Bulleh Shah says: what do you know who I am

What do you know who I am

Not a believer inside a mosque
Not a disbeliever of false rites
Not someone holy among the unholy
Not Moses nor Pharaoh

What do you know who I am

I am not in the texts of Vedas
Not in liquors nor in marijuana
Not in the drunkards dreamy daze
Not asleep nor awake

what do you know who I am

Neither happy nor unhappy
Neiteher clean or unclean
Neither from water nor from dust
From air or fire I do not come from

What do you know who I am

I come not from Arabia, nor from Lahore
Not from the Indian city of Naguari
I am not a Hindu nor a Turk
Who lives in Peshawar or Nadaun

What do you know who I am

Hidden truths of religions I did not find
I am not of Adam’s and Eve’s kind
I did not assume my name myself
In movement or stillness I am not in

What do you know who I am

I found in myself I am the first
None other, no stranger
No one is as wise as I am.
Is there anyone like me?

*****

Original in Punjabi

Bulleh! ki jaana maen koun

Na maen momin vich maseet aan
Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan
Na maen paakaan vich paleet aan
Na maen moosa na pharaun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen andar ved kitaabaan
Na vich bhangaan na sharaabaan
Na vich rindaan masat khawaabaan
Na vich jaagan na vich saun.

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki
Na maen vich paleeti paaki
Na maen aabi na maen khaki
Na maen aatish na maen paun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen arabi na lahori
Na maen hindi shehar nagauri
Na hindu na turak peshawri
Na maen rehnda vich nadaun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya
Ne maen aadam havva jaaya
Na maen apna naam dharaaya
Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun

Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun

Avval aakhir aap nu jaana
Na koi dooja hor pehchaana
Maethon hor na koi siyaana
Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun

~Bulleh Shah