Melody Of Peace

Chapter-I

1

Allah, the very first the Omniscient,
The Supreme, the Lord of the Universe,
The Omnipotent is there since infinity by His own Omnipotence,
the uncreated,
The Lord, the One, the Unique, the Provider, the Master, the Merciful,
Praise the true Lord by singing hymn of wisdom,
The Generous One Himself sustains the universe.

2

“He is the One and no one shares His Oneness.” When you say this,
And accept with love Mohammad (PBUH) as the cause of creation,
How then you bow before others?

3

"He is One and no one shares His Oneness", those who said this with firm faith,
And earnestly accept in hearts Muhammad (PBUH) as the cause of creation,
None of them ever strayed to unfavorable landing.

4

"He is the One and no one shares His Oneness" those who said this with firm faith,
And accept in heart and with tongue that Muhammad (PBUH) is the cause of creation,
In it decreed in Quran that they shall never stray to unfavorable landing.

5

They did not stray to unfavorable landing, and reached the shore safely,
And all savants became one with the One,
They were graced with love by God since the advent of time.

6

Since the advent of time God made them all light,
The truthful ones have "No fear, nor remorse, no worry"*,
Eternal immersion in love is their Divine destiny.

*Al-Quran

7

Slain by the Oneness they chant that there is none but God,
Hearts absorbed in Haqeeqat*, they measure Tariqat*
With silence of Maarfat, they search far places,
Lateef says, the lovers chop off their heads right from their shoulders.

* Here the poet is referring to various stages of Sufi discipline, which are:
1. Shariat: the Islamic Jurisprudence based on Quran and Hadith. This is the first stage of pilgrim's progress.
2. Tariqat: the Divine path.
3. Ma'arifat: The Divine knowledge.
4. Haqeeqat: Reality at the stage, the Sufi seeker of God, becomes one with God.

8

Slain by Oneness they are cut into two halves,
By their belief that there is no God but Him.
Having accepted the Prophethood and Muhammad they immersed in it,
Lateef says, the lovers took this path,
God wished them when they became one with Oneness.

9

Slain by Oneness and cut in to two halves by the belief that there is no God but Him,
Seeing them this state only an unfortunate would not yearn to be like them.

10

"He is One and no one shares His Oneness,"
Didn't you hear?
Nor did your hear your inner exhortations,
Your eyes will shed tears when witnesses to your deeds will confront you.

11

"He is One and no one shares His Oneness," should be your trade,
Loss or gain you carry on this barter,
He Himself will offer you cupful or wine or paradise to drink.

12

"He is One and no one shares His Oneness", is the only truth,
Whose adopted duality went stray and lost the path.

13

I search for head and lose body,
I search for trunk and lose head,
My hands, arms and fingers are cut like reeds,
Those who experience ecstasy of Oneness are chopped into pieces.

14

Don't call Him lover, nor the beloved,
Neither the creator, nor the creation,
Tell this secret only to him,
Who has risen above all imperfections.

15

Plurality is unity, unity is all plurality,
Truth is one, don't be misled by any gossip,
All this turmoil is because of Beloved.

16

He is the gloriously supreme, he is essence of all beauty,
He is countenance of beloved, He is the ultimate beauty,
He is the guide, he is the guided, and He is the idea,
Allah this is revealed unto one from one's own inner self.

17

He perceives Himself and Himself is the beloved,
He creates beauty and then yearns for it.

18

He is this, He is that, He is death, He is Allah,
He is beloved, the very breath of life,
He is enemy and the guide.

19

Echo is in fact the sound,
You ponder and will discern that
They were one but in listening became two.

20

The palace is one, its doors and windows are numerous,
Wherever I look, the Lord is here.

21

Your manifestations are in billions,
The self is in every self, but appearances are variant with each other,
O my beloved, how can I enumerate all of your innumerable attributes?

vaayi

Every one worships the beloved,
Whose eyes shine with love and his talk is virtue,
Whatever is in my mind he knows it all,
Whatever Lateef sings is at your behest o beloved.

Chapter-II

1

His commiseration for my affliction
Shows I am in beloved's grace,
I am in the pink after crossing the gallows.

2

O you stupid physician, why are you burning my skin with hot spikes?
While my body is aching and you make me drink concoction,
Death is perceiving the beloved for those who consider gallows a bridal-bed.

3

Gallows beckons, would any of you accompany me?
Those in love will have to go.

4

The gallows beckons lovers to come,
If you long for love do not step away,
First keep your head aside and then talk of love.

5

Lovers deem gallows adornment since eternity,
To waver and step back is reproach for them,
For they come to perceive the beloved,
To be slain in love is the lovers' original convenient.

6

Gallows is the real adornment of lovers,
Lateef says: they never wavered when they sighted spikes of the scaffold;
They were speared as the reached there.

7

Why are they happy on gallows?
They take gallows as bridal bed since their eyes met with those of the beloved.

8

Mounting the bridal bed of gallows is the way of lovers,
On and on they go, never looking back.

9

Lovers mount gallows hundred times everyday,
This should not discourage you from yearning,
Your perceive not to point where from love sprouted.

10

First stab yourself, then talk of love,
Let agony of separation vibrate in your being like wind in a trumpet,
Grill your flesh if you seek love.

11

Knife can't be blamed as its handle is in cutter's hand,
Finding itself poised to kill, the steel blade trembles,
Lovers forever pine for the beloved.

12

I want the knife to be blunt, not sharp,
So that my beloved hands touch my body a little longer.

13

Beloved's knife cuts flesh and bone
Lover lets himself to be dismembered for the sake of Allah.

14

If you wish to learn the ways of love,
Don't cry out when knife is pierced,
The agony of love should not be shared with others,
But kept deep inside with joy.

15

Stay if you wish to be slashed, else go away
This land is of those who have knives in their hands.

16

I am in love with those who have knives in their hands,
I enter the arena of love ardently,
And place my head on the chopping block,
Wishing the beloved to beheaded me.

17

Those in the front are beside the chopping block,
Those in the rear have made ready for their own beheading,
To preempt rejection and find acceptance you must sever your head,
Don't you see heads of those slain in love scattered all over?
The revelry of beheading rages in the tavern of winer.

18

if you yearn for a sip of wine, go to winery,
Lateef says, cut your head and lay it near the wine jar,
O bridegroom, drink the thick wine in mouthfuls,
That downs even the mighty topers,
Trading for your head would be bargain.

19

If you long for a sip of wine, go to winer's shop,
Lateef says, keep your head beside near the wine jar,
Trade your head for cupfuls of wine.

20

If you yearn for a sip of wine go to winer's lane,
All around there is clamour for wine of god Shiva,
I have puzzled it out, a sip of that wine is worth one's head.

21

If you yearn for a sip of wine, go to winer's house,
he cuts up, mangles, lacerates the seeker of his wine,
Sayyad says, getting even a cupful this way is a bargain.

22

The wine is very precious, it cannot be purchased with money,
Sayyad says, prepare to lay your head beside a wine-jars
This is a place where seekers lay their lives.

23

Lovers are habitual of drinking poison,
They very sight of poison delights them,
They are addicts, ever cravers of the bitter and deadly poison,
Lateef says, being love-smitten, separation from the beloved is killing them,
Even as their wounds throb in pain, they never speak of it to others.

24

Of you have no taste for the bitter, ask not for wine,
For it squeezes life out of sinews,
Lateef says, you can taste it only after chopping your head.

25

Why those, who only yearns, talk of wine?
When venders drew their draggers, they went away,
Only those will have sips, who offer their heads in barter.

26

Their heads are severed from their trunks,
And their limbs are boiling in cauldron,
They may wish for wine, who have their heads ready.

27

Their limbs are boiling in cauldron,
And the sound of boiling never ceases,
Seeing festering wounds of lovers, the physicians gave them up.

28

Those who serve wine, demand head,
But those who are in the brew, demand something else.

29

Real lovers never save their heads,
They sever their heads, says Lateef, and give life,
They chop their heads right from their shoulders and then talk of love.

30

It is not the way of real lovers to save their heads,
A moment with beloved is more precious than hundred heads,
This bone and flesh are not worth a sip.

31

If beloved's union had been possible by giving head,
Everyone would aspire for the union,
All the lovers would offer their heads,
Thinking is a bargain,
Only destiny makes the union possible,
The beloved is precious, hence priceless.

32

A drop of wine is so precious that even longing for it is worth giving up life,
The amorous playful glance of the beloved is like prayer for us.

vaayi

While drinking wine, I recognized my beloved.
I drank the cup of love-wine and all the mysteries were unraveled,
Fir of love burns inside me,
It is only for two days that we live in this world,
Abdul Lateef says, it is only you who pervades all phenomena.

Chapter-III

1

Having inflicted me the beloved left,
My pains and pangs al are from him,
I now hate to hear of relief by physician.

2

I thoroughly dislike physician's company now,
For beloved has become my guide and healer.

3

The beloved became guide and comforter,
He cured my affliction completely and turned my illness to health.

4

Different is the infliction of which beloved is the reliever,
No physician can believe it,
Beloved is my guide protector, and medication.

5

Beloved is medication not affliction,
Though known as Subduer he is sweet in company,
Whom he makes friend with, he repeatedly stabs him,
Lord, the coverer, probes innermost of being.

6

All the veins vibrate like the strings of rebeck,
The beloved is indifferent and irresponsive, I can neither moan nor groan,
Who has grilled shall mitigate the suffering,
He is the tormentor, as also comfort of soul.

7

He is the one who leads astray and a perfect guide too,
"You elevate whom so you wish and you abase whom so you wish"*

*Al-Quran

8

He secretly inquired about the causes of my love-ailment,
He then prescribed and appropriate medicine,
He advised me to have patience,
Since then I am yearning to meet and pray homage to him.

9

Why do you yearn only, why don't you go and pay him homage?
Those who see his door once, will never turn to any other.

10

His words are sweetest of all the sweets and are never bitter,
Even his very silence is response.

11

Whatsoever comes from the beloved is sweet,
If you taste thoughtfully there isn't any bitterness.

12

He who willed the prize of pain for you,
How is it that you reveal his secrets to others?

13

Your beloved, whom you remember all the time, remembers you too,
"Remember me and I will remember you"* ponders over these words,
He has knife in his hands and sweet words on his lips.
*Al-Quran

14

It was only once that beloved beckoned me with kindness,
I am fated to recount it all my life.

15

Once the beloved had asked lovingly, "Am I not your Lord"?
Since then the pain of separation never leaves me.

16

They humbly ask where is beloved spear holding hand?
They never stay aside when they confront the spear of love.
The lovers come proudly to face the death,
Death is union with beloved for those whose wont is to die in love.

17

The beloved beckons and slaughters and then beckons,
Don't step aside when you are under the spear of love,
O you lover, cast aside your knowledge and wisdom,
Go straight to face death.

18

The beloved's summon is verily a banishment,
This paradox inspires more love,
Never despair, though he severs relations but in fact he ties it.

19

When he kills he takes care and when he takes care he kills,
O mother, he is the killer as well as delight of the heart.

20

Who kills cares and beckons besides him,
This is the way of beloved for all times,
He is the healer, who opens the wounds,
And he is delight of the soul.

21

he kills and calls besides him,
He makes lovers mount gallows,
And burns their skins daily,
He deals in the commodity of the agony of love,
O you the wounded one, come and buy some of it.

vaayi

Beloved will cure me, he will be medicine of my affliction,
The wondrous one will come and give me potion of mercy,
Beloved himself came and diagnosed my disease,
My physician cured me of it,
Abdul Lateef says, O my mates, my beloved is indeed an expert physician.

Melody Of Harmony

Chapter-I

1

You are the beloved, the healer, the potion for the pain,
O beloved, I suffer from varied maladies,
Cure the patients of their afflictions, O Lord,

2

You are the beloved, the physician; and the medicine of pain,
Curative of my aching heart are you sweet words,
I carve for you, as other physicians' medicines don't work.

3

You are the beloved, the physician and the medicine
For those who are down with affliction,
You cause the sickness, you cure it, you are the guide and the Lord,
Strange that you make the worldly physicians ineffective.

4

You are the beloved, the physician; and the cure of all aches,
You cause affliction, you cure it;
You are the comforter for all sufferers,
Medicines work only when you wish them to.

5

As a physician remedies my affliction,
Beloved comes and aborts it.

6

Do me a favour, o beloved, raise hand and strike, hesitate not, to die with a wound inflicted by you will be an honour.

7

Raise your hand and strike; it is my heart's silent cry,
Crying would be blatant and unbearable for patience is the pain,
To whom would I say that the beloved had struck me?

8

Rise your hand, o beloved, straining the bow to the full shoot arrow,
So that I may have the excuse to fall in your lap,
And may be near you.

9

Where the beloved full-shoots arrows of love,
There the physicians forget all their expertise.

10

If you graciously shoot arrow of love, o beloved,
I will not ask for a healer but would live with wounds.

11

Pulling the string the beloved took aim and discharged the arrow,
Right on the target, it left the wounded to toss about and groan.

12

They toss about and groan their bodies pierced with iron-arrow heads,
Ruby red with blood they flounder in the arena of love,
They treat and dress their wounds by themselves,
Let us pass a night with the wounded.

13

Let us pass night with the wounded,
Their bodies ache, wounds ooze inside,
Hidden away hey treat and dress their wounds.

14

Today too abode of wounded reverberates with groans and moans,
Evening has set in but they are still dressing and treating their wounds.

15

The wounded wretches are content with their agony,
They rest not, but stride to their destination.

16

The wounded wretches are content with their agony.
They rest not, but stride to their destination.

17

The wounded cry all the time in pain,
What is deep in their heart, they never share with others,
Though many diversions, they finally revert to that which is in their heart.

18

Those in health know not how wounded live,
Lying on ground they cannot turn side,
Hidden away they pine for the beloved shedding tears,
And pass tearful nights thinking of the beloved.

19

Those in health know not why the wounded groan,
Lying on ground they are in God-inflicted malady,
Lateef says, they are love-smitten, ever in pain,
They pass nights in tears whose love is perfect.

20

O mother, I don’t trust those, who shed tears,
Their tears are ostentations, they weep to show off,
Those who remember the beloved neither weep nor complain.

vaayi

Physicians are confounded; beloved's pain is in my heart.
Arise o physicians, stay not; take away all your medicines,
The one who causes pain, and cures it has come,
The sustainers of my life have to come.

Chapter-II

1

You are not the proper physician of my body,
You can’t diagnose my what ails me,
Take away your medicines, bury them in a pit,
I don’t want life without beloved.

2

They argued with physicians, didn't exercise abstention,
Those who did, recuperated soon.

3

They argued with physicians, didn’t exercise abstention,
That is why they are not recovering.

4

Physicians have much compassion for the indisposed,
They did their best but no cure without abstinence.

5

The patients who remained in the company of physicians, recovered,
And the physicians with care and compassion cured them.

6

Physicians were in my neighborhood, but I did consult them,
That is way I have cataract in my eyes.

7

O Naïve that you are, you indulge habitually,
Abstention would help you in good health.

8

If you seek beloved's union, learn the ways of thieves,
They revel being awake, passing night without rest,
Whatever they observe and discover, they never disclose,
Even as they are led to gallows, the confess not,
Nor do they admit anything when their heads are under chopper.

9

The physicians drove out the wounded from their house,
Their wounds opened anew and fibrose not,
Glimpse of a friend however comforted them,
The frustrated physicians quit, come o friend, so that I may get well.

10

Physicians were around when the beloved came,
Feelings of well being coursed through out my body,
And his coming relieved me of pain.

11

Those who wounded me, turned into healers,
Urgent dressing by them led to cure in a day,
O heart, be I their company so that you are not wounded again.

12

O stupid physician, you cannot diagnose the pain I am dying with,
I will complain to the beloved that physician had no mercy for me.

13

O physician, give me not medicine, I may not be cured,
My beloved may show mercy and come to inquire after me,

14

Cultivate the that of sitting in physicians' company,
Assuredly you will never be sick,
Change your old habit to sickly, so that you may not be helpless.

15

You were in physicians' company, how then old you fall ill?
Why didn't your head for health?

16

Quack have killed me, I did not meet physician,
They enhanced my pain by bearing my body with spikes.

17

They did not care a bit for the physicians
Physicians were away from the medicines.

18

Physician did their best, tried all medications,
My beloved will feel my pulse and administer medicine of mercy,
Those, whose loved ones nurse them, are relieved of pain.

19

All the sick assembled and asked for health,
Run away affliction, the benevolent has shown his face.

vaayi

Come, o beloved, take care of me, I am love-smitten,
Blame me not if I die for your yearning,
Come with your hands full of herbs and treat me.

Chapter-III

1

Ah! My heart laments for the beloved,
Ardor has scorched the liver; fire has burnt kidneys,
If you don't believe come and see me all in flames.

2

Ah! My heart of laments for the beloved,
Ardor ha scorched my liver, kidneys are stinking,
If you don't believe, come and see my condition.

3

I may broil over tinder of prosopis and acacia,
My liver, and kidneys all three are pierced with spits,
Physicians have lost hope, I am in beloved's hands.

4

Resting on ankle and knee the beloved shot the arrow,
It pierced, along with feathers, my backbone,
Heart, liver kidneys and ribs on both sides,
Physicians have lost hope, I am beloved's hands.

5

Pulling the bowstring to the full, the beloved shot the arrow,
It went through my body with shuddering sound,
Would some one go and ask the beloved, is he satisfied now?

6

Pulling again bowstring to the full, the beloved shot the arrow,
Jingling and vibrating it zoomed off,
And went through my liver, kidney and heart,
And lodged so deep inside that however I may try I can't pull it out.

7

As the beloved shot an arrow from the bow,
It instantly went through my body,
The beloved had used all his skill in shooting the target.

8

Having ignited fire in me, the beloved blows it,
New spike of love has pierced y body,
Perceiving him has put me in a blaze.

9

Ask the moths as to what it meant to burn,
They come and plunge in flame,
Their hearts pierced with love-spears.

10

If you claim a moth, come and extinguish fire,
This fire has burnt many; you burn out the fire itself,
Be aware of the reality of the fire, let no commoner know about it.

11

If you claim to be a moth, throw yourself willfully in flame,
Drive on to flame till it is put out,
It will surely go out, let no commoner know about it.

12

If you claim to be a moth, don't retreat seeing the blaze ,
Enter into beloved radiance and be a bridegroom,
You are still unbaked and not familiar with oven.

13

The moth determined and gathered over the blaze,
Approaching it they burnt themselves over the truth,
The unfortunate lost their necks.`

14

They ascended to observe the pit of burning fire,
Lovers rejoice and bloom like ware flowers to see the blaze,
You come and entangle your self in the middle of the inferno.

15

If body burns like oven, cool it with a sprinkle of patience,
Get from somewhere fire of gentility and burn yourself in it,
Go through all stages of spiritual exercises in secrecy,
Lateef says, let no one ever know of your inner anguish,
Telling others may come in the way of your union with the beloved.

16

It was only yesterday that the lovers were taken out of oven,
They went hurriedly to the oven of love of Oneness,
The lovers are never out of the blaze.

17

Those, melted iron and made of steel,
Ironsmiths know them well.

18

Today too the smiths are blowing fire,
Setting up ablaze of love they put coal in it,
O blower, keep on pushing till he cast iron cracks into pieces.

19

Blower, You are not blowing fire nor going near it,
Flames of love you endure not,
Standing aside you claim to be a smith.

20

Making your head an anvil, look for the smiths,
They might hammer you to pure steel.

21

Bear like anvil hammer strokes,
Annihilating yourself in love cause the handle of hammer to speed up.

22

Pity that coals burn twice,
Once in furnace and when the fire is blown up,
Then smith gather them up for.

23

Having burned me the beloved extinguishes and burns me again,
The ironsmith's fire-tongues are killing me.

