Bulleh Nu Samjhawan Aaiyan

About the poem, this is definitely one of the very early works by Bulleh Shah. The first stanza of the poem (coloured in red) is as sung by Bulleh Shah’s relatives. In the poem Baba Bulleh Shah was coaxed by his relatives to leave his 'Murshad' or guru whom he called 'Raiyaan' or ' Araaiya". His Guru, the famous saint Shah Inayat Qadri belonged to the 'Araein' or 'Raeen' caste, while Bulleh Shah belonged to the Syed caste (he was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad). Bulleh Shah had to face the resentment and taunts of his family and other 'Syed' friends for accepting the spiritual guidance of a non-Syed. When he had made up his mind to come to Inayat Shah, people had dissuaded him from doing so, saying, "You are a great scholar, a master of miraculous powers and a descendent of prophet Mohammed. Does it seem right to you to go to an ordinary gardener of Araien caste and become his disciple? Is it not shameful?"

Bulleh Shah rejected his critics' false concept of inherent superiority and nobility of any caste through his poetry and he explains through this poem that whoever calls him 'Syed' will be punished in hell and who ever calls him 'Araaiya' will be showered with blessings. Thus this is definitely one of his very early works. Quoting a stanza from his later works,

"Bullea aashiq hoyiyon Rabb da, Hui Malamat Lakh;
Tenon Kafir Kafir aakhdey, Toon aaho aaho aakh."

Bulleh Shah you became god’s lover, and people disgraced you much for this;
They call you a “Kafir!” (infidel), and you answer them with a “Yes!”.

So, spiritual enlightenment or self-realization always leads one to a state where you lose all forms of ego, and anything you could use with “self” as a prefix for.

The nature of Bulleh Shah's realization led to such a profound egolessness and non-concern for social convention that it has been the source of many popular comical stories -- calling to mind stories of St. Francis or Ramakrishna. For example, one day Bulleh Shah saw a young woman eagerly waiting for her husband to return home. Seeing how, in her anticipation, she braided her hair, Bulleh Shah deeply identified with the devoted way she prepared herself for her beloved. So Bulleh Shah dressed himself as a woman and braided his own hair, before rushing to see his teacher, Inayat Shah.

Prof. Purn Singh has described the same incident this phase of Bulleh Shah's life in his book The Spirit of Oriental Poetry. One day he saw a young girl whose husband was expected to come home, and in whose preparation she was putting plaits in her hair. A strange desire arose in his mind. He also dressed himself like that woman, put the same type of plaits in his hair, and went in this guise to meet his Master. For the worldly people such an act would look ridiculous, but it shows not only the great love for his Master but also his unconcern with public opinion and his desire to sacrifice himself for his beloved. In the manner of true lovers he shed his mescaline pride and assumed the form of a helpless women who renounces her ego and surrenders herself completely to her lord. The effect of his master was so profound that but for his Master nothing else mattered for him. He became strangely selfless and impervious to affairs of the world.

His Master was true to his name. HE showered such grace on Bulleh Shah that a single glance of his made him saturated with spiritual light. In ecstatic gratitude Bullah proclaimed: "O Bullah, If you seek the pleasure of a eternal garden in spring, go and become a servant of the Araiens,"
Bulleh Shah held the hem of his Master's cloak so firmly that he never let it go from his hand for the rest of his life. All of Bulleh Shah's compositions are suffused with love and gratitude for his Master as depicted from following verses




I’m putting up a Youtube link to a song comtaining this poetry.

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Bullay Nu Samjhawan Aaian Bheynaan Tay Bharjaiyaan,
Man Lay Bulleya Sada Kena, Chad Day Palla Raaiyan

Bulleh Shah's sisters and sisters-in-laws came to convince him.
Bulleya, please do as we tell you and leave the Arain's (his guru’s) company.

[Araien is a caste of Muslims to which Bulleh Shah’s Master Shah Inayat belonged to. Bulleh Shah himself belonged to Syed caste which is at the top of caste system in Muslims of Pakistan. Syeds are said to be descendants of Prophet (Nabi)]

Aal Nabi Ullad Ali,
Nu Tu Kyun Lee-kaan Laiyaan.

You are born into the family of prophet, you are heir of Ali,
So why do you ruin your family’s name like this.

Some scholars have interpreted this verse as Bulleh Shah's reply

(Bulleh Shah replies)
Why do you separate the Prophet's and Ali's descendants from the common people (why do you wedge a divide between the two?)

Jeyra Saanoun Syed Saday Dozakh Milay Sazaiyaan.
Jo Koi Saanu Raie Aakhe, Bhisti Peenghaan Paian.

(Bulleh Shah replies)
Those who address me as Syed, shall be condemned to hell.
Those who address me as Raie, shall ride the swings in heaven.

[Dozakh means Hell, and Bhisti or Bheesht is Heaven]

Raien, Saayin, Sabhin Thaayein,
Rab Deyaan Bay Parwaaiyaan,
Sohniyaan Paray Hatayaan Tay, Khojeyaan Lay Gall Laiyaan.

Arain and masters are born at every place, God does not discriminate against anyone,
The lord is so carefree,
That he neglects the beautiful (others) and hugs the ugly (Bulleh Shah).

Another interpretation is: Beautiful people don't care for such differences, only the ugly ones do

Jay To Lorain Baagh Baharaan ,Chaakar Ho Ja Araiyaan.
Bulley Shah Dee Zaat Kee Puchni, Shaakar Ho Razayaan.

If you seek the pleasure of a eternal garden in spring, go and become a servant of the Araiens,
O’ do not ask Bullah his caste; Be thankful and be content with the lord’s creation.

[Baagh Bahaar above means gardens flowering gardens or gardens in spring or eternal gardens. What Bulleh Shah is actually trying to refer to is “Pleasure of finding the lord”.]
[Chaakar means Servant, Shaakar means “thankful one” and Razayaan means “one that is happy with whatever the lord does”.]