“Sajan De Hath Banh Asadi” is a deeply emotive Sufi Kaafi by Shah Hussain that explores the theme of complete surrender to the Divine Beloved. The poet expresses a state of spiritual ecstasy where the “Sajan” (the Divine) has grasped his arm, making any plea for release impossible and undesirable. Through metaphors of dark nights, heavy clouds, and the transience of worldly wealth, Hussain reminds the seeker that while life is a fleeting collection of days, true purpose is found only in the intimate connection (“Nain Naina Naal Gad”) with the Creator.
سجن دے ہتھ بانہہ اَساڈی
کیونکر آکھاں چھڈ وے اَڑیا
رات اندھیری بَدّل کنیاں
ڈَاڈھے کیتا سڈّ وے اَڑیا
Sajan de hath banh asadi
Kyunkar aakhan chad ve arya
Raat andheri baddal kaniyan
Daade keeta sadd ve arya
My arm is in the hands of my Beloved
How can I ask Him to let go, my friend?
The night is dark and the clouds are raining
The Almighty has sent for me, my friend.
عشق محبت سو ای جانن
پئی جنیہاں دے ہڈ وے آڑیا
کلر کٹھن کھوہڑی چینا
ریت نہ گڈ وے اَڑیا
Ishq mohabbat soee jaanan
Payee jiniyan de had ve arya
Kallar kathan khoohri chaina
Ret na gadd ve arya
Only those truly know of love and passion
Whose very bones are possessed by it, my friend.
Do not sow the seeds of desire in barren sand
Where the soil is salty and the well is dry.
نت بھرینائیں چھٹیاں
اک دن جا سیں چھڈ وے آڑیا
کہے حسین فقیر نمانا
نین نیناں نَال گڈ وے اَڑیا
Nit bharenayein chuttiyan
Ik din ja sain chad ve arya
Kahe Hussain faqir numana
Nain naina naal gadd ve arya
Every day you gather your worldly treasures
But one day you must leave it all behind.
Says Hussain, the humble dervish
Merge your eyes with the Eyes of the Beloved.
Vocabulary: Sajan De Hath Banh Asadi
- Banh: Arm / Support.
- Arya: A friendly address / O Friend.
- Kaniyan: Raindrops / Drizzle.
- Sadd: A call / Invitation / Summon.
- Had: Bones (symbolizing the core of existence).
- Kallar: Barren, salty soil.
- Chuttiyan: Bundles of belongings / Worldly accumulation.
- Gadd: To fix / To plant / To merge.