Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ कबीरा जब हम पैदा हुए, जग हँसे हम रोये, ऐसी करनी कर चलो, हम हँसे जग रोये। चदरिया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥ अष्ट कमल का चरखा बनाया, पांच तत्व की पूनी, नौ दस मास बुनन को लागे, मूरख मैली किनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥ जब मोरी चादर बन घर आई, रंगरेज को दिनी, ऐसा रंग रंगा रंगरे ने, के लालो लाल कर दिनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥ चादर ओढ़ शंका मत करियो, ये दो दिन तुमको दिनी, मूरख लोग भेद नहीं जाने, दिन दिन मैली किनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥ ध्रुव प्रहलाद सुदामा ने ओढ़ी, शुकदेव ने निर्मल किनी, दास कबीर ने ऐसी ओढ़ी, ज्यो की त्यों धर दिनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥ चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी, राम नाम रस भीनी, चदरीया झीनी रे झीनी ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Kabira Jab Ham Paida Hue Jag Hanse Ham Roye Aisi Karani Kar Chalo Ham Hanse Jag Roye Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. Ashta Kamal Ka Charakha Banaya Panch Tatva Ki Puni Nau Das Mas Bunan Ko Lage Murakh Maili Kini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. Jab Mori Chadar Ban Ghar Ai Rangarej Ko Dini Aisa Rang Ranga Rangare Ne Ke Lalo Lal Kar Dini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. Chadar Orh Shanka Mat Kariyo Ye Do Din Tumako Dini Murakh Log Bhed Nahin Jane Din Din Maili Kini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. Dhruv Prahalad Sudama Ne Orhi Shukadev Ne Nirmal Kini Das Kabir Ne Aisi Orhi Jyo Ki Tyon Dhar Dini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini. Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini Ram Nam Ras Bhini Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini.
A weaver's metaphor
Kabir was a weaver of Varanasi, and in this bhajan he uses his own craft to describe the human body. The body is a chadariya — a sheet — so fine (jhini) that it is almost transparent, and it is soaked in the juice of Ram's name. The question the song asks is simple: what will you do with this sheet before you return it?
What the images mean
- "Ashta kamal ka charkha banaya": the spinning wheel is made of eight lotuses — usually read as the eight chakras or subtle centres of yogic physiology — and the cotton is the five elements (panch tattva) of which the body is made.
- "Nau das maas bunan ko laage": it took nine or ten months to weave — the months in the womb.
- "Moorakh maili kini": and the fool soiled it — by how he lived.
- The dyer: the finished sheet was given to the rangrez, the dyer — the guru — who dyed it deep red, the colour of love for God.
- "Ye do din tumko dini": wear it without fear, but remember it is lent to you for two days only; the foolish don't understand and dirty it day by day.
- The saints: Dhruva, Prahlada and Sudama wore it; Shukadeva kept it spotless; and "Das Kabir wore it so carefully that he returned it jyon ki tyon — just as it was given."
That last line — jyon ki tyon dhar dini chadariya — is one of the most quoted phrases in Hindi: to live without staining the soul, and to hand back life as cleanly as it came.
The opening doha
Many singers begin with the popular couplet "Kabira jab hum paida hue, jag hanse hum roye; aisi karni kar chalo, hum hanse jag roye" — "When I was born the world laughed and I wept; live so that when you go, you laugh and the world weeps." It is widely sung with this bhajan, though like many Kabir couplets its exact source is uncertain.
How it is sung
- In Kabir panthi satsang, in Nirgun bhajan sessions, and by classical and folk singers alike — Kumar Gandharva's and Prahlad Tipanya's renditions are famous.
- Often at the end of a gathering, or in times of grief, as a reflection on the body's impermanence.
Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of "Chadariya jhini re jhini"?
"The sheet is so fine, so fine" — the "sheet" being the human body and life, delicate and lent for a short time.
What does "jyon ki tyon dhar dini chadariya" mean?
"He returned the sheet just as it was" — living without staining the soul.
Who wrote Chadariya Jhini Re Jhini?
Sant Kabir, the 15th-century weaver-poet of Varanasi; the bhajan signs itself "Das Kabir".
What are the "eight lotuses" in the bhajan?
They are usually read as the subtle energy centres of the body in yoga, from which the "spinning wheel" of the body is made.
Is this a Nirgun bhajan?
Yes. It speaks of Ram's name rather than an image or form, in the Nirgun tradition of Kabir.
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