Shiv Kumar Batalvi's - "MirchaaN De Pahtar - Pepper Leaves" (Presentation - Desh Ratna)

MirchaaN De Pahtar - Pepper Leaves Puniya de chaNn nu koi masiya, Keekan aragh chaRhaaye ve. KyuN koi daachi saagar khaatar Maaru thal CHaD jaaye ve. KarmaaN di mahiNdi da sajana, RaNg kiveN dahs chaRda ve, Je kismat mirchaaN de pahtar, PeeTh tali te laae ve. Gham da motiya utar aaiya Sidak mere di naeni ve, Preet nagar da aukha paeNDa, JindaRi kiNj mukaae ve. KikaraaN de phullaaN di aRiya Kaun kareNde raakhi ve, Kad koi maali malhiyaaN utoN, Hariyal aan uDaaye ve. PeeRaaN de dharkone kha kha, Ho gaye geet kasaule ve, Vich naRoye baeTHi jiNdu Keekan sohle gaaye ve. PreetaaN de gahl CHuri phireNdi Vekh ke kiNj kurlaavaaN ve, Le chaaNdi de beeNg kasaaeeyaaN Mere gale phasaaye ve. TaRap taRap ke mar gayi aRiya, Mel tere di hasrat ve, Aese ishk de zulmi raaje BirhoN baan chalaaye ve. Chug chug roR gali teri de GhuNgneeyaaN vaht chab laye ve, KaTHe kar kar ke maeN teele Buhkal vich dukhaaye ve. Ik chuli vi pi na sahki Piyaar de nitare paani ve, VehNdiyaaN saar paye vich poore, JaaN maeN honTH CHuhaae ve.

MirchaaN De Pahtar - Pepper Leaves How can a moonless night Offer anything to the full moon? Why would a camel leave the desert, For the ocean? Tell me, how can the henna of good fortune Color a hand, If fate crushes pepper leaves Upon ones palm? Grief, like a cataract Descended right into my eyes. It is a terrible journey thru the valley of love How can I live my life like this? Who takes care Of acacia flowers? Does the gardener prune A jujube bush? My songs have turned bitter From eating berries of pain. Who can sing tender songs With a life that feels like death. How could I cry out When I saw the blade move across love’s neck? The butcher had thrust His silver knife into my throat. The yearning to be with you Was my destruction. Such were the arrows of separation, Shot by the tyranical rulers of love. I gathered pebbles from your street And chewed them like boiled grain. I collected bits of straw And held them close. Not one drop could I drink, Of the pure water of love. It became infested with worms The moment it touched my lips.