Meri Chunri Mein Parigyo Daag Piya

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Kabir Love Songs - 13

Meri Chunri Mein Parigayo Daag Piya

Panch Tat Ki Bani Chunariya
Sorah So Baid Laag Kiya
Yeh Chunri Mere Maike Te Aayee
Sasure Mein Manva Khoye Diya
Mal Mal Dhoye Daag Na Chhute
Gyan Ka Sabun Laye Piya
Kahat Kabir Daag Tab Chhuti Hai
Jab Sahib Apnaye Liya

maorI caunarI maoM pirgayaao daga ipyaa.

paMca tt kI banaI caunairyaa
saaorh saaO baOd laaga ikyaa.
yah caunarI maoro maOko to AayaI
sasauro maoM manavaa Kaoya idyaa.
mala mala Qaaoyao daga na CUTo
gyaana ka saabauna laayao ipyaa.
kht kbaIr daga tba CuiT hO
jaba saahba Apnaaya ilayaa.

Translation
My Love, my Veil is stained

Made from the elements five
Absorbed in sixteen hundred sensory traps*
The Veil that came from my parental home
Lost its luster in my in-laws house
I wash it over and over, yet the stain goes not
My Love, bring the soap of knowledge
Says Kabir
These stains will eventually leave
When my Love will make me his own.

* Many authors have translated this line as 1600 physicians or experts. However, to me logically it appears that the body composed of five elements is subject to hundreds of Vikaras or disorders which I find suitable in referring as "sensory traps".

My Understanding
Strange though it appears, in this love song, Kabir the weaver, uses the word Chunri (Veil) deftly to unveil the mis-perception of "truth" as an identification with one's body rather than with the invariant "Self". Perhaps rightly so, as the "Self" cannot get tainted! The love song seems to be indicative of a complete union towards oneness that transcends one from a mere sensual existence to one that is universal. The latter to me personally makes more sense as an absolute union or Samadhi is possible only when the mind becomes focused on a single idea. The idea that there is none other than the Self.

� Rajender Krishan
April 29, 2001

Index of Love Songs
in English

Index of Love Songs
in Hindi

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