The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali. Brief note about the raag (tune) by Aly Sunderji.
This Ginan highlights the transitory nature of our existence in this world by way of the imagery of a travelling trader and that all our actions are dealings with the world and are a means of attaining the ultimate objective of meeting the Imam. In this context it mentions the nature of the dealings that we are required to undertake in order to attain the objective – remembrance, sacrifice, abstinence from backbiting and ethical and clean living.
dur deshathī āyo vaṇajāro
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Transliteration, Translation & Commentary
| eji dur desh thee aayo vann jaaro shaah mil sodaa keejee ejee……………………………..1 |
O momins! You are a travelling trader who has come from a distant country. Perform (only) the bargain which will yield the meeting with the Imam.
Comment: The distant country alludes to our origin beyond space and time. The meeting with the Imam through the Vision (Deedar) reflects the highest aspiration of a murid.
Holy Qur’an:
“Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular prayer, and spend (in charity) out of what We have provided for them, secretly and openly, hope for a commerce that will never fail: For He will pay them their need, nay, He will give them (even) more out of His bounty: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (service).”(35:29-30)
| eji sute betthe bhaai raah chala(n)te jee naam saaheb jee ko leejee-e jee………………………….2 |
O momins! While sleeping or seated brother, or moving along a way, recite(remember) the name of the Lord.
Holy Qur’an:
“Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought): “Our Lord! Not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.” (3:191)
| eji jo ghar hove bhaai vast peeyaaree jee so naam saaheb jee ko deejee ejee………………………..3 |
O momins! Whatever you have that is dear to your heart, submit it in the name of the Imam.
Holy Qur’an:
“By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you give (freely) of that which you love; and whatever you give, of truth Allah knows it well.” (3:92)
| eji ek kann naam saaheb jee ko deeje jee to palatra savaa laakh leejee ejee……………………….4 |
O momins! If you give(offer) one bit in the name of the Imam, you will receive in return one hundred and twenty five thousand times in the hereafter or later.
Holy Qur’an:
“Lo! Allah has bought from the believers their lives and their wealth because the garden (of paradise) will be theirs.”(9:111)
| eji a(n)dhle ku(n) cha(n)dar yaaraa najar na aave jee kahennaa sohee na pati jee-e jee…………………………5 |
O momins! To the blind ones, the Moon is not visible. To such persons, no matter how much is explained, will not be convinced about this truth.
Holy Qur’an:
“Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).” (2:18)
“Truly, it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts… “(22:46)
| eji deetthddaa dosh bhaai keesee ku(n) na deeje jee to ann deetthaa kee-u kar deejee-e jee……………………6 |
O momins! Never attribute faults and mistakes seen by your eyes, to anyone. Then how can you blame someone for an unseen error.
Holy Qur’an:
“O ye who believe! Avoid suspicion as much (as possible) for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not on each other nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? Nay, ye would abhor it. But fear Allah: For Allah is Oft-Returning, Most Merciful.”( 49: 11-12)
| eji par ni(n)daa bhaai jagat khuaaree jee seer paa(n)u narge paddee-e jee………………………….7 |
O momins! Slandering others causes the ruin of the universe and from head to feet the person degenerates to hell.
Holy Qur’an:
“Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and backbiter.”(104:1)
| eji maannek laine vannjaaro aayo jee to maannek tees chunnee leejee -e jee…………………….8 |
O momins! The travelling trader has arrived with precious stones. Select the precious stones only from Him.
Comment: In this verse, the travelling trader refers to the Imam who provides invaluable guidance and wisdom. There is a Farman of Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah which states: “When we open our mouth and make Farmans, heaps of pearls are scattered. But the value of these pearls will be realized only by that momin who really understands them, and he alone knows what (a valuable thing) he has got.” (Rajkot, 21-10-1903)
| eji maannek chhoddee je ka(n)ch vann jann teen saann vann-j na keejee ejee…………………………9 |
O momins! Do not bargain with those who abandon the precious stones and trade in glass instead.
| eji jees hattee me bhaai vakhar thoddaa teen saann vannaj nakeejee ejee…………………………10 |
O brother! The shop in which there are very few (worthy) goods to trade with, do not conduct your trade therein.
Comment; Do not visit places where nothing worthwhile is to be found.
| eji aachhee aachhee karannee kamaavo mere bhaai to agan na baalle, pavan na ddole, paannee na bolle, raajaa bee da(n)dd na deejee ejee…………………………………11 |
O my brother! Earn pure and clean deeds, then fire will not burn you, the wind will not shake you, the floods will not drown you, and the King will not punish you.
Comment: The fire refers to lust, passion, anger and anxiety. The wind refers to pride, doubt, greed etc. The floods refer to the vicissitudes and vagaries of time.
| eji kholee bha(n)dhaar maaro swaamee raajo betthaa u(n)ch neech kaa shabda sunneejee ejee…………………..12 |
O momins! The Imam having opened the treasure house is seated. Listen to Him about matters which you regard as inferior or superior.
| eji lai taraaju maaro saamee raajo betthaa laavo to mul karee jee e jee……………………………13 |
O momins! My Lord is seated with the balance. Then bring your (deeds) to him for evaluation.
Comment: The balance here refers to conscience. We are constantly reminded to evaluate our actions based upon our conscience.
| eji e geenaan mahaaras peer gofte hasanshaah swaamee raajo seedak pateejee -e jee……………………14 |
O momins! This Ginan which is the most delightful nectar, is scattered by Pir Hasan Shah. Have complete trust in the Imam.
A brief note on the raag (tune) aspect by Aly Sunderji
The Ginan Dur Deshthi Aayo Vañjhaaro is set on Raag Bhimpalasi, part of Kaafi Thaat, Raag Bhimpalasi uses both komal Gandhaar (flat Ga) and Komal Nishaad (flat Ni), just by a simple difference in order of notations from Raag Kaafi, Raag Bhimpalasi has a distinct flavour of its own the notes are – Aaroh: ni Sa ga Ma Pa ni Sa. Avroh: Sa ni Dha Pa Ma ga Re Sa, the intended samay (time of day) of this raag is afternoon. This ginan is a “Jodilo” of many other popular ginans, Jodilo means it shared the same tune with other songs (ginans in this case) Dur Deshthi Aayo shares the same tune with other popular ginans such as: Tu(n)hi Gur Tu(n)hi Nar, Sheth Kahe Tame Saambhlo Vaañotar, and Kalpat Jalpat Maaya e-Mohi.
Ginan Series – By Karim Maherali
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