Ghazal Fifty-five, Divan-i-Goya: Damanpreet Singh & Inni Kaur | Bhai Nand Lal

Introducing Paigham-i-Goya: Expression of Love, new translations of a selection of ghazals from Bhai Nand Lal “Goya.” Today’s podcast begins with a recitation of Bhai Nand Lal’s ghazal in Persian, followed by a new English transcreation, the result of a unique collaboration between Dr. Fatima Fayyaz and Dr. Nadhra Khan of Lahore University of Management Sciences, Damanpreet Singh, writer, and graduate student, and Inni Kaur of SikhRI, followed by a discussion between Daman and Inni about the beauty of the ghazal and the transcreation process.

Follow Damanpreet and Inni as they discuss their learnings and challenges while engaging with the words of Bhai Nand Lal. The unique and symbolic meanings that these ghazals reveal are a treat for those who yearn to get a glimpse into the court of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

Author: Bhai Nand Lal “Goya” 

Collection: Divan-i-Goya 

Transcreators: Fatima Fayyaz, Inni Kaur, Nadhra Khan, and Damanpreet Singh 

Persian Narrator: Gholamhossein Sajadi 

English Narrator: Ryan Gillis

Persian

درونِ‌ مردمکِ دیده دلربا دیدم

به هر طرف که نظر کردم آشنا دیدم

به گردِ کعبه و بتخانه هر دو گردیدم 

دگر نیافتم آنجا همین ترا دیدم 

به هر کجا که نظر کردم از روی تحقیق!

ولی بخانه دل خانه خدا دیدم 

گدایی درِ کوی تو به ز سلطانی ست

خلافتِ‌ دو جهان ترکِ مدعا دیدم 

مرا ز روزِ ازل آمد این ندا گویا

که انتهایِ جهان را در ابتدا دیدم

English Translation

I saw the Beloved within the pupil of my eye. 

Everywhere I looked, I saw the Beloved. 

I circumambulated both the K’abah and the temple. 

I found no one there and only saw You. 

I looked everywhere to seek the truth. 

But saw God’s home within the home of my heart. 

To be a beggar at Your threshold is worthier than any kingship. 

I realized that authority over the two worlds comes when desires are relinquished.

Goya, I’ve heard this calling ever since eternity.

That the summit of the world in the Origin. 

~~~

Featuring: ⁠Damanpreet Singh⁠, ⁠Inni Kaur⁠

#BhaiNandLal #Ghazal #Persian #Ghazal #Sikhism #GuruGobindSingh

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