The lure of the world, with its riches and possessions and the charm of its transient pleasures, has been called Maya in Hindu mythology and is often depicted as a beautiful woman. Kabir calls her the shameless queen who has beguiled the entire world. 'Shameless' because she is faithful to no one, for the objects of worldly attachment and pleasure are always changing hands; 'queen' because her sway is supreme and no one can resist her lure, for everyone adores and craves wealth, power and position in one form or another.

In an Indian family a daughter, sister or niece is always loved and pampered because she will one day be married and will leave the family; but in the husband's house, as a wife she is expected to abide by the family discipline, be submissive to the husband, and with him bear the ups and downs of life with fortitude. Using this as a metaphor, Kabir says that those who marry Maya — those who overcome her guile and become impervious to her charms — succeed in enslaving her.

Kabir further adds that the soul whose husband is a Saint or perfect Master — in other words, one who is a disciple of a perfect Master — is not troubled by the designs of Maya. He concludes by saying that he has completely vanquished and destroyed Maya, the shameless one, who is dear to all the three worlds — to men, angels, gods and deities. Saints have always regarded her as an enemy and never yield to her lure.

On one plate is meat and fowl.
In one vessel, liquor;
Around these sit five jogis,
In their midst, the shameless queen.

Vast is the sway
Of this brazen one's coquetry;
Only a rare man of wisdom
Has tamed her.

In all resides the shameless one;
All she has made her abject prey
And is ever looking out for fresh quarry.
All adore and humor her
As one pampers a sister or niece;
But the one who marries her —
She becomes his bondslave.

Vast is the sway
Of this brazen one's coquetry;
Only a rare man of wisdom
Has tamed her.

Supreme and wise is my husband,
He is the true Saint.
No one ventures to come near me,
For over my head is spread
The shield of his protection and grace.

Vast is the sway
Of this brazen one's coquetry;
Only a rare man of wisdom
Has tamed her.

I have cut off her nose,
I have sheared her ears,
I have dismembered her,
I've wrecked the edifice of her wiles;
A foe of the Saints, O Kabir,
She is the darling of the three worlds.

A.G., Asa, p. 476
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