Wisdom for the Journey

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब।
पल में प्रलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब॥

(What you plan to do tomorrow, do today, and what you plan to do today, do now. Disaster can strike in a moment, so when will you do it?)

धीरे-धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय।
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतु आए फल होय॥

(O mind, have patience, for everything happens in its own time. Even if the gardener waters the tree with a hundred pots, the fruit comes only when the season arrives.)

जिन खोजा तिन पाइयाँ, गहरे पानी पैठ।
मैं बपुरा बूडन डरा, रहा किनारे बैठ॥

(Those who searched found it, like a diver going into deep water. I, poor soul, feared drowning and stayed sitting on the shore.)

बुरा जो देखन मैं चला, बुरा न मिलिया कोय।
जो दिल खोजा आपना, मुझसे बुरा न कोय॥

(I set out to find a bad person and found none. When I looked within my own heart, no one was worse than me.)

पोथी पढ़ि-पढ़ि जग मुआ, पंडित भया न कोय।
ढाई आखर प्रेम का, पढ़े सो पंडित होय॥

(The world wore itself out reading books, yet no one became truly wise. One who learns the two and a half letters of love becomes the real scholar.)

निंदक नियरे राखिए, आँगन कुटी छवाय।
बिन पानी साबुन बिना, निर्मल करे सुभाय॥

(Keep your critic close, even build him a hut in your courtyard. Without water or soap, he cleanses your nature.)

ऐसी बानी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोय।
औरन को शीतल करे, आपहु शीतल होय॥

(Speak words that are free of ego. They soothe others and bring peace to you as well.)

जाति न पूछो साधु की, पूछ लीजिए ज्ञान।
मोल करो तलवार का, पड़ा रहन दो म्यान॥

(Do not ask a sage’s caste, ask about his knowledge. Value the sword, and let the sheath lie aside.)

माला फेरत जुग भया, फिरा न मन का फेर।
कर का मनका डार दे, मन का मनका फेर॥

(Ages passed turning the rosary, yet the mind did not change. Put down the beads in your hand and turn the beads of your mind.)

साईं इतना दीजिए, जा में कुटुम समाय।
मैं भी भूखा न रहूँ, साधु न भूखा जाय॥

(O Lord, give me just enough to sustain my family, so that I do not go hungry and no holy guest leaves my door hungry.)

दया धर्म का मूल है, पाप मूल अभिमान।
तुलसी दया न छाँड़िए, जब लग घट में प्रान॥

(Compassion is the root of dharma, and pride is the root of sin. Tulsi says, never give up compassion as long as life remains in the body.)

तुलसी मीठे वचन ते, सुख उपजत चहुँ ओर।
बसीकरन इक मंत्र है, परिहरु बचन कठोर॥

(Sweet words bring happiness all around. This is a mantra for winning hearts, so give up harsh speech.)

तुलसी साथी विपति के, विद्या विनय विवेक।
साहस सुकृति सुसत्यव्रत, राम भरोसो एक॥

(In times of trouble, your companions are knowledge, humility, wisdom, courage, good deeds, commitment to truth, and faith in God.)

तुलसी इस संसार में, भाँति-भाँति के लोग।
सबसे हिल-मिल चालिए, नदी नाव संजोग॥

(In this world there are all kinds of people. Get along with everyone, as strangers come together by chance on a boat crossing a river.)

रहिमन धागा प्रेम का, मत तोड़ो चटकाय।
टूटे से फिर ना जुरै, जुरै गाँठ परि जाय॥

(Do not snap the thread of love with a jerk. Once broken it does not join again, and if it does, a knot remains.)

रहिमन देखि बड़ेन को, लघु न दीजिए डारि।
जहाँ काम आवे सुई, कहा करे तलवारि॥

(Seeing something big, do not discard the small. Where a needle is needed, what can a sword do?)

तरुवर फल नहिं खात हैं, सरवर पियहिं न पान।
कहि रहीम परकाज हित, संपति सँचहि सुजान॥

(Trees do not eat their own fruit, and lakes do not drink their own water. Rahim says the wise gather wealth only for the good of others.)

जो रहीम उत्तम प्रकृति, का करि सकत कुसंग।
चंदन विष व्यापत नहीं, लपटे रहत भुजंग॥

(One of noble character cannot be spoiled by bad company. Sandalwood is not poisoned even when snakes coil around it.)

रहिमन विपदा हू भली, जो थोरे दिन होय।
हित अनहित या जगत में, जान परत सब कोय॥

(Even adversity is good if it lasts only a few days, for it reveals who is a friend and who is not.)

करत-करत अभ्यास के, जड़मति होत सुजान।
रसरी आवत-जात ते, सिल पर परत निसान॥

(With constant practice, even a dull mind becomes skilled. A rope moving back and forth leaves marks even on a stone.)