Thirsty Fish

(by Kabir)

pâni mem mina piyâsi mohi suni âvata hânsi
ghara mem bastu dhari nahim sûjhai, bâhara DhûNDhana jâsi
m.rga ki nâbhi manhi kastûri bana bana khojana bâsi
âtma jnâna binâ saba jhûThâ kyâ kâbâ kyâ kâsi
gangâ jâya godâvari kinhi bhavita binâ sab nâsi
jalathala sâgara pûra rahayâ hai bhaTakata phirai udâsi
kahe kabir sune bha'i sâdhe sahaja milai avinâsi

When I hear that the fish is thirsty in the water, it makes me laugh!
You have a thing in the house but you don't see it; you go to look for it outdoors.
The musk is in the deer's navel, but it's searching from forest to forest, all over for it.
Without gnosis of the Self, all is false!
What good then is the Ka‘bah? What good is Kashi (Benares)?
You can go (on pilgrimage) to the Ganges or to the Godavari,
but without It, all will become ruined.
It dwells all throughout water, land, and sea.
If you expect misery you'll lose the way.
Kabir says: Listen, brother sadhu, the sincere will attain immortality.

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