Ki Janan Main Koi
What Do I Know of Being Anyone?
Two ways into the same verse. Tap a line to find its echo.
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई,
O my friend,
वे अड़्या,
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
The one who speaks within is all I am.
जो कोई अन्दर बोले चाले ज़ात असाडी होई,
I grew into the one I loved.
जिस दे नाल मैं नेहुं लगाइआ उहो जेही होई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
Cast off that white sheet; take the faqir's rough wool.
चिट्टी चादर लाह सुट्ट कुड़ीए पहन फकीरां दी लोई,
White cloth fears a stain; the rough wrap fears none.
चिट्टी चादर नूं दाग़ लग्गेगा लोई नूं दाग़ ना कोई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
Alif, be—I learned their signs; the reading opened.
अलफ़ पछाता बे पछाती ते तलावत होई,
Sin and shin—I learned, and grew in truth and patience.
सीन पछाता शीन पछाता सादक साबर होई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
A dove kept calling, a ring around her throat.
कू कू करदी कुमरी आही गल विच तौक प्युई,
She would not stop her call; she died inside its sound.
बस ना करदी कू कू कोलों कू कू अन्दर मोई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
What Allah wills will be; who can undo it?
जो कुझ करसी अल्ल्हा भाना क्या कुझ करसी कोई,
For all written on my brow, I learned to give thanks.
जो कुझ लेख मत्थे दा लिख्या मैं उस ते शाकर होई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
The lover is the goat, the beloved the butcher; crying ‘I, I’, she is slain.
आशक बकरी माशूक कसाई मैं मैं करदी कोही,
The louder that I, I, the deeper comes the dying.
ज्युं ज्युं मैं मैं बहुता करदी त्युं त्युं मोई मोई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
Inayat gave Bulleh the wine of desire.
बुल्ल्हा शहु इनायत कर के शौक शराब दितोई,
Blessed release from far away: we found him here, so near.
भला होया असीं दूरों छुट्टे नेड़े आन लद्धोई ।
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई,
O my friend,
वे अड़्या,
What do I know of who I am?
की जाणां मैं कोई ।