24

Today the veracious smith have come with whetstones,
They will sharpen the swords skillfully.

25

The veracious smiths have come today,
They will remove all rust and bring out the steel.

26

Rust melts, iron liquefies, blaze burns bright,
Hammers strike and anvils tremble,
Smiths have gathered at blaze today.

27

I saw them blissful who are familiar with anvil,
Their swords never rust.

vaayi

Enliven my heart, enliven heart, don't make me loose my heart,
Talk of beloved quenched my thirst from ocean of kindness,
Cure my ailment with a sign,
The mercy of the merciful steered me out of difficult current,
Cast me a kindly glance o my love,
Call the unfortunates as beggars and reprieve them.

Chapter-IV

1

One cup and two aspirants, is not the way of love,
How they be near the beloved who drink by counting cups,
See, the egocentrics are deprived of union with beloved.

2

One cup and two aspirants, is not the way of love,
They fused into oneness who came in love's fold when knife of love is pierced, duality is truncated.

3

One cup and two aspirants, there be no sharing in love,
This is poet's way of sharing with singer.

4

Lovers look in the direction where there is killer of millions,
Seek venom from those who care not for their lives.

5

Lovers look in the direction where there is killer of all,
They equate not their life with a sip of wine.

6

Killers arduously turn poison into honey,
Drink some cupfuls in their company.

7

Hide not pitchers of wine from the drinkers,
Offer them abundant wine, they will pass by silently,
And let your tavern's perfuse all over.

8

Hide not pitchers of wine from the drinkers,
Give some of it to passerby and evaluate them,
The few sips taken by them would be valued a million.

9

They hiccup but still drinking cupfuls of venom mixed with wine,
Rise o barmaid, give more to the lovers,
Sips satisfies them not, they are looking for pitchers.

10

The north breeze blew, Mokhi opened wine pitchers,
Mattaras came for a taste of it with their heads in bargain.

11

Sprinkle tavern-dew on the garbs of passers by,
It will evoke yearning in all, its fame will spread far and wide,
Those who drink at dawn will step in the tavern.

12

When they will step in they will drink up all,
Their thirst unquenched, they would shout "Consumed is this bring us more."

13

Mokhi cannot be high born as she is of low cast,
She gave cupfuls to Mataaras and killed them.

14

Mataaras have died, why you should not Mokhi?
How would you survive without the munificent?

15

Mataaras have died, you too should die Mokhi,
Who would put up your scolding and ire now?

16

It was not wine that killed them,
But scolding of Mokhi touched their hearts,
Thereafter the Mataaras died.

17

Still there are many jars, big and small, near the winery,
Don't despair of Mataaras Mokhi,

18

Dagger on neck and wine tumbler on lips, this is their wont,
They drained their cups in long draughts,
There is plenty of wine for those who achieve ecstasy.

19

Mokhi had nothing against them, nor wine killed them,
Sayyad says, they had crowded the tavern for a sip of wine,
Behold the graves near the winery of those who were chilled to death by words.

20

Give your head, somehow square up with the barmaid,
Chop off your head with dagger,
Don't fear death, cup of wine is more precious.

21

Every tumbler, every pitcher contains wine of different variety,
Tasting the varieties they realized value of the vendor.
They come straight to the tavern offering their heads,
Sayyad says, they gladly surrender their heads and then taste the wine.

22

Burn yourself into ashes in company of the customers,
You may meet them with whom you drank last year.

23

O my heart, why didn't you learn from the brewers of wine,
Their nights pass shedding tears while brewing wine.

vaayi

Friend came indoors, the occasions of union with beloved arose,
It is after many days that God brought the beloved home,
Days of separation passed, with God’s grace it is now union,
He who was said to be far away, has come near today,
Abdul Lateef says, my love has honoured me by his visit.

Chapter-V

1

The Sufis who reached the goal, evaded multiplicity,
Unforgettable is their play of love's game,
Their drunkenness brought them near beloved and made them his confidante.

2

As life courses through veins, go does a Sufi pervades the whole cosmos,
He let utters not a word that let there know what he has discovered,
For such revelation would be a sin.

3

Giving hurts them; not giving makes them happy,
True Sufis take nullity with them.

4

Sufi has no sect, and no one knows his creed,
Within himself he is at war with himself, but never lets on,
He is pathfinder even for those who nourish malice against him.

5

Sufi washed the parchment of my being,
It was only then that beloved's vision was seen in life.

6

Claiming to be a Sufi and nourishing ambitions is not the Sufi way,
Take off your turban and throw it in the fire.

7

If you put on Sufi- turban, be a perfect Sufi,
Procure a cupful of venom and gulp it,
This is their place who acquire divine ecstasy.

8

Pitch the tent Jabbar* your body by chanting his name secretly,
And then recite his name loudly without cease,
Scan the Quran to discover the Great Name,
Don't go to other door as this priceless pearl is produced here.

9

"I" is the pivot around which orbits the whole world,
We know not the enchanter who has created this magical illusion.

10

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this Rumi believes.
Those who saw the place kept mum.

11

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this is Rumi's view,
How man emerged on earth, don't you observe the spell around?

12

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this Rumi has said,
If you uncover your inner self, you will perceive him inside you.

13

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this is what Rumi talks about,
Self-annihilation comes first and then comes vision of the beloved.

14

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this is Rumi's pleasure,
Those, who perceived the truth never said a word.

15

Seekers are numerous, fountainhead of beauty is one, this is Rumi 's obsevation,
If you remove the certain, you will perceive him inside yourself.

16

Debauch though they appear outwardly, but they are deep in mystic meditation,
The arrow of Divine instructions is struck in their hearts,
They recite the True Name in their hearts.

17

Constantly repeating the lesson of suffering they read the lesson of pain,
Holding tablet of meditation, they study in silence,
Only that page they peruse that reveals the Beloved.

18

I forgot the lesson, even its first line I don't remember,
The pity is that I have not been able to read the first page.

19

When I read the page that tells of beloved's union,
I found nothing but you everywhere.

20

They follow not the line that begins with letter A,
Vainly they look for beloved in other pages.

21

They remember only that line, which begins with letter A,
"They have no other ambition in both worlds," this is what they say,
They discovered the path and reached the Merciful.

22

They reached the Merciful, who followed the path,
And received tidings of union.

23

O wretch, how you became jurist by reading words?
You strut and frown, don't come here in this condition,
Go and ask azazeel* about the taste of this wine.

24

The only true lover was Azazeel, all others only yearn,
It was his boundless love that made him the accursed.

25

When I read the earliest lesson,
The first thinking I recognized was the original abode of my soul,
Where souls have daily experience of knowing God,
Page turned then and there was a separation.

26

If one word can't reveal the whole story,
It is useless to tell them story in many word.

27

They read and again but their hearts remain unaffected,
The more pages they turn, the more sins they commit.

28

Read again and again the lesson that tells of the grief of separation,
Inscribe letter A in your heart and suffix it with letter M,
Lateef says, chant without cease these words in your heart.

29

Read the letter A, forget all other pages,
Cleanse your heart, how long can you read pages after pages.

30

More you turn the pages, more sins you come across,
What use are the words when your deeds,
Did not make the beloved stay.

31

O scriber, while writing you join letter A to letter L,
So is my beloved set in my soul.

32

Why you spoil paper and waste ink?
He is beyond that from where words sprouted.

33

Observing forty-day secluded meditation and repeating them forty times,
Is not equal to beloved's glimpse,
O scriber, why you write pages after pages,
Turn twenty and you will find only one word.

34

Your body is mosque, your heart an antechamber,
Why don't you worship the imperceptible all the time?
Know yourself and you will see Him in everywhere.

35

He is everywhere, no place is without Him,
The weaklings are of no account who run away from the only One,
Ignorant as I am I have now discovered Him in my heart.

vaayi

Forget not, youth lasts only for few days,
The shameless suffer reproches when time is past,
The lovers forsook them while they were asleep,
Mates, believe with those who remain awake for all night,
Wake up at midnight and stop your eyes from sleeping.

vaayi

They are taking away my beloved,
However much I try I cannot restrain my heart,
I may not be unacceptable to those, whom I belong to,
To hell with the mercy of others,
I may die, they may kill me, decimate me,
I would forfeit my life if only I meet my beloved.

Chapter-VI

1

He demonstrates splendor of Daud,* while we weakling are colorless,
The uncaring his armour-bearers under mare hooves.

2

He demonstrates splendor of Daud, while we? have no sense,
The dexterous tramples his armour-bearers under mare hooves.

3

O Qabeel,' you have solid darts in your eyes,
You aggress and hit accurately the love-smitten ones,
My love, you devastate so much with your eyes.

4

O Qabeel, you have sharp dart in your eyes,
You have wounded many of the humble folk,
Don't shoot other, first is enough.

5

O Qabeel, piercing darts are in your eyes,
My beloved, no one knows the agony I am in,
Lateef says, you are killing me with iron-point arrow.

6

O Qabeel, you shot arrows of your eyes,
Second may be shot only when the first is not hit.

7

If he poises arrow on bowstring, hold chest like a shield,
Bear happily beloved's hits in face,
Don't doubt the gallows, stand fast like a true lover.

8

If he poises arrow on bowstring hold your chest like a shield,
Bear direct hits in the face with courage,
Never step back, stand fast like a true lover.

9

If he poises arrow on bowstring hold your chest like a shield,
One should never harbor malice at beloved's door.

10

Setting arrow on bow don't shoot me, beloved,
As you are in me, you will strike yourself.

11

They escape arrows and avoid to be targeted,
Whereas the very first arrow is enough for the true lovers.

12

I stand firm where I received the first arrow,
My valiant beloved may show kindness and shoot another.

13

Be target of arrows in the arena of love,
Lateef says, direct hits perforate you completely,
Don't utter a word for it may alienate the friend.

14

They stepped into the arena of love,
To be beheaded and dismembered is their embellishment,
I have seen them forfeiting their heads for the beloved.

15

In the arena of love cause the entire vicinity to reverberate,
Head on gallows, trunk on spikes, and no word of complaint on lips,
Love is a snake; only the bitten are in the know of it.

16

Care not for head in the arena of love,
Lateef says, chop your head and place it before the beloved,
Love is a terrible snake; only the bitten ones are in know of it.

17

Care not for head, in the arena of love,
Climb love's gallows, and become a hero,
Love is a snake, only the bitten are in know of it.

18

Leap into the arena of love,
O Laahooti, sever all worldly ties,
Love is a snake, only the bitten are in know of it.

19

Love is not a game that every novice may play it,
It snaps the link between body and soul,
Throw your head on spear-point so that it is cut into two.

vaayi

My love is in full prime, I am love-smitten, o mates,
Lying on bridal bed, I don't get a wink of sleep,
Keeping nights vigil and remembering beloved is the devotess' way,
Intellect was baffled, when love come to guide.

Chapter-VII

1

Lovers don't forget Allah even for a moment,
Sighing for the beloved they will breath their last sooner or letter.

2

Lovers don't rest even for a moment,
Those who did, beloved's scold ended their life.

3

Lovers are never with sound health as you are,
They regularly go to beloved's door and shed tears,
Having accepted one beloved they never care for other.

4

Any one with blood in his veins should not claim to be a lover,
Pale face, loss of beauty and constant longing are lover's characteristics,
Though destitute, he barters head in love transaction.

5

You bleed when a thorn pricks you,
How would you bear the wounds the beloved would inflict right in your face?
Why do you make empty claims of longing and love?

6

This is not the way of a lover to steal peeps at the beloved,
Why don't you cut yourself in two in the beloved's courtyard?
Yours is a false yearning as you laugh, eat; and sleep.

7

Similar are both, gallows and yearning,
Looking out on paths is essential,
In both cases climax is reached by forfeiting life.

8

Either learn the way of yearning or go and watch those who genuinely yearn,
Never be with them who don't know what love is.

9

O lover, sit in the beloved's lane,
Never ever leave his door out of weariness,
You will get medicine of mercy, which will comfort you all over,
O my love, how can you get along without us when we can't without you.

10

O lover, sit on beloved's way,
He will come and take kind care of you,
He is all compassion and will surely guide you on the right path.

11

O lover, sit at beloved's door,
He will come and take kind care of you,
The beloved is all goodness and will be your guide.

12

O lover, sit at the step of beloved's tavern,
Surrender yourself before him holding ends of your neck-scarf,
You might then gain his favour and remain in his company.

13

O lover, sit at a place where he passes,
Don't get tired of longing for the Mokhi's pitcher,
Bartering your head drink a few cupfuls.

14

O lover, sit on the daily track of your beloved,
He will have you drink wine of his winery,
Having neared him never turn away.

vaayi

Beloved's beauty cannot be forgotten,
One many go to beloved's door to sacrifice one's head on the gallows,
Only lovers climb gallows, others run away,
First prepare to sacrifice head, then talk of love,
The wise have racked their brain, naives don't step back.

Chapter-VIII

1

It is unseemly to frequent friend's door,
O you naive, dash not to the beloved's lane,
Don't disclose your love like a novice to everyone,
Lateef says, the beloved will turn your sufferings into pleasures,
Converse with beloved in secrecy and share love with him.

2

As long we are well, we don't send for a physician,
But the moment we fall ill we send for him.

3

Those, who fell sick, recovered,
Affliction is sweet to those, who are in love.

4

Those who cause pain are its healer,
Lateef says, whatever beloved does has already been destined,
Whom fate favors, only they are cured .

5

If beloved himself offers drink, I will drink like a camel,
No one can enter cistern without his consent.

6

Untold is not put and the one told is not understood,
This saying is pure like gold but people don't appreciate it.

7

The untold is not out and the one told is not understood,
Only those can appreciate pure gold, who are so ordained,

8

Whatever the beloved bestowed, I took it for blessings,
First they appraised me, then conferred the blessing.

9

O my heart, whatever he gave, bear it at the cost of life,
Never say the beloved severed relationship,
His severing of relationship is in fact cementing it.

10

If the beloved severs relationship, tie the broken thread,
If he finds fault with you consider it a favor,
Beg for continuance of your sacred relationship with him.

11

Be, humble show humility, wrath entails great sorrows,
It only you knew, patience is a source of happiness.

12

Be humble, show humility, wrath is a suffering,
You can know the difference only if you fooling is firm.

13

Wrath is cause of suffering, patience is pleasant lik musk,
"God is with those who are patients*" this is what Lord has said.

14

Be tolerant, the tolerant win, the intolerant lose,
Those who retaliate have never tasted the tang of tolerance.

15

The tolerant are at peace, the intolerant suffer,
Bad words cause loss and nothing is achieved.

16

If any one talks to you, harshly don't answer bears,
One who initiate aggression always suffers,
He is empty handed who nourishes malice.

17

If any one talk at you, don't talk back,
Lateef says, melt your heart like wax for all,
Tolerance is rewarded, malice gains nothing.

18

No one benefits from malice,
Over-strained bowstring snaps and one is harmed.

19

Hearing harsh words, never retort,
This guideline of the Guide is like a necklace,
Those who annihilated ego are adorned.

20

Respond not to what others say,
Reason with your wrath every day,
Don't retort and you will be greeted at every door.

21

Chide not those who chide you not, forget whatever is said to you,
Act on this guidance humbly all the time,
Keep your head between your knees, and lead a humble life,
Install a judge insider yourself so that you have no need for an outside judge.

22

Those who always say kind words in response to scolds,
O my heart, build your hut near their abode.

23

Shun them whose company aggravates your grief,
No matter how great are benefits.

24

Those whose company mitigates your sufferings,
O my self, build your hut near their abode.

vaayi

I am love-smitten; separation of beloved is killing,
There are many at his door, who are fond of him like me,
Every where there is talk of the beloved's beauty,
Take dust under the beloved's feet as antimony for your eyes,
Abdul Lateef says, my beloved is beauty for all times.

Melody Of Moonlight

Chapter-I

1

Beloved is benevolent, quintessence of benevolence,
The merciful never remonstrates when face to face,
I am all vice and, he is all virtue.

2

Immense graciousness reflects in beloved's forehead,
May he grace the abode of those who eagerly long for him,
How can moon and sun be compared with the beloved?

3

O moon, you are the one, who can see my beloved from where you are,
Whatever messages in tears I gave you, convey them all,
May he be with me forever without having go away on any errand.

4

May he be with me forever without having go away on any errand,
Whose eyes have remained in my soul,
My heart subsists on the one whose words are always meaningful.

5

Night is bright, path is even, love is new, and distance is drawn-out,
O camel, don't look back while on way to the beloved,
How to reach the beloved, should be your only intent.

6

Night is bright, path is straight, love is new do me a fever,
Cardamom in your feedbag, sandalwood in your pen,
Mind them and stride fast,
What I have told you let no one know it,
Snort loudly on the way so that the rivals are chafed.

7

Night is bright, path is even, love is new, cover the distance fleetly,
Take me quickly to camel, to my beloved,
How is that that the beloved who glitters in my memory, is so far,
In the name of Allah, take me to my friend and bring me back before dawn.

8

Night is bright; path is straight, love is new think of distance,
Going to the beloved one should stride with energy,
Reach there by night to that rivals should not know.

9

Today too there is radiance of full moon,
There are tidings of beloved's coming to my abode,
It is all joy in my house and rivals are burning with jealousy .

10

Today too the full moon is about to rise,
My beloved is expected to visit my abode,
It was at dawn that the graceful came .

11

The full moon* has already risen,
But people look for the new moon on the twenty ninth night,'
They are not to be blamed, any one can ask me.

12

O full moon, you rise adorned profusely,
However you may try, you cannot vie with my beloved,
Your life long brightness is equal only one flash of my friend's beauty.

13

Hundreds of suns and moons may rise,
But without beloved all would be dark for me.

14

On moon! cannot compare you my beloved,
You shine only at night whereas my beloved is always bright.

15

O moon! Your brightness is painful,
I massaged my red body with fragrant camphor powder,
It faded as I waited for beloved to come.

16

May a spell strike you o moon,
Do disappear so that I may meet my friend in pitch dark.

17

O moon, I tell you the truth, even though it may annoy you,
You don't have two eyes and nose of my beloved.

18

O moon, if you don't mind I may tell you the truth,
Sometime you rise slender and sometime full,
Ablaze though your face is, it not as bright as my beloved's forehead.

19

Whenever my friend lifts eyes coquettishly,
Sun lowers its rays, moon becomes haggard,
The stars and Pleiades recede seeing the beloved,
Pearls loose their gleam before luster of his beauty.

20

It was pitch dark when the beloved showed up,
The moon with all the Pleiades disappeared.

21

O star, you rise on the horizon and shine exquisitely at dawn,
So does my beloved glisten all the time.

22

O star, I stare at you always because,
You rise in the direction where my beloved is.

23

There exactly there, where the star shines, is my beloved,
He is sweet like honey, never bitter.

24

There, exactly there, where the star shines, is my beloved,
He is sweet like honey, never bitter.

25

There exactly there, where the star shines, is my beloved,
He is sweet like honey, never bitter.

26

The star on the expanse of heaven are like facial moles,
Down the nights that I pass without my beloved.

vaayi

Don’t pass so quickly o night , stay on, I will conciliate the beloved.
I will burn and melt like candle with happiness in the night,
I may burn, extinguish, and reburn like the fire of wandering ascetics,
No commoner can comprehend my love for beloved.
I am in perennial pain for the beloved.
As a pal of Sayyad, there should not be any defect in me,
Lateef says, I am in everlasting love of the friend,
If I am absorbed in beloved’s love, I will glitter in mirage,
The black Day of Judgement will be easy for those whose supports is Hoat,
I have to live with the people till lord’s call.

vaayi

O my mother, how my heart will find peace without beloved,
I am ailing all the time, not happy for a moment,
Those who yearn for you, all the time in pain of separation,
I can't reach the beloved on foot as his place is far away,
My heart is all the time reaches in presence of the beloved.

vaayi

O Allah, he entered my abode whom I was remembering him,
Beloved is perfume of musk, I have longed for him all my life,
The one, my body is fond of, is also favorite of my soul,
What can I say of beloved's beauty,
Lateef says, I am blessed as the beloved has come to me.

