Dohas of Rahim with meaning

रहिमन धागा प्रेम का, मत तोड़ो चटकाय। टूटे से फिर ना मिले, मिले गाँठ परि जाय॥

Meaning: Don't snap the thread of love with a jerk; once broken it doesn't join, and even if it does, a knot remains in between.

रहिमन देखि बड़ेन को, लघु न दीजिए डारि। जहाँ काम आवे सुई, कहा करे तरवारि॥

Meaning: Don't throw away the small on seeing the big; where a needle is needed, a sword is of no use.

तरुवर फल नहिं खात है, सरवर पियहिं न पान। कहि रहीम पर काज हित, संपति सँचहिं सुजान॥

Meaning: Trees don't eat their own fruit, lakes don't drink their own water; good people gather wealth for the good of others.

रहिमन निज मन की बिथा, मन ही राखो गोय। सुनि अठिलैहैं लोग सब, बाँटि न लैहैं कोय॥

Meaning: Don't tell your inner sorrow to everyone; people may make fun of it, but no one shares the sorrow. Tell only someone you trust.

जो रहीम उत्तम प्रकृति, का करि सकत कुसंग। चंदन विष व्यापत नहीं, लपटे रहत भुजंग॥

Meaning: Bad company does not affect a good nature, just as snakes may coil around the sandalwood tree, yet no poison enters the sandalwood.

रहिमन पानी राखिए, बिन पानी सब सून। पानी गए न ऊबरै, मोती, मानुष, चून॥

Meaning: Keep your 'paani', that is lustre, honour and water; without it the pearl, the person and the flour are all useless.

बिगरी बात बनै नहीं, लाख करौ किन कोय। रहिमन फाटे दूध को, मथे न माखन होय॥

Meaning: Once things go wrong, a hundred thousand efforts won't mend them, just as churning curdled milk gives no butter; so speak with thought.

एकै साधे सब सधै, सब साधे सब जाय। रहिमन मूलहिं सींचिबो, फूलै फलै अघाय॥

Meaning: Focus on one goal and everything is achieved; focus on everything at once and nothing is; only by watering the root does the tree flower and fruit.

रहिमन विपदा हू भली, जो थोरे दिन होय। हित अनहित या जगत में, जानि परत सब कोय॥

Meaning: Even a few days of trouble are good, because in them you learn who truly wishes you well and who does not.

छमा बड़न को चाहिए, छोटन को उतपात। कह रहीम हरि का घट्यो, जो भृगु मारी लात॥

Meaning: Forgiveness is the virtue of the great; the sage Bhrigu kicked Vishnu ji, yet he forgave him and lost nothing.

See also