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There is nothing but water at the holy bathing places

by Kabir
Translated by Rabindranath Tagore (1915) · From Songs of Kabir, XLII

There is nothing but water at the holy bathing places; and I know that they are useless, for I have bathed in them.
The images are all lifeless, they cannot speak; I know, for I have cried aloud to them.
The Purana and the Koran are mere words; lifting up the curtain, I have seen.
Kabîr gives utterance to the words of experience; and he knows very well that all other things are untrue.

This poem and this translation are in the public domain. Source text: Project Gutenberg.

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