Kabir compares the indifferent disciple to a wife who is negligent towards her husband: she sleeps while her husband is awake and does not realize her husband's love for her. God is ever with the disciple, but the disciple does not open his inner vision and see Him; instead he is engrossed in the pleasures of the five senses, keeps the company of the five passions and is awake only to worldliness. He neither has any idea of the depth of divine love, nor does he know the bliss of meeting the Lord.

In order to emphasize another shortcoming of the disciple, Kabir shifts the analogy to a bashful Indian bride of medieval days who has to climb to the upper floor of the house to enter her husband's bedroom. She is shy and wants to go to him unnoticed by the other members of the family. She is unable to do so, for her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law are alert and notice all her movements. Thus hesitation and shyness prevent her from meeting her husband. Likewise, sometimes the disciple is shy of public opinion and feels greatly concerned with what others say. He therefore hesitates to live in the company of Saints, accept a Master who may be socially lower than him or give up orthodox ceremonies and accepted forms of worship. Shy to follow the path of divine love, like the bashful bride he fails to experience the bliss of union with the Husband.

My Beloved is awake
But I am lost in sleep.
I am engrossed in the love
Of my five confidantes,
My childhood friends;
Never have I basked
In the glow of my Husband's love.

For He is awake
And I am lost in sleep.

My mother-in-law is clever,
So are my sisters-in-law;
Afraid of being discovered by them,
I never steal to my Husband's chamber,
I never experience the depth,
The bliss of his love.

My Beloved is awake,
But I — I'm lost in sleep.

His couch is laid
Beyond the twelve;
Stricken with bashfulness
I cannot climb up
And reach my Beloved's bed.

He is awake
But I am lost in sleep.

Within my heart, day and night
Rings his beckoning call,
But I do not heed it;
I keep flirting with others,
I've never realized the joy
Of my Husband's love.

He, my Beloved, is awake
And I, alas, am lost in sleep.

Says Kabir, Listen, dear friend,
Listen to what I say:
No one has gained
And no one ever will gain
Union with the Beloved,
Without a perfect Master.

Kabir, p. 337:198
Piyā merā jāge