Sleep is a sign of death, Kabir; wake up. Abandon the alchemical remedies and adopt the Name as the true elixir.

This couplet is a powerful call to spiritual alertness. Kabir suggests that deep sleep represents a state of spiritual unconsciousness, equating it to death. The 'alchemical remedies' are earthly distractions or rituals that don't lead to true liberation. Instead, he directs the seeker to the ultimate remedy—the divine Name—which is the true elixir for the soul.