“Sajna Aseen Moriyon Lang Payase” is a metaphor-rich Kaafi by Shah Hussain that depicts the dervish’s detachment from the material world. Hussain uses earthy, visceral imagery—the “Mori” (narrow drain), “Gur” (jaggery/sweets), and “Kuttian” (dogs)—to represent worldly temptations and social noise. He celebrates the spiritual freedom of those who refuse to be consumed by these distractions, ultimately claiming that a true seeker must “leap over” the hurdles of the physical realm to reach the Divine.
سجنا اَسیں موریوں لنگھ پیاسے
بھلا ہووے گڑ مکھیاں کھاہدا
اَسیں بِھن بِھن تُوں چُھٹیاسے
Sajna aseen moriyon lang payase
Bhala hove gur makhiyan khada
Aseen bhin bhin ton chutiase
O Beloved, we passed through this narrow drain (the world) thirsty
It is well that the flies consumed the sweets
For we have finally escaped their constant buzzing.
ڈَھنڈ پُرانی کتیاں لکّی
اَسیں سرور ما نہیں دھوتیاسے
کہے حُسین فقیر سائیں دا
اَسیں ٹپن ٹپ نِکلاسے
Dhand purani kuttian lakki
Aseen sarvar ma nahin dhotiase
Kahe Hussain faqir saeen da
Aseen tappan tapp niklase
The old vessel was licked by the dogs
We did not even wash ourselves in that water.
Says Hussain, the faqir of the Lord
We emerged by leaping over all these obstacles.
Vocabulary: Sajna Aseen Moriyon Lang Payase
- Moriyon: From a narrow opening or drain (metaphor for the world).
- Gur: Jaggery/Sweets (metaphor for worldly pleasure).
- Bhin Bhin: Buzzing (metaphor for worldly chatter/chaos).
- Chutiase: Escaped / Liberated.
- Dhand: An old pond or stagnant vessel.
- Lakki: Licked.
- Sarvar: Water / Pure pond.
- Tappan Tapp: Leaping / Jumping over.