I.48. sukh sugar men aike
WHEN AT last you are come to the ocean of happiness, do not go back thirsty.
Wake, foolish man! for Death stalks you. Here is pure water before you; drink it at every breath.
Do not follow the mirage on foot, but thirst for the nectar;
Dhruva, Prahlad, and Shukadeva have drunk of it, and also Raidas has tasted it:
The saints are drunk with love, their thirst is for love.
Kabir says: 'Listen to me, brother! The nest of fear is broken.
Not for a moment have you come face to face with the world:
You are weaving your bondage of falsehood, your words are full of deception:
With the load of desires which you hold on your head, how can you be light?'
Kabir says: 'Keep within you truth, detachment, and love.'

          মনকে হেথায় বসিয়ে রাখিস নে।
তোর          ফাটল-ধরা ভাঙা ঘরে
          ধুলার 'পরে পড়ে থাকিস নে।
          ওরে অবশ, ওরে খেপা,
          মাটির 'পরে ফেলবি রে পা,
                তারে নিয়ে গায়ে মাখিস নে।
          ওই প্রদীপ আর জ্বালিয়ে রাখিস নে--
রাত্রি যে তোর ভোর হয়েছে,
          স্বপন নিয়ে পড়ে থাকিস নে।
          উঠল এবার প্রভাত-রবি,
          খোলা পথে বাহির হবি,
               মিথ্যা ধুলায় আকাশ ঢাকিস নে।

HALF ASLEEP ON the shore you dreaded
the voice of Tempest
when he thundered in your ears his 'No'.
You had said to each other
that the shore had its plenty,
the house had its comfort,
when suddenly grinding his flashing teeth
Tempest growled 'No'.
But I have made Tempest my comrade
and left my shore,
my ship tosses on the sea.
I have trusted the Terrible,
have filled my sails with his breath
and my heart with his assurance
that the shore is there.
He cries to me, 'You are vagrant
even as I am myself,
Victory to you.'
Things are shattered to pieces
scattered by the wind,
the timid murmur in despair,
'The end of time has come.'
Tempest cries, 'Only that remains
which is utterly given away.'
With trust in him I march forward,
I look not back
while the hoarded heap is swept away by flood.
My traveller's reed is tuned
with the tune of his loud laughter,
it sings: Away with lures of desire,
with bonds that are fixed,
with the achievement that is past and hope that is idle.
Learn for your drum the dance-time
of the reckless waves beating against rocks.
Away with greed and fear,
with tyranny's banner borne by slaves.
Come Divine Destruction,
drive us away from the house,
from safety's easy path.
Come with the flutter of your wings of death,
spread upon the wind your cry 'No'.
No rest, no languor,
No load of feebleness weighing down the head.
Knock and break open the miser's door.
Scatter away the musty gloom of storage,
banish the self-distrust
that seeks a hole wherein to hide,
and let your trumpet proclaim
in the wind
your terrible cry 'No'.