<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d6418452\x26blogName\x3dFootsteps+on+Clouds\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dBLACK\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://chirayu.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_US\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://chirayu.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-4198601941058342502', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

Monday, January 24, 2005

A beautiful Punjabi Sufi song

Category: Misc

Download and listen to the MP3 of Rabbi Shergill's Punjabi Sufi song that's rocking the nation Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun (Bulla, I know not who I am; or Bulla! To me, I am not known).

These lyrics are from Baba Bulleh Shah's 18th century Sufi poetry. If you understand Punjabi/Hindi, you will enjoy listening to this song again, and again, and again. Even if you don't understand Punjabi, but if you like music, I suggest you listen to it once, and you would like to listen to it again. You've got to register to download Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun. Registration is free. File size: 4.94 MB. File type: MP3

Update:
The mp3 file has been removed from the above mentioned download link.

Here is another link to download the song. Go to the bottom of the web page, and wait for a minute after the page downloads completely. You will see a download link. Select that to save the file to your computer.

You may listen to the song online at Raaga.com

I'd first seen the music video of this song on MTV a couple of months back. What drew me to this song was the music, the lyrics, and the image of a tall, bearded Sardar strumming a guitar in flowing white kurta-pyjamas; singing with a background of various Indian cities, and the English translation of the song across the screen.

Read the lyrics of Bulla Ki Jaana Maen Kaun.

Read the lyrics of Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun with an English translation, for those who don't understand Punjabi.

--
PUNJABI | ENGLISH

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun - 4 | Bulla! I know not, who I am - 4

Na maen momin vich maseet aan | Not a believer inside the mosque, am I
Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan | Nor a pagan disciple of false rites
Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan | Not the pure amongst the impure
Na maen andar ved kitaab aan | Not in the holy Vedas, am I
Na maen rindaan bhangaan na sharaab aan | Nor in opium, neither in wine
Na maen rindaan masat kharaab aan | Not in the drunkard's intoxicated craze
Na maen shaadi na ghamnaaki | Neither in happiness nor in sorrow, am I
Na maen vich paleeti paaki | Neither clean, nor a filthy mire
Na maen aabi na maen khaki | Not from water, nor from earth
Na maen aatash na maen paun | Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun - 4 | Bulla! I know not, who I am - 4

Na maen Arabi na Lahori | Not from Arabia, nor Lahore
Na maen Hindi shehar Nagauri | Neither from India, nor Nagaur
Na Hindu na Turk Peshawri | Not a Hindu, nor a Peshawari Turk
Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya | Secrets of religion, I have not known
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya | From Adam and Eve, I am not born
Na koi apna naam dharaaya | I am not the name I assume
Avval aakhir aap nu jaana | I am the first, I am the last
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana | None other, have I ever known
Maethon na koi hor siyaana | I am the wisest of them all
BullaShah khadda hai kaun | BullaShah do I stand alone

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun - 4 | Bulla! I know not, who I am - 4

Na maen moosa na pharaun | Neither Moses, nor the Pharoah
Na maen jaagan na vich saun | Neither awake, nor in a sleeping daze
Na main aatish na maen paun | Neither fire, nor from air, is my birth
Na maen rehnda vich Nadaun | Nor do I live in Nadaun
Na maen baitthan na vich bhaun | Not in stillness, nor on the move
BullaShah khadda hai kaun | BullaShah do I stand alone

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun - 4 | Bulla! I know not, who I am - 4

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun - 8 | Bulla! I know not, who I am - 8
--

Bulla ki jaana maen kaun
Bulla! To me, I'm not known
Bulla! To me, I am unknown
Bulla! I know not, who I am
Bulla, I'm unknown to myself
Bulla, I'm unknown to me
Which words sound good?

Suggestions to improve the translation are most welcome. I've taken the translation from an article on Bulleh Shah at Chowk.com.