5.3: Kabir’s indifference to Worldly Things

26. Well, because he had done some good deeds in his former births, Kabir was born to him (this Muhammadan). Day by day he grew in stature and his parents had him married.

27. The mother and father taught Kabir how to carry on his avocation, but he would not take it to heart. He would give no attention to a business life.

28. He could not distinguish what belonged to him and what belonged to others. He did not know what was joy and what was sorrow. He paid the same respect to a Brahman, a prince, or a pauper.

29. If he saw a heap of money fall before him, he had no desire to pick it up. If a thief came to rob him of his money, he did nothing to protect himself.

30. Because Kabir worshipped in this way, his business declined. The evil-doers and evil-minded laughed as they saw Kabir’s conduct.

31. If a banana tree and a bor tree are planted in the same place it will not be happy for either. How can fire and water dwell together in friendship?

32. How can a prostitute and a dutiful wife, a miser and a generous giver, a reviler and a man of intelligence, live together in peace? There will be enmity between the one and the other.

33. How can a fly and dainty food get on well together? A goat-herd and a pandit cannot live together in friendship.

34. How can the demon Rahu and the moon, a moth and a flame, the sea and the rishi Agasti, dwell in love?

35. While the story of Shri Krishna was being read, Shishupal [Shishupala] was unwilling to listen. When Ravan [Ravana] heard of the might of Shri Ram he did not feel happy.

36. As there is perpetual enmity between poison and nectar, so there is always a mental, opposition between worldly riches and the supreme spiritual riches.