Unveiling the mysteries - Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah discloses that the Lord pervades in everyone. He is not only to be found in Mansur, but also his executioner, as also the spectator.
Here is the Punjabi version followed by a crisp translation - a labour of love by Shahidain..
“Behad Ramzaan dasda nee
Meyndaa Dholann maahee
Meem de Ohley wasdaa nee
Meyndaa Dholann maahee
Auliyaa mansoor kahaawey
Ramz anal-haq aap bataaway
Aapey aap noon soolee charhaaway
Te kol khaloke hasdaa nee
Meyndaa Dholann maahee
Behad Ramzaan dasda nee,
Meyndaa Dholann maahee
Boundless signs He reveals
My Beloved Lover
In [letter] ‘M’ His dwelling conceals*
My Beloved Lover
As a saint Mansur gets Himself hailed
As the metaphor ‘I am Truth’ gets Himself hanged
On the gallows gets Himself impaled
Standing nearby with laughter He peals
My Beloved Lover
Boundless signs He reveals
My Beloved Lover
In ‘m’ His dwelling conceals
My Beloved Lover ( Translation by Prof Muzaffar Ghaffaar)
* The letter meem phonetically M in English is a mystical letter and meant to contain Divine mysteries apparent only to the ones who develop the inner eye through mystical knowledge. Another verse speaks of Meem as the only difference between Ahad (Singularity of God) and Ahmad (another name for Prophet Mohammad- who accordint to some was the foremost mystic/Sufi in Islam)
My dear Beloved discloses (unveils) many mysteries.
He dwells behind Meem
O my dear Beloved
He himself tells the mystery of anal-haq (I am the Truth)
He Himself is responsible for hanging Himself (Mansoor)
Then He Himself stands aside and laughs
Oh my dear Beloved
My dear Beloved discloses(unveils) many mysteries










April 8th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
I wished I had lived in the days of Bullay Shah
April 8th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Just as you have explained the first stanza, in addition to the literal translation, please do explain the second one as well.
I have not understood the implied meaning, perhaps because I am not aware of the context, even as the language is quite simple.
Thanking you in anticipation!
April 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Siddhu ji
“Bullah discloses that the Lord pervades in everyone. He is to be found not only in Mansur, but also in his executioner, as also the spectator who stands aside and smiles at the spectacle. Al Hussyn bin Mansur al-Hallaaj said “Anal Haq” which meant ” I am the Truth”. Haq is an attribute for God. For claiming to be God , Mansur was hanged. Bulleh Shah said that what Hallaaj said that it was God who spoke the words “Anal Haq” from within Hallaj. And therefore who was being executed there smiling?
Shahid Bhai has helped me in answering your query
April 11th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Thank you!