Chapter-II

1

As you rise, o moon, first look at my beloved,
For God sake, tell him the miserable condition of the helpless,
All the time I am looking out for him, my eyes rely upon him.

2

As you rise, first look towards my friend,
O moon, tell him I am frail and feeble,
I have support, my eyes rely upon him.

3

As you rise, first look towards my beloved,
Tell the beloved all discreetly o moon,
I have no other support; my eyes rely upon him.

4

As you rise, first look towards my beloved,
Whatever messages I give you convey all to him,
All my life my love, my eyes rely on him.

5

O good moon, convey all my message to the beloved,
When you rise above beloved's courtyard,
Speak softly to him and touch his feet.

6

Whatever messages I give you, remember them all,
Tell him my condition by bowing before him,
You are on way to the one who is the anchor of mankind.

7

Rise o moon behold, the beloved sleeping out in the cool of night with musk-drenched hair,
The beloved is near you and far from me,
I can't reach there on foot and father is not allowing me a camel,
Which I may mount and reach the beloved before dawn.

8

I wish I die yearning for the beloved who is gracious but far away,
My father has refused a camel and I am not well enough to travel on foot.

9

O God, when would You unite my life with beloved's,
The enamored hearts are in passionate turmoil,
Beloved is far away, I in whom conflict my love secret?

10

Heart remembered the beloved , I don't know where would he be now,
My love, won't you come and sit with me on the bed,
It is time for love-talk with the beloved, in whom my I confide my secret?

11

It is raining heavily and windy, camel has stuck his neck on ground,
How can I bride him, he is not getting up even without bridle.

12

When I harness the camel, his lags give way, unharnessed he does not get up,
He is looking forward to go in the direction of his herd.

13

I don't have a camel or a a horse which can take me to the beloved nor can proceed on foot to meet my beloved at night,
Helpless I as am, I only shed tears.

14

O camel give up indolence, stride fast,
Unite me with the beloved for once,
Lest you are cursed by the yearners,

15

O camel, give up adolescence, stride fast,
I have to reach have where my beloved is,
I will feed you on sandalwood while rest of your herd graze Laano bush
Take me quickly so that I meet my beloved while it is still night.

16

O camel, give up indolence, stride fast,
Path of the beloved is straight, don't think it is difficult,
Don't groan, be alert so that I meet my beloved while it is still night.

17

You should be mindful of your father's lineage,
Which is as pure as could be,
O camel, being good, do me good.

18

I tethered the camel with tree so that he may eat bunds,
The ill-bred camel graze on Laano bush in stealth,
O mother, camel's behavior has perplexed me.

19

O camel, heed entreaty,
While traversing planes and stream measure not the distance,
Take me to my beloved's company.

20

I will adorn your neck with emeralds,
and rein decorated with pearls,
And feed you on sandalwood, if only you take me to the beloved tonight.

21

Garland of rubies around your neck, reins beaded with pearls,
I will feed you always sandalwood all the time,
If only you would take me to my beloved tonight.

22

I would put on you golden reigns, o camel,
And feed you on sandalwood offshoots and henna branches,
If only you would take me to my beloved.

23

The camel neither goes with the herd nor graze Laano,
He is stricken with amour,
The good camel would remain here till death.

24

The camel does not go with the herd, nor does he graze,
He is hit hard love-spike and done in,
Forfeiting life, he crawls towards the beloved.

25

When with his herd he grazes on fragrant branches,
O mother don't be deceived by his appearance,
He looks like every other camel, but his heart is there where his beloved is.

26

The camel does not graze on blossoms,
He also turns away from the pith,
He returned last night after trampling upon camphor grass,
He is full having gazed on sandalwood,
The camel all the time thinks of beloved's countenance?
He breaks away fetters to go there.

27

Today the camel is not as he was yesterday,
Coming to the courtyard he cares not for the feedbag,
May be, while following his herd he has grazed on some venomous creeper.

28

The camel on a whim had a bite of a creeper,
The filed owner learnt of it, the watchman got angry,
The camel become so exhausted that he forgot snorting,
The poor camel did not indulge his whims again.

29

O camel You have so far tasted only sweet creepers,
You have yet to come across the taste of poisonous creepers.

30

You should fasten, your camel with strong twined rope,
Fragrant creepers are in abundance on the plan,
If he happens to taste any of them,
Then he will not stay without fetters.

31

The camel has tasted something somewhere,
He is rushing towards it breaking all ropes.

32

I have tied the camel with many bridles,
He breaks every new fetter to graze on the saltbush,
O Lord set his mind right,
Lateef says, be gracious; pull him again on his legs.

33

Taking you for a real camel I used a goad,
To make you understand the puzzle and go on the right path.

34

When you reach Khanbhat pier, wait and look out,
Some good news from the beloved may reach you.

35

I restrained my camel many times from grazing on murder plant,
He has become fond of this plant that has already downer many,
Plenty of sandalwoods are maturing around,
I am sick and tired of this ill-bred camel.

36

Tether your camel if free he will loaf about,
When offered feed he turns away, better put some heavy stack on him,
Tie him with strong ropes o that he may graze and groan.

37

One rope on forelegs, one on hinder-legs and an iron fetter on around his neck,
O mother, my camel is prone to grazing fresh flowers,
Who would cast spell to have him when he hardly stays with me?

38

Has any one bewitched you? Why are you apathetic today?
With pads on eyes you have your feet on the track,
Being harnessed to an oil expeller has made you forget your herd.

39

When I restrained my heart by putting nine fetters on it,
It broke them all at midnight and rushed to the beloved.

40

Fastened by nine fetters, ten shackles and fifteen ropes,
When he remembers his beloved, he breaks them all with a single jerk.

41

He does not eat white rose, spits out standwood,
He does not go near aloewood, nor does he care for sandalwood,
He has fattened himself on laano.

42

O camel, you do not graze on sandalwood, nor you drink water aplenty,
You do not go near aloewood , and spit out good feed,
Of all the things why you like Laano?

43

Where two bough are worth ten million and quarter for half a million,
My camel feeds himself daily on those bough.

44

Where to bough are wroth ten million and a leaf for million,
There the camel happily pulls down flowering branches,
Even a withered leaf of that creeper is wroth millions.

45

Where two bough are wroth ten million, and a drink for five millions,
My camel drank a full fattened.

46

Camel wroth millions I purchased by paying much more,
My courtyard looks graceful, don't say it is a bad bargain.

47

Lead away the million-wroth camel for ten millions,
Sayyad says, strike the deal somehow,
He reaches the destination speedily,
Saddled he will take you to the beloved.

48

Take away the million-wroth camel for ten millions,
Fill his feedbag with cardamoms,
He will not tarry, saddled; he will take you to the beloved.

vaayi

I have the stories to tell to my beloved and desires to share with him,
Hellish are the nights that I passed without beloved,
And I cherish the night that I spent with him,
I seek my beloved in my furtive look,
Abdul Lateef says, my heart in picked at mid night with daggers.

vaayi

Longing is not enough, nor mere messages,
Until one sheds bloody tears in dark night,
Only those for whom retreat is reproach should enter the arena,
They may weep bitter tears whose friends are on long journy.

vaayi

Though you drive me away, I will not leave your door,
Even if you do not welcome me, I will at least see you,
I have explored many doors, it is only you who is every where.

Melody Of Voyage

Chapter-I

1

The beloved may ask you, don't forget this,
Obey his commands so that you may not be blanked.

2

The beloved may ask you, forget this not,
Extend your shirt tail before him like a supplicant.

3

The beloved may ask you, keep it in mind,
Have your sails washed clean with soap,
O seafarer, be vigilant so that you reach the other shore safely.

4

The beloved may ask you don't stop thinking about this,
Jettison the fake, never trade in falsehood,
O trader, deal only in truth.

5

The beloved may ask you, don't stop worrying about it,
Scratch all falsehood off your heart, and never go for fake goods,
You may thus be freed from the angst of other shore.

6

The beloved may ask you, be aware of it,
You may constantly through the binocular the treasures of foreign lands,
O boatman, cleanse your boat and leave it to the master mariner.

7

Fakes have been my only barter, never pearl,
Sayyad says, I have always dealt in lead,
With these in my account, your grace is my only hope.

8

Fakes have been my only barter, all pledges with Allah I have broken,
I am immersed in sins from head to toe,
O imperceptible, you know very well it all.

9

You have traded in fakes, remember God,
Cleanse your mind of all perfidy, as God loves truth,
Kindle, o pearl, a blaze of love in your heart,
Doing so may prove to be of gain to you.

10

Let me trade in a commodity that is profitable,
I am utterly helpless in every matter, you grant my request o God,
Unless you help I won't get back even the principal,
Help me to steer out of the breakers.

11

Turbulent waves, tides, infinite stretch of whiteness, inundation and an endless water,
There o God, do not maroon the boats of seafarers on some desolate island,
The ship may remain undamaged, and bottom board unbroken,
Let no harm come to the boats of the poor mariners.

12

Their sails are set, ropes new, and oars of ivory,
Loaded with goods the seafarers have commenced their voyage,
O Unique Allah, let them reach their destination safely.

13

Their sails are set, ropes new, and boatman skilled,
Seafarers have embarked on voyage and neared the mid current,
O Allah, kindly protect the boats that are sailing zealously.

14

Only some drops of water dropped in the boat,
The goods rusted and turned black.

15

Some drops of water trickled on the commodity in the boat,
I saw them crying over their loss.

vaayi

Give to the Gracious Lord thanks for His countless favours.
Recite with zeal the praises of the Wise,
Reveal to me, O God, the hidden mysteries of self,
Never forget, o man, to glorify the Lord,
Bearing Him in mind, vocalize His hymns,
Discipline yourself through tribulations, pass away from yourself in contemplation,
The Lord might be gratified and favour you with His grace.
O bondman of God, scratch all perfidy off your heart,
You fool, be wise, and know that Lord likes truth,
Those who truly submitted, how they ever be disgraced?
Those who remained awake whole nights for the Compeller, were graced,
God says in the Quran, "Remember me and I will remember you'
“Be thankful to me and do not take to disbelief,” scrape ingratitude from your heart.
Allah has set right all your misdeeds,
Praise Hire with sincerity and love.
Young man, repent quickly and with zeal.
So that you may find peace and faith, says Lateef.

vaayi

You are in me, I am a naïve, Man's return to God and prostration before Him is in Lord's hands,
They reached existence who became nonexistent,
The eyes with deep love prostrate before the eyes,
They all were approved at this door who lost their existence.

Chapter-II

1

All that is in universe depends for its subsistence on you,
Lateef says, there is no limit to your mercy,
Not justice but compassion can redeem me.

2

Those who remembered the Praiseworthy, for whole night,
Abdel Lateef says, they were honored even after death,
Million of people come to their graves to pay them homage.

3

Serve the sea where there is limitless water,
Hundreds of pearls and precious stones flow in its midstream,
If you only can get few of them, you will be rich.

4

Those who explored sea prospered,
They brought bunches of jewels from the depth,
Lateef says, they found diamonds in the waves,
Which are indeed priceless and precious.

5

Tide never overwhelms those worship the praiseworthy,
They sailed through the tempest with help repentance,
Depending on God they easily braved the turbulent current,
The master mariner came to their rescue in midstream.

6

They transact business with God for whole night,
Having filled their boats with complete surrender, the sturdy,
Journeymen embarked on their voyage,
The braves traversed the current in a moment.

7

They filled their boats with commodity of complete submission,
They traded in genuine pearls of Divine Knowledge,
They took the benefit of Prophet's tradition "repentance neutralizes sin,"
By his grace I will see my cargo to safety.

8

Those who traded in truth,
"There is good news for them in both words" refers to such persons,
The beloved guided them and they passed the sea.

9

As is their wont, the aquanauts explored the sea,
And penetrating the depths, collected pearls,
Which they brought up to give away with their own hands.

10

Braving breakers and dark whirlpools, the aquanauts explored the sea and brought up priceless pearls,
When they went deep down in the sea wearing glass masks crossed waves and dark whirlpools,
Having explored the sea they brought priceless pearls.

11

When they went deep down in the sea with mask of glass on their faces,
They brought out from the depths pearls producing oysters shells in which pears sprout,
They are the people who perceiver the priceless pearls.

12

Fronted by marshes and heaving sea my boat cannot withstand the breakers,
I have loaded it with all my misdeeds,
My sins are countless and I have to words to describe them,
The coast is overcast,
Be kind, let my boat sail safety.

13

Always watched of deep sea water,
Disappearance of your neighbors should cause you worry,
Don't you see people being ferried away this shore to the other?

14

Watching the sea heave is a constant worry the high sea which she has to cross,
There is not much hope for boat for the boat to reach destination.

15

Man has one thing in mind, God has another,
He sails small boats across the sea safely to favorable landing,
And carries over all the boats to favorable landing.

16

Man thinks of one think, God of another,
He being boats out of whirlpool,
He works wonder when he takes out sunken boats and sails them.

17

Man thin of of one think, God of another,
He Himself drives in to the the whirlpool and Himself sails the boat to safe landing,
Praise be to the One, who steers all to safe landings,

18

Man does one thing, God does another,
He Himself drives in the whirlpool and Himself steers to shore he brings the stray boats to safe landings.

19

Man does one thing, the Compeller does another,
It is His discretion that He rescues from the whirlpool,
The Protector never puts those jewelers in ships at risk,
Big and small boats all will reach the harbor safely,
Our Muhammad is there where Madina is situate,
May the Gracious steer all boats to safety.

vaayi

I have no idea where to land; I seek your protection,
Your mercy is islet,
I cannot account for my sins, they are countless,
I know nothing of the grave, as I had never worried about it,
O Lord, come to help, as people are not trustworthy,
O my compassionate beloved, kindly listen to my prayers,
Seeing my misdeeds even Satan blush,
Beats are shocked to see my sinful condition,
My Lord, you are the pilot of all the seafarers,
Come to my help as oars have slipped away from my hands,
You are the one, who rescues the drowning,
The beggar is begging, do him favor o Lord!
God has provided well for the livelihood of His creatures,
Like a blind man I have also joined them for alms,
The Generous has satisfied all the supplicants by his charity,
Your beneficence has been bestowed on all the poor,
You are the support do not abandon me,
O Valiant, you are my protector in the court of last judgment,
My Prophet will pitch tent for sinners,
May you heed o lord, supplication of Abdul Lateef.

Chapter-III

1

Expecting the north wind blow, they hoisted the masts,
O Allah, let not the point of their rudder do break,
The sea-traders have put the bartered goods in the boat.

2

You trade in salt and want its return in musk,
Your hut is on seaside speak not lie,
You may lose the principal, forget the profit.

3

There are of goods, but traders are negligent,
Some purchased the goods well in time,
Some loafed about and goods were sold out.

4

Deal in such goods as do not decompose when stored,
And when selling them aboard not even not even a shred is lost,
Invest your capital in a commodity that has prospect of return.

5

The mariners bring news only of the nearby,
They don't tell of the overwhelming swiftness of the mid-stream.

6

My boat is your mercy, and commodity therein is of your union,
It is you, who has equipped it with masts and oars,
There is no need of guide when you conduct it to landing.

7

As the boat is old Lord it lightly,
Its deck is bottom is riddled and water seeps from its hulls,
The present moment has passed away, think of tomorrow.

8

The boat's deck is riddled and water seeps from the shakes,
The mast is rotting, ropes are dangling,
But the pilot is skilled, hence it sails safely on the current.

9

Plug the holes and oil your boat regularly,
Sayyad says,
Sail your boat on the current with care and vigilance,
Equip your boat with thick ropes twined afresh,
Then drive it to the sea.

10

Plug holes and oil the boat regularly,
Never forget the preparations required for the sail,
Tomorrow, if not today, you will have to row your boat to the main current.

11

You finally saw today the steep coast you had been hearing of,
Lateef says, you remained forgetful while people slept,
By your carelessness you have driven the ship into the deep water,
O Lord, even as the ship becomes a hulk, protect it from a breaker,
This worn out ship in water is now left in your care,
O Sayyad, lead all your companions to Puranbandar.

12

O my boat sail in the company of other boats,
While sailing to the other harbor, equip yourself properly,
Rumble of the sea can be heard from afar.

13

Boat in the river may sink or float,
The wooden pegs fixed by the carpenter have all rotted,
The guide is not at his place, the pirates have boarded the boat,
O boatman, the thieves are in your raft,
Where big ships have sunk, your small boat would sail with His mercy.

14

Lord your boat with worthwhile commodity,
O forgetful, he breaker is poised to sweep over you, don't sit idle,
No one can say when your sleep will lead you to the mid-stream.

15

O sea-trader, you have loaded your boat with cargo which is not yours,
Now furious waves are pounding your boat from both the sides,
If you wake up, you will not miss the pier.

16

O boatman, you cannot have both,
You sleep by helm the whole night,
Tomorrow you will have to give account on the other shore.

17

Current swift, tide is ever rising, and anchors can not stay,
Even big ship sail against the shore with full force,
The seafarers use ballast to steady their boats on the sea,
I have heard pilots telling hair-raising tales.

18

O sea-trader, you cannot do without the sea,
Oil your boat, make it shipshape,
The sea lashes both sides of the boat,
Those who are short of account, be certainly swept over by waves.

19

The vigilant sailor, posted as watch, sends news,
The sailors who provided themselves well for the voyage,
Crossed all rock barriers, says Lateef,
Remembering God they reached port of Eden.

20

O helmsmen, sleep not when there is a danger at the harbor,
The current is eddying like curd in a churn,
One should not sleep, after bearing so much pain.

21

Relying on the guide, they all slept peacefully,
You also sleep o sailors, the coast is not in turmoil,
They will pass through the rock barriers who are the sayyad concern.

vaayi

Your companions, your co-travelers, have packed up , but you eyes are drowsy,
Neighbors have weighed anchors in the sea,
Boatman is ferrying back and forth it would be your turn soon,
You sleep away your nights intoxicated,
Didn't you hear the call to proceed?
The true advice is that you should repent anon,
Listen my friend, it is not good to over sleep,
Lord sent you truth, but you have lined up liars,
Did you not hear the call from other shore?
Relying on your mercy I am entering water without a jar,
O Gracious Lord, keep me away from the agnostics,
Read and mediate over this ##All living thing taste the death##*
You are preying upon the eagle, but you forget that you are yourself the prey,
The oar has slipped from my hands, come to my rescue
You have unnecessarily wasted million,
Had you given that to Allah, you would have reached the other shore,
You are up to your navel in money,
As the Prophet's traditions has it, ##This blind wealth is like dead flesh,##
You did not distribute it, not fearing the Subduer,
How would she be faithful to you who has betrayed her husband?
Hear the advice that life does not persist long,
O forgetful, don't forget torments of the grave.

Chapter-IV

1

You take care of all, one gets confused on path,
And for the sake of beloved, you accept maim and lame.

2

Leave every thing to God,
Forgetting all worries, be true in submission,
So that God may graciously satisfy all your wants.

3

It is a prevalent and customary to do good to good men,
But no one like you does good even to the bad.

4

Good people do well to others and bad once bad,
Everyone does whatever is inherent in his nature.

5

Loading on camel's back provisions, he calls the whom out,
Transporting all to goal is the beloved's way.

6

If you appreciate the real business, you will not do any other thing,
This business secret you can learn from the expert traders,
From whose hands you so respectfully received pearls.

