Sadhu charit subh charit kapasu
Chaupai 3, Under Doha 2 · Bal Kand
Chaupai Text
साधु चरित सुभ चरित कपासू। निरस बिसद गुनमय फल जासू॥ जो सहि दुख परछिद्र दुरावा। बंदनीय जेहिं जग जस पावा॥ ३ ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sādhu carita subha carita kapāsū। nirasa bisada gunamaya phala jāsū॥ jo sahi dukha parachidra durāvā। bandanīya jehiṃ jaga jasa pāvā॥ 3 ॥
Meaning
The conduct of saints is pure and wholesome like cotton; its fruit is tasteless, clear, and full of virtues. (Cotton is tasteless; saintly conduct is free from attachment, so it too is tasteless. Cotton is bright; the saint’s heart is free from the darkness of ignorance and sin, so it is clear. Cotton has fibers; likewise, a saint’s conduct is a treasure of virtues.) Just as cotton thread covers the hole made by a needle with its own body, or as cotton bears the pain of being picked, carded, spun, and woven and then becomes cloth that covers the hidden parts of others, so a saint bears suffering and covers the faults of others; because of this, he earns praise that is worthy of worship in the world.
Context
This is Chaupai 3, Under Doha 2 from Bal Kand, in the episode “Salutation to the Guru”. The episode describes the poet's reverent bow to the Guru whose grace dispels ignorance and reveals Rama's story.