Rubaiyats and Other Poems by Bhai Nand Lal
Bhai Nand Lal was renowned persian scholar of 17 th century who got venerable place in the court of Guru Gobind Singh ji as one of his 52 renowned court poets. Though Bhai Nand Lal was born in Ghazni, Afganistan and then migrated to Peshawar and even worked for Mughal Government under Aurangzeb, but fearing persecution leading to possible conversion Bhai Nand Lal took shelter of Guru Gobind Singh at Anandpur Sahib and rose to eminence to become one of the distinguished poet in the court of Guru Gobind Singh ji. Rubaiyat in persian poetry is a verse form consisting of four line stanzas normally dealing with the ultimate question of life and death while imparting an Epicurean style philosophy of not taking things seriously like Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam translated by Edward Fitzgerald. Rubaiyat questions our deeply held beliefs about God and heaven while focussing on the kind of spiritual transcendence usually found in Sufi literature. It was invented by Persian mathematician, philosopher, astronomer and poet Omar Khayyam from Neyshapur in North Eastern Iran. The many compositions of Bhai Nand Lal have been written to be recited read aloud and studies. Like crystals, they sparkle with all the colours of the rainbow and each sentence contains worlds upon worlds of poetic treasures. As we hold these crystals in our hands, they capture us with their mystery. Transparent and clear they open doors to the wonder of inner spaces and longing for the beloved Satguru. It is for this reason that Alexander Von Humboldt who translated some of Bhai Nand Lal’s works in his work The Pilgrims Way says Nand Lal “...was among the masters who could put in verse what he felt deep within”. He follows a classical line of persian poets such as Hafez, Saidi, Rumi and the like who had mastered the subtler elements of the persian language and wrote deep beautiful poetry on the mystical aspects of path they travelled upon. Bhai Nand Lal carries the same legacy and wrote in the great classical metres of persian poetry such as Rubaiyat and Ghazals, etc as well as the Indian classical metres such as Dohra and Chapuai. The metre and rhythm chosen by Bhai Sahib for his various writings were specifically chosen to enhance the message and mystical feelings he was trying to impart. They are like the whispers of two lovers in a crowd. If you allow them to caress your ears and penetrate your heart they will surely take you to places where your spirit will be at home, at the lotus feet of the Eternal Satguru.
Dr. K. S. Kang
Translator
Rubaiyats by Bhai Nand Lal
I
The person, who in His devotion has turned head into his feet, has unfurled His flag in the sky.
and Glebe of Nine parts. In this world, His entry(birth) and exit (death) is a cause for celebration,
Nand Lal is that man’s slave who has realised the path of truth.
II
He is blind who has not recognised Him, he has wasted away his life in illusory world.
Though he exists in world as he has taken birth and dies in the woes of unfulfilled desires.
His coming into the world is a woe, who has not created a friend for himself in heaven.
III
In your eyes is His dwelling, this body is the throne and crown of the Sultan.
Any greedy person, brimming with worldly desires, cannot tread this path of love and truth.
This path is related to the head of the Man.
IV
Every heart gets straight away on the path of His lover.
Believe it God, himself, has assumed the form of his lover.
Not even a single straw is without His endorsed mercy.
V
This entry into and exit form the world is nothing more,
than inhale and exhale of the breath. Wherever I look there is nothing save Him,
as without Him there is nobody neither in the past nor in future.
VI
Every person who wants to meet Him,
whose state is the highest in both the worlds,
O’ Goya your beloved doesn’t care for anything in both the worlds,
how can he become a Laila’s lover.
VII
God’s men-sages and saints- who have come into this world,
They have come to show path to the distracted souls in the world,
O’ Nand Lal if you have eyes with a wish to behold Him,
then know that these sages and seers are nothing but His images.
VIII
In our faith we don’t worship anything else.
Intoxicated from head to feet, I don’t feel joy,
I don’t forget Him even for a single breath (instant),
I don’t recollect anything except him- higher or lower.
IX
If you become His man even a bit, is much better than
the crowns of thousand rulers. Nand Lal is His slave,
this declaration does not need any evidence.
X
Every one in this world desires for money and wealth,
those who have horses desire for elephants and gold.
Everyone desires these things from Him but Goya desires only His blessings
of uttering His name ever.
XI
From head to foot the entire body is full of His light,
Human body reflects it like a mirror that is flawless,
Believe it to be true that He remains aloof from common people,
to illumine the hearts of enlightened persons.
XII
This precious life has been ruined, how will this ruined house relocate,
till Satguru blesses Him with his Hand on his head,
O’ Nand Lal till then how your woe ridden heart can remain happy.
XIII
When the ruthless foe has decided to kill me, my heart is enjoined with Almighty,
Enemy is thinking of how to torture and kill me,
While I am thinking of His will that will prevail.
XIV
What have I got from the life, utterance of His name is the only discovery,
from all the materials of both the worlds. The existence of affection is a huge hurdle,
when I have risen above it I have found Him.
XV
Dust of your abode has given has given me a panacea,( Mamira)
wealth has helped me to get fame in this world, I don’t bow before anybody,
as I have seen His picture within my heart.
XVI
Nand Lal has got it by uttering His name,
from where can I get this brimful cup of joy.
Without the desire to meet Him every man is not so fortunate,
to get that precious wealth that has been achieved by me.
XVII
O’Nand Lal till when will you live in this world,
sometimes you feel ashamed, sometimes you embarrass others,
sometimes you oppress, at other you bear. Till when like a hound you will fight
over the bones when the world and worldly people know that one day you will regret it.
XVIII
O’Goya if you want to see His fame then renounce all the greed,
not even the smallest iota of it. These eyes do not see what is hidden within you.
Behold sans eyes that, that you wish to see.
XIX
When God is manifest, men what are you finding ?
When God is in His abode, where are you wandering,
These both the worlds are signs of your wealth (Maya),
implying he utters only Almighty’s name from his tongue.
Some Other stanzas by Bhai Nand Lal
1
O’Breeze, don’t bring even my dust from His abode lest my friend
will say you are moving everywhere.
2.
I bow before the land and the sky,
as a few people, who utter His name, are sitting on it.
3.
In temple and mosque there is none besides Him in the veil,
Even in the different stones the fire is the same.
4.
You will get everything under the miraculous tree,
and in the communion with Saints, Sages and Seers,
you will get Him.
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