Ber Chalya Mera Bhai

O wise one, I was the first to be born
Then my elder brother
With great fanfare my father was born
In the end my mother

All things seem possible in the upside-down world of Kabir! I am born first and the mother is born last; an ant carries an elephant for her dowry; the baby in the womb speaks but not the child that is born. What does it all mean? We, who are ever seeking for meanings (and perhaps ever failing), are hopelessly baffled by the ‘ulatbaansi’ (upside-down verse) of Kabir. Perhaps it is we, not Kabir, who are looking at the world upside-down, the wrong way round. I heard this song from Mahesha Ram ji of Chhatangarh village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Listen to his wonderful rendition on Ajab Shahar here.

Ber chalya mera bhai
Magan hui, ber chalya mera bhai
Raam re naam ro gelo re pakdo
Chhodo ni moorkhaai
Raam re naam ro gelo re pakdo
Chhodo ni ghamandaai

Pehle toh guruji main janmya
Peechhe bada bhai
Dhoom dhaam sa pita re janmya
Sabse peechhe maai
Ber chalya mera bhai…

Pehle toh guruji doodh jamaayo
Peechhe gaay ne doi
Bachhda unra rame pet mein
Ghrit bechva gayi
Ber chalya mera bhai…

Keedi chali saasre
Nau man surmo saath
Haathi unra haath mein
Oont lapetya jaai
Ber chalya mera bhai…

Eenda hata bolta
Bachhiya bolya naai
Kahat Kabira suno bhai saadho
Moorakh samjhe naai
Ber chalya mera bhai…

Time is Slipping Away

Time is slipping away, my friend
Meditate – time is flying away
Take the path of Raam’s name
Let go of foolishness
Quit this silly pride

O wise one, I was the first to be born
Then my elder brother
With great fanfare my father was born
In the end my mother
Time is slipping away…

O wise one, first the yogurt was set
Then the cow got milked
While the cow was yet to deliver
The butter fetched a good price
Time is slipping away…

The ant goes to her husband’s home
Nine bags of kohl, her dowry
In one hand, she carries an elephant
Under the other arm, a camel
Time is slipping away…

The unborn child could speak
The newborn child says nothing
Says Kabir, listen seekers
Fools can go on guessing
Time is slipping away…

Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Baahar Kyon Bhatke

When your truth is within you, why look outside? Why keep wandering? This is the question Kabir asks us in this song, which we first heard in the voice of Mahesha Ram ji from near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

Aisa aisa heerla ghat maan kahiye

Johri bina heera kaun paarkhe?

Thaaro Raam hirday mein

Baahar kyon bhatke?

Aisa aisa ghrit toh doodh maan kahiye

Jhugiye bina maakhan kaise nikle?

Thaaro Raam hirday mein...

Aisi aisi aag toh lakdi maan kahiye

Ghasiye bina aag kaise nikle?

Thaaro Raam hirday mein...

Aisa aisa kivaad toh hivde pe jadiya

Guruji bina taala kaun khole?

Thaaro Raam hirday mein...

Kahe ho Kabir sa, suno bhai saadho

Raam mile thaane kaun hatke?

Thaaro Raam hirday mein...

Why Look Outside?

Your Raam is in your heart

Why search outside?

Such rare gems hidden in the body

Who but a jeweller can know their worth

Why wander outside?

Such pure ghee hidden in the milk

Will butter rise without churning?

Why look outside?

Such warm fire hidden in the wood

Will flames ignite without friction?

Why search outside?

Such stiff locks studded over the heart

Who but the guru can open these bolts?

Why wander outside?

Kabir says, listen seekers

Find Raam, then who can disturb you?

Why look outside?

Translation by Vipul Rikhi

Aisi Mhaari Preet

With Diwali firecrackers as the backdrop, this live recording from a satsang in Pune in November last year speaks of an intensely intimate love: like the vine for the tree, like the fish for the sea. This beloved is closer than one’s own heartbeat.

We learnt this song from Prahladji, among the many others that he’s been and continues to be an amazing channel for. The sweetness of the Malwi dialect adds its own special flavour to the song. With much gratitude to Sheetal Vaidya, Neerad Trivedi and aunty for hosting the satsang and for this recording.

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo

Ho nirdhan ka ho Raam

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo

Ho durbal ka ho Raam

Bhavsaagar mein bhoolo mati

Tam toh jharkat ham beladi

Raanga tam se liptaaye

Tam toh dhaldo ne ham sookhi jaavaan

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh samdar ham maachhali

Raanga tamaara ho maay

Tam toh sookho ne ham mari jaavaan

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Tam toh baadal ham moriya

Raanga tam se judaaye

Raanga tam se harkaaye

Tam toh garjo ne ham boliya

Tam toh barso ne ham boliya

Mhaara kai ho havaal?

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Kahe ho Kabir Dharmidas se

Piyu thaara ghat maay

Piyu hirday dhadkaaye

Aisi mhaari preet nibhaavajo…

Be True to My Love

Be true to my love

Like the poor have no one but their Raam

Be true to my love

Like the weak have nothing but their faith

Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean

You are the tree, and I the creeper

I’ll stay in your embrace

If you wither, I’ll dry up too

What will happen to me without you?

Be true to my love…

You are the sea, and I the fish

I’ll stay immersed in you

If you dry up, I’ll die too

What would I be without you?

Be true to me love…

You are the cloud, I the peacock

I’m connected to you

I get great joy from you

When you rain, I sing and dance

What would I be without you?

Be true to my love…

Kabir says, O Dharamdas

The beloved is within your body

The beloved is your own heartbeat

Don’t leave me alone in this life-ocean

Be true to my love…

(translated by Vipul Rikhi)

Raam Ras Meetho Ghano

In this song, Kabir asks us to burn down our house. Only then will a new house arise. And the promise of a new house is 'Raam ras' - the amazingly sweet nectar of Raam, our actual, inner self. I learnt this song from Mahesha Ram ji and his accompanist Amolak Ram. Find more songs at http://ishqfakiri.com/

Main mera ghar jaadiya re, jogiya ji
Liyo paleeta haath
Koi agar jaado ghar aapro re, jogiya ji
Chalo hamaare saath

Raam ras meetho ghano re, jogiya ji
Piye amar hoi jaaye

Ghar jaadyo ghar ubhare re, jogiya ji
Ghar raakhyo ghar jaaye
Ek achambho main joviyo re, jogiya ji
Mado kaal ne khaaye
Raam ras...

Aago re aage dav jade re, jogiya ji
Peechhe hariya hoye
Balihaari un roonkhdi re, jogiya ji
Jad kaatyo phal hoye
Raam ras...

Dhruv piyo, Prahlad piyo re, jogiya ji
Piyo Peepe Ravidas
Bhagat Kabira ras pi rahyo re, jogiya ji
Phir peevan ri aas

Raam ras... 

The Drink of Raam 

I burnt down my house, yogi

I took up the flaming torch

If you scorch your own house, yogi

Then join me on this walk

The drink of Raam is incredibly sweet

One who drinks it never dies

Scorch the house to make a house arise, yogi

Protect it and it’s gone!

I saw a strange, wondrous sight, yogi

A dead man was eating up time 

            Incredibly sweet… 

Ahead, a blaze rages, yogi

Behind it, greenery thrives

I saw such a plant, yogi

Cut the root and the fruit revives 

            Incredibly sweet… 

Dhruv drank it, Prahlad drank it, yogi

Peepa and Ravidas drank it in

Kabir too is drinking, yogi

His thirst as great as it’s ever been 

            Incredibly sweet… 

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)