Kahat Kabir Suno Bhai Sadho - Kin Sangh karoon mein sneh

Back in May 2009, i attended a concert by Prahlad Singh Tipaniya organized by theKabirproject.org.  That resulted in a series of blog posts here with songs, its lyrics and meaning in english. All of that was taken from the album purchased from their albums. At the concert, there was also Shabnam Virmani who is the person behind the Kabir project. She sang two songs which were beautiful, i searched for hem online and had no results. By chance, last week, i found her album on flipkart and ordered it. The album is called Songs of Kabir and it is very good. Her voice is very soothing and Kabir's lyrics need no mention.

I think of all the poets that i have listened,  Kabir is my favorite. I have rarely been able to understand him without external help (translations mainly) but once i understand his lines, they are simply beautiful. He combines very deep meaning with very simple lines. 

So, three years later, i am continuing that tradition. Following series of blog posts will mention Kabir songs, its translations and i will embed the song as well. I also have to go back and correct the old posts as  i had uploaded songs on imeem and imeem is dead now. Also, my intention is to not to violate copyrights of these songs, i would highly recommend people to go and buy these albums. My only intention is to spread these things, so that people can also find them as inspiring as they have inspired me. You can buy  from - 

http://www.kabirproject.org/music%20with%20books and http://www.flipkart.com/search-movie?query=Shabnam+Virmani

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किन संग करों मैं सनेह?

Whom shall i love, my friend?

हेलिए, किन संग करों मैं सनेह? सांगत कीजो धर्मी साधू री सांगत कीजो निर्मल साधू री चन्दन उगो इणा बागा मां हरख रही बन राय चन्दन पास में जाऊं , आप चन्दन हो जाऊं बांस उगो इणा बागा मां थरक रही बन राय आप जले औरन के जाले , अगनी घनी अंग माय दव लागो इणा बागा मां पंची बैठे आये हमरे जलों पंख बहिरो तम उडी परे को जाये फल खादा पान बिरोदिया, रमिया डालो डाल तम जलों मैं उबरूं, जीविणों कितरीक बार ? दव बूझ्यो झाड़ा मेटिये दूधे बूठा मेह कहत कबीरा धरमदास से, नित नित नवलो नेह

Whom shall i love, my friend? True seekers make good company Seek the kinship of the pure in heart A sandalwood grew in the grove Delighting all the forest I go near the sandalwood I become fragrant too! A bamboo grew in the grove All the forest trembled It burns itself and all around So much fire in the body! A fire lit the forest, a bird come and sat The wingless tree cried out - I'll burn, I am ablaze, But you, winged one, should fly! I ate your fruit, soiled your leaves Played from branch to branch Leave you to burn, and fly away? You live and love but once! The fire went out The clouds rained milk Says BKabir to Dharamdas - Every day my love is new!

There is also a story associated with the above book (as mentioned in the booklet) -
Once upon a time there was a thick forest which caught fire. As the blaze spread rapidly, the animals and birds began to flee. One brave little parrot however, decided to stay. The tree that she lived on - rooted and helpless - urged her to fly away but she didn't.  She found a lake nearby, plunged into it, flew back over the raging fire and flapped her tiny wings. Another two-three drops of water fell. She returned to the lake, plunged in, flew back and flapped her wings again. Another two-three drops of water fell. And so on and so forth.... The fleeing animals and birds scoffed at her. Some were stupefied at her foolhardiness and asked, "What do you think you're doing?" She turned to them and said, "I am doing what i can."

The clouds rolled by and on them were the beauteous gods, lying back in resplendent indifference. One of the gods however spotted the parrot and was curious. He swooped down in the form of an eagle to observe the bird more closely. The parrot was now getting charred and scorched with its relentless efforts.  The mighty god was moved to tears. The clouds thundered and burst with rain, sweeping across the forest and the fire went out.