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Dohas of Rahim

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रहिमन धागा प्रेम का, मत तोड़ो चटकाय। टूटे से फिर ना जुड़े, जुड़े गाँठ परि जाय॥ जो रहीम उत्तम प्रकृति, का करि सकत कुसंग। चन्दन विष व्यापत नहीं, लिपटे रहत भुजंग॥ रहिमन पानी राखिए, बिन पानी सब सून। पानी गए न ऊबरे, मोती मानुष चून॥ बिगड़ी बात बने नहीं, लाख करो किन कोय। रहिमन फाटे दूध को, मथे न माखन होय॥ रहिमन देखि बड़ेन को, लघु न दीजिए डारि। जहाँ काम आवै सुई, कहा करे तलवारि॥ जो बड़ेन को लघु कहें, नहीं रहीम घटि जाहिं। गिरधर मुरलीधर कहें, कछु दुख मानत नाहिं॥ रहिमन ओछे नरन सों, बैर भली न प्रीत। काटे चाटे स्वान के, दोऊ भाँति विपरीत॥ वे रहीम नर धन्य हैं, पर उपकारी अंग। बाँटन वारे को लगे, ज्यों मेहंदी को रंग॥ रहिमन विपदा हू भली, जो थोरे दिन होय। हित अनहित या जगत में, जान परत सब कोय॥ खीरा सिर ते काटि के, मलियत लौन लगाय। रहिमन करुए मुखन को, चहिए यही सजाय॥
Transliteration

rahiman dhāgā prem kā, mat toḍo caṭkāy. ṭūṭe se phir nā juḍe, juḍe gāṁṭh pari jāy. jo rahīm uttam prakṛti, kā kari sakat kusaṅg. candan viṣ vyāpat nahīṁ, lipṭe rahat bhujaṅg. rahiman pānī rākhiye, bin pānī sab sūn. pānī gae na ūbare, motī mānuṣ cūn. bigḍī bāt bane nahīṁ, lākh karo kin koy. rahiman phāṭe dūdh ko, mathe na mākhan hoy. rahiman dekhi baḍen ko, laghu na dījiye ḍāri. jahāṁ kām āvai suī, kahā kare talvāri. jo baḍen ko laghu kaheṁ, nahīṁ rahīm ghaṭi jāhiṁ. giridhar muralīdhar kaheṁ, kachu dukh mānat nāhiṁ. rahiman oche naran soṁ, bair bhalī na prīt. kāṭe cāṭe svān ke, doū bhāṁti viparīt. ve rahīm nar dhany haiṁ, par upkārī aṅg. bāṁṭan vāre ko lage, jyoṁ mehṁdī ko raṅg. rahiman vipadā hū bhalī, jo thore din hoy. hit anahit yā jagat meṁ, jān parat sab koy. khīrā sir te kāṭi ke, maliyat laun lagāy. rahiman karue mukhan ko, cahiye yahī sajāy.

Translation

Rahim says: do not snap the thread of love carelessly. Once broken, it cannot be joined again; and even if it is, a knot remains. Rahim says: those of noble nature — what can bad company do to them? Snakes coil around the sandalwood tree, yet the sandalwood is never touched by poison. Rahim says: preserve your 'water' (honor/luster/life) — without it, everything is barren. Without 'water,' neither the pearl (its luster), nor man (his honor), nor flour (its binding) can survive. The word 'paani' carries three meanings: luster for a pearl, dignity for a person, and water for flour. A matter once spoiled cannot be set right, no matter how much one tries. Rahim says: no amount of churning can produce butter from curdled milk. Act at the right time; repentance afterward is futile. Rahim says: seeing the great, do not discard the small. Where a needle is needed, what can a sword do? Everything and everyone, big or small, has its own importance. Rahim says: calling the great by lesser names does not diminish them. Call Lord Krishna 'Giridhar' (holder of a mountain) or 'Muralidhar' (holder of a flute) — He takes no offense, nor is His glory reduced. Rahim says: with lowly people, neither enmity nor friendship is good. Like a dog — whether it bites or licks, both are unpleasant. Rahim says: blessed are those whose lives are devoted to the service of others. Like the one who distributes henna — their own hands are colored too. Those who do good for others find joy themselves. Rahim says: even adversity is good if it lasts only a few days. For it is in times of trouble that one discovers who in this world is truly a friend and who is a foe. A cucumber is cut at the top and rubbed with salt to draw out its bitterness. Rahim says: this is the fitting remedy for those with bitter tongues.

Introduction

Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khana (1556-1627) was one of the Navaratnas (nine gems) of Mughal Emperor Akbar’s court and a major poet of the Hindi Bhakti era. He was a warrior, statesman, and scholar, as well as an exceptionally generous and charitable person. Rahim composed numerous dohas in Brajbhasha on ethics, love, devotion, and practical life wisdom. His couplets carry profound meaning in simple language and remain just as relevant today. He stands as a unique example of Hindu-Muslim harmony.