Bulleh Shah witnesses Khalsa rise

Author: Dalbir
Date: 08-03-06 17:19

This is interesting. Apparently written by Bulleh Shah (1680-1757), a famous sufi who was a contemporary of Guru Gobind and lived in the Panjab after the Gurus passing and witnessed the rise of the Khalsa misls himself.

"Ulte hor zamane aaye,
Hun asaan bhed sajjan de paaye. | (sajjan=beloved)
kaa(n) laggad nun maaran lagge, | (laggad=hawk)
chiriyan jurre khaaye | (chiriyan=birds;jurre=a bird of prey)
iraqiyan nun chabuk paunde, | (iraqiyan=a breed of horses)
gade khood khavaye | (gade=donkey;khood=green fodder)
aapneyan vich ulfat naahee, | (ulfat=love)
ke-he chaachche taaye | (chaachche=father's younger brother;taaye=elder)
piyo putran ittfaak naa kaahee, | (piyo=father;putran=sons)
dheeyan naal naa maaye | (dheeyan=daughters;maaye=mother)
sachcheyan nun hun milde dhakke, | (sachcheyan=truthful;dhakke=push around)
jhoothe kol bahaaye | (jhoothe=liars)
agle jaaye bankaale baithe,
pichliyan farash vichaye | (farash=floor)
(one line is missing here, somebody please complete it)
Bullah jina hukam hazooron andaa,
tina nun kaun hataaye."

"Perverse times have come,
I know the mystery of the beloved
crows have begun to hunt hawks,
and sparrows feed on falcons
horses bear the whipping,
while donkeys graze on lush green
no love is lost between relatives,
be they younger or elder uncles
There is no accord between fathers and sons,
Nor any between mothers and daughters
The truthful ones are being pushed about,
the tricksters are seated close by
The front liners have become wretched,
the back benchers sit on carpets
Those in tatters have turned into kings,
the kings have taken to begging
O Bulleh, that which is His command
who can alter His decree."

Another one:

The Mughals quaff the cup of poison.
Those with coarse blankets are up.
The genteel watch it all in quiet,
They have a humble pie to sup.
The tide of the times is in spate.
The Punjab is in a fearsome state.
We have to share the hell of a fate.


Compare with following observation by Polier sometime between 1776 and 1802:

In their [Sikhs] excursions they carry no tents or baggage with them, except perhaps a small tent for the principle chief; the rest shelter themselves under a blanket, which serves them also in the cold weather, to wrap themselves in, and which on a march covers their saddles. They have mostly two horses a piece, some three; their horses are middle sized, but exheedingly good, strong and high spirited, and mild tempered.

http://www.tapoban.org/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=109057&t=109057