7

Don't offer the priceless to those who cannot distinguish the real from the artificial,
Barter these pearls there, where you meet the real jewelers,
Those who deal in gold reject base.

8

O gold, seek out the real jeweler, do not stay out,
Shun the deal that has no jewel.

9

O gold, seek out jeweler, do not stay out?
It is all dark for them, who wasted their jewels.

10

When the jewelers leave, you too should leave o gold,
No one will know your worth; you will be mixed with base.

11

Pearls are rejected, counterfeits accepted,
The truth I have in my shirttail I die of sham offering.

12

Those who cut and polish diamonds have gone away,
Their descendants cannot even work lead,
In their place are now smiths working on base metal.

13

The connoisseurs of pearls may not leave,
The appraise every precious stone by putting magnifying glasses on their eyes,
By examining the surface of a pearl the assess its worth,
Now pearls are being appraised not by connoisseurs.

14

There are jewelers, who claim to be connoisseurs,
Go, see them with a pearl in your hand,
Sayyad says, how would they know its value?
Would they appraise the pent or mix it with fakes?

15

O naïve, where you broke the pearl carelessly,
Why you didn't weep there by holding both the pieces in your hand,

16

O naïve, as you broke the pearl carelessly,
Now pick up both the piece and go to the jeweler.

17

The damsel broke into pieces a pearl that was in a box,
Sayyad says, when it was whole it was worth a million,
Broken. Its worth is beyond millions.

18

Where the pearls are, there the thieves lurk,
Fortunate are those who saved theirs.

19

The thief claims aloud "I am the same on,"
Even if you have eighty eyes you cannot see me.

vaayi

Wake up o friends let us surrender ourselves,
Let us rise with zeal o mates, to surrender,
Let us not delay our visit to the beloved,
Let us leap like a moth on the flame,
And place before him all our supplications,
Let us return to the One with all humility,
Death, the destiny of every one, is roaring,
Death, which is heard off all the time, will come suddenly,
We should equip ourselves for the darkness ahead,
Take all you can for the grave for much is needed there,
Allah knows all our shortcomings and knows our thoughts,
Ha knows what is going on in our mind,
Who fears God escapes all fears,
Heavenly peace is for him who takes shelter in God.

Melody Of Seafarers

Chapter-I

1

Stay on beside the seafarer’s hawser,
Lest they may row away plunging you in misery.

2

Burn beside seafarers' hawser,
Last he may steer away, and your heart ablaze.

3

Sit beside the hawser of his boat,
You walk in forgetfulness while they are readying to embark overseas,
Their home is sea, why did you not go with them?

4

If you want to come, come now and hold the hawser,
In case favorable wind blows sails will be unfurled before you are ready.

5

While still they have not weighed anchor, reach them swiftly,
Lest they roll up hawser and put out to sea.

6

Taking anchor, ballast, ropes, they left,
Harbor and market place have been desolate without seafarers.

7

My heart is not being oared away from near the anchor,
My gracious beloved tied my heart with his virtue.

8

Those were the days of blooming youth when the beloved embarked on voyage,
Even my tearful imploring could not make them stay, o mates what should I do?
He set the sail leaving me on spikes.

9

Neither there are boats at the pier, nor the converse of the sea-traders,
O mate, today too the separation wounds inflicted by the sea traders are smarting,
O neighbors, their separation will kill me.

10

The rowed away leaving me forever,
Ages have gone by, no one has returned from there,
Their grief of departure will kill the wretched woman.

11

When they sailed out to the deep sea,
Current engulfed them,
They reached there where there is no limit.

12

When they sailed out to the deep sea,
They did not come back, o mother,
Probably the current overwhelmed them.

13

I am stricken by the words of those who went deep and did not return,
By befriending the searchers I have gained only grief.

14

Those who left today when would they come back to me?
When would their buntings will flash?
The anguish of the seafarers will kill me one day.
( 15)
They may return to the pier where from they embarked,
O my Lord, cause the favorable winds to below.

16

Thinking of the seafarers I pass days and nights on the pier,
Their recollection is simply killing me.

17

O mother, my heart remembers the seafarer,
The humble one has been abroad since many days.

18

Relationship with the seafarer is mixed with grief, leaving me on gallows he put out to sea.

19

May you forget the trade you have learnt,
It was only yesterday that you came and you are about to embark on another.

20

Holding the rudder she put hands on the pole and weeps,
Woe betake the trade that you learnt my love.

21

Grasping the oar she does not let them push the boat out,
My love, stay one night for my sake,
Do not embark on a long journey leaving me alone.

22

Probably it was because my love was feeble that he rowed away,
While I stood there,
I did not think ahead to go with him,
I should have myself inside the boat with ropes.

23

Never love those who dwell in boats,
Their women suffer when they hoist and row away.

24

As a boat pitches at a bad landing, my heat is in pain since many days,
The beloved has never cared to ask about me.

25

Those for whom my body craves have embarked on a voyage,
O crow, caw, says Lateef, and tell me when would my beloved come,
What is it that has made him to overstay?

26

Caw o crow, and tell me when would he come home to me,
I have observed many rituals for his coming home.

27

The north wind blows, tips of reeds have blossomed, come back my love,
I made many offerings for you return my dear.

28

The reeds and ironwood have budded and willows have blossomed,
How come you forgot to come in this season, my love.

29

If he comes now I will have heart to heart talk with him,
O mother I would cling to him and will exchange words of love with my love.

30

O mother, when my love comes back I will quarrel with him,
"You stayed away many days, and passed only a few with me".

31

My beloved went away far off, I am passing dreary cold,
O mother, do not probe my wounds, else all will know my grief.

32

Having hardly disembarked, they plan to embark on a new voyage,
They will again distress me making my life bitter.

33

Enliven me by talking of my beloved,
Rebuild the crumbled fort-turret of my heart.

34

O my heart, go and see the abode of the beloved,
And plant kiss after kiss on its threshold.

35

Depending upon whom I pass my days on pier,
Let him not sail forgetting me.

36

Slender waist, straight nose and eyes dark with antimony,
O seafarer, did you pass my beloved yesterday.

37

He is the one I am longingly looking for,
When he comes, all my sorrows will be over.

38

Buntings of the ship of the sails are shimmering all round,
O mother, seafarers have come lavishly made up,
It was then that the crow cawing about since yesterday.

vaayi

O mother, what to do, my love can not remain secret,
The mariner put out to sea casting me in pyre,
I cry all the time over loving a seafarer,
Sorrows like white ants will eat me up,
Grief has enveloped whole of my life like a creeper,
I will go to my beloved with clasped hands.

vaayi

Those trying to stop me from followed the beloved, will not succeed,
Hail to the smith who has come from far off,
He mended the broken utensil and removed all the rust,
My mates also caught love sickness from here,
I may procure fragrance from the beloved,
I may explore mountains for him so long my body breaths,
O mother, don't advise me to return home.

vaayi

I look out on the pier for the one who went ex-port,
I may recognize sails of the beloved,
Standing on the beach I am looking for omens,
My longing for beloved is very intense,
I earnestly await o God, for my beloved to return.

Chapter-II

1

Today too the seafarers are talking of putting out,
They are always planning a new journey.

2

Today too the seafarers are talking of journey,
As I stood on pier they sailed off,
O mats, anguish of their separation will kill me.

3

Today to the sea traders are talking of their voyage,
They are ready to go, my tears cannot stop them,
How can I when they have already united the ropes and put the boats out to sea.

4

He, whom I cannot forget for a moment may also not forget me,
My heart is entwined with his heart.

5

He, whom I remember all the time may not forget me,
To him my heart is entwined.

6

O mother, they are saying at the pier that the seafarers have returned,
I am revived to hear of it.

7

Untying the ropes they took up oars and proceeded to the sea,
O mother, their journey is very hazardous,
When would I again see their faces with these eyes?

8

The north wind blew; the mariners hoisted their sails,
Weighing anchor, they approach midstream,
My heart ever craves for the explore of the sea.

9

As the north, wind blew, they sailed and will return when the spring wind blows,
I am all for forsaking the trade the mariners ply,
It is Eid* for those whose consort have come to them.

10

As they stepped into my courtyard I was beside myself with happiness o mates,
I will forfeit pearls for him.

11

North wind blows evoking dread in my heart,
The sea-traders are twisting ropes and greasing their boats,

12

The buntings are fluttering and sails furling,
Probably they are the ones I am looking out for.

13

Seeing the sails she cried,
O mother, the seafarers have come,
May be my love in this ship.

14

They were stitching sails on pier of the port,
Having stitched are the sails they picked up mast and unfolded buntings,
Lateef says, with grace of God thy braved through the breakers.

15

They were stitching sails on pier of the port,
Having collected data from the watchers they putout to sea,
And reached safe landing avoiding the unsafe.

16

Ports are there country to country but pearls cannot be had for sand,
Yet those who in beggars' rags are bestowed pearls without weighing.

17

Returning seafarers are asked if they crossed the boats going out,
Would that they return whom I love dearly.

18

Standing on the pier the wives of mariners worship the sea,
They tender offerings of musk to seawater.

19

For the one I was asking the,
Sea-worshipers all the time about their return,
Has comeback and all my wishes are fulfilled.

20

The buntings are seen fluttering but sails are
Not visible,
They are joyous whose beloved have come back.

21

Buntings are attached to the masts with flags at their top,
O motther, the seafarers have returned after exploring continents.

22

Lighting earthen lamps at the crossroads and floating them on the seawater, they tie buntings to tree branches,
O Allah, my consort my return, I long for him.

23

She who does not give offerings to seawater, nor does she float lamps,
How could she long for the return of her consort?

vaayi

Don't force me to stop, mates, I will go to my friend,
He putout his boat and sailed to the deep sea,
I would die remembering my seafarer,
The anguish of your separation is killing me, my love,
I will not live any more, I have been killed by the beloved.

vaayi

Why did you not put rein in his camel, and go with him,
They have polished the oars and cleansed sails,
Don't be negligent, hurry up and follow them o you naïve,
It was yesterday that they left and you are looking for them today,
Yesterday you got a new shirt and today you are wearing it today,
Who would listen your lamentation today?

vaayi

I will go to my friend, I am in love with the sea trader,
Don't weigh anchor wait for my sake o beloved,
O mates, the chatting of the traders is no more heard in the market,
I should share anguish of friend's departure with weaving wheel,
I will do my best to go friend,
They opened sails and without moment's delay proceeded to the deep sea.

Chapter-III

1

I should move I may reach, ports are fa; from me,
I do not have any money to pay for the ferry,
O ferryman, do something for me to meet my love,
O sea master, I beseech your standing at your door.

2

They had no fare and the ferryman did not take them free,
They waited for whole day at the sea coast till the sun set,
Sayyad say, it was when Lord desired they reached favorable landing.

3

I borrowed utensils and set them on cooking fire,
Then came the severs cold winter,
Seeing other women with their consort, I sigh and sigh.

4

I was standing on the pier that beloved set sail,
There is some flaw in me, otherwise beloved is very compassionate.

5

I was standing beside the pair when the beloved untied hawser,
There is some defect in me, otherwise he is very kind.

6

I was standing near pier, when the beloved untied hawser,
There is some blemish in me, otherwise he is very gracious.

7

I was standing beside the pier when the beloved untied hawser,
He sailed in the name of Allah and I will pray without cease,
I will not despair, he will come back to my abode.

8

No sooner did they return, the mariners though of salty waters,
O mother, they are always poised for the other shore.

9

The explore of salty waters entered in sweet water,
Being big traders, they do not trade in gold,
They aspire for the pearls of Mehran*
The shipping magnets have earned a fortune by trading in (Sri) Lanka.

10

All the time they were talking of Lanka and have embarked for Lanka,
The were impatient the day they heard of the Lankan gold,
The explores of the salty waters united the hawsers at dawn,
Those who left for the dark and deep sea, may return with good luck.

11

The sea traders again untied hawser at dawn,
Seeing them at oars, my heart was torn with anguish,
O mother, I will die thinking of the mariners.

12

The sea traders again untied hawsers at dawn,
The explores of salty waters are ready for the voyage.

13

O trading seafarer's mother, why don't you stop him?
It was yesterday that he come after twelve month , he is preparing again for a new voyage.

14

It was better to remain unmarried than to marry a sea trader,
No sooner the north wind blows, he prepares for a voyage.

15

As you were a sea trade; I should not have married you,
Because all the time you think of going abroad.

16

The sea traders set sails for overseas,
They tormented my whole being by inflicting pain.

17

As the Deyari sets in, the sea traders set sail,
The wretched wife of the sea trader clings to the oar, weeps,
The pain of separation would kill her at dawn.

18

The Dayari set in, the seafarers set sail,
This time the north wind blew in early,
The sea traders are always thinking of the other shore.

vaayi

O mates, come and see for yourself my love smitten body,
They put on shoes and went away in a huff,
Leaving their bondwoman in unbearable anguish,
I will put my body and soul into the search for him,
You have not born grief now you are laughing,
O forgetful mates, move on as to reach him there,
Shed tears without cease like seasonal monsoon rain.

vaayi

The mountains will end all my miseries, o mother,
Whoso I see I take him for beloved's messenger,
The tribe of camel men is difficult, they have left me in anguish,
I will pass the night in desert searching for him,
Seeing trees of my friend's native place, my thirst is quenched.

Melody Of Unflinching Love

Chapter-I

1

Swift is current, speedy is stream’s flow,
But where there is love the swiftness is unique,
Those, who love the deep, are lost in meditation,
O God, bring back the one, who has enthralled my heart.

2

On both the banks are the young buffaloes,
Current does not subside in the narrow stream,
Those, whose body's embellishment is image of the beloved,
They cross the stream in a single stride.

3

New stream flow, but the forceful current is still ahead,
My mates, you claim to be in love while sitting indoors,
If you were to see the countenance of Sahar,
You would not dissuade me,
But would pick up pitchers and enter the river even before me.

4

Whoso saw the countenance of Sahar lord,
They could not sleep restfully by their husbands' sides o mates,
You would all pick up pitchers and enter into the river even before me.

5

They, who saw the countenance of Sahar lord once,
Could not sleep soundly with their husbands,
They entered without a pitcher heading for the vortex.

6

O mates, if you behold the beloved in the way
I have,
You will not find restful sleep by your husbands' sides,
But pick up pitchers to enter the river even before me.

7

Had my mates perceived what I had perceived,
Many of them would have given up their homes and husbands.

8

Many damsels are on the bank pitchers feigning to enter,
With claims, "I am Sohni, entering the river for the beloved,"
Those, who do, will be seen at the bottom in the morning.

9

Standing on the bank many chant 'Sahar', 'Sahar'
Some fear for their lives, some do not and plunge in,
Sahar is theirs', who leap in, smiling.

10

Crows are roosting on trees, dusk is about to fall,
Hearing the evening call-prayer she picked up
The pitcher and entered the river,
Looking around for haunts of her SAHAR.

11

Pitcher in hand, she stepped into the river after,
Looking it over for turns and twist,
'Head is sacrificed at beloved's feet, so what.
'That is the secret of union,
Take them safely across, O God,
Whose time for pleasure of union is night.

12

Pitcher in hand, she stepped into the river after looking it over for turns and twist,
She passed the stage of "Standing before Allah in fear*,"
Sayyad says, the wood would not daunt of those who yearn for the beloved,
Take them safely across, o God, whose pleasure of union night.

13

Pitcher in hand, she stepped into river and girded her loins,
"My heart reached Mehar" on the other side,
I am having dip after dip of my beloved Mehar.

14

Pitcher in hand, she stepped into the river and dipped her arms,
The helpless poor woman wailed aloud in midstream,
'Come back to me, my love, water animals are eying me!'

15

Pitcher in hand she stepped into the river placing trust in Allah,
Her leg was in dogfish's mouth, head in crocodile jaws,
Bangles lying cracked in mud,
Disheveled hair floating on muddy water,
Lakhs of perai and pike fish,
Away from their habitats, are stuck to her,
A thousand crocs are amassed, Sohni would now be torn to shreds.

16

I hold the pitcher dear, for it was with its help that I saw Mehar's face,
It is dearer to me than life, how can I give it up?

17

No matter if my pitcher broke, and bangles cracked,
"The seeker of Allah is masculine"*
This is the bush for the drowning to hold on to,
The leper Dum is a liar, I have Mehar in my heart.

18

No matter if the pitcher broke and my armlets bent,
"The seeker of God is masculine," is our way,
I am not be left behind, Mehar is in my heart .

19

No matter if the pitcher broke, it was indeed a barrier,
My whole being resonates, my soul has become a rebeck,
Without Mehar I care not for piety and devoutness.

20

No matter if the pitcher broke, carry on swimming, my heart,
I have to keep my eyes in check every day,
The lead shepherd has put me on the right path.

21

No matter if the pitcher broke despair not,
"Do not despair of Allah mercy" is your raft to swim by,
With true love you will see Mehar's countenance.

22

The pitcher broke, the woman died, all the aids vanished,
She become lifeless in midstream alas, alas all props were lost,
Oneness effaced all adornment of Sohni.

23

The pitcher broke, the woman died, and all the means were lost,
It was then that Sohni heard the calls of Mehar.

24

It was when aids left her to drown in rapids,
That beloved called her from the other bank.

25

Take not self with you, forget all aids,
Proceed towards the beloved only with love.

26

Take not self with you, forget all aids,
Sohni, love will help you cross the rapids,
They will quickly cross the rapids, who are led by love.

27

Take not self with you, proceed without aids,
Step into the river with love, Sohni,
Go to the beloved chanting the name of love.

28

Take not self with you, go without aids,
They alone found the beloved, who went with love.

29

Take not self with you, proceed without aids,
Break the unbaked, take love to the deep.

30

There is no guide like the heart full of love,
False lovers tarry on this bank asking for rafts,
The river becomes a small stream for those, who swim without raft,
It is only true love, o Sohni, that takes across safely,
Eddies could not stop those, who are dead set for Mehar.

31

Those who ask for Mehar, Mehar also asks for them,
For those, who are deep in love with Mehar, raft is a burden.

32

The deep love of lovers is raft for them,
Those, who yearn for Sahar, river water is like a grinstone.

33

Don't offer them raft, who are aware of love,
Heading towards Sahar, Sohni hardly asks for a boatman.

34

Sahar, Sohni and the river are one and the same,
It is all a mystery, an enigma.

vaayi

What for I am without Hoat?
Keep away from sin, o slave-girl, there is no charm in virtue,
Neither in piety, nor in music,
You can achieve goodness inside yourself is use saliva
The impure is purified, degenerate made chaste,
What is in earth is not anything,
All that shone on water were only the bubbles,
Go beyond with the guide crawling along his stirrup,
O falcon, snoop down to hold the thief in claws,
Don’t obstruct the view of friend by drawing veil,
Overcoming of self in union is like merger of two syllables,
Roast yourself in love keeping your mouth shut,
Give them celestial wine, who yearn for it,
It is in sickness that the wretch answers inanely.

Chapter-II

1

Where there were roaring waters,
Swirling whirlpools and crocodiles aplenty,
There she plunged herself into the rushing current,
She crossed the violet waves, Lateef says, with God's grace.

2

Roaring, violent swirling whirlpools, and daunting river,
From that very place she enters the river not caring for her life,
God's grace led her safely across the current.

3

There was horror, tumult and terror in the river,
The unbaked pitcher dissolved in the waves, where is it now?
The true Sahar lord will be my aid in midstream.

4

Where the river is horrifying, alligators terrifying,
And a thousand crocodiles abound the river,
There without you may strength falls me,
O my Lord Protector, reach me in midstream.

5

The river with its roaring whirlpools is horrifying,
Logs hurtling downstream are whirled madly by waves,
Expert swimmers are afraid,
Even those who swim using inflated goatskin dare not,
Help me through, o Lord, where the waves block my way.

