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| Old Jammu. The poet’s brother used to work in Delhi. |
Chunna’ kuney, chunna kuney,
Vuchh oard na’ yoard kuney,
This phyur talai mool n’ kuney,
Chhukhai tsaitan svori’tan sukuney
He is nowhere, he is nowhere,
Don’t look hither and thither,
Under this tree, there is no root,
If you are awake, do look.
~ Rupa Bhavani (1620-1721) – The lady, more famous for riding tigers and turning into ball of light at night much to the horror of her husband and mother-in-law, famous for floating down a mat on Jhelum river preaching difference between silver, gold and pearls to a Muslim missionary, was also a poet.
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“The language is archaic; there are double and occasionally more meanings to what she said. The expressions are obscure, unintelligible, mystical and esoteric. The devotees, afraid to incur the saint’s displeasure, refuse to explain the sacred secrets; probably they themselves know precious little of what they recite or contemplate in blind admiration. “
~ Prem Nath Bazaz writing on Rupa Bhavani’s Vakhs in his book Daughters of Vitasta.
