Dawn beside the river
Ranjha walks with only his flute, and the village begins to listen.
اوّل حمد خدا دا ورد کریئے
Awwal hamd Khuda da wird kariye
First, with devotion, let us praise the Divine, Whose love flows through every sacred line.
“Waris Shah invokes the Divine, reminding us that the tale to follow is sacred ground—love as the path to God.”
as Observer
ٹکڑے ہوئے دل نوں درد دی دوا کریئے
Tukde hoe dil nu dard di dawa kariye
To mend the shattered heart, we offer pain as cure, For only through suffering does love become pure.
“The poet prepares us: this love story will not end happily. Yet in Sufi tradition, the ending is always union—whether in life or beyond.”
as Observer
رانجھے دا باپ چوہدری تھا ماجو
Ranjhe da baap chaudhri tha Mauju
In Takht Hazara lived Mauju, chief of his clan, Whose youngest son would become legend—more heart than man.
“The scene is set by the Chenab. Ranjha is introduced not by name but by lineage—in Punjab, your clan defines you. Until love redefines everything.”
as Observer
جب پتر مویا تاں بھائیاں نے بانڈ کیتی
Jab pitr moya taan bhaiyan ne baand kiti
When Mauju's eyes closed, his sons drew their lines, Leaving Ranjha with dust where once stood fertile vines.
“Betrayal pushes Ranjha from home. The corruption of family, the greed of brothers, the silence of justice—all conspire to create a wanderer.”
as Observer
چل پینڈے بانسری لے کے ٹر گیا
Chal pende bansri le ke tur gaya
With nothing but his flute, Ranjha walked away, Each note a prayer, each step a search for the day.
“Ranjha becomes a fakir—one who has nothing, owns nothing, fears nothing. His flute is his only possession, his only voice, his only power.”
as Observer
جب بانسری وجائی مسجد دے پاس عجب ہوا
Jab bansri wajai masjid de paas ajab hua
By the mosque he played, and strange magic stirred— Every heart awakened, every silence heard.
“The music does not distinguish between rich and poor, young and old, pious and worldly. All are drawn. This is the democracy of love.”
as Observer
ہیر نے سنی، تے پل میں کھو گئی
Heer ne suni, te pal mein kho gayi
Heer heard the flute—and in that breath, was lost, Not knowing yet the journey, nor its cost.
“Two souls recognize each other through sound. This is not accident—it is fate. The Five Pirs have already blessed this union in heaven.”
as Observer
ایہ پہلی نظر دا جادو، دونوں دلاں نوں پیار ہویا
Eh pehli nazar da jadu, dono dilaan nu pyaar hoya
In that first glance, magic bound their fate— Two hearts, one love, one inescapable gate.
“The first chapter closes with a beginning. Two souls have found each other. What follows will be struggle, separation, and sacrifice. But in this moment, there is only love.”
as Observer