NIRTAN

Dance


Alankaras
(Fanciful expressions of ideas)
Suras
(God speaking through the kindled soul)
Tanas
(The soul speaking with nature)
Gaakas
(Feelings in the !oet"s heart# ke$ed to %arious notes)
&oulas
('indled words)
Talas
(Rh$thic expressions of ideas)
(halas
(Illuinated words)

A)AN'ARAS
(Fanciful expressions of ideas)

Thou changest th$ place# *ut not th$self# + )ight,

-nfold Th$ secret through nature# and re%eal Th$ $ster$ through $ heart,

Thou art $ spirit# I a Th$ *od$# $ .ol$ +ne,

)et the sun of Th$ di%ine spirit rise fro $ heart# that orning a$ *reak out of
the darkness of life,

I shall penetrate through the *lack heart of the clouds to reach Thee# $ )ord,

/$ life is a wa%e of the ocean of Th$ eternal life,

)et $ soul *ecoe Th$ life,

Through the darkness of night $ soul seeks for Thee,

0aken e# )ord# through Th$ 0arner# while I a asleep in the ars of error,

It is Th$ spirit of Risalat which is di%init$,

Thine own desire I see fulfilled# + God# in the perfection of Rasul,

I hold an ear to the depth of Th$ *lessing when the stor *reaks through life"s sea,

)et e recogni1e Th$ di%ine %isage in the iage of Th$ /essage2*earer,

/$ heart is no ore ine# it is thine own# $ spiritual Guide,

.eal $ soul *$ the all2sufficient power that coes fro the glance of Th$
/essiah,

+# $our rising wa%es of fa%or#
And $our raging flaes of wrath3
+n the rose the$ are like dew2drops#
+n the flae 4ust like the oth,

/$ spiritual Guide# thou *earest in th$self the spirit of Rasul,

The dark clouds *rought roance *etween Thee# $ &elo%ed# and e,

)et $ heart reflect the spirit of the .ol$ +nes,
)et $ self turn into Th$ *eing,

/$ %anit$3 It auses e to see thee dance at the sight of $ liitation,

The rapture of $ heart shows the ark of Th$ kiss,

)et Th$ perfection *e ine#
and $ iperfection *e cleared awa$ as the ist in the sun,

/$ heart3 At ties one oent is as a $ear#
and at ties one $ear is as a oent to thee,

I cr$ and shed tears when clouds gather round $ heart#
and when the light of $ soul is co%ered fro $ sight,

/other"s ars recei%e e when I coe to the earth5
Father"s ars lift e up at the oent when I depart hence,

.6ART

The heart has its head on its own pal#
The face of the heart is %eiled5
The heart"s hands are *ound with iron chains#
The feet of the heart are nailed,

The e$es of the heart are ne%er dr$#
The heart speaks onl$ through tears,
The ears of the heart are so keen
That the %oice fro a distance it hears,

The %oice of the heart is silent#
7et far2reaching is heart"s cr$,
The heart has no 8uestion nor answer#
The heart is expressed in a sigh,

The wa$s of the heart are $sterious#
The heart has the ind of a child,
The heart"s *reath is full of tenderness#
The heart"s expression is ild,

The ideal alone is heart"s deit$#
A constant $earning its life,
The heart"s not concerned with life or death#
The heart stands fir through all strife,

&eaut$ is heart"s onl$ o*4ect#
Its inspirer# its all,
The heart is all power that there is#
The angels attend its call,

The heart is itself its own edicine#
The heart all its own wounds heals,
And none can e%er iagine
The pain that the lo%ing heart feels,

The path of the heart is thorn$#
&ut leads in the end to *liss,
.ope is the staff the heart holds in hand#
And the goal heart shall not iss,
(The following is the original %ersion of the a*o%e text fro the note*ook of .a1rat
Ina$at 'han9)
)+:6
)o%e hath its head on its own pal
face of lo%e is %eiled
)o%e"s hands are tied with iron chains#
feet of lo%e are nailed,
6$es of the lo%e are ne%er dr$#
lo%e speaks onl$ through tears,
6ars of lo%e are so keen# that
it %oice fro the distance hears,
:oice of lo%e is silent# $et
far2reaching is lo%e"s cr$,
)o%e hath no 8uestion nor answer#
lo%e is expressed in deep sigh,
0a$s of lo%e are $sterious# though
lo%e hath ind of a child,
)o%e"s heart is full of tenderness#
and lo%e"s expression is ild5
Ideal alone is lo%e"s deit$
(onstant $earning its life
)o%e is not concerned with life or death#
)o%e stands fir through all strife,
&eaut$ is lo%e"s onl$ o*4ect#
its inspirer# its all,
)o%e is all power that there is#
angels attend lo%e"s call,
)o%e is itself its own edicine
)o%e all its own wounds heals,
No one can e%er iagine#
pain that lo%er"s heart feels,
!ath of the lo%e is thorn$# which
leads in the end to *liss#
.ope is the staff that lo%e holds in hand#
lo%e"s one desire is a kiss,

