“Ishq Di Navio Navi Bahar” (The Ever-New Spring of Love) is a revolutionary masterpiece by Bulleh Shah. This Kafi describes the state of Fana (annihilation) where traditional boundaries vanish. This “Ever-New” vision mirrors the Wahdat-al-Wujood philosophy found in the Naat Aj Sik Mitran Di Vadheri Ye by Pir Mehar Ali Shah. This internal awakening is the true path taught by the Murshad.
عشق دی نوّیوں نوّیں بہار
Ishq Di Navio Navi Bahar
Love is an ever-new, blossoming spring!
جاں میں سبق عشق دا پڑھیا
مسجد کولوں جیوڑا ڈریا
ڈیرے جا ٹھاکر دے وڑیا
جتھے وجدے ناد ہَزار
Jaan Main Sabaq Ishq Da Parhya
Masjid Kolon Jewra Darya
Dere Ja Thakur De Warya
Jithay Wajday Naad Hazaar
When I learned the lesson of Love
My soul fled from the mosque
I entered the Lord’s own abode
Where a thousand melodies play
جاں میں رَمز عشق دی پائی
مَینا طوطا مار گوائی
اندر باہر ہوئی صفائی
جِت وَل ویکھاں یارو یار
Jaan Main Ramz Ishq Di Paayi
Maina Tota Maar Gawaayi
Andar Bahar Hoyi Safayi
Jit Wal Vekhan Yaaro Yaar
When I discovered the secret of Love
I silenced the ego’s chatter
Purity settled within and without
Now, everywhere I look is the Beloved
ہیر رانجھے دے ہو گئے میلے
بھُلّی مہر ڈھوڈیندی بیلے
رانجھا یار بُکّل وِچ کھیلے
مینوں سدھ رہی نہ سار
Heer Ranjhe De Ho Gaye Melay
Bhulli Mehar Dhodendi Belay
Ranjha Yaar Bukkal Wich Khelay
Mainu Sudh Rahi Na Saar
Heer and Ranjha have met
No more searching in the woods
The Beloved plays within my own heart
I have lost all self-awareness
وید قرآناں پڑھ پڑھ تھکے
سجدے کردیاں گھس گئے متھے
نہ رب تیرتھ نہ رب مکّے
جس پایا تس نور اَنوار
Ved Qurana Parh Parh Thake
Sajde Kardiyan Ghis Gaye Mathe
Na Rab Teerath Na Rab Makke
Jis Paya Tis Noor Anwaar
Weary of scriptures and prostrations
That wore out their brows
God is not in shrines or Mecca
Only those who found Him within see the Light
پُھوک مصلّٰی بھن سٹ لوٹا
نہ پھڑ تسبیح عاصا سوٹا
عاشق کیہندے دے دے ہوکا
ترک حلالوں کھا مردار
Phook Musalla Bhan Satt Lota
Na Phar Tasbeeh Aasa Sota
Aashiq Kehnde De De Hooka
Tark Halalon Kha Murdar
Burn the prayer mat, break the clay pot
Cast away the beads and the wooden staff
Lovers of God proclaim it loudly to all:
Forsake the pride of legalism; embrace the humble path others reject
عمر گوائی وچ مسیتی
اندر بھریا نال پلیتی
کدے نماز توحید نہ نیتی
ہن کی کرنائیں شور پُکار
Umar Gawayi Wich Maseeti
Andar Bharya Naal Paleeti
Kade Namaz-e-Tauheed Na Neeti
Hun Ki Karna-ein Shor Pukaar
A lifetime wasted in the mosque
While the heart was full of impurity
You never prayed for Oneness
Why make all this noise now?
عشق بُھلایا سجدہ تیرا
ہن کیوں اینویں پاویں جھیڑا
بلھا ہوندا چپ بتیرا
عشق کریندا مارو مار
Ishq Bhulaya Sajda Tera
Hun Kyun Ainwen Paawen Jhera
Bullha Honda Chup Batera
Ishq Karenda Maro Maar
Love has eclipsed your rituals
Why keep up the argument?
Bulleh would rather be silent
But Love overwhelms with its force
The Paradox of ‘Murdar’ (The Forbidden)
One of the most profound lines in this Kafi is “Tark Halalon Kha Murdar.” Bulleh Shah uses this paradox to challenge the ego. While ‘Halal’ represents the pride of outward legalistic piety, ‘Murdar’ (forbidden) represents the path of extreme humility.
In Islamic jurisprudence (Shariat), eating Murdar (carrion) is a last resort to save physical life in cases of extreme starvation. Bulleh Shah suggests that to save one’s spiritual life from the deathly grip of the ego, one must embrace the extreme humility of the most destitute and socially rejected. In their company, the self-important ego is burned away in the fire of humility.
Vocabulary: Ishq Di Navio Navi Bahar
- Navio Navi: Constantly renewing / Ever-fresh.
- Thakur: The Lord / Master of the Soul.
- Paleeti: Inner impurity / Spiritual pollution.
- Tauheed: Divine Unity / Oneness.