6

Horrifying river where whirlpools roar,
As water animals watched, waves folded over her,
Come my dear Lord Sahar with love to me,
O my Guide, extend your hand and lead me out of the deep.

7

Horrifying river, where whirlpools rumble,
My feeble heart cannot endure river's threats,
O Lord, listen to the entreaties of this supplicant.

8

Horrifying river, where whirlpools roar,
My heart is apprehensive of the other bank,
My true love, says Sayyad, overpowers fear of the rushing current,
O Lord, have mercy,let me cross the current.

9

Horrifying river, uproar, violent, torrent and inundation,
Waves whirl the big logs and cast them on the islets,
Lord, help me across the swamping marsh.

10

Horrifying river and violent sounds,
May that my outcries reach Mehar,
O my Sahar, come to my aid so that I may not die in violent waves.

11

Horrifying river with habitats of aquatic animals,
It is so deep that even seamen fail to measure it,
Predators howl around in the river,
Even big ships sink leaving no trace behind,
Not a piece of their wreckage floats on the surface,
Such is the fury of whirlpools that any one who goes there returns not,
Help them there, O Lord, who know not swimming.
Help them there, Lord, who know not swimming.

12

A river in turmoil with crashing waves,
Where many a swimmer on inflated goatskin finds himself in trouble,
For the real swimmer it is but a stride-wide.

vaayi

O True Lord, take me, o Real Helper,
Take me quickly to the beloved's place,
The dreadful black whirlpools I consider them an even path,
I have given up the desire to live.

Chapter-III

1

It is the way of passionate to enter the deep impulsively,
Dum reproaches me ten times a day,
Love has overwhelmed my wisdom, sense and shame.

2

She does not look for a favorable point to enter,
Nor hastens to descend by a landing,
One, who craves for Sahar, is deeply engrossed in his thoughts,
Amid eddies in a dark night she is perturbed by apprehensions,
But for the one, who suffers pangs of love, the river is of no account.

3

Rough or smooth, all points are enterable,
Only fake lovers look for easy entry,
Let your body be with Dum, your heart with Mehar,
To the one, who longs for Sahar, river is but a small stream.

4

All points along the river -flow are enterable,
Only fake lovers look for easy entry,
They seek not easy entry, who are truly in love with Sahar,
Those in the grip of love, river is but a stride for them.

5

Any point she chose to enter,
Though not enterable, turned out to be enterable,
Sohni crossed safely, whirlpools did not harm her,
Her eyes reflected the glow of beloved's love,
Justice was done to her by the just as she was seeker of the just.

6

From the very beginning she was seeker of the Just,
She looks neither for a boatman, nor a boat, nor a rope for tying it,
Water was only ankle deep but Sohni thought she was in midstream.

7

From the very beginning love had favored Sohni,
She had the garland of beloved's love round her neck,
She found the ferry upon which all mankind depends.

8

O Sohni, leave behind all that tempts,
Only the untrue show coquetry in beloved's absence,
It is a great mistake that you pass days with Dum.

9

She commands respect more than others,
She got close to A* and attached herself to M**,
It was because she was humble that she was united with Mehar.

10

Learn right the lesson of Shariat**,o Sohni,
Cross quickly the stage of Tareeqat to reach the stage of Haqeeqat,
The stage of Maarfat is the privilege of the lovers.

11

Those, who are grateful there is patience in their chambers,
They, who get totally united with the beloved, reveal it not,
They swim without any aid, whose hearts are soaked in love.

12

Every moment she has to face checks by Dum,
Seeing the forceful flow of river she does not turn away,
She goes forth with love towards the beloved in the dark night,
No water recess can stop her, she is true to her promise.

13

Water recess cannot stop Sohni, she can stride over,
May the mother smile, who bore such a girl,
Had you seen her beloved,
You too would have fallen in love with him.

14

No water recess, deep of shallow, can stop her,
Dum impedes her from going out many times a day,
Her heart burns till she meets Mehar.

15

Extreme winter, freezing water, dark clouds high wind, by-river,
Her heart is anxious to meet Mehar,
Since my pledge I am swimming in tortuous currents.

16

The one who entered the river in extreme cold night and rain,
Let us go and see Sohni, who knows how to love,
And is whose heart Mehar dwells all the time.

17

Others enter river in rainy season but she is happy to enter in winter,
With deep love she consigned her body to the fast flow,
It is unjust of the river to down the lovers.

18

O floating log, if you be my companion,
I can share my plight with you,
Away from the river my heart knows no comfort even for a moment,
Rainy season is winter and river a meadow for me,
They, whose beloved is on the yonder bank,
Propriety requires them to cross over.

19

O river, don't erode banks, you too will have to give account,
Rainy season will not be here for you always,
All your upsurge will soon subside.

20

O river, may you not flow any more, may you dry up into islets,
May I see your bed grown with Laano,* Loote,* Liyaar,*
For you have all your life drowned the hopeful lovers.

21

Don't crackle o eddy, don't drown logs in your current,
Mehar's dye is all over me, how can I wash it off?
I will step in despite your turns and twist.

22

O brother log, should I worry for you or myself?
Have you brought any new s of the beloved to this landing?
You flow unto deep waters, I unto the beloved.

23

The blaze of beloved Mehar's love burns bright in my heart,
It flings the love-burnt into midstream,
To those who are attached to Mehar,
Midstream is like a straight path.

vaayi

O beloved Mehar, my friend , it is since long that I am in, midstream,
Deep whirlpools, unfavorable landings, steer me out, o helpful,
Away from you I am passing unhappy days with Dum,
Where logs whirl and toss around in the fast current,
There entered Sohni with no one to help her,
The damsel intones to herself:
The night is dark and the pitcher is unbaked,
Reach soon, o my herdsman, with a raft,
I am crying on this bank for help to reach the other bank the other bank in safely,
The sound of bells coming from the other side breaks my heart,
Trusting in Allah I have hurled myself in the swift current,
I will swim to the yonder bank defying numerous crocodiles,
This bondwomen entered the river smiling,
As predators writhe in warth.

Chapter-IV

1

My sisters, tinkling of buffaloes' bells has stirred all my limbs,
The love that the tinkling has evoked, I cannot broadcast,
The one, in whose protection I have peet myself,
Is sending comforting messages.

2

Bells of the woodlander are talking all around,
While asleep sudden sound of bells reached my ears,
It is unbecoming of me to stay put, my heart melts at the sound.

3

Moved as I am by the bells, how can I sleep in paece?
I think of Sahar lord many times a day,
I have put fetters of Mehar's love unto death.

4

Whirlpools are dark, so is night,
Sound of waves is like hissing of cobras,
Both the banks of full-flowing wild,
Mehran are giving out frightful threats,
Swimming towards Sahar wild cold waves tossed her around,
The sound of bells, however, guided her in midstream.

5

Sound of the bells of loving Mehar's buffaloes made her happy,
She jumped up from the bed at midnight to see the beloved,
Thoughts of the beloved awoke her from sleep.

6

Beloved's memory is source of my life, why should I meet him?
My entire being brimming with beloved's recollection,
How can the beloved be away from me,
When he is dissolved in my being?

7

Tinkling of bells in the wood moved me all over,
I stirred my love for beloved Mehar while asleep,
I will go and collapse in my beloved's abode.

8

While asleep I heard the sound of bells coming from across the river,
I was so enthralled that an urge to see him surged up,
By God, I smelt the scent of the beloved Mehar,
It impelled me to and see him face to face.

9

While asleep I heard the sound of bells coming from across the river,
Beloved Mehar's bells reopened my love wounds,
It is now a must for me to go to his abode.

10

Where are the bells ringing, where have the buffaloes gone?
They follow Mehar and go wherever he goes.

11

Where is Mehar, where are the bells ringing?
Where is the friend's fire burning, where is the other bank?
It is for him that I tussled with water all my life.

12

Sitting beside buffalo calves, Sohni shares her suffering s with them,
Have you come across the buffalo-man?

13

Holding their ropes, she sat beside buffalo-calves and cried;
I don't care for my husband, nor mind if his home collapses.

14

Her arms around their necks she sat with calves and cried:
I make my body red by rubbing the grass that you eat,
Hearing your bleats always makes me happy.

15

They came back to the grazing land they had run away from,
The buffaloes have no other support except Mehar.

16

She had a sip of love from Mehar's hands,
Its taste intoxicated the damsel fully,
The love dart, sharper than the iron dart, pierced her through,

17

She took whey of love from Mehar's hand,
Its single sip proved to be too much for her,
She would not rest until she meets Mehar.

18

May not Mehar die, may not buffaloes' pen become desolate,
May the buffalo-man never ever be harmed one bit,
Sahar is my adornment , people censure me on his account though.

19

O Allah, may the buffaloes of Mehar live long,
The young buffalo-calves tied to wooden pegs looks beautiful,
Their shining eyes have driven me to the main current.

20

O Allah, may the buffaloes of Mehar live long,
May the black, brown and curved-home buffaloes beget one by one,
May the woods, where they graze, grow greener,
May my beloved come and live in the valley.

21

Having grazed pasture, the buffaloes swam to the other bank,
Millions will raise their heads at herdsman's call,
Led by Mehar, they will happily reach the other bank.

22

Having grazed pasture, the buffaloes swam to the island,
They will cross the high river by grace of The Gracious, says Lateef.

23

Having graze pasture, the buffaloes swam and neared whirlpool,
Millions will raise their heads at Sahar's call,
The buffaloes will happily reach the other bank in peace.

24

Having grazed pasture, the buffaloes swam and reached well,
Hearing the cell of Mehar they will be heartened,
Happy and content, they will go across in the morning.

vaayi

No one should stop me, everyone should restrain herself,
Love has overwhelmed me,
I will resolutely to the other bank, no one should stop me,
She threw herself in the river at midnight,
Seeing smoke of friend's fire my heart burns.

Chapter-V

1

The river is too wide, the other bank far off,
The possessed woman entered the dangerous waves,
Pressed for life in high water,
She recalled her past sins with trembling heart,
If you showed mercy, no one will be overcome by waves.

2

The river is too wide, the other bank far off,
Pressed for life in high water,
She recalled her past sins with trembling heart,
She found solace by remembering mercy of the Lord of both worlds,
If you showed mercy, no one will be overcome by waves.

3

Even though the river is overwhelming,
It is easy for love's to swim across,
Their hearts stop not from going forward in the mainstream,
On the way to face Sahar, they will sacrifice their lives,
Those who are devoted to Sahar, he is always there to help them.

4

Those who plunge, come up, it is so indeed,
Throw yourself in the high river,
You will find Mehar ready with a raft.

5

Those who focus their eyes on Mehar,
And enter the raging river without a raft,
The river cannot drown them, says sayyad.

6

Recollections of the favors of Mehar surged in my mind at midnight,
The favorites of Sahar crossed the current and got set,
I may see at daybreak the abodes of my beloved.

7

My heart went out of my hands at midnight,
Plunging in the current it swam toward dear Sahar,
And saw the abode of the beloved at dawn.

8

Where heart's love abounds, one gets drawn there,
And the current hurtles on in that direction,
Join me in the midst of waves, o Mehar, says Lateef.

9

However much I try to restrain my true love, I fail,
Love surges in my heart, so I step into the river sacrificing my life,
Those, who have Mehar in their heart, must go in.

10

Perceive him, beyond perception though he be,
His love is nevertheless nearby,
It is very difficult to perceive him sans river.

11

Where do I find buffaloes? They have left for other pastures,
Standing upright on the bank she consults all milkmen of the vicinity,
Sayyad says, broken with grief, she calls out:
**Sahar, let your abode come nearer.**

12

She does not have any fear of Dum,
She is not letting water spoil makeup,
For Mehar's sake she swims whirlpools in pitch dark.

13

Every day reproaches me on account of Mehar,
I receive those reproaches in my lap,
He may reproach me forty times a day,
I will bear them all for beloved's sake.

14

When all are asleep and no one is awake,
At that moment, o mates beloved suddenly come in my mind,
If anyone chides me on that account, I feel proud.

15

Had she not entered the river, no one would have heard of her,
She would have passed her life as if she did not exist.
The sip of whey that Mehar gave her to drink enthralled her,
Sayyad says, love practically killed Sohni,
She would have died any way,
But death by drowning doublet her worth.

16

The whirlpools whisper with each other at dawn,
Eyes eagerly look for that water at midnight,
Even drinking mouthfuls of it does not quench their thirst.

17

How a fish that says in water all the time could stink?
It has only one worry where from to drink water.

18

What are whirlpools? Who am I? who bears censures of Dum?
It was ordained, otherwise who would step into water?
Sisters, what I am going through is writ in my fate.

19

No matter if drown,
Let my dead body be pushed out to the other bank,
May my beloved come there and grieve over my dead body,
I would then regain life and get up to meet,
The beloved for whom I died.

20

Every wave is crimson, current is more fragrant that musk,
Whole body of water is profusely emitting the scent of amber,
It was only yesterday that Sohni entered into the whirlpools.

21

Whatever you saw in the midstream tell it all on the bank,
The river is deep, the surf very high,
See that you don't wet your shirtfront,
Keep Sahar in mind so that you may cross safely.

22

Steep are both the banks, my mind is in a fix,
If I do not go, love will be shamed,
And if I go up, there will be hue and cry all over the neighborhood,
On one hand is keeping of promise,
On the other are reproaches of my mates.

23

Sahar has tied the knot of love to my being,
That knot cannot be untied except by my Sahar,
Allah, unite with Sahar so that the knot in my being is untied.

vaayi

Lover must proceed, proceed to the beloved,
Using his eyes as feet,
One should not tell anyone about the beloved,
Hiding from people, one should take home the secret of love,
Never tell anyone the misery caused by beloved Mehar.

Chapter-VI

1

The adorned beauty of Sahar was there before the Book of Dlestiny was writ,
Neither were the words 'Be and it Became' pronounced,
Nor was there any other converse,
Talk of Sohni was heard even before creation of the angels,
Lateef says, it was then that she fell in love with Mehar.

2

Sohni's adornment was there even before the,
Book of Destiny was writ,
The words 'Be and Become' were not pronounced,
Nor was there any other converse,
It was then that she happily tied the love-knot with Mehar.

3

She has braved the tortuous current for Mehar since the Covenant,
'Am I not your God?' 'Verily Thou art' she is keeping to it,
Having seen it herself, she is showing the path of love to others.

4

When He enquired of souls 'Am I not your God,'
Since that Covenant I have been in wedlock with Mehar,
How could one fly in the face of destiny?

5

When soul s were asked, "Am I not your God?"
And the reply "Verity Thou art,"
Since then I am head over heels in love with Mehar.

6

When the One asked souls "Am I not your God"
Sohni had her heart set on Mehar and longed for him intensely,
Fate had the river break pitcher into two pieces,
She kept to the Covenant in the river-bottom.

7

When the Arbiter enquired of souls, "Am I not your God?"
Sohni had her heart set on Mehar, she longed for him intensely,
Surge of river broke the pitcher into two pieces, it was preordained,
What came from Allah, she obeyed in the river-bottom.

8

When the Supreme enquired of souls, "Am I not your God?"
Sohni had her heart set on Mehar and she had reason to go to him,
The decree to use the pitcher had come from there,
What the Guide directed, she acted on in the river-bottom.

9

When He said, "Am I not your God?
Sohni had her heart set on Mehar for all times,
What was decreed from there, she performed in the river-bottom.

10

When the Exalted awoke souls by asking, "Am I not your God?"
Sayyad says, they recognized the straight path,
Out of millions only a few reached the valley of Oneness,
Taken in by its deceptive appearance,
Many were drowned by the river.

11

I am burning, baking, sizzling, writhing, and scorching,
My body is all thirst for the beloved,
Howsoever I drink I am not satiated,
Even if I gulp down the entire sea it will be no more than a sip.

12

I burn, I bake, I sizzle, I blaze the whole night,
'Cast duality aside, think of the beloved alone,'
Thoughts of the beloved pierce my heart at midnight,
I have nothing in my hands or elsewhere, I mount gibbet everyday.

13

Dark night, unbaked pitcher, and darkness of twenty, ninth*,
No sign of moon and the river is raging,
Sohni came there at midnight for Sahar,
It is God's decree, else who would enter the whirlpool?

14

Dark night, unbaked pitcher, and no float to swim with,
She loses no moment to plunge in for the beloved,
To those, who are in love, the Mehran is just a dry plain.

15

Dark night, unbaked pitcher, and it is raining,
On one hand is the fear of losing path,
On the other is a lion before me,
May the love relationship not break,
I have to go in, let my life be forfeit.

16

Neither on this nor on the other bank, the poor girls is in midstream,
Except the dry patch the beloved is on, all else is wild water,
Enter, look not here, God is merciful to those who drown.

17

Neither on this nor on the other bank, the poor girl is in midstream,
She stepped in without noticing the pitcher had developed leaks,
O God, have me cross the swift current in ease.

18

Hundered of women were drowned by the river,
This one drowned the river,
Losing its force, the river strikes its head against the banks.

19

Hundreds of rivers may roar, Sohni is not amenable to change,
Can love for the beloved be snapped in this way?

20

Even though you drown, touch not the beloved's raft,
Lest the may tomorrow, we helped you cross the midstream.

21

Even if drown, depend, not on the beloved's raft,
If you want to meet the beloved, swim against the current,
Step in the direction, where there are no human habitations.

22

Those who drowned while trying to reach dry land,
Sahar became their companion on both the banks.

23

Those who drown, on the dry land, Sahar helps them,
Lateef says, he carries them on his shoulders and takes the across the waves,
He delivers them nearer than what they thought was too far.

24

If you while trying to reach dry land, let yourself go,
Don't collect driftwood and straws to make a raft,
There will be no call of Mehar, nor will Sohni he heard of.

25

What you take to be verses are in fact Aayats,
They guide heart towards the beloved.

vaayi

She forget not her beloved, she is practically dead in love,
My friend, my sweethearts, She is made, crazed,
Whoso longs for the beloved cannot rest at home,
Dum, difficult and peevish, hits her head with a stick,
The bells, ringing in the woods have made her restless,
On every landing the beloved's sweet sound is heard,
I depend on the sip that the beloved gave me.

Chapter-VII

1

Thought he did not enter into the river,
Her mind was set on the beloved,
The river was high, yearning was very very painful,
As his image surged in hear heart,
She thought of nothing but the beloved,
She looked for light in forests on both banks of the river,
May the unbaked pitcher not be harmed in water.

2

O God, you alone sink and save, no one else can lay such a claim,
Mehar knows all about my condition,
Caught as it in the deep waters, let the brittle not crumble.

3

Herons were her pall-bearers, river current her bier,
Which storks from the nearby islands carried om their Shoulders,
Even when she saw the inquisitor angels* appear, her mind remained set on Mehar.

4

Standing upright on the bank, Mehar called out to them boatman,
Put out your nets, I too will join in with my hands,
Let us search the dark waters, we may still find my beloved.

5

Standing upright on the bank,
Mehar offered curd to the boatman and said:
Put out your large nets, I too will join with hands,
Caught inn some eddy, the beloved may still be alive.

6

Standing upright on the bank, Mehar calls out to the boatman,
Brothers, bring back your boats from the yonder side,
Let us search for the one, Who has been carried away by the current.

7

Clutching reeds of the riverbank, the lover laments,
How come, my friend, you drowned my darling Sohni,
I will lodge complain against you on the Day of Judgment.

8

Where water whirls in eddies fearsome banks cave in,
Ace swimmer and the pitcher-using,
River men could not fathom river's depth,
Many with inflated goatskins stood trembling on the bank,
How you, naïve could enter into such a river?

9

River is eroding banks, those who will enter the river,
Have the raft of trust in Allah and leave every thing to Him,
Those, who have blessing of Sahar, will never drown.

