Bulleh Shah – I long for you, what can be done?
Contribution by Shahidain
In this kafi, the Sufi poet Bulleh Shah reveals the unbearble pain of seperation from his Beloved. He can not give up love and the seperation makes him restless and unable to sleep. So he hangs between life and death. Please find below the Punjabi version followed by English translations (from here).
Ab lagan lagi ki kariye?
Na ji sakiye te na mariye.
Tum suno hamaari baena,
Mohe raat diney nahi chaena,
Hun pi bin palak na sariye,
Ab lagan lagi ki kariye?
Eh agan birhon di jaari.
Koi hamari peedd nivaari.
Bin darshan kaise tariye?
Ab lagan lagi ki kariye?
Bulle payi musibat bhaari,
Koi kare hamaari kaari,
Ik ajihe dukh kaise jariye.
Ab lagan lagi ki kariye?
“I long for you, what can be done?
I cannot live, I cannot die.
I long for you.
Listen to my plea,
Night or day, I have no peace.
Not another moment can I exist without you.
I long for you, what can be done?
This separation-torment is unending!
Does anyone have a cure for it?
If I do not see him, how will I live?
I long for you, what can be done?
Says Bulha, I am in great distress,
O please find a remedy.
How can I endure such pain?
I long for you, what can be done?” (Translation By Suman Kashyap)
Another translation that might make the meaning a little clearer
What do I do now?
I am in love.
I cannot live, cannot die.
Please listen to my plea.
I’m restless day and night.
I cannot sleep without her.
Can someone put out my love-fires?
I am far away from my lover.
I cannot now live without her.
What do I do now?
I am in love.
I’m in deep waters, says Bullah.
Can someone cure my love-sickness?
My love suffereings are unbearable.
What do I do now?
I am in love.( Translation by Ravi Kopra)
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It reminds of Guru Arjan Dev’s “Mera mann lochai gur darsan tayee’n, Bilp Karei chatrik ki nyaa’een” Ishq Haqiqi is the same experience for all those who long for Milaap..amazing poetry.. and such a matter of pride for all of us who inherit it.
Gur Prasad Baba Nanak says a guru, or Murshid is required for Salvation. Guru Arjun Dev’s wrote ” His name is the cure for all our ills. Sing its praises as it gives salvation”. Very similiar to “Bina kamil murshid Bulleya, ehvain gaee ibaadat kithee”.
Bulleh Shah wrote ”
Somewhere He is Ramdas, somewhere Fateh Mohammad,
There is the same ancient uproar!
The Muslim are averse to being cremated,
and the Hindus are loathe to be buried.
Both die quarrelling over the wrangle.
Such is the cause of enemity between them.
Their quarrel came to an end,
When someone else made His appearance.
( J.R. Puri)