In this birth as man amend, O Sádhus: why be deceived to your destruction?

In this birth as man amend, O Sádhus: why be deceived to your destruction?
A time like this will not come again: do not then gamble this life away.

Be not deceived with this playing with puppets: on the root-essence fix your mind.
So long as in your own heart naught is perceived: so long you gain nothing at all.

In pilgrimage and fasting, in prayers and penances: in these be not deluded.
From age to age in Jama's noose caught, ever you swing, birth after birth.

From bathings and ablutions comes nothing, nothing; nothing from the sounding of temple bells.
From ordinance and washed garments nothing—nothing from all your songs and dancing.

A horn, a Sàdhu's robe, a wallet, an ash-smeared body: from such disguises the Master turns away.
Says Kabìr, Let him, who craves salvation, take heed unto my saying.
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Kabir
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