10

They, who stand on the opposite bank, are bidding me to come,
The current is fast, there is tumult, surging waves and gale,
Even so they will not drown, whom God protects.

11

They, who stand on the opposite bank, are bidding me to come,
While the current flows fast, this wretch carries a pitcher of clay,
They will not drown, whom the True One helps.

12

O naïve, honor the claim of Sahar,
Discard all doubts, uncertainties and fears,
Making your heart a mirror, see the beloved through it,
By following this path you will surely perceive the beloved.

13

O naïve, honor the claim of Sahar,
Discard all doubts, uncertainties and fears,
By thinking of no one but the beloved, you will perceive him.

14

He is the real lover, for him the body yearns,
He has taken and roped in my heart.

15

I saw the Lao* and Lyaar' of Sahar,
My heart is no amused here without the herdsman,
Mehar has roped in my heart.

vaayi

Mother, I can survive only if the beloved thinks of me,
I can sacrifice for Sahar ten Dums,
I give eight jewels for one gem,
Abdul Lateef says, your coming will me for ever.

Chapter-VIII

1

As a clever swimmer drowns, he catches hold bushes on the bank,
Behold, Lateef says, how honorable are the bushes,
They pull out the drowning or accompany him to midstream.

2

A fragile stem of reed recues the drowning in deep waters,
It either pulls out the drowning, says Lateef,
Or lets out a shriek at the very outset,
This, verily, is known to all,
They help the drowning to safety or go with to midstream.

3

If there be reeds on the bank, a raft ready,
Give your hand in the beloved's and one else,
Did you not hear the bank warning?

4

News is circulating of the bank's darkness, Lateef says,
Rushing waves and surf could overwhelm the unbaked pitcher,
O God, let them reach the other bank safely,
Who, are swimming with unbaked pitcher.

5

You are here as a trust, get a raft ready,
The raging waves, says Lateef,
Have even daunted the brave and the strong,
The deep water stopped them and they submitted before its force,
Even the floating logs could not drift to an island in Mehran.

6

O simpleton, you purchased unbaked pitcher from the potter,
Have you not heard of the onslaught on the unbaked?
Lateef says, the awe-inspiring dark river has drowned millions,
O Mainstay, get them across midstream,
Who swim with unbaked pitchers.

7

Sohni did not ask for the baked but went ahead with the unbaked,
Crossing the current, she headed for the herdsman,
How can she overpower love, when love has overpower her.

8

Entering into waters, she advanced with the unbaked,
Sayyad says, she ask not the baked,
The damsels in love, Abdul Lateef says, go without desire,
Those, who went with ego, wandered off to difficult landing.

9

Perceiving my bad luck, the pitcher also became treacherous,
Alas, it was not a friend in need and difficult situation,
It is now with your aid, or river,
That I am swimming in your deep waters,
Would that I meet Mehar on whose support I depend.

10

Deceived by its colors, I did not take the pitcher to be unbaked,
I was drawn to it the moment I saw it,
That is why I was overstayed in shallows waters.

11

She was bewitched by the beautiful patterns,
On the pitcher made by the potter,
Water washed them off,
The colors could not withstand the lashing of waves,
Inebriated by her youth, She took the pitcher to be baked,
She learnt it midstream that it was actually unbaked.

12

So what if the pitcher is unbaked?
Beloved's beneficence is as good as a baked pitcher for me,
My beloved is Sahar, it is a sin to look at Dum,
Be it a gale or uproar, will cross over to the bank.

13

Baked is fine, but it was unbaked that was of use to me,
They alone will go for the baked, who live a life of ease.

14

The potter's clay were fired in his kiln,
what fell to my lot from there is unbaked.

15

The unbaked did not last long, the brittle crumbled,
She lost her nerves in midstream as her swimming arms went limp,
The waves surged high and wrapped her up,
What the Angel Death does struck her mind then.

16

The unbaked did not last long, the brittle broke,
Recollection of what the Angel of Death does gripped her conscious,
Sahar knew all about the unbaked.

17

The unbaked did not last long, the brittle could not withstand,
Hands, feet fingers, and arms, all lost strength,
Come soon, Sahar, I am adrift in Mehran.

18

The brittle misled her she was bewitched by its patterns,
The waves moaned, Sohni has drowned,
The unbaked down the jewel in waves.

19

Pick up the baked after through check,
Return the unbaked to the potter with disdain,
Hearken carefully and keep in mind Allah's injunctions,
Otherwise the waves of Mehran will be baffle you to death.

20

Some unfavorable wind blew to drain my arms of all strength,
Previously I used to swim across even in pitch dark.

21

Struggling against the current,
My arms became exhausted and heart lost all hope,
A million waves joined to cover me all over,
Eddies took away all my energy, come soon, my kind sweetheart.

22

Heart has given up all hope, all my stamina is gone,
Come to me, my gracious beloved prince,
I am very ignorant, come, kind beloved.

23

Come my kind beloved, my gracious, to the one who is lost,
There is no help, no way out expect you, my guardian,
It is the grace of Sahar that get one across deep waters.

24

Grace of Sahar gets one across deep waters,
There no one else's company can be of help,
O Mehar, kindly see that you take me out of the people.

vaayi

Thoughts of the neighbor haunt me,
I will go to the herdsman,
Dum may not wake up,
Unite me with my beloved where there is a row of curved-home buffaloes,
The bells of buffaloes are ringing in the forest,
Let there be no obstruction to my union with the beloved, O God,
People talk tauntingly about me all over the neighborhood,
Predators encircle me, reach me, my mainstay.

Chapter-IX

1

On water or land there is only one refrain,
Trees and bushes ..... the same,
So they all ought to be hanged,
All are Masoors,, how many of them will you hang?

2

All around is talk of the Beloved, all over is his presence,
The whole country is Mansoor, how many of them will you butcher?

3

Waves have thousand forms, appearance, of water is one,
Forget to fathom the unfathomable,
Where there is no limit to love, lose your self there,
Abandon the search for landings,
So that you may get close to the beloved.

4

Die near Mehar, Sohni beware of coming back,
Mehar's adornments, show them not to Dum.

5

If only he would say once, don't go Sohni,
I will stay on for whole life near the hearth-fire of Mehar,
I will not wear again the dyed scarf.

6

I will not go back but stay on even without his asking,
I wish to die near the hearth-fire of the friend,
It is not the physical appearance that has made her enamored,
Separation is cherished more than the union,
That is why I swim back, head held high.

7

Even if it be on the Day of judgment,
Union with the beloved is very near,
But it seems greetings of the union are even beyond that day.

8

Didn't I know that there was risk of life in entering the waters?
But what God had ordained could not be averted,
It was fate and love that drove her in a cove of the river.

9

It was not the fault of knife, reed* or pen,
Fate is writ a place, which is beyond reach,
To whom can one complain? It is all doing of fate.

10

My mates taunt me for my visits to the river,
O thoughtless river, do hear what is happening to me.

11

With these taunts ringing in my ears I swim across the fast current,
The reckless river drove her in deep water,
It was the writ by of the read pen that plunged her in the whirlpool.

12

If I swim I may die, if I swim back the current is high,
My heart is immersed in thinking of the beloved,
Seeing the neighbors I am alarmed at their taunt,
How can I go back midway? My cause is on the yonder bank.

13

There is no limits to yearning, nor to grief,
Love knows no numeration, it alone can find its own depth.

14

Love knows no numeration, understand it, be close to it,
O damsel, there is no end, no beginning of the beloved.

15

As I swim your love swells, o beloved,
It is you, who is in my soul as well as outside my eyes,
I have spent years by looking in your direction, my love.

16

Your love cuts and lacerates, my beloved,
The fetter of love is massive, I cannot move it.

17

Your yearning inside me is uncontrollable my love,
It draft out of my oven-scorched skin,
The beloved has bored holes in my body without a gimlet.

18

Your yearning is uncontainable within me, my love,
Having saturated my insides, it is now overflowing in torrents.

19

I myself swim some, you help me swim some,
I struggle some on my own, you help me struggle some,
I am all alone, let no obstruction come in my way, my Lord.

20

Satisfy lover's yearning, unite the separated lovers,
You alone have the power to do that, o True God,
Make them kind for whom body yearns,
When the crow will caw to announce the beloved's coming?

21

Many days have passed since I saw the beloved last,
I know not how he is,
My eyes overflowed with love like streams.

22

Many days have passed since, I saw the beloved last,
I know not how he is,
The grief of separation has entwined me all over like a creeper.

23

Many days have passed since,
I saw the beloved last, I know not how he is,
Sun has set many times while I have been looking for him,
I have been away from him for years without whom,
I cannot pass a moment.

24

I think not of them, husband or anything else,
Mehar has occupied my mind,
Expecting to meet him I get up early and adorn myself,
I long to see your place somehow, o beloved.

vaayi

Be watchful, be mindful, the landing is slippery,
Many are pitfalls, swamps and bogs, bow neck and watch,
They, who look skyward, will stumble at midnight,
I have heard from the seaman that waters are deep and difficult,
They only won the beloved, who went for him, do not tarry, woman,
I give up the weaving yard mates,
Sisters -in-law are awful,
Take the baked pitcher as your beloved is on the other bank,
Never let the passersby know about your love,
You will finally face Mehar, don't pass your days with Dum,
Listen, Sohni, there is deep current between you and Sahar,
You will cross the current and the tumultuous waves only with love,
Do not let go of the beloved's shirtfront even if you sink to the bottom,
There will be call of Sahar, be ready, o charming woman.

Chapter-X

1

Sohni is unwashed without Sahar,
Beside the one, who herds curved-horn buffaloes, she gets purified.

2

Sohni is all impure without Sahar,
His abode remove all impurities,
She gets purified when she is with the milk- drinker.

3

Sohni is unclean without Sahar,
She washes not her hair with home water,
Being by the side of the beloved is like she has bathed.

4

Sohni is like a bent-back woman without Sahar,
She has developed fever, alas, her condition is woeful,
The unwell now laments for she has lost her beauty.

5

Sohni is affliction without Sahar,
Dum's company is malaise, Mehar is her cure,
Potion for her physical illness is seeing the beloved,
She will get well as soon as she sees Mehar's countenance.

6

Don't enter into river, it is swollen today,
What have you to do with eddies in dark night,
Dum night wake up and enquire about you from the neighbor women.

7

Even if Dum asks the neighbor women, what can he do to me?
Only the concerned tackle eddies in the dark,
Let my bone and flesh be forfeit for beloved Mehar.

8

Dum shows his resentment of my love for you everyday,
Why don't you come, my darling, and restrain him?

9

So long as she was alive, she did not sit idle,
She went under earth yearning for the beloved.

10

So long as she was alive, she did not sit idle,
Drifting on waves, she reached Mehar even after death.

11

Let it be a dark night, fie on the bright moonlight,
So that I do not see any face before seeing Mehar.

12

O Sohni, do not always seek a dark night,
Go meet your beloved openly in board daylight.

13

It was not a lake or a hollow that drowned Sohni,
Even after death her eyes were full of craving for the beloved.

14

Sahar was to meet her on dry land, instead he met her in water,
How long can an unbaked pitcher float in high water.

15

Waves in river during rainy season,
Particles of sand in desert, hair on mole,
More than all these are the favors of the Beneficent.

16

I did not receive favors from my paternal or maternal side,
It was from the side of the beloved that I was shown great favors.

vaayi

I know not where the beloved is? My heart is there where he is,
They planted love in my heart with their eyes,
I depend on him whom the entire universe depends on,
She was friend's fire from a distance glowing like a candle,
Thinking of the beloved, she shed bitter tears on her way to him,
I hold your shirtfront till the day of resurrection,
Our pir is Hazrat Miran, would that he satisfies wishes of all.

vaayi

I submit all my supplications to you, it is only you,
I know not any other door,
O Allah, bless the humbles with your favors,
You place the blind ahead following by the one-eyed.

vaayi

No, not at all, my heart is not in my control,
My heart is restless without the beloved,
I am yearning for the herdsman, to stop it is not possible,
I take only Mehar's counsel, give ear to nothing else,
I am overpowered with pain, you come and overpower it,
Sohni is not asking for happiness, let the wretch suffer more.

vaayi

The girl did not comprehend love, she look it for a pastime,
The one who has lost her way is blind to Godhead,
He will not be counted tomorrow, who is not accounted for today,
He is in disfavor with God and is allied with Namrud*.

vaayi

The night passed without seeing the beloved,
How did you sleep away the night, when the friend was so near?

vaayi

O mother, all my desires are fulfilled,
There is no better talk than the talk of the beloved,
Talking about him enlivens, hearing about him heartens,
Sit on The Grantor's door, the proper place to offer thanks,
There is no limit to His glory, I can go on singing His hymns,
How many of your innumerable great attributes can I enumerate,
I just cannot sing your praise the way I ought to,
Those who are in your presence, in proximity, are yearning for you,
In their thirst to you they search and search,
Even as I ought to keep quiet, my heart stops not from crying.

Melody Of The Odyssey Of Being

Chapter-I

1

Sooner or later I have to go to Hoat,
Waste not the toil of laborer, my Lord,
Do me the favor of meeting the camel man during my life.

2

Grief-stricken Sassui, weeps and makes other weep,
Lying sideways at full length,
The gentle girl looks in the direction of Punhoon,
Lateef says, the girl looks in the direction of Punhoon,
Lateef says, the girl recalls beauty of her beloved,
Answering the call of love, she died on her way to the beloved.

3

Even id yearning grilled her, Sassui would still yearn,
Sassui has drink cupfuls of Punhoon's love,
But her craving is not satisfied,
Move one drinks these waters, more intense becomes one's thirst.

4

Perceiving the dazzling beauty, whoso had a sip,
Their painful craving increased manifold,
It remained unsatisfied through they always in midstream.

5

Thos, who are in love, their thirst is untold,
Drink cupfuls of thirst, sharpen your thirst with thirst,
Serve me a drink, punhoon,
So that I may quench my thirst with thirst.

6

Whoever drink a brimming cup of love,
They know not satiation because a sort of blaze rages in their hearts,
The wilderness, that these poor dear are moving into, is limitless,
That is why they are thirsty even in midstream.

7

Though always in midstream, their thirst remains unsatisfied,
Perceiving beloved is a mirage,
That is why they are thirsty even in midstream.

8

Sassui may willingly accept wilderness,
Those, who have thirst inside them, water also thirst for them

9

Even though Jhoopras* are on water but the fools die of thirst,
The beloved is nearer breath, they search but do not find him,
Unmindful of their own breath, they cry like the sick.

10

Sassui could not comphrehend Aari, she was near him,
By getting acquainted with Punhoon, she exposed herself,
The unwary Brahman woman lost her self by being with Baluchs.

11

Hot wind blew, people got scorched,
Sound of 'oh, 'oh, came from the skies,
Birds twittered in grief after Punhoon was gone,
Herdsmen were pained to see their cattle pensive,
Beasts accepted death out of grief,
The plains also howled for the too had great liking for Aari.

12

Follow his path with servility and humility,
O lonely woman, do not take liberties while in Kech,
Leave your ego behind, take love with you,
Beware of ever going near Satan,
If you expecting nothing, you will gain hope.

13

Go after servile, humble and undemanding,
Let no one know your pleadings and entreaties,
Exploring mountain is very hard, it is impossible without love,
It is by the grace of God that one can part with one's ego.

14

Sit not in Bhanbhore, o woman, *go not to Haaro,*
Do not tell lie, confess not truth,
Burn not for the beloved, nor forget the pain of separation.

15

Be not happy over comforts, nor fear sorrows,
Don't pull down your house, nor build a new one,
O wretch, do not die, nor try to live.

16

She is not happy with comforts, nor depressed by sorrows,
Neither stops on the way, nor goes far,
O mates, the Banbhan woman cannot do without both ways.

vaayi

O friend, my body and mind resonates with your love,
Memory of the beloved rings inside me like continuous tinkling of bell,
My eyes thirst to see you, return soon to me, my Lord cover,
I don't see that old love, whatever happened to that love-talk?
I am a captive in Bhanbhore without you,
Do not abandon me in mountains, o Aaryani, my support,
If you are not there, spring turns into autumn for me,
A thousand physician have made me sick with their medicines,
You are the medicine of my heart, be quick, my know-all,
Bring some potent potion to this patient,
It is you, my beloved, that Abdul Lateef thinks of all the time.

Chapter-II

1

Seeing the mountains, o slave grief, do not slow down your pace,
Search passes, says Lateef, and go after the Kechis,
Look out for the traces of the traces of the Baluchis's campfires and follow that trait,
Despair not of meeting your gracious husband,
Don't say the beloved is far when he is before your very eyes.

2

To those who transferred their through from here to hereafter,
The beloved, who is all beauty and wisdom, is just one step away.

3

Perhaps my spouse has remembered me in Vankaar*,
That is why I am going alone gathering pace, o sisters,
I reached Kech by the grace of the Baluch.

4

I am not familiar with Vankaar, the track seems to be unending,
Come, my beloved, I am tired of tracking,
O my jewel of a spouse, Lateef says,
Do care for the who is dying of exhaustion,
See that you don't forsake this wretch midway.

5

I am not familiar with Vankaar, I have not seen this place before,
Mountains have slashed me not with knife but with taunts,
It is because the beloved is so dear that I am leaping across the range.

6

I am not familiar with Vankaar,
I have not taken even a small quantity of water with me,
Mountain is unkind, sun is scorching,
Hot wind blows on the handicapped,
Come to me there, Hoat, where I am all alone.

7

I am not familiar with Vankaar, the mountain is sleep,
Making progress is very difficult here, says Lateef,
Make easy the first stage of my journey.

8

Trees of Vankaar the Jao, Jamar, and Jar are tall,
Pebbles become hot, so does earth,
The poor creature wanders here and there but fails to find any footprint of the beloved.

9

Trees of Vankaar are tall,
Where blue snakes are said to be numerous,
There, says Abdul Lateef, the lonely woman made all efforts,
Where there is no family or clan, come there on the way, my guide.

10

The poor woman had never seen Vankaar before,
People had no compassion, it was a dark country,
She made with the camel man for acquiring pain.

vaayi

Alas, they went away, handsome Hoats,
I had no influence over them, they were relative of Punhoon,
Sassui enquires about heir camping places,
Did you seen Aryanis with these marks of identification,
Their camels were decorated with, bells and trinkets?
The perfect one, the pride of their tribe, will take me with him,
O mates, Abdul Lateef says, my beloved friend has come back.

Chapter-III

1

Leaving Punhoon behind, you are searching him in mountains,
You are endeavoring hard because you are wedded to him,
Your looking for him in wilderness is a blunder,
Hoat is not in Harho, go and enquire from those who stay behind.

2

Enquire about the whereabouts of,
Punhoon from those who stay behind,
O miserable woman, look for the beloved always inside yourself.

3

O naïve, the mountain man is not there where,
You though him to be,
Do not go to mountains, your very being is Vankaar,
Consider outside as foreign, explore inside yourself.

4

Forgetting other locations, search your own house corner to comer,
Don't go after to find him, the friend is right inside you.

5

The friend is right inside you, seek him in the rear,
It is absurd that you go far out and call for him.

6

Bypass other houses, enquire about the beloved from yourself,
He is with you for whom you are suffering such hardship.

7

O Sassui, you are searching for out the one you cary with you,
No one has come to know by such wanderings,
Enquire about him inside yourself, you would find him there.

8

The one you are seeking, is always with you,
Lateef says, o weakling, look inside yourself for the beloved,
By doing so you will discover that his abode is right inside you.

9

Why go to Vankaar, why don't you look for him here?
The Baluch, says Lateef, is not hidden over there.
Be true, gird up your loins, uphold your love for Punhoon,
Direct your eyes within, his abode is right inside you.

