Kabir ke Dohe
10 December 2006 at 8:14 pm | PersonalKabir is amongst the most quoted poets and also stands out as one of the most famous. However, most people only know a few of his poems or writings (the popular ones are a few of his dozens of doha’s … or couplets)
The most famous one is, of course
Kaal Kare So Aaj Kar, Aaj Kare So Ub
Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub
kala kro saao Aaja kr‚ Aaja kro saao Aba
pla maoM prlaya haoegaI‚ bahUrI kraogao kba
Translation
Tomorrows work do today, today’s work do now
If the moment is lost, the work be done how.
For more of his writings, check out Dohas of Kabir at boloji.com.
Good stuff.
I got my introduction to Kabir and his Dohas through my Hindi teacher Mr. Iqbal Ahmed at Cottons. Of course, like every other student, I couldn’t bear to listen to them in class … but now that he isn’t around to say them out again, I wish he was.
December 11th, 2006 at 5:28 pm
Albeit a bit longer, I believe the correct translation, that captures the essence, is:
What you are saying you will do tomorrow, do today. What you are saying you’ll do by the end of day, do this minute.
In a minute, it will be day-after-tomorrow. When will you do your work then?
December 12th, 2006 at 4:00 am
Actually subhi, the last part of your translation is a bit off.
Specifically: “Pal Mein Pralaya Hoyegi, Bahuri Karoge Kub” which translates as: “Disaster might strike in a (any) second, when will you do it (The task) after that”
Pal -> Second
Parlay -> Disaster
Bahuri -> When
Karoge -> Do
December 12th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
I believe its as follows:
Pal -> Second
Parlay -> Parsao -> day after tomorrow
Bahuri -> Home work ( i think it is either a poem or a maths table)
Karoge -> Do
December 13th, 2006 at 12:35 am
Nope. Parlay does not mean day after tomorrow…
Check out: http://www.wordanywhere.com/cgi-bin/fetch.pl?&word=parlay&words=paral%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fparal.gif&words=paralaa%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fparalaa.gif&words=paralay%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fparalay.gif&words=parala%7B%7Du%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fparala%257B%257Du.gif&words=parol%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fparol.gif&words=piyaraalaa%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fpiyaraalaa.gif&words=praaley%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fpraaley.gif&words=pralay%2CHindi%2CEnglish%2C%2Fimages%2Fh2e%2Fpralay.gif&num_items=16&related=true&pos=0
- Suramya
December 13th, 2006 at 12:37 am
Actually, This is the correct link. Ignore the link above.
- Suramya
December 14th, 2006 at 1:58 am
IIRC, Parlay -> modern “pralay”
Aaj kare so kal kar
Kal kare so parsoon
Itni Jaldi Kyun kare
Jab jeena hain barsoon
December 27th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Pralay (=parlay) means the end of the world, or a disaster of that magnitude.
Bahuri technically means to return. In other words when will you return to that piece of work?
Kabir is talking about major, unannounced interruptions that disrupt future plans. He therefore advises against procrastination.