بُلّھے شاہBULLEH SHAHTHE LIVING VERSE
FROM THE WORDS OF BULLEH SHAH

Mae Na Murda Ishq Divana

Mother, Mad Love Will Not Turn Back

Two ways into the same verse. Tap a line to find its echo.

Mother, love gone mad will not turn back from him.

माए ! ना मुड़दा इश्क दीवाना, शहु नाल परीतां ला के ।

Love and law contest the field; I lay my wager down.

इश्क शर्हा दी लग्ग गई बाज़ी, खेडां मैं दायो लगा के ।

Let taunts fly; I will neither answer nor attend.

मारन बोली ते बोली ना बोलां, सुणां ना कन्न ला के ।

Satan dances in the yard—teach him to be still.

वेहड़े विच शैतान नचेंदा, उस नूं रक्ख समझा के ।

I broke the rule and won the game, disgraced before the world.

तोड़ शर्हा नूं जित्त लई बाज़ी, फिरदी नक्क वढा के ।

Unknowing, play undid me; still I play in disarray.

मैं वे अंजानी खेड विगुच्चियां, खेडां मैं आके बाके ।

At my lover's house, these games seem idle jests.

इह खेडां हुन लगदियां झेडां, घर पिया दे आ के ।

I dance giddha with my friends; my love looks out in secret.

सईआं नाल मैं पावां गिद्धा, दिलबर लुक्क लुक्क झाके ।

Ask why he hides in shyness, keeping his secret close.

पुच्छो नी इह क्यों शरमांदा, जांदा ना भेत बता के ।

Unbeliever, they shout for all to hear.

काफर काफर आखन तैनूं, सारे लोक सुना के ।

Within oneness I can see neither label anymore.

मोमन काफर मैनूं दोवें ना दिसदे, वहदत दे विच जा के ।

Bodice, scarf and tunic burn; divided worship feeds the fire.

चोली चुन्नी ते फुक्या झग्गा, धूनी शिरक जला के ।

I cast denial from my heart and held my head as offering.

वारिआ कुफर वड्डा मैं दिल थीं, तली ते सीस टिका के ।

Fortunate me—I gave the husband poison with my own hand.

मैं वडभागी मारिआ खाविन्द, हत्थीं ज़हर पिला के ।

I will meet my friend, all shame laid down.

वसल करां मैं नाल सज्जन दे, शरम हया गवा के ।

In the garden I spread our bed and slept within his arms.

विच चमन मैं पलंघ विछाइआ, यार सुत्ती गल ला के ।

Body met body, head met head, when Bulleh found his love.

सिर देही नाल मिल गई सिर देही, बुल्ल्हा शहु नूं पा के ।

Mother, love gone mad will not turn back from him.

माए ! ना मुड़दा इश्क दीवाना, शहु नाल परीतां ला के ।

بلھے شاہ
— 98 —
THE POEM, GIVEN VOICE

One verse. Many voices.

Stay with the words.
Then hear how they travel.

Sami Kanwal

A musical rendition · YouTube

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unknown · YouTube

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