Translation   
Without a satguru¹ Man remains ignorant and lost
 
A lion cub became lost and wandered into a shepherd’s flock
He was adopted and raised by the shepherd
He played and moved with the sheep
Never realizing his true nature
 
A lion came from the forest
Seeing this fully grown sheep-lion,
He was amazed and angered
He caught him firmly and at once explained the truth
When the sheep-lion saw what he had become, he smiled
 
The fragrance of the musk is embedded within the deer
But the foolish animal runs hither and thither
Searching for the source of the fragrance
If only he could look within, He will find the fragrance within himself.
 
Says Kabir –
 
My being is centered in between ‘above’ and ‘below’,
the splendorous experience is indescribable
Listen, oh Aspirant!  turn within and find your Self.

¹ One who reveals the Ultimate Truth. The word has no English equivalent.

Explanation
Here Kabir uses an old mythical tale to explain the significance of the Guru. Most of us are caught in the ‘ways of the outside world’ and forget our true nature much like the sheep-lion in this Kabir’s song.  Kabir compares our foolishness to that of a deer who searches for the source of the fragrance outside, while it is always within him. The Lion-Guru, who knows the truth, is able to shake us out of our stupor and show us the true reality.
 
Kabir then tells us to find our joyous Self within that is neither above nor below but at the center. 

Translation & Explanation - Maalok & Krishna Kant Shukla
April 14, 2007

NOTE: For a deeper understanding of Kabir's reference to the "Center", readers should consider reading the explanation of Sri Ramana Maharishi.

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