Couplets From Kabir, Rahim and Amir Khusro

पोथी पढ़ पढ़ जग मुआ, पंडित भयो ना कोय,

ढाई आखर प्रेम के, जो पढ़े सो पंडित होए.

Meaning: Written by kabir, perhaps the most used couplet in day to day life. It says that no one has ever attained greatness by just reading books. One who knows the meaning of love and forbearence is really great.

गुरु गोविन्द दोउ खरे, काके लागू पाये,

बलिहारी गुरु आपने, गोविन्द दियो मिलाये.

Meaning: Written by kabir, this couplet examines the importance of teacher in our life. It states that if God and teacher, both are present before us, whiom should we choose. We should choose teacher, because it is he who made us understand the meaning of God.

बुरा जो देखन मैं चला, बुरा ना मिलिया कोए,

जो मन खोजा आपणा, मुझसे बुरा ना कोए.

Meaning: Again creation of Kabir. It underlines the importance of introspection. It says that one goes on finding evil in everyone but i couldn't find it anywhere. When one introspects oneself, there is no one more bad than me.

रहिमन धागा प्रेम को, मत तोरो चटकाव,

टूटे से फिर ना मिले, मिले गाँठ पर जाये.

Meaning: Rahim says the thread of love is very sacred one and care should be taken that it doesn't break. Because its very hard to join it again, and even if it joins somehow, there is a knot which makes it abrupt.

रहिमन विपदाहू भली जो, थोरे दिन होए,

हित अनहित या जगत में, जानि परत सब कोय.

Meaning: Rahim says, trouble which comes for a small duration is very good for us. Because it gives us a chance to identify those who really love you and those who fake it.

खुसरू दरिया  प्रेम  का, उल्टी वा की धार,
जो उतरा सो डूब गया, जो डूबा सो पार.



Meaning: O khusro, the sea of love runs in strange and unknown directions. One who jumps into it, drowns and the one who drowns ultimately gets across.

(P.S. Motivational one :P)

खुसरु बाज़ी प्रेम कि, मैं खेलूं पी के संग
जीत गयी तो पिया मोरे, हारी पी के संग.

Meaning: Khusro plays game of love with his beloved. If he wins, beloved is his and if he looses, he belong s to his beloved.

                     खीर पकाई जतन से, चरखा दिया चलाय,

                     आया कुत्ता खा गया, तू बैठी ढोल बजाय.

This couplet has an interesting context. Once while Amir Khusro was going somewhere, he stopped by a well. Women standing there instantly recognised him and asked to make a couplet containing the words,"khir" , "charkha", "kutta", "dhol". And then only he could drink water. Legend is that, khusro came up with above couplet within a moment.