I
How a noble soul should be.
Farmer's thrasher collects every grain but blows away the husk,
A noble soul should be such, like the thrasher, gathers the virtues;
And blows away the mind's dirt.
II
My guru and the Almighty, both standing in front of me.
Dilemma it is; whose feet should I touch in submission?
I reach for my Guru's; he alone is empowered
To make my spirit one with the God.
III
Reading many books of knowledge,
Roamed the world but none became a Pundit.
Two and half letters* spells "Love";
One who studied this becomes a Pundit anon.
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Author Notes
1). A liberal translation of two short poems of Kabir originally written in the vernacular Hindustani language.
2). Poem III- *The two and Half letters refer to Hindi word for love (Prem) which is written in the Devanagari script by combining two and half alphabets (P +r+EM). It is Poet Kabir's way of pointing out, how insignificant knowledge is if one has no love for humanity at heart, while pursuing the path of learning all over the world.
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