Religion
Song V: Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill (1915) · From Songs of Kabir (1915)
Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?
When I gave up the tying of ribbons, still I tied my garment about me:
When I gave up tying my garment, still I covered my body in its folds.
So, when I give up passion, I see that anger remains;
And when I renounce anger, greed is with me still;
And when greed is vanquished, pride and vainglory remain;
When the mind is detached and casts Maya away, still it clings to the letter.
Kabîr says, "Listen to me, dear Sadhu! the true path is rarely found."
Cite this poem
MLA
Kabir. “Song V: Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/kabir/4/.
Chicago
Kabir. “Song V: Tell me, Brother, how can I renounce Maya?” Translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with Evelyn Underhill. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/kabir/4/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Kabir
- Song XIX: O my heart! the Supreme Spirit, the great Master, is near you: wake
- Song XXXVIII: The lock of error shuts the gate, open it with the key of love: Thus
- Song LVIII: Empty the Cup! O be drunken!
- Song LXXVII: O my heart! let us go to that country where dwells the Beloved
- Song XCVI: O friend, dear heart of mine, think well! if you love indeed