TR-T.

The face of truth is open#
The e$es of truth are *right#
The lips of truth are e%er closed#
The head of truth is upright,
The *reast of truth stands forward#
The ga1e of truth is straight#
Truth has neither fear nor dou*t#
Truth has patience to wait,
The words of truth are touching#
The %oice of truth is deep#
The law of truth is siple9
All that $ou sow $ou reap,
The soul of truth is flaing#
The heart of truth is war#
The ind of truth is clear#
And fir through rain or stor,
Facts are *ut its shadows#
Truth stands a*o%e all sin5
Great *e the *attle in life#
Truth in the end shall win,
The iage of truth is (hrist#
0isdo"s essage its rod5
Sign of truth is the cross#
Soul of truth is God,
)ife of truth is eternal#
Iortal is its past#
!ower of truth will endure#
Truth shall hold to the last,
(+riginal %ersion of the a*o%e text fro the note*ook of .a1rat Ina$at 'han9)
TR-T.
Face of the Truth is open
6$es of the Truth are *right
)ips of the Truth are e%er closed
.ead of the Truth is upright
0ords of the Truth are touching
:oice of the Truth is deep
)aw of the Truth is siple
All that $ou sow# $ou reap,
Soul of the Truth is flaing
.eart of the Truth is war
/ind of the Truth is clear
and fir through rain or stor
)ife of Truth is eternal
iortal is its past
!ower of Truth will endure
Truth holds good to the last,
(hest of the Truth stands forward
Ga1e of the Truth is straight
Truth hath no fear nor hath dou*t
Truth hath patience to wait
Facts are all shadows and
Truth stands a*o%e all sin
great in life *e the *attle
Truth in the end will win,
Iage of the Truth is (hrist
Sacred word its rod
Sign of Truth is the cross
and soul of the Truth is God,

S-RAS
(God speaking through the kindled soul)

There is no reason that an should know God *ecause he is horn on earth5
it is onl$ the *irth of his soul that akes hi entitled to that knowledge,

)ife is realit$# death is its shadow5
*ut as the shadow is seen and $et non2existent# so is death,

Death opens a door *etween life here and hereafter,
Death is a silent %o$age to the port of eternit$,

Death is no ore death to those who ha%e once experienced its sting,

Death is *ut the turning of a page of life5
to the e$es of others it is death# *ut to those who die it is life,


TANAS
(The soul speaking with nature)

Glorious sun# are $ou setting;
227es# to rise again,

Su*lie nature# $ ears did not hear $our usic,
227our heart has heard it# $our soul has danced to it,

Trees to the clouds9220ith raised hands we pa$ $ou our hoage,
(louds922In tears we grant $our re8uest,

Nature# where do $ou *orrow $our su*liit$; 22Fro $our lo%ing spirit,

Rain# wh$ do $ou not coe in the desert;
22I keep awa$ fro where I a not welcoe,

0hen once passing through the ountains# I saw rocks#
soe resting on their knees# soe *ending# soe standing,
I asked# <+ hard2hearted onsters# what secret is there in $our char;<
The$ answered in a silent %oice# <That we do not assert oursel%es,<

Rock$ ountains# what are $ou;
220e are the to*s of the world"s past,

(r$stal# what are $ou;
22I a the shadow of (hrist"s heart,
0hat 8ualit$ do $ou possess;
22I a ept$ of self# so that *$ ga1ing# one sees in e .is heart reflected,

Desert to the rain2clouds9227ou are passing o%er us# wh$ not *e our guest;
Rain2clouds9220e ha%e no longer trust in the hard2hearted,

Glorious nature# wonderful picture# where shall I keep $ou;
22In the frae of $our heart,

