When I first saw Rabbi Shergill’s video for the song Bulla ki jaana main kaun, I knew instantly that I would be spending more time on it.
After researching the lyrics for 8 hours and listening to it several times to firm up the lyrics, I found my own translation to be the most convincing. Come on folks, I’m not even Punjabi. I even found the guitar tabs here
Baba Bulleh Shah (1680-1758), has surely been an excellent writer of songs. No other song in an unknown langauage would have impressed me more. Though he lived during the time before the printing press, most of what we know about him has come to us through unreliable anecdotes and folklore. The limited authentic historical record, based on sporadic references to events of his life in his poetry and in the writings of his contemporaries, is barely enough for a brief sketch of his life.
I’ll read more – if only I find time. Anyways, here is my translation of the song:
Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main moman vich maseetan Neither am I believer in a Mosque Na main vich kufar dian reetan Nor a pagan practising false rites Na main pakan vich paleetan Nor am I the Pure amongst impure Na main andar bed kitaban Neither am I in any Holy Books (Vedas) Na main rehnda phaang sharaban Nor high on any drugs or alochol Na main rehnda mast kharaban Nor am I an idle delinquent Na main shadi na ghamnaki I am neither happy union nor lonely misery Na main vich paleetan pakeen Nor am I pure or impure Na main aaabi na main khaki Nor am I water or earth Na main aatish na main paun Nor am I fire or air Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main arabi na lahori I am neither an Arab or a Lahori (Pakistani) Na main hindi shehar Nagauri Nor am I from the (Indian) town of Nagaur Na hindu na turk pashauri Nor am I a Hindu or a Peshawari Turk Na main bhet mazhab de paya I did not create any differences in faiths Na main aadam hawwa jaya Nor do I know of any Adam or Eve Na koi apna naam dharaya I did not name myself Avval aakhar aap nu jana I know only of the Self Na koi dooja hor pacchana and recognise no Other Mai ton na koi hor syana There is nobody wiser than I Bulle shah kharha hai kaun? Bulleshah, who is standing (in your place)? Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Na main moosa na pharaoh Neither am I Moses nor the Pharoah Na main jagan na vich saun Neither am I awake nor asleep Na main aatish na main paun Neither am I am fire nor wind Na main rahnda vich Nadaun Nor do I live in Nadaun Na main baitthan na vich bhaun Neither am I at rest nor in a storm Bulle shah kharha hai kaun? Bulleshah, who is standing (in your place)? Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I Bulla ki jaana main kaun Bulla, how do I know who am I