The grave of Mian Muhammad Bakhsh, the prominent saint of the Sub-Continent and the creator of “Saif-ul-Muluk” in Kharee Shareef, Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. For long I’ve read the excerpts from the epic tale of “Saif-ul-Muluk” and listened to some enchanting folk singers narrating the tale that is the indispensable part of Punjab folklore. I’ve adored the author, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh and how dearly I’ve wished to be in attendance at his shrine. It was not until yesterday, that I managed to travel to the place. The trip was characteristic of a melodious stream of “Saif-ul-Muluk”, every word of which was devotedly affirmed by my heart and an adorable company of some lively cohorts. Saif-ul-Muluk revolves around the love story of a Prince and a Fairy with roots deeply entrenched into the true essence of Sufism (the unassailable love of God). Just for a taste of something so uniquely branded, a few excerpts from Saif-ul-Muluk follow:

اک ساڑا تیرے عشق دا سانوں دوجی بری اے جدائ دور وسیندیا اوءے سجناں مینوں سخت مصیبت پائ

Your love is already killing me, my beloved! And now is the grief of parting with you! I seek the one inhabiting faraway lands; the predicaments I am facing have compounded my life

لمی اے رات وچھوڑے والی عاشق دکھیے بھانے قیمت جانن نین اساڈے سکھیا قدر کی جانے

So long is the night I spent in waiting of my beloved! And so petite and inconsolable are the ones in love How truly my weeping eyes realize the worth of love! And how oblivious are those secured from love’s passion!

چار دیہاڑے حسن جوانی مان کیہڑا دلداراں سکدے اسیں اوءے محمد بخشا کیوں پروا نئیں او یاراں

The days of beauty and youth are but a few; yet these good-looking folk are so full of pride Our (the lovers’) souls are scorched by the relentless flames of love, O Muhammad Bakhsh; why they don’t attend to us!!

دلبر مینوں منہ نہ لاندا تے عشق پسند نہ کردا کھوہ پئ سب کیتی قدری سکہ بنیا زر دا

I am not attracted to my love; that does not endear my love either All I had earned perished in vain; as if Gold gets transformed into money (something original in character devalued through the impurity of exchange)

Editor's Pick Below are some selected audio file links with Alam Lohar, Shoukat Ali and Faseehuddin Suharwardi reciting excerpts from Saif-ul-Muluk: <a href="http://www.filefactory.com/file/cda39eb/n/AlamLohar.mp3" rel="nofollow">www.filefactory.com/file/cda39eb/n/AlamLohar.mp3</a> <a href="http://www.filefactory.com/file/cda5637/n/ShoukatAli.mp3" rel="nofollow">www.filefactory.com/file/cda5637/n/ShoukatAli.mp3</a>