jb jrIAY qb hoie Bsm qnu rhY ikrm dl KweI ]
jab jareeai thab hoe bhasam than rehai kiram dhal khaaee ||
When the body is burnt, it turns to ashes; if it is not cremated, then it is eaten by armies of worms.
kwcI gwgir nIru prqu hY ieAw qn kI iehY bfweI ]1]
kaachee gaagar neer parath hai eiaa than kee eihai baddaaee ||1||
The unbaked clay pitcher dissolves, when water is poured into it; this is also the nature of the body. ||1||
kwhy BeIAw iPrqO PUilAw PUilAw ]
kaahae bheeaa firatha fooliaa fooliaa ||
Why, O Siblings of Destiny, do you strut around, all puffed up with pride?
jb ds mws aurD muK rhqw so idnu kYsy BUilAw ]1] rhwau ]
jab dhas maas ouradhh mukh rehathaa so dhin kaisae bhooliaa ||1|| rehaao ||
Have you forgotten those days, when you were hanging, face down, for ten months? ||1||Pause||
ijau mDu mwKI iqau sToir rsu joir joir Dnu kIAw ]
jio madhh maakhee thio sathor ras jor jor dhhan keeaa ||
Like the bee which collects honey, the fool eagerly gathers and collects wealth.
mrqI bwr lyhu lyhu krIAY BUqu rhn ikau dIAw ]2]
marathee baar laehu laehu kareeai bhooth rehan kio dheeaa ||2||
At the time of death, they shout, “Take him away, take him away! Why leave a ghost lying around?”||2||
dyhurI lau brI nwir sµig BeI AwgY sjn suhylw ]
aucwrx lau brI: v`Krw krky
dhaehuree lo baree naar sang bhee aagai sajan suhaelaa ||
His wife accompanies him to the threshold, and his friends and companions beyond.
mrGt lau sBu logu kutµbu BieE AwgY hMsu Akylw ]3]
aucwrx mr-Gt
maraghatt lo sabh log kuttanb bhaeiou aagai hans akaelaa ||3||
All the people and relatives go as far as the cremation grounds, and then, the soul-swan goes on alone. ||3||
khqu kbIr sunhu ry pRwnI pry kwl gRs kUAw ]
kehath kabeer sunahu rae praanee parae kaal gras kooaa ||
Says Kabeer, listen, O mortal being: you have been seized by Death, and you have fallen into the deep, dark pit.
JUTI mwieAw Awpu bµDwieAw ijau nlnI BRim sUAw ]4]2]
jhoothee maaeiaa aap bandhhaaeiaa jio nalanee bhram sooaa ||4||2||
You have entangled yourself in the false wealth of Maya, like the parrot caught in the trap. ||4||2||