O gold, noble, saintly soul, though broken and mended a hundred times, the wicked, like a potter, can give a single, deep crack.
Kabir uses the powerful metaphor of gold and the potter to describe human resilience. The shining gold, representing the noble or saintly soul, can withstand being broken and mended countless times. However, the wicked, like a careless potter, can inflict a single, deep crack with minimal effort. This couplet reminds us that external malice holds disproportionate power over inner peace.
Interpretation note: meanings and explanations may be AI-assisted and should not replace a primary text or scholarly edition. See the editorial policy.
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