How can the bound be bound, or the free be freed? By what means can the association be broken, and the moment be escaped?
Kabir presents a profound paradox here, questioning the very nature of bondage and freedom. He asks how one can truly bind someone who is already bound, or liberate someone who is already free. The couplet suggests that the cycle of human association and the flow of time are so deep that escaping them is nearly impossible. It challenges us to reflect on the inescapable nature of destiny and attachment.
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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