اماں بابے دی بھلیائی by Bulleh Shah — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

اماں بابے دی بھلیائی اوہ ہُن کم اساڈے آئی امّاں بابا چور دھُراں دے، پُتّر دی وڈیائی دانے اُتوں گُت بگُتی گھر گھر پئی لڑائی اساں قضیے تداہیں جالے، جد کنک اوہناں ٹُرکائی کھائے خیراتے پھاٹیے جمعہ، اُلٹی دستک لائی بُلھّا طوطے مارباغاں تھیں کڈّھے، اُلّو رہن اُس جائی اماں بابے دی بھلیائی

Translation (English)

The kindness of our parents Now it's our turn to take responsibility Parents are like thieves of the past, the pride of their children From the grains, disputes spread in every household We only solve problems when they take away the wheat Eating charity on Fridays, brought unexpected trouble Bulleh, parrots are driven out of the gardens, owls stay there The kindness of our parents

About the Poet

Bulleh Shah (Late 17th to mid-18th century)

Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi philosopher and poet known for his Sufi and humanist philosophy. His work critiqued social norms and conveyed complex spiritual ideas through colloquial language. He is considered a pivotal figure in Punjabi literature.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Kafi
When Written: Late 17th to mid-18th century
Background: Bulleh Shah's poetry often critiqued social norms and religious hypocrisy, using metaphors and colloquial language to make spiritual and philosophical ideas accessible to the common people. This poem reflects his views on social justice and the responsibilities of individuals.

Sources: https://www.urduweb.org/mehfil/threads/اماں-بابے-دی-بھلیائی-۔-بلھے-شاہ.97559/, https://hamariweb.com/poetry/bulleh-shah/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulleh_Shah

Detailed Explanation

This poem by Bulleh Shah reflects on the responsibilities passed down from parents to their children. It suggests that while parents may have been involved in questionable activities ('thieves of the past'), the current generation must deal with the consequences and strive for betterment. The poem uses metaphors like 'parrots driven out of gardens' to symbolize the loss of innocence or purity, while 'owls remain' suggests that those who thrive in darkness or ignorance persist. Bulleh Shah's work often critiques societal norms and emphasizes the need for personal and social reform. The poem's language is colloquial, making complex ideas accessible to a wider audience. Themes of social justice, responsibility, and the critique of societal norms are prevalent, with literary devices such as metaphor and imagery enhancing its depth.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
اماں	ماں	mother	amaa(n)
بابے	باپ	father	baabe
دی	کی	of	di
بھلیائی	اچھائی	goodness	bhalaa'ii
اوہ	وہ	that	oh
ہُن	اب	now	hun
کم	کام	work	kam
اساڈے	ہمارے	our	asaade
آئی	آیا	came	aa'i
چور	چوری کرنے والا	thief	chor
دھُراں	پرانے	old	dhuraan
پُتّر	بیٹا	son	puttar
وڈیائی	عظمت	greatness	vaddiaa'ii
دانے	اناج	grains	daane
اُتوں	اوپر سے	from	uttho(n)
گُت	گرہ	knot	gut
بگُتی	لڑائی	discord	bugti
گھر	مکان	house	ghar
پئی	پڑ گئی	spread	pai
لڑائی	جھگڑا	fight	larai
اساں	ہم	we	asaan
قضیے	مسائل	issues	qazie
تداہیں	تب	then	tadahain
جالے	حل کریں	resolve	jaale
جد	جب	when	jad
کنک	گندم	wheat	kanak
اوہناں	ان	they	ohnan
ٹُرکائی	لے گئے	took away	turkaai
کھائے	کھانا	eat	khaaye
خیراتے	خیرات	charity	khairaate
پھاٹیے	پھٹے کپڑے	torn clothes	phaaṭiye
جمعہ	جمعہ کا دن	Friday	jumma
اُلٹی	الٹی	reverse	ulti
دستک	دستک دینا	knock	dastak
لائی	لانا	brought	laai
بُلھّا	بلھے شاہ	Bulleh Shah	bulha
طوطے	پرندے	parrots	toṭe
مارباغاں	باغوں سے	from gardens	maarbaaghaa(n)
تھیں	سے	from	thii(n)
کڈّھے	نکالے	driven out	kaddhe
اُلّو	الو	owls	ullo
رہن	رہتے ہیں	remain	rahan
اُس	اس	that	us
جائی	جگہ	place	jaa'i