Notes

Haase de gudaam chon, ghaman di dukaan chon, punjabi zubaan chon
Udhaare kuj akkharan di unn langa
From this treasure of happiness, this store of grief, the language (Punjabi), I shall loan the fabric of words.

Junglan de shor ton, kurlaunde koi mor ton, dhaage kise hor ton
Chaadar sukoon di bunn langa
From the sounds of the jungle, the cry of the peacock, from another yarn altogether, I shall knit a blanket of calm.

Satkaar de aate chon, zindagi de baate chon, hisse de khaate chon
kankar kuj takleefan de punn langa
From the flour of dignity, from the bowl of life, from what is offered to me, I shall sift out the grit of despair.

Daani kise faqeer ton, tutti koi taqdeer ton, ohle laqeer ton
kisse kuj naseehtan de sunn langa
From a generous ascetic, from a thwarted destiny, from across the dividing lines, I shall hear tales of advice.

Guzri koi chet chon, vaisakh de khet chon, samay di ret chon
moti kuj sayanap de chunn langa
From the bygone spring, from the fields of harvest, from the sands of time, I shall choose the pearls of wisdom.

Hakam di rokh ton, khande di nok ton, paran eh rok ton
Kisse kuj muqaddran de khunn langa
From the disapproval of the oppressor, from the edge of the sword, away from these restraints, I shall etch the narrative of my fate.