O son, you are dear to your father, yet you are like a thorn. Because of the sweetness of greed, you have forgotten your own home.
Kabir uses this couplet to express profound parental disappointment. He views the 'beloved son' not just as a child, but as someone who has abandoned his core values. The 'sweetness of greed' is a powerful metaphor for the fleeting allure of material desires, which distracts the person from their true home and responsibilities. Kabir's unique perspective warns that external temptations are the greatest force pulling us away from our roots.
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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