Ilmon bas karīn o yār
Enough of learned knowledge, friend
Two ways into the same verse. Tap a line to find its echo.
Learning has no end; one alif is all you need.
इलम ना आवे विच शुमार, इको अलफ़ तेरे दरकार,
Life passes without promise; enough of learning, friend.
जांदी उमर नहीं इतबार, इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
You read and pile up knowledge, scriptures on every side.
पढ़ पढ़ इलम लगावें ढेर, कुरान किताबां चार चुफेर,
Light around you, darkness within; without a guide, no knowing.
गिरदे चानण विच अन्हेर, बाझों राहबर ख़बर ना सार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Reading made you a sheikh; belly full, you slept your fill.
पढ़ पढ़ शेख मसायख़ होया, भर भर पेट नींदर भर सोया,
At leaving, your eyes filled; you drowned between the shores.
जांदी वारी नैण भर रोया, डुब्बा विच उरार ना पार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
You read and claim a scholar's rank, making crooked rulings at home.
पढ़ पढ़ शेख मसायम कहावें, उलटे मसले घरों बणावें,
You feed by robbing fools and turn your judgments as you please.
बे-अकलां नूं लुट लुट खावें, उलटे सिद्धे करें करार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
The mullah reads and becomes a judge; God needs no such learning.
पढ़ पढ़ मुल्लां होइ काज़ी, अल्लाह इलमा बाहझों राज़ी,
Greed grows new each day; profit fills your mind.
होए हिरस दिनो दिन ताज़ी, नफ़ा नियत विच गुज़ार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
You read extra prayers and shout the call on high.
पढ़ पढ़ नफ़ल नमाज़ गुज़ारें, उच्चियां बांगां चांघां मारें,
You preach from the pulpit; greed has brought you low.
मंतर ते चढ़ वाअज़ पुकारें, कीता तैनूं हिरस खुआर ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Each day you teach the law and eat from doubtful means.
पढ़ पढ़ मसले रोज़ सुणावें, खाणा शक्क सुबहे दा खावें,
You teach one thing, do another: false within, true without.
दस्सें होर ते होर कमावें, अन्दर खोट बाहर सच्यार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
You study stars and count the signs and constellations.
पढ़ पढ़ इलम नजूम विचारे, गिणदा रासां बुरज सतारे,
You mutter spells, count letters, tally up amulets.
पढ़े अज़ीमतां मंतर झाड़े, अब जद गिने तअवीज़ शुमार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Learning breeds disputes; those with eyes go blind.
इलमों पए कज़ीए होर, अक्खीं वाले अन्न्हे कोर,
They seize the good and free the thief, disgraced in both worlds.
फड़े साध ते छड्डे चोर, दोहीं जहानीं होया खुआर ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Learning lays a thousand traps; travellers halt on the road.
इलमों पए हज़ारां फसते, राही अटक रहे विच रसते,
Separation breaks their hearts and loads their heads with grief.
मारिआ हिजर होए दिल खसते, पिआ विछोड़े दा सिर भार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Learning earns you “Master”; skirts lifted, off to market.
इलमों मियां जी कहावें, तम्बा चुक्क चुक्क मंडी जावें,
For a coin you ply the knife; dear to you are butchers.
धेला लै के छुरी चलावें, नाल कसाईआं बहुत प्यार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Azrael learned so much, yet his own house burned.
बहुता इलम अज़राईल ने पढ़आ, झुग्गा तां ओसे दा सड़्या,
A curse collared his neck; at last he lost the game.
गल विच तौक लाहनत दा पड़्या, आख़िर गया उह बाज़ी हार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
When I learned love's lesson, I entered oneness's river.
जद मैं सबक इश्क दा पढ़आ, दरिआ वेख वहदत दा वड़्या,
Caught in the whirlpools, Shah Inayat brought me through.
घुंमणा घेरां दे विच अड़्या, शाह इनायत लाइआ पार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।
Bullah is neither Rafizi nor Sunni, no scholar of either kind.
बुल्ल्हा ना राफज़ी ना है सुन्नी, आलम फ़ाज़ल ना आलम जुन्नी,
He learned only knowledge given within: the One, alif and mim.
इको पढ़आ इलम लदुन्नी, वाहद अलफ़ मीम दरकार ।
Enough of learning, friend.
इलमों बस्स करीं ओ यार ।