One Hundred Poems of Kabir/XII
XII
II. 24. hamsa, kaho puratan bat
hamsa, kaho puratan bat
kaun des se aayaa hamsaa, utarnaa kaun ghaat
kahaan hamsaa bisram kiya hai, kahaan lagaaye aas
ab hee hamsaa chet saberaa, chalo hamaare saath
Sansay sok vahan nahin vyaapye,nahin kaal ke tras
Hiyan madan-ban phool rahen hain, aaven soham baas
Man bhauran jihn arujh rahe hain, sukh kee na abhilaas
Tell me, O Swan, your ancient tale.
From what land do you come, O Swan? to what shore will you fly?
Where would you take your rest, O Swan, and what do you seek?
Even this morning, O Swan, awake, arise, follow me!
There is a land where no doubt nor sorrow have rule: where the terror of Death is no more.
There the woods of spring are a-bloom, and the fragrant
scent "He is I" is borne on the wind:
There the bee of the heart is deeply immersed, and desires
no other joy.