lyrics, trs., notes: Harmukh Bar Tal

An interesting case of a popular Kashmiri love song. Harmukh Bar Tal, popular as a Bhajan among Pandit and the same song is popular as a love song among Kashmiri Muslims. Of course, as is often the case in Kashmir, it is so popular that no one remembers the original writer and the meaning of the lines is not give and assumed to be understood. I hope people realize something even as simple as giving translations along with the original lines along with a Youtube video  goes a long way in keeping a language alive. The are people doing it for Urdu and even Hindi online. But, Kashmiris would just sit and talk about ‘dying culture’.
Anyway, back to the song. There are a couple of versions of the song available (all with same tune).

First version is a Pandit one by Rajinder Kachroo. Second version is by Shameema Dev and third one is a more recent production (singer not give!) presented as a Hafiz Nagma. Based on who is singing, some words change. Praraey become Zaagaey, both meaning wait. Yee become Tee both meaning that. Posh (Flower), Golab (Rose), Shaeyri (Lavender) move around interchanging-ly. Two (completing) extra line coming in from Shameema Dev’s version. Personally, based on what I hear, I find Zaagaey, Tee, replacement of Posh with Shaeri (which in turn gets to compete with Golab) etc. really interesting.

Based on all the three versions, here’s what I could make of the love song. A transliteration (done in an hour, someone with more knowledge of the language could have done it in five):

Harmukh bar tal praraey (zaagaey) Madano
I will wait at the gates of Harmukh, for you my love


Yee Dapham tee (yee) laagyoo
What ever you ask, I will offer


Posh (shaeyri) dapham 
Ask for flower (Lavander)

Golab (shaeyri) laagaey Madano

I will offer Rose (Lavander), my love

Yee Dapham tee laagyoo
What ever you ask, I will offer


Phambas ti Naaras mil goom
My Yarn and Spindle, all entangled 
Cotton and Fire are now one

Valla tche path dil goom

Oh, God!, My heart is stuck on you

Be’no ye dooryer tchalay Madano
I can’t take this distance anymore

Ye dapham ti lagayo

What ever you ask, I will offer

Kabeel’e Drayas Pranaey
I left my old tribe, my people

Kya osum Deklanay
What was the push?

Be’no ye dooryer tchalay Madano*
I can’t take this distance anymore

Harmukh bar tal  praraey Madano
I will wait at the gates of Harmukh, for you my love

Yee Dapham tee laagyoo
What ever you ask, I will offer

Kongas karmay chamayee

In am tilling in saffron fields

Maenz ho lagith naman
Henna still fresh on my nails

Mushtakh goham kaman Madano
Yearning, for whom, my love

Yee Dapham tee laagyoo

What ever you ask, I will offer

Yaawan myaanay Thazro
My youth is at its zenith

T’chekor dejyo Nazro
Where are your eyes lost?

Kaaei we’tce hung Zazoor Madano**
It is wracked, blotched and decaying, my love

Yee Dapham tee laagyoo
What ever you ask, I will offer

The imagery that the song creates in a Pandit mind is that of Parvati at the foot of Harmukh singing out a love song to Shiva who is still mourning for Sati.

-0-

** Found the meaning of ‘hung‘ in that beautiful line thanks to work of George Abraham Grierson Sahib.
* In Rasul Mir’s ‘Bal Marayo’ we find an identical line that goes like this: Butino Ye Doorer Choon Zaray, Bal Marayo

30 Replies to “lyrics, trs., notes: Harmukh Bar Tal”

  1. Beautifully done, Vinayak. There's another version of the song , sung by Anshoo Tickoo Zutshi. I'd reccommend that too. It has no background score but the melliflous voice transcends this world magically.

    Minakshi

  2. While searching for the lyrics of the song; I found this.
    I admire your effort to keep our culture breathing..
    Kudos.

  3. I heard it first from one Toshkhani in 1972 a professional at Rungmunch Theatre kralakhud. Some words have been changed.The tune is almost same.

  4. Are You Serious about this -> ""The imagery that the song creates in a Pandit mind is that of Parvati at the foot of Harmukh singing out a love song to Shiva who is still mourning for Sati.""

    It was sung by 'Habba Khatoon' for his beloved 'Yousuf Shah Check', don't spread lies.

    1. Kashmiri pandits do sing it as a Bhajan. I am mentioning how this song speaks to a KP.

      And no, this is not a work of Habba Khatoon as it does not appear in any of here documented collection of works. And as for Habba Khatoon and Chak…the persian historians of Chak era make no mention of Habba Khatoon. First mention Habba happens around 200 years after the death of Chak. What we know about Habba is just fables and folklore. To you it may seem like Habba singing for Yousuf.

      And on the originals of this song do read notes on Harmukh Bartal

  5. Beautiful ,thanks , I have one doubt that Deklanay meaning is Forture,destiney or luck etc but not Push ,, pls advice

  6. 🙂 Years later, in my hunt for better translations and complete lyrics of this beautiful song, I land up here! Bless you, Vinayak. Your work and efforts continue to guide us back home.

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