10

The fake lovers enquire about him in Kech,
They, do not search Hoat here,
They, whose hearts are entwined with Punhoon, forget all way faring.

11

Go to the beloved heart and soul, forget going on foot,
This is the way of foot-messengers, it cannot lead to Kech.

12

Go to the beloved heart and soul, forget going on foot,
Sassui, do not look for the path in hill sand, crawl spiritually.

13

Go to the beloved heart and soul, leap not mountain,
The priceless Aryani is in your body.

14

Go to beloved heart and soul, leap not across rocks,
I found the mountain man, the lord of Kech, within myself.

15

Go to your beloved heart and soul, take not your head with you,
They, who are egocentric, fell short of Aryani.

16

I ask you, how to proceed toward Kech?
I say, go selflessly in the wilderness,
Never give up yearning for the beloved, you wretch.

17

Never keep yourself away from your love, o miserable,
As twins are joined together at birth,
You be with your beloved like that.

18

Never keep yourself away from tour love, o wretch,
Apply a little musk to your face.

vaayi

O mates, I lost my friend because of carelessness,
What should I do now?
While I slept, the party went away, as I got up sorrows came,
Alas, I asked for Punhoon after eating cerial,
Tell me, what did he say before he left.

Chapter-IV

1

How would they proceed to Vindur*, who have no yearning?
Many of those, who are only wishful, tire midway.

2

Everyone is wishful, no one is prepared to suffer privations,
It is not for everyone to move in that direction,
Only she should accompany me, who cares not for life.

3

Kech is not the place where to everyone can move for meeting Hoat,
Only she should accompany me, who cares not for life.

4

Love off all the mates was only up to the spinning yard,
Who would wander in mountains with me the fortunate?

5

Whoso is in comforts should not wish to accompany me,
Only they would walk the mountains, whose hearts are cleft in two.

6

She does not walk the mountains, yet claims to be in love,
Staying at home she forfeits her life for the beloved.

7

O mates, those of you, who have spouses, should return home,
I will not return without my spouse,
I will explore the mountain to its base,
Love for the camel man cannot be equated one bit.

8

O mates, those of you who have spouse, should return home,
Agony of separation in love is unbearable,
Only they, whose hearts are ablaze, will walk the mountains.

9

O mates, those of you who have spouse, should return home,
None of you will accompany me to Kech, don't waste time,
I have girded myself up having renounced all comforts for the camel men.

10

O mother, I will wash, dye my clothes saffron,
I will be an ascetic, stop me not, mom,
I will wear large earrings for my beloved Baluch.

11

O Inayat, let Jani keep you embedded there,
The path of asceticism is very difficult,
If you tasted wine of this tavern, you will go mad,
One can't wriggle free of such a relationship, says Sayyad.

12

Taking me for a concubine, my brothers-in-law went away,
My feasting them was not good enough,
Nor did I gather my mates to entertain them with singing,
I did not even observe traditional hospitality,
O mother, I was indeed wanting, but Baluch true to his word.

13

The word you gave when staying in Vankaar,
This wretched woman would have you keep it.

14

It is you, who has to keep it first, Punhoon may do so then,
Forget not the word you gave to Hoat.

15

Even after your beloved give you his word aplenty,
You will have to undergo many a travail if you talk of love.

16

Having heard him give his word, sleep not, Sassui,
What would you do if he oversteps them all.

17

As the sun sets, Sassui sheds bitter tears,
A messenger or a pedestrian there is no one,
Whom Sassui could ask about Punhoon's land,
Though in a fix, she does not think of turning back.

18

To stride, I have no strength for it, walking causes blisters,
Let no one ask me to return even in jest,
The Harho has sapped my grit completely.

19

My soles were blistered, I wept copiously on the way,
But I did not curse him out of anger,
Even in my utter exhaustion I said, "He is the best guide,"

20

O mates, one of you should awake her,
Who sleeps utterly exhausted,
The party has left, you are still asleep.

21

All the residents of Bhanbhore got tired of advising her,
How could that wretch return, whose beloved camel man took away?

22

While her mates tired to talk her into returning,
Her thoughts instantly transported her to Punhoon.

23

Do not advise me to return, mates,
I will set out and somehow find Aryani,
I will make up for all my lapses by trampling the mountains,
How can I equate myself with the lords?

24

O mother, I wish to die before and not after turning back,
Would that I fall upon beloved's footprints writhing in pain.

vaayi

You know my condition very well, my love,
I suffer from chronic pain,
Love for the friend pains anew,
It is because of you, o my physician, that I suffer from this affliction,
Bless me with joy of health, put an end to my sorrow,
It is for you that I sigh, lamenting is my fate,
I am lazy and ill-mannered, break my fetters, o protector,
You are a specialist in this sickness, do come Lord,
You are a the medicine of my heart, I have consulted many physicians,
Near as you are, come, take Abdul Lateef in your arms.

Chapter-V

1

When I left Bhanbhore to walk the mountains,
I pulled my weight and reached Kech, where Punhoon is,
"All is you, whom would you execute?"

2

When I delved deep myself and had a converse,
There wasn't any mountain in the land,
Nor had I any concern with the Kechis,
I myself became Punhoon,
All the pangs were there for the separate being of Sassui.

3

Mates, it was for being alive that,
My brother-in-law inflicted sorrows upon me,
But as I left Bhanbhore, all the sorrows turned into comfort,
The veil over me lifted, and I myself became Punhoon.

4

I became Punhoon as the veil Sassui lifted,
Those, who go alone, their veils are removed,
The deal supported to be made in Vidur, she made it here.

5

She became Punhoon, all signs of her individual identity vanished,
"Verily those who know themselves, know Allah,"* that is the way,
The trade that goes on in Vindur, she transacted here.

6

She became Punhoon, the beauty of Sassui vanished,
"Allah has indeed created Adam after His own image"*
Is echoed even by trees,
The crazy woman took Hoat in her arms out of love.

7

Misconception misled me, else I was Punhoon myself,
When I went close to the beloved, I lost my individuality,
Not a bit of knowledge is possible without perceiving the beloved.

8

I will walk the mountains,
Turning back would be a disgrace to my clan,
I am a handmaid of the Baluchs,
I will not claim equality with them,
"Separation is worst than death,"* I will not be here,
I will not give up hope, I wish to see the camel man before I die.

9

The wretched woman can hardly survive without the camel man,
His companions drove him away on camel early in the morning,
Seeing Punhoon's sitting place, my eyes shed bitter tears.

10

Once you give up your individual self, you will be near the wonderful,
"Nothing that I saw was devoid of Divine manifestation,"*
Build your shelter near this so that Hoat never leave you.

11

Hoat is in your arms,
Why do you enquire about him from the passersby?
"And in your own selves, will you not then see"*
It is something that you should comprehend,
None has ever gone to find Hoat at a shop.

12

Hoat is in your arms, why do you ask for him?
"And we are nearer to him than the jugular vein,"
Yours is with you,
It is the self that is between us and the wonderful.

13

I searched all over for my friend the camel man,
"Allah encompasses everything,"* is His sign,
Punhoon is in everything, there is nothing but the Baluch.

14

Having known all, how can I keep mum?
The fire of love is ablaze within me,
"Love is the fire kindled by Allah,** it burns like a furnace,
It is only Aryani, I know no one else, o mates.

15

O mates, Aryani is all inside me,
I see everyday mountains within myself,
Since I was love-smitten, the lord of Kech met me on way.

16

She goes after Punhoon as her soul is possessed by the taste,
Standing, sitting or asleep, she heads in his direction,
""Love is a veil between the lover and the beloved,"
Drop that veil to get rid of all doubts,
O mates, there is only Aryani, I know of no one else.

17

O sisters, I was naïve to wed without full inquiry,
That is how Punhoon's brothers were able to leave me pining,
Only they, who are pierced with dart of love, will walk the mountains.

18

O sisters, I was naïve to wed without full enquiry,
Had I known, I would not have cared that much for the highlander,
Only a moment of tete-a-tete entangled my heart with the camel man.

vaayi

He is the guide on the difficult path,
He will not abandon in the rapids,
Having pitched camp in the passes, he waits for the stragglers,
The Aari lord clothes the naked.

Chapter-VI

1

He gave cup of separation to this wretch,
Hoat has lit a kiln fire in me,
Seeing locks of the spouse, I lost peace of mind.

2

Pain inflicted by the locks is not relieved by medicine,
Yesterday I saw the locks dangle gracefully on cheeks.

3

I had seen the thick beautiful locks in Bhanbhore the other day,
Alas for those, who are killed by the locks.

4

Self was lost on the first glimpse, locks are a stranglehold,
Curl of the locks kills the wretched.

5

I cannot live now, mates, locks have me in a stranglehold,
The thick locks I saw in Bhanbhore have slain me.

6

The one, who slain by the locks, needs no shroud,
She is a martyr, content in her martyrdom.

7

O lord of mountain, don't be unkind to the wretched,
Abdul Lateef says, you are the horor of all,
Affluent as you are, kill not the wretch with words,
For God's sake, meet the wayfarers in good cheer,
Who is favored by association with your name,
Do not abandon her, o Hoat.

8

Affluent highlander, show anger to those, who are your equal,
How can you be annoyed with the one, who is your slave?
Come, my valiant friend, I am destined to come to you.

9

O mountain, don't be hard, I am practically dead,
This wretch has personal relationship with Aryani.

10

She treads no rocks with her feet softer than silk,
Her injured soles are bleeding,
Whatever her condition, she walks on to Punhoon,
He, whose handmaid she is, may come back to her.

11

She treads on rocks with her feet softer than silk,
She cares not for injuries but is worried about the Kechis,
I know not how Hoat crossed Harho and went beyond.

vaayi

Hoat my beloved would come safely to this woman,
He will tie me to his shirttail and take the laundress with him,
He will not be a friend of comfort but in misery,
He will give me the message of love, placing his cheek on mine,
He will take the laundress with him and not abandon the orphan.

Chapter-VII

1

Do not search for the beloved's footprint,
It has reached his homeland,
It is of no avail to sit on tracks without Kechis,
O Allah, return to me the one, who has gone to Vindur.

2

They may gird up their loins, who head for Vindur,
Why should they gird up, who have already untied.

3

Beloved's homeland is away from my homeland,
But beloved himself is away even from there,
Sassui had to take on a long journey for her dear ones,
O Hoat, I live for you where as you go to the royal court.

4

Having spent some time alone with me,
The beloved was up and gone in the night,
After threading my being in pain, Punhoon went away,
O my fate, wait for a while so that I may join with my beloved.

5

My heart knows no peace, it is in grief without the friend,
He has fastened me with strong shackle of love,
My body and soul are now the beloved's property.

6

Who seek Punhoon with love all their lives,
Why do shallow envy them?
They indeed are fortunate, who die on their way to the beloved.

7

You are indeed fortunate for you follow footprint of Punhoon,
Hold fast to that pillar Sassui, and weep again and again,
Do not stay behind, move, so that you may find Hoat.

8

They, who stay behind, cannot be in love's loop,
And they, who sleep, will not get beloved's company,
They won the beloved,
Who removed forward and sacrificed their lives on the altar of love,
Accepting all the fears and hardships,
They marched on to reach the lord.

9

The spouse is not gained by staying behind, nor by sleeping,
Only they get together with the beloved, who weep on mountain paths.

10

She tracks Punhoon's footprint and pines in secret,
She has tightened the girdle of love for the beloved,
Lateef says, the damsel quarrels with herself while struggling through the mountain paths,
Even if she does all this all her life,
She will not be equal to the dust of beloved's feet.

11

I should track beloved's footprint or pine for him?
Putting me in this painful situation, brothers of Punhoon went away to an place.

12

Pine for the beloved, and track his footprints,
By doing this, you will reach them in the mountain, o woman.

13

Find his traces from with in you, don't enquire from all o Sassui,
Sift the dust from the big mound,
If you act on this advice you will get the treasure.

14

She writhes, tells not, melts with pain,
Lateef says, she tracks the beloved's footprints discreetly.

15

If you can light the fire of love in yourself,
Blow on it so that it reached heaven,
Forsake all goods required for living here,
Make all your worldly transactions in nothingness.

16

How will you reach the beloved by holding your head high?
The more you stiffen your neck the more you will break into pieces,
Be humble o miserable woman, beloved is lost with stiffness.

17

The feeble damsel received the love dart, behold,
She is broken all over,
She neither lives nor dies, but is convulsing,
Sayyad says, she has however prepared herself for the sufferings.

vaayi

Baluch is full of mercy, I am striding in the mountains,
I will hold his camel's rein and go with him,
Let the dust of beloved's feet covers my face,
There is no one to rely upon in Bhabhore except the lord,
I will not let loose helm of Ari,
The rein of my life is in the hands of Hoat,
They did not stay anywhere after picercing peg of love,
O my guide, beckon to yourself by raising your hand,
I have no friend in Pub after Punhoon,
After you I will not comb and dress my hair,
Abdul Lateef says, o sisters,
My entire body immensely yearn for the beloved.

Chapter-VIII

1

Sans support, sans help, I am feeble and unfamiliar,
I am, says Lateef, shedding bitter tears for the beloved,
Out of intense love, I shed tears in Habb,
I try to win over Punhoon with humble entreaties,
I will grind and cook, if only you look me along.

2

Sans support, sans help, I am feeble and unfamiliar,
It seems to have been for dying that,
I made an outlander my beloved,
Sayyad says, you are Sassui's support in straits,
O imbecile, how do you expect to meet him without having provisioned?

3

Sans support, sans help feeble and unfamiliar I am,
There are tigers, thieves in hideouts and snakes in plains,
Come back, o Punhoon, my beloved, let I die.

4

Sans support, sans help she is confused and baffled,
Even her blood relatives cannot accompany her to mountains,
Dependence on these relations, says Lateef delayed the woman,
O Ari rescue this true lover from burning in love and from helplessness.

5

Sans support, sans help and crushed by sufferings,
How can she, wounded and depressed, stay forgetful,
Sun-burnt all over, she submitted to Punhoon,
Sassui, scorched by hot winds, would climb the wedding bed.

6

Sans support, sans help and weak, be true and strong,
Sayyad says, seasoned by hardships over rocks and boulders,
She is under attack by worries,
The pathways have dyed her crimson, says Lateef.

7

Sans support, sans help, she returns not,
She goes on moving towards the beloved , says Lateef,
Poor woman cries for the lords of Kech.

8

When Izraeel,* awoke Sassui from sleep,
She though a messenger from Punhoon had come.

9

When she saw Munkir and Nakir,
She got up and asked them about Punhoon,
Did you see the beloved's party passing by on your way here?

10

Camp-following the Kechis, trample upon stones on way,
And for the sake of your spouse dye the gravel with your blood,
Lateef says, cross the passes and explore the mountains,
Camel man is going very fast, step up to catch him.

11

The woman is lying utterly exhausted, she neither lives nor dies,
She is not sharing her miseries in this bad and unfriendly Bhanbhore,
Lateef says, she cannot forget her union with the beloved,
Show kindness by coming back,
How long can this servile woman go on searching?

12

Don't enquire about Hoat in Haarho,
Work your way into the woods,
Sassui, suffering is good company for you,
Cross the passes with its help,
So as to gain beloved's company, o woman.

13

Even through utterly exhausted, she went on climbing peaks,
When on way to Hoat Punhoon annihilate your self,
Proceed through sand, those who sit down sand envelops them.

14

These camel-droppings, this halting place, this rock and this path,
She did her best to follow the trail of her beloved's party,
Lateef says, there is some spoor in the rocks,
Following path of the lord, she earned good name in both the worlds.

15

Do not stay in Bhanbhore, make all possible efforts,
Climb mountains and find footprint of Punhoon,
Only through search can you know the whereabouts of Hoat Punhoon.

16

O Sassui, one should make all efforts to follows the dear ones,
Do not tire of following the camel track,
Woodmen will show you the trail of Baluchs.

vaayi

Hoat is ready to depart, how can I cope with it?
Fie on cots and manors, bitter is all food,
How beautiful it looks when the beloved sojourns in the spinning yard,
There he showers favors on the supplicants,
I am a washerwomen of Punhoon,
I will wash has clothes all my life,
Be hopeful, do not abandon footprints of the beloved,
Kechis harnessed the camels, my trouble is all due to these camels,
You, are support of the blind, come soon, beloved.

Chapter-IX

1

Do not be forgetful, nor ask the way,
They, who had love in their eyes, went and found him.

2

The uninitiated seekers went and searched the wilderness inside out,
Guideless, they did not find the straight path.

3

O wind, erase not the footprints I am following,
O gale, I gave in to your protection the footprints of the beloved,
These are my guide, see that you do not blow and obliterate them.

4

Yesterday the wind erased the footprints I was following,
It is now my lot to keep going for Hoat,
I have to explore many mountains for the footprints of the beloved.

5

Don't get tired, see the dust raised by the camels,
O wretch, leave the land taking nothingness with you.

6

Don't search him at far off places, sit not calmly, Sassui,
Do not walk with your feet, forget staying behind,
Sayyad says, forget all affiliations with comforts,
Walk heart and soul so that the distance is covered quickly.

7

I have sat down, I cannot take a step forward, come, o Aryani,
The exhausted one, in deep love with you, crawls forward.

8

The step that she look in utter exhaustion brought her nearer,
She covered the distance to Pabb in a single stride.

9

O exhausted, everyone can cover a fifty-mile distance,
Take just one step,
Keep up the tempo, the distance will soon be covered.

10

The camel man, the outlander enemy, awakened me,
He himself handed over to me the script of sufferings.

11

These are difficult days for me, I am infected with lice,
As I head for the the mountain, I am shattered all over,
Lateef says, I may break into piece for the friend,
When suffering, caused by the friend, are with me,
I consider lofty mountains small tamarisks.

12

I will now go to Punhoon all alone,
And have heart to heart talk with the highlander,
I will strip myself of all deficiency by wandering in mountains,
Very ignorant thought I am, I have with me love-pangs of the beloved.

13

This time I will go alone to Punhoon,
In front of me are mountains, difficult passes,
Steep cliffs and lofty peaks,
I will not be alone as I will have love-pages of the beloved with me.

14

She saw her friend with her heart,
Though tired, she did not sit down,
Lateef says, she went over rocks and kept up her search in the passes,
The treasure of love exalted her.

vaayi

I will go further, still further, to perceive the beloved,
In front of me are mountains and passes, come back, my proud beloved,
O shepherd, I may tell you that I am wife of another,
I require moisture of love, I am all parched,
Anyone not going with me to Hoat is fathered by rascal.

Chapter-X

1

Come near, o beloved, don't go away,
The done-in damsel raises her arms and cries aloud,
My cries of pain will kill me, kindly come back.

2

Come near, o beloved, don't go away,
Believe me, I will not tire out and turn back without seeing you,
Without seeing your face she is dying, kindly show it to the miserable.

3

Come near, o beloved, don't go away,
I will die in ranges, do keep me alive,
O Hoat, the one who is wandering on foot, leave her not in the mountains.

4

Come near, o beloved,
Let not this wretch suffer the pangs of separation,
You went away leaving behind the tiger of love with me.

5

Come near, o beloved,
Let not the miserable suffer the pangs of separation,
Come to my house asking after me so that I may not die, o Hoat.

6

For God sake, a Aari, see that you don't forget me,
My heart remembers you, it yearns and moans.

7

My husband, forget me not, I cannot have patience any more,
I am looking for you, come my beloved.

8

I cannot ever give up patience and gratefulness,
O my spouse, I have forgotten the days of comforts and amusement.

9

What will I do with patience and gratefulness?
I want him with me to whom I belong.

10

I have adhered to patience and gratefulness,
Come and show yourself to the miserable.

11

I have now acquired patience and gratefulness,
Come, beloved and ask after the afflicted woman.

