“Ek Nukte Wich Gal Mukdi Ae” is a profound Kaafi by Bulleh Shah. In this masterpiece, he argues that the entirety of spiritual wisdom can be distilled into a single “Nukta” (point/dot). He critiques those who get lost in complex religious calculations, outward rituals, and sectarian debates, urging the seeker to find the singular truth that resides within the heart.
اِک نقطے وچ گل مکدی ہے
پَھڑ نُقطہ چھوڑ حساباں نوں
کر دور کفر دیاں باباں نوں
چھڈ دوزخ گور عزاباں نوں
کر صاف دلے دیاں خواباں نوں
گل ایسے گھر وچ ڈُھکدی ہے
Ek nukte wich gal mukdi ae
Phar nuqta chor hisaaban noon
Kar door kuffer deyan baaban noon
Chadd dozakh gor azaban noon
Kar saaf dillay deyan khwaban noon
Gal aisay ghar wich dhukdi ae
Everything ends in a single point.
Grasp the point and leave the calculations behind.
Cast away the chapters of disbelief and doubt.
Forget the fears of Hell and the agonies of the grave.
Cleanse the wandering dreams of your heart—
This truth truly belongs in such a home.
اینیوں متھا زمین گھسائیدا
پالما محراب دکھائیدا
پڑھ کلمہ لوک ہسائیدا
دل اندر سمجھ نہ لیا ئِیدا
کدی بات سچی بھی لُکدی ہے
Ainvein matha zameen ghusaida
Pa-lamba mehraab dikhaida
Parh kalma lok hasaida
Dil andar samajh na lya-ida
Kadi baat sachi bhi lukdi hai
In vain do you rub your forehead on the ground,
And display a long prayer-mark (Mehraab) for show.
You recite the Kalma only to amuse people,
But you do not bring understanding into your heart.
Can the true word ever remain hidden?
کئ حاجی بن بن آئے جی
گَل نیلے جامے پائے جی
حج ویچ ٹکے لے کھائے جی
بَھلا ایہ گل کینہوں بھائے جی
کدی سچی گل بھی لکدی ہے
Kai haaji ban ban aaye ji
Gal neelay jamay paaye ji
Hajj wech takkay lay khaaye ji
Bhala eh gal kinu bhaaye ji
Kadi sachi gal bhi lukdi hai
Many have returned as pilgrims (Hajis),
Wearing blue robes around their necks.
They profited and made money from the Hajj itself—
Whom would such a deed ever please?
Can the true word ever remain hidden?
اک جنگل بحریں جاندے نیں
اک دانا روز لے کھاندے نیں
بے سمجھ وجود تھکاندے نیں
گھر آون ہو کے ماندے نیں
اینیوں چلیاں وِچ جِند سُکدی ہے
Ik jungle bahrein jande nein
Ik dana roz lay khande nein
Besamajh wujood thakande nein
Ghar aawan ho kay maande nein
Ainvein chilliyan vich jind sukdi hai
Some retreat to the forests and the seas,
Eating only a single grain a day.
Senselessly, they exhaust their own bodies,
And return home broken and weary.
In such forty-day retreats (Chillyan), the soul merely withers away.
پَھڑ مُرشد عبد خُدائی ہو
وِچ مستی بے پرؤائی ہو
بے خواہش بے نوائی ہو
وِچ دل دے خوب صفائی ہو
بُلھا بات سچی کدوں رکدی ہے
Phar murshad abd khudai ho
Wich masti be-parwahi ho
Be-khwahish be-nawai ho
Wich dil de khoob safai ho
Bullha baat sachi kadon rukdi hai
Hold onto the Master and become a servant of God.
Live in ecstasy and blissful indifference.
Be free of desire and worldly attachments,
And let there be absolute purity within your heart.
O Bullha! When has the truth ever been silenced?
Vocabulary: Ek Nukte Wich Gal Mukdi Ae
- Nukte/Nuqta: A point, dot, or the singular essence of a matter.
- Hisaaban: Calculations / Accounting / Scholarly logic.
- Baaban: Chapters (of books).
- Dhukdi: Fits / Suits / Reaches its home.
- Mehraab: The prayer arch (also refers to the mark on the forehead from bowing).
- Chilliyan: 40-day periods of spiritual seclusion and fasting.
- Be-nawai: Being voiceless or having no worldly belongings.
Masha Allah