Under the influence of mind, man is assailed by lust, anger, hatred, enmity, avarice, envy, attachment to the world's objects and faces, dishonesty, pride, haughtiness, ego and various other evils. Saints have named the five main passions, which include all these negative tendencies that cause man to act in devious ways.

After elaborating on the five passions, Kabir enumerates the five opposite virtues that act as an antidote to the poison of the five evils. Instead of trying to suppress the passions, Saints suggest the positive method of dwelling upon and inculcating the corresponding virtues. The devotee should try to replace lust with purity and chastity of mind and body, anger with forgiveness, attachment with a spirit of detachment, avarice with contentment, and ego with humility.

The selections that follow include Kabir's views on the five passions, the last few couplets in each section dealing with the opposite virtues.