Sat re Vachan

Words of truth fill the seeker to the brim; they fill up her every pore. With these beautiful words begins this beautiful bhajan which we've heard from Mooralala from Kutch. It's a poem by Kheem Saheb, describing the experience of fearlessness once one has drunk from the cup of the Name (one's own breath?). You can listen to Mooralala's own rendition on Ajab Shahar here.

Sat re vachan saadhu ko bhar bhariya, ho ji

Bhariya hai taaram taar

Naam ro piyaalo saadhu nirbhay thi peeyo, ho ji

Paayo mhaare satguru ae aaj

Surta chadhhi saadhu aasmaan maan, ho ji

Bhanvar gufa maan dhani mhaaro baithhiyo, ho ji

Bhanvaro kari le gunjaar

Unmuni aasan saadhu mhaara sevta, ho ji

Bhari rahiya hai bharpoor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Vina re vaadadiye veejo khavi rahiyo, ho ji

Anhad varsya hai noor

Naam ro piyaalo…

Kheem re khaada re vinya nar joojhe, ho ji

Bhaan guru bataaya hai bhed

Naam ro piyaalo…

Words Of Truth

Words of truth

Fill the seeker to the brim

They seep into her every pore, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

From the cup of the Name

I’ve found my true guru today

Awareness climbs to the sky!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

In a whirling cave, my master sits

Hum and find him out, O bee

Strike an inward-looking posture

Get filled to the brim, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Lightning flashes on a cloudless day

Boundless light showers, oh yes!

Drink fearlessly, seeker

No spear or sword, yet Kheem makes war

My guru Bhaan has whispered the secret

Drink fearlessly, seeker

Translation: Vipul Rikhi and Shabnam Virmani

Ochintu Koi Mane

In January this year, while on a 'Sadbhavana Yatra' in north Gujarat organised by Sanjay-Tula of Vishwagram, we met Dhruv dada (well-known Sahitya Akademi awarded Gujarati writer, Dhruv Bhatt). As we travelled with him in his car, with great love, he shared with us those poems of his which come to him as songs (with tunes). We have so much enjoyed learning these songs of a modern/contemporary mystic poet, so to speak. 

In this song, he speaks of the benevolence of nature (kudrat ni rehem) and the joy of being alive. While walking along the banks of the river Narmada, he once came across a farmer working in his field under a blazing sun. When he asked him how he was doing, the farmer turned to him with a thousand watt smile, and replied with no hint of self-pity, that he was full of joy! That moved something internally for Dhruv dada in his attitude to the farmer, and to himself, and inspired this poem/song.

This yatra, mooted and part-sponsored by him, was his gesture of commitment to a larger culture of tolerance and reverence in India, done very quietly, away from the noise and controversy surrounding the returning of awards.

Ochintu koi mane raste made ne kadi

dheere thi poochhe ke kem chhe

To aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan

ne upar thi kudrat ni rehem chhe

Phaatela khissa ni aad maan muki chhe ame

chhalkaati malkaati mauj

Eklo ubhun ne toye mela maan houn

evun laagya kare chhe mane roj

Taalu vasaaye nahin evadi pataari maan

aapno khajaano hem-khem chhe

Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

Aankhon maan paani to aave ne jaaye

nathi bheetar bheenaash thathi ochhi

Vadh ghat no kaanthaao raakhe hisaab nathi

parvaah samandar ne hoti

Sooraj to uge ane aathmiye jaaye

maari upar aakaash em-nem chhe

Aapne to kahiye ke dariya si mauj maan...

I'm at play 

If, suddenly, I were to come across

Someone on the way

And if they were to ask me

Softly,

"How are you doing today?"

Then I would say, 

Nature is so bountiful

And like waves in the ocean 

I'm at play!

In my torn trouser-pocket hide 
Many joyful, dancing waves

Even when alone 
I'm in a carnival each day 
In a tiny bundle
Which can never be locked
My treasure is as safe as day 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Water in the eyes comes and goes
But the moistness within never dries
The shore may keep accounts
Of less and more
The ocean doesn't bother about such scores 
The sun may rise and set everyday 
The sky over me is always the same 
Like waves in the ocean
I'm at play! 

Translation: Vipul Rikhi

Milo re Milo

Oh, to meet someone from my own land, says Gorakh, and be able to exchange a few words with him. As the saint-poets often say, no one here understands our language. They speak a different tongue.

This is a song from Malwa, which we learnt from Kaluramji.

Milo re milo koi mhaara des ra
Do do baataan karaanga ji

Lakkad lakkad sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek lakkad toh dhooni mein jale
Dooji mahalaan mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Patthar patthar sab ek hai
Ek hi maalik ne gadhiya ji
Ek patthar ki moorat bani
Dooji seedhi mein jadiya ji
Milo re milo...

Dharti maata ra choolha kariya
Aasmaan kiya hai kadhela ji
Chaar jugaan ke phoonkan diya
Dhuan gagan samaana ji
Milo re milo...

Dui kar jod Gorakh boliya
Paaya hai vaikunth vaasa ji
Jin ne ratiya nij naam ko
Voi nar sant sujaana ji
Pahunchooga sat dhaama ji

Milo re milo... 

Someone from my Land

Oh, to meet someone from my land

And have a few words with him

This wood, that wood, they’re all one

The same master made them all

This wood burns in a sacred fire

That one’s studded in a palace wall

Oh, to meet…

This stone, that stone, they’re all one

That master fabricated them both

This stone becomes part of the idol

That one’s on the temple floor

Oh, to meet…

Mother earth, the firewood stove

The sky transforms to a cauldron

All four ages tossed in the fire

The smoke rises up to the heavens

Oh, to meet…

Gorakh folds his hands in prayer

He’s found his place in heaven

One who remembers the true name

Arrives at the true destination

Oh, to meet…

(translation by Vipul Rikhi)