Kabir Das was a poet-saint संत-कवी (sant-kavi) who lived in approximately 15th century १५वीं सदी  (pandhravi sadi) India. You can read more about him here.

His poetry/couplets are famously known as दोहे (dohe; singular: दोहा doha) , and were written to dispense simple wisdom in vernacular Hindi, which widely appealed to the local folk. In addition to using uncomplicated language सरल भाषा (saral bhasha), Sant Kabirdas’ दोहे were written in Hindi borrowed from several local dialects including Bhojpuri (in Uttar Pradesh state in India).

Sant Kabir’s दोहे are often taught in schools as a means of poetry appreciation. Here are three दोहे that have always resonated with me since I was first introduced to them in high school. They are simple and powerful truths सत्य (satya) that are timeless.

साधु ऐसा चाहिए, जैसा सूप सुभाय
सार-सार को गहि रहै, थोथा देई उड़ाय।

A saint should be like a winnow–he should have the dexterity of mind to retain what is meaningful and do away with or let go of what is unimportant.

धीरे धीरे रे मना, धीरे सब कुछ होय
माली सींचे सौ घड़ा, ऋतु आये फल होय

Slowly, slowly, my mind. Everything will happen in time. Even if the gardener waters the plants a hundred times, the fruit will only come in springtime.

बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ, जैसा पेड़ खजूर
पंथी को छाया नहीं, फल लागे अति दूर

So what if you are tall and big like the date palm? It neither offers shade to the weary traveler nor are the fruits easy to pluck.

VOCABULARY