0ilderness# wh$ does $our cr$ touch e so deepl$;
22&ecause it rises fro the *otto of $ heart,

0ilderness# what is in $ou that is so o%erwheling;
22The expansion of $ heart,

Good2*$e# nature"s %ision# shall I e%er see $ou again;
227es# whene%er $ou open the al*u of $our heart,

GA/A'AS
(Feelings in the !oet"s heart# ke$ed to %arious notes)
0h$ was I *orn# + God# if not to find Thee;
0h$ do I die# + God# if not to coe to Thee;

0hen the unrealit$ of life pushes against $ heart# its door opens to the realit$,

The past was $ drea# the present is $ pla$# and the future will *e $ plan,

I reach Thee *efore $ feet can reach Th$ dwelling place#
and I see Thee *efore ine e$es can reach Th$ spheres,

I was perfected *$ hea%en# *ut a liited *$ the earth,

(an an$one *reak e;
No, &$ doing so# he a$ as well prepare to *reak God,
Neither I nor God can *e *roken5
*ut the one who would wish to *reak e# he is *roken,

I draw all $ strength fro $ huilit$,

A tongue of flae rises fro e%er$ wound of $ heart#
illuinating $ path through life and guiding $ wa$ to the goal,

The rapidit$ of $ walk the iagination cannot follow,

!eople often ask e 8uestions which I cannot %er$ well answer in words#
and it akes e sad to think the$ are una*le to hear the %oice of $ silence,

&$ e%er$ hurt or har one causes e# he onl$ akes e know hi *etter,

I cae as I was ade to coe5
I li%e as life allows e to li%e5
*ut I will *e what I wish to *e,

0ith e%er$ pinprick a drop of *lood coes out of $ heart#
and that drop *ecoes the 0ine of Sacraent,

I ha%e not coe to teach those who consider thesel%es teachers5
I ha%e coe to learn fro the teachers and to teach $ pupils,

0hen $ heart is pertur*ed it upsets the whole uni%erse,

0hen $ heart is asleep# then *oth worlds fall into a deep slu*er,

The whole creation wakes up with the wakening of $ heart,

0hen the shell of $ heart *reaks# pearls are scattered around,

/$ heart attains self2sufficienc$ *$ eating its own flesh and *$ drinking its own
*lood,

I tre*le at the sight of the task that has *een gi%en to e#
and I feel confounded when I weigh $ ideal with $ liitations,

0hat the world calls success# is to e like a doll"s wedding,

I a the 0ine of the .ol$ Sacraent5 $ %er$ *eing is intoxication5
those who drink of $ cup and $et keep so*er will certainl$ *e illuinated5
*ut those who do not assiilate it# will *e *eside thesel%es and exposed to the
ridicule of the world,

/$ heart drinks its own tears and puts the forth as pearls,

I prefer failure to success gained *$ falsehood,

I a what I a5
$ou ake e what $ou will ake e5
*ut I *ecoe what I wish to *ecoe,

The true exaltation coes to e fro the insults I ha%e to endure in life
rather than fro the respectful attitude of $ ureeds,

/an$ underestiate the greatness of the (ause#
seeing the liitation through which I ha%e to work $ wa$ out,

The /essage is a call to those whose hour has coe to awake#
and it is a lulla*$ to those who are still eant to sleep,

.ow can a an clai to *e a teacher and at the sae tie *e sane;
.is teaching ust pro%e hi a teacher# not his clai,

The essence of toda$"s /essage is *alance,

7ou are $ life# it is in $ou that I li%e#
Fro $ou I *orrow life and $ou do I gi%e5
+ $ soul and spirit# $ou I adore#
I li%e in $ou# so do I li%e e%er ore,
7ou are in e and in $ou do I li%e#
Still $ou are $ 'ing and $ sins $ou forgi%e,
7ou are the !resent and Future and !ast5
I lost $self# *ut I ha%e found $ou at last,

0h$# + $ feeling heart
Do $ou li%e and die; 0hat akes $ feeling heart
To laugh and to cr$; Death is $ life indeed5
I li%e when I die, !ain is $ pleasure5 when
I laugh# then I cr$,

Soe did sa$ that I knew nothing#
Soe still held that I knew all,
Soe did turn their *ack to e# and
Soe 8uickl$ answered $ call,

Soe on hearing $ words exclaied#
<Nothing he said that was new