filled. The one who does not understand its value, what use is there in giving it to them? (Kabir speaks of the preciousness of spiritual knowledge, comparing it to pearls and gold. Those who cannot appreciate its value will fail to recognize its worth, no matter how much it is offered to them.)

One who speaks of a land they have never seen is a liar. They eat the bitter, yet sell camphor (sweet-smelling) to others. (Kabir criticizes those who claim knowledge or wisdom about things they haven’t experienced. They deceive others by presenting sweet words while living with bitter realities themselves.)

The house of a serpent is never a house of a saint. It takes away all wealth and fills with poison as it sleeps. (Kabir compares a house filled with sin and selfishness to a house of a serpent. No matter how much wealth or material things one has, if there is poison in the heart, there can be no peace or sanctity.)

The mind is a chamber of illusion, the body a fortress of doubt. The poison of worldly desires cannot be overcome without the mantra of truth, for the sting of time is like the bite of a snake. (Kabir speaks of the confusion and doubts that arise from the material world (Maya). The only remedy is to follow the divine truth and not be swayed by the deceptive allure of worldly desires.)

Greed leads to a wasted life, eating up both sin and virtue. The one who lives with desire speaks only half-truths, and I curse such an existence. (Kabir criticizes greed and attachment to worldly desires. These desires can destroy both good and bad qualities, leaving the individual in a state of confusion and half-truths.)

The sandalwood is wrapped around the serpent. What effect can sandalwood have? When every pore of the body is filled with poison, how can nectar dwell within? (Kabir suggests that external beauty or qualities (like sandalwood) have no power when the inner essence (the mind and soul) is corrupted by negative traits like anger, greed, or hatred. True purity comes from within.)

Leave behind the beautiful flower of the semar tree, its dense and ugly thorns. Such a semar is for those whose heart has no eyes to see the truth. (Kabir warns against becoming attached to external beauty or superficial things. True devotion and understanding come from the heart, not from appearances.)

The root of desire is in the mind, I do not mislead you with delusion. The mind, like a boat, flows wherever the waves take it; do not let it wander. (Kabir speaks about the mind’s nature—how it is driven by desires. True wisdom lies in controlling the mind, not letting it drift with the currents of distractions and illusions.)

Without life, no living being can survive; life itself is borrowed. Show mercy to all life, wise one, and think deeply. (Kabir speaks about the interconnectedness of all life and urges compassion for every living being. All life is sacred, and true wisdom lies in understanding the interdependence of all creatures.)

The best is that which is true, and the one whose heart is true. Without truth, nothing is meaningful, even if a person does a million good deeds. (Kabir emphasizes the importance of truth in life. Even the best deeds or intentions are meaningless without truth at the heart of them.)

After gathering nine maans of milk, a drop causes destruction. The milk turns sour, and the butter is lost. (Kabir uses the metaphor of milk turning sour to show that even after much effort, if the final step or the essence is not handled correctly, all the effort can go to waste. True success lies in complete purity and understanding.)

Everyone speaks words, but those are words of the body. They do not come to the tongue easily; examine and discern them carefully. (Kabir emphasizes the importance of true wisdom in words. Many speak words, but not all words are truthful or meaningful. We must carefully discern and examine them.)

Poisonous plants grew in the house, and a serpent kept coiling around. Fear arose in the soul, and the night passed in restlessness. (Kabir uses the metaphor of poison and a serpent to describe the dangers of negative influences. The mind, filled with such poison, experiences fear and unrest.)

This world is like a trap and a rat's nest. The father and son, despite being entangled, cannot live together. (Kabir uses the metaphor of a mousetrap to explain the entanglement of people in material life. Despite familial bonds, one can’t escape the separation caused by worldly attachments.)

The scent of sandalwood is in the Malaya mountains, but it is not the same as the Malaya mountain itself. (Kabir highlights the difference between appearance and reality. The fragrance of sandalwood is present, but the mountain is not sandalwood itself. Similarly, external appearances can be deceptive.)

When a fool is taught, what is the use of knowledge tied in knots? Coal can never become bright, no matter how much soap you use. (Kabir uses the metaphor of coal to explain that wisdom cannot be gained by a fool. No matter how much you polish it, the inherent nature does not change unless the person is receptive to it.)

Praise the diamond, for it endures the hardest blows, but the deceitful man, like a crooked needle, is revealed to be false. (Kabir emphasizes the value of a person who can endure hardship (symbolized by the diamond) and contrasts this with the deceptive nature of a person who, like a bent needle, cannot be trusted.)

From the One came the infinite, and the infinite returns to the One. When one realizes the unity, the infinite merges into the One. (Kabir talks about the oneness of existence, where everything originates from the one divine source and ultimately returns to that source.)

The diamond lay in the market, covered in dust. Many fools passed by and perished, but one wise person picked it up. (Kabir compares the rare wisdom (symbolized by the diamond) to being hidden in plain sight. Only those with true understanding can recognize and value it.)

The words are like thorns stuck in the heart, They cannot be removed; they remain as food for someone else. (Kabir compares harsh or ill-chosen words to thorns that are difficult to remove, causing persistent pain and harm, and impacting others.)

What is gained by renouncing illusion if you still don’t abandon ego? The ego, deceiving even the wise, consumes everything. (Kabir speaks about the importance of discarding the ego. Even if one renounces illusion, without removing ego, they remain deceived.)

Whoever did not gather lost the opportunity. When the time of harvest came, they couldn’t gather, and it was too late. (Kabir highlights the importance of taking advantage of opportunities and gathering wisdom and resources when they are available, as missing them leads to regret.)

The salt brings the flavor, and the one who brings it is praised. But the one who brings the salt and saves the house from burning is even more praiseworthy. (Kabir praises those who not only bring value but also protect what is valuable, symbolizing the importance of care and protection in life.)

In the cave of the mirror, the reflection of the self remains. Seeing its own image, the dog barks and perishes. (Kabir reflects on how one can get lost in the illusion of the self, much like a dog barking at its own reflection.)

The sandalwood aroma is not blocked, yet it is a reason for cutting. Do not kill the living, for all attachments are the cause of destruction. (Kabir advises against attachments and urges not to harm the living, as an attachment only leads to suffering.)

The bee gets lost in the garden, surrounded by many flowers. Similarly, a person lost in desires eventually meets with despair. (Kabir warns about the traps of worldly desires, which lead to frustration and despair.)

The creature’s tongue stirs, speaking nonsense every moment. The mind wanders in confusion, leading to destruction by time. (Kabir describes how the mind and speech, when uncontrolled, lead to confusion and ultimately destruction.)

I didn’t go, nor did I understand, and couldn’t find the way. The blind met the blind, who would show the way? (Kabir describes the futility of relying on those equally lost, where neither can guide the other.)

Close your mouth and refrain from speaking excessively. Be with the discerning, and reflect on the guru’s teachings. (Kabir advocates for silence and discernment, encouraging reflection on wise teachings rather than indulging in endless speech.)

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Pratha Editorial Team