12

My heart knows no rest since the departure of Hoat,
Bring him back to me, o God ,
Who has addicted me to the taste of love.

13

My heart knows no rest here since the departure of Hoat,
Punhoon's love familiarized me with the taste of yearning.

14

After the departure of Hoat my heart has known no rest,
He is close to my heart, who familiarized me with the taste of love.

vaayi

I cannot pass a moment without you, come back,
My love, my lord Baluch,
I will graze your camel in the rocks and mountains,
I will cut my flesh right from shoulders and feed it to the animals,
Let crown of Kech beak out my flesh,
I will relieve my mind by sharing my sorrows with the wondrous friend,
Abdul Lateef says, Aryani will remember to meet me.

Chapter-XI

1

Be all ears, Kechis are talking, speak not, they are speaking,
Their hidden meaning can be discerned in silence,
Sit with them and listen, you may learn to pine.

2

Listen, so that you learn to pine, today he has said, "come ,
They have learnt nothing to say except "run from yourself,"
Don't resonate like a musical instrument,
Listen so that you may be rid of duality.

3

Listen so that you may be rid of daulity, 'I' is not there,
Forget talking, be all ears, the Kechis are to talk.

4

Be all ears, Kechis are talk, speak not, they are speaking,
Not a bit of 'I' remains with them,
They have chopped down the tree that was ego.

5

Some time one should be all ears and sometime all mouth,
Some times a dagger and sometime a good.

6

There is dagger and slaughter in the courtyard of Aari lord,
One, who dies while on way,
Gets blood money of union with the beloved.

7

Cut as many sticks as possible from this tree , o camel man,
This kind of tree you will not find there,
Other types are aplenty, though.

8

My eyes are dust-laden, how I find footprint?
Who will remove dust from the eyes of the miserable woman.

9

Eyes of Aari lord are with the blind woman,
They will make me see the trees of Vandur,
They themselves see and let me see the forehead of Punhoon.

10

Eyes of Aari lord are with the blind woman,
They themselves will see the forehead of the beloved.

11

Do not call unless called, do not move unless moved,
Do not burn without burning, nor weep without weeping.

vaayi

O Gracious beloved,
You are reliever of pain of the wretch, come back,
I have received, believe me, hard blows of love,
My relatives have caused me a lot of misery,
Comforts did not do me any good, sorrows did take care,
It is on that account that I am being talked about a lot in Bhanbhore,
Abdul Lateef says, o my sisters, spikes of love have pierced.

Miscellaneous Verses

1

Where has the love that arose and was arisen yesterday, gone since?
This reckless love awakened me, o mates,
Its wounds smart so painfully that I cannot sleep.

2

All my limbs ache, bones are also smarting,
The grief inflicted by the beloved himself,
Has made restful sleep impossible,
The pangs that are fatal to others, I call for them.

3

I begged the highlander to give me pain,
Accepting my plea, he gave me that which purifies the impure.

4

As you have puberty, Sussui don garments of the immodest,
Take of the cloak of modesty, wander in wilderness like a vagrant,
So as to be the presence of the beloved.

5

Sassui received a call, which is a lullaby for us,
The journey is endless, and none, who is not called, can under take it.

6

Behold, how Sassui is facing' others miseries,
It is the strangers, who have thrown their worries on her.

7

She is not one of those, who are frightened on seeing passes,
She has acquired the way of the mountain-men.

8

O women do not sit under the learn-to proceed further in sunshine,
You have made them in laws, whose homeland is very far,
Now enter each locality and enquire about the
beloved.

9

Sassui had no companion nor help in Bhanbhore,
Punhoon's brothers had anger against her in their hearts,
Lateef says, o lord, let the exhausted woman cross the passes,
The miserable woman is practically dead, do not go away, o perfect one.

10

Sorrows pounced upon wretched woman,
Forget not, my spouse, the one who come from a low clan,
Renouncing all relations, cross over to your in-laws, o truthful,
Lateef says,, the trek will mature you into a jewel.

vaayi

O mates, I have many tales of my life to tell Hoat Baluch,
I wandered in mountains for your love,
I will scale mountains to break myself into pieces,
Wandering in mountains I lost all awareness,
I will never give up the treasure of love,
O punhoon, the unknown woman will be fortunate to be accommodated
In your camel-plan.

vaayi

Restrain me not, o mates, I will go to Hoat,
Relieve the wretch of all burden of Bhanbhore,
It is obligatory for the wretch to strive for union with the beloved,
It is a must for the lover to perceive the beloved,
I will not sit a corner as I have no mother or father,
Leaving her in her homeland, don't enhance her yearning,
Take the love-smitten away in camel saddles,
My trek is to Punhoon, don't lure me away,
Abdul Lateef says, o sisters,
God has got me together with the beloved.

vaayi

Do not ride your camel, o Kechis, I will plead with Aaryani,
Don't disgrace me, o Hoat, by making ready for journey,
You are the only support of this wretched woman,
Have your camels bow before the washer woman,
Play all musical instruments at the marriage of this wretch,
Attire them all, who are without clothes in the spinning yard,
For God's sake, do not deprive me of seeing your face,
Be resident of my city and make the wretch smile,
O Punhoon lord, sit with washer woman and share her sufferings,
Unloaded his camels in Bhanbhore and seat he groom for nuptial,
Feast the marriage party of Punhoon,
After wedlock, have Punhoon's mother take him and his bride out of bride's house to her own,
Befriend the Brahman girl and show dowry to the wretch,
Abdul Lateef says, o sisters praise the beloved.

vaayi

O brothers forest man, I ask you, tell me how will I reach Kech,?
I am an orphan woman, I have filled hem of my head-sheet with sins,
I am neither a Sammi, nor a Soomri, nor a Jutt or camel rider,
I am from the priestly family who recite scriptures,
I will be a washer woman, enquire about the beloved,
And wash my head-sheet,
I am enquiring about beloved, who went away early,
The party left early, you are following them late,
The Hoat you are enquiring about went past here,
Go after Hoat Punhoon after chastening yourself with love,
First throw the spinning wheel into fire and be a faithful wife,
The party left early and you are enquiring about Punhoon afterwards,
I am shedding tears in wilderness; oh, oh am I here!

vaayi

What sort of relationship I the naïve can have with Hoat?
I am alone in Habb, I have no relative of any kind,
The woman is alone, distance is long, I am without any mount,
I cannot climb the mountain as it has no steps,
I will enquire for him in Pabb and have all,
The trees resound with my calls,
The saliva of Punhoon I will lick slowly,
The beggar should not be starved of seeing the beloved,
There should not be any bad omen regarding,
My union with the beloved,
First I will throw the spinning wheel into fire, then seek wise counsel.

vaayi

I may see a foot messenger from the beloved,
Sisters, I will set out at dawn as I have to walk mountain,
I shed tears all the time like seasonal rains.

vaayi

O mates, all of you pray for me in the spinning yard,
There is no end to camping, pitching and striking,
Everyone is in transit, we have not seen here any permanent resident,
All will recollect Salat* as soon as they are interred in grave,
I know not how the interrogators from the Merciful interrogate,
Allah will bless the imperfect there with His light,
Would that I utter these words, God is one and Muhammad is truly His prophet.

vaayi

My mates, I will not say openly, I will not remonstrate with the in laws,
Beloveds do not return because of relationship,
They may return by entreaties,
Sisters, there is no room for taking liberty with the highlander,
You are that lord from whose door no supplicant goes empty handed,
You the munificent, have rewarded hundreds of supplicants.

vaayi

There was something in the beloved's people had heard it,
You are the one, who is known all over,
Do move on the path, get going on the track,
Who would say that Sassui died, she is on her way to the beloved,
She never tired of walking to the beloved,
Did you see, o forest man, an exhausted woman somewhere near Khheri tree.

vaayi

There was something in the beloved's mind, people had heard it,
You are the one, who is known all over,
Do move on the path, get going on the track,
Who would say that Sassui died, she is on her way to the beloved,
She never tired of walking to the beloved,
Did you see, o forest man, an exhausted woman somewhere near Khheri tree.

vaayi

She reached the trees of Vandur,
She thought she had come close to the beloved's path,
The mountains you thought to be near are very far,
Had they not bad intention, why would have they come from Kech?
They had decided to get me Killed,
Shelter of the love-smitten damsel would be fittingly,
Located on open plains,
They were not letting me on what is being talked of in Vindur,
The camel man brought pearls and beaded their camels,
Abdul Lateef says,
They have unloaded their camels in mountain passes.

Melody Of The Odyssey Of Being Maazoori

Chapter-I

1

On way to Hoat Punhoon only fake lovers get tired,
Rocky terrain feels like alluvial plain to true lovers,
All my mates are shortsighted and faint-hearted
In the matter of true love,
O Brahiman woman, cut up your flesh into small pieces
So that dogs of Kech may devour you.

2

If the pet dogs of Punhoon devour you, Then, o stranger,
You are accepted there as you are remembered by the animals.

3

In the animals reared by Punhoon, take notice of you,
Think that you shall be united with the beloved after death.

4

Wasp-like dog of the beloved awakened her,
He shook himself, barked and looked intently,
He will relieve her of all pain barking.

5

We are neither sweepers nor thieves,
Then, o dog, whom you are making such a terrible din at?

6

Beloved's dog says, admitted that you are friend of the master,
But our way is that we bark first, identify the visitor after.

7

If you want to slaughter me, do it yourself, let no sweeper do it,
I will not allow their hands to touch me.

8

Dog seek carrion, we are ticks for dog,
A tick is stuck in the black dog's ear.

9

Dog crunches bones, whereas a brave man devours his own liver,
"Verily world is a carrion and its seekers are dogs,"
*Keep this in mind.

10

When they see friend of their friend, they retreat,
They do not disobey comments,
When they see a relative of their keeper, they do not bark at him.

11

Incited by their keeper's whistle, the dogs bark and bite,
They do not disobey command, they are matchless,
They are not at fault, they bark and bite on incitement.

12

Let the mountain beasts attack me,
They cannot harm the washerwoman as her supporters are powerful,
They all know, says Sayyad, my relationship with them,
They would not have let me go but for my connections.

13

The protectors' relationship that helped me here,
It enabled me to reach mountains safe and sound,
How will people of Ketch not care for me?
I may be a washerwoman, but I am wedded to a powerful person.

14

It is because I am wedded to a powerful person that،
I am in foreign lands,
Otherwise no one cares for a Brahman or her branch?
And who knows who am I?
No one knew me even in Sindh but the beloved made me known.

vaayi

Abdul Lateef is in a fix describe virtue of humility, o friend,
I cannot express my praise for your attribute of bestowing pain,
I study with eagerness the lesson of love,
The pain caused by Hoat Punhoon is all pleasure,
To starve oneself of the pleasure of fondling,
The beloved is itself a pleasure.

Chapter-II

1

The miserable cannot afford anger, and the hungry cannot laugh,
Mates, the poor naked woman forget her wedding.

2

Sisters, blessed is the nakedness for which wedlock is forgotten,
Mates, abandon indolence, go forth all nude.

3

Go forth all nude, give up greed and selfishness,
Beloved's favor cannot be won by sleeping.

4

Go forth all nude, cast away your clothes,
She will be in the lead, who takes nothing with her.

5

The one who took nothing with her, reached the beloved,
And the one, who went wrapped up heavily,
Lost all chance of union with the beloved.

6

She, who makes herself up,
Loses all chance of union with the beloved,
And she, who is tempted by jewelry, becomes miserable like Leela,*

7

Hoat is distant from the haves but close to have nots,
Beloved is with them, who go forth with Nothing.

8

Get the dagger of Nothing and kill the beast in you,
Sayyad says, sell out all objects of desires,
Take step perceptively so that you may walk light.

9

Those, who walked light, crossed Haarho; o woman lighten yourself,
The haves cannot have the beloved.

10

Those who walked light, crossed Haarho; o wretch, give up makeup,
Walk with Nothing leads to the beloved.

11

Those, who walked light, crossed Haarho,
But those with loads are still in the village,
They were invited to Ketch, who had Nothing under their arms.

12

Those, who walked light, crossed Haarho,
But those with loads are trailing behind,
Sayyad says, they are suffering as they are deprived of love.

13

No one, neither here nor there, talks of woman with plenty,
Those with love reached the beloved, while those with wealth did not.

vaayi

Head for Hoat now, may you reach the path,
Yesterday she gladly made her feet red with blood for,
The sake of the beloved,
Climbing mountain peaks and passes she became all red,
If you want to unite with the beloved,
Wander in crisscrossing passes of Pabb, make intensive search,
A caravan came from Keck laden with precious goods,
Stay at the base of Pabb,
The odor of young camels will reach you there,
It is hard even for the fastest young camels to climb there,
There she enquires from the wayfarers about Aryani,
Abdul Lateef says, o mates beloved may meet me there.

Chapter-III

1

Going toward Haarho, I had to cover many miles,
Without Aari lord I suffered deep anguish,
I had to pass, says Lateef, through passes and defiles,
It is a great blessing for me that I want after Punhoon,
I have left every thing to him, it is not possible for me sit about.

2

Going towards Haarho, I tremble for my lapses,
They rode camels in a covered saddle, she goes on foot after them,
Lateef says, how would I cover miles without a camel?
Ahead are stand and gravels, it is not possible for me to sit about.

3

Going toward Haarho, I will lay down life,
All flesh is scraped off my limbs,
God will show mercy, it is not possible for me to sit about.

4

Going towards Haarho, I may not wander off the path,
Would that, says Lateef, I reach my beloved crawling,
Would that I see Punhoon, it is not possible for me to sit about.

5

My confidants are all gone, now in whom can I confide?
Lateef says, keeping my chastity I am wander in mountain passes,
Which wayfarer I may wander in mountain passes,
Which wayfarer I may accost for guidance?
It is not possible for me to sit about.

6

O trees, grow not taller, o mountain, be not higher,
My eyes, be not tearful lest I fail to find footprint of my beloved.

7

O woodland, why can't you point the way?
Listen to what I am saying to you, o tree,
Help me climb the peak so that this befuddled woman may make do.

8

O woodland, why can't you point the way?
Let not your twists and turns bewilder the destitute you,
Like a guide, have the wayfaring women pas through you,
Unite me with the beloved lest you may not dry up and wither away.

9

O woodland, why can't you point you point the way?
You are liable to blame by the strangers,
Even the Liyaar* troubled the renouncer,
I am complaining of the thorns of Kandi,*

10

Even if countless thorns prick my feet,
Even if my fingers do not bend towards thumb, and cliffs injure my soles,
I will proceed to the beloved without wearing a Jutti,*

11

Jutti will be worn by those woman, who love their feet,
Sassui forsook all rites and tradition for the sake her beloved.

vaayi

Through the peg driven into my heart by the camel men suits me,
It has made my life hard, o mates,
I look into my hands reins of the camel at dusk,
I slept so soundly till morn that I forgot all about it,
I heard Punhoon's call on my way to him,
His call sustained me during my search in the mountains,
I sought blessing of the Gracious in the Gunjo,*
He soon came to my aid while I was asleep on a path in the plains,
The cries and rumblings of their camels, reverberated for miles,
Hoatani Punhoon would raise his hand for the wayfarer,
He, for whom I suffered pain, hunger and hardships,
Has come back to Bhanbhore in our courtyard, o mother.

Chapter-IV

1

Die and live in death so that you may perceive beloved's beauty,
You will be accepted if you take this advice.

2

Die today before the day fixed for death so that you may be honored,
Escape from Bhanbhore, o woman, while still alive,
Be true to Punhoon so that you may meet the angels of Death.

3

Die so that you may he honored,
Living impedes union with the camel man,
O imbecile, have courage give up life,
So that you may find the friend.

4

Die so that you may be honored, be not hostile to yourself,
Never even think of turning back,
Even if you don't find a footprint there is joy for you in crawling.

5

Die so that you are honored, o woman, don't live, an idle life,
You will reach Punhoon after you die.

6

While you are alive, die before the day fixed for death, o Sassui,
Shun not the company of those, who lost their souls on way.

7

Those who died before they were to die, are not defeated by death,
They will live on, who lived before living.

8

Those who lived before living, may they always live,
They do not die again, who died before they were to die.

9

Mountain is high and lofty only for those who love life,
Came along to lead, o death, so that I may follow you.

10

O my breath, you have many ties, o life, get away from me,
Come along, o death, so that I may walk behind you.

11

When you came of age Sassui, you become averse to death,
By doing so, you have shamed the highlander.

12

You did not die of pining secretly for the beloved,
Have you not heard, **Die before death,**
Why then are you chopping your head?

vaayi

The camel did not snort,
For God's sake, bring back my beloved o camel men,
Sassui will be exalted if you put this love-smitten,
To something worthwhile,
Come, graze you camel henna-buds of Maleer.

Chapter-V

1

Go forth by foot, on hands and knees, heart and soul,
So that you remain to the end true to Aari's love,
As long as you live don't equate any one with punhoon.

2

Go forth by foot, on hands and knees, heart and soul,
Never stop, lass, thinking of the beloved,
Having been stricken with love is your credential, o sassui,
There may be a thousand Hoat, equate none with punhoon.

3

Go forth by foot, on hands and knees, and forehead,
Aari lord is near and there is no medium in between you and him,
Affirm with heart, don't equate anyone win Punhoon.

4

Go forth by foot, on hands and knees, heart and soul,
Keeping a close watch,
While on way to the lord of Kech, quicken your pace,
Even if there be a lakh of Hoat, don't equate any of them with Punhoon.

5

Go forth by foot, on hands and knees, with every breath,
The guide Hoat will meet you on way to Habb,
As long as you breathe, don't equate anyone with punhoon.

6

Though tired, she rests not in cool, moves on in heat,
She has dried herself up in Vankar,
The woman had been asking the birds for instructions,
They gave her, in God's name, the directions,
Even told her about the trees in that land,
Aariani may reconcile and turn back.

7

You take long strides or walk slowly,
What is writ will not change a bit.

8

What is writ on fore-head can not be transferred to back-head,
Keep to all that the beloved has written on the tablet of your fate.

9

The number of moments one is destined to pass at a certain place,
He cant but pass many moments there.

10

She scorched her body for the sake of Kechis,
Renouncing all claims, the helpless woman walked the mountain,
Though humble and feeble, she undertook the journey.

11

The poor miserable woman took upon herself the ordeal of search,
Her whole body was wasted by suffering,
The journey was predestined, she undertook it later.

12

It is not a journey like other journeys, who would hear my cry?
I want to cry aloud but people will say the woman has gone mad.

13

Let them call me mad only if they hearken my cry,
Let people come and blame me.

14

So what if people blame me?
The lass, desperate in separation,
Will break herself into pieces upon footprints.

vaayi

Don't get exhausted, don't sit on the way,
You will find as you move on,
Some come and said one thing, others another,
I treasure only what the beloved said to me,
Her softer than silk feet are hardened red in the gravel,
Turn your face to the miserable woman that I am،
What the camel men told me has practically killed me,
The Kechis will lift my bier on the paths of Vindur.

Chapter-VI

1

Try as anyone may, I will not be stopped from seeing the beloved,
I will be utterly abject and helpless until I find the beloved,
I have forgotten tomorrow and cannot abide for the promise,
Nor can I wait till morning, it is now up to you to meet me or kill me.

2

The woman discarded tomorrow, took cash with her,
Don't pull up rein of this miserable to delay her,
Either kill the wretch or let her get together with you.

3

As she looks forward for fulfillment of her desire,
Death has arrived to claim her,
If you came, I will do you morning prostration,
Either take away life of the miserable or let her get together with you.

4

Either let the miserable woman get together with the،
Beloved or kill her,
Just show the wretch her beloved.

5

The poor woman has been wasted by miseries and،
scorched by the fire of Punhoon's love,
O matchless one, why don't you put Sassui in fire and،
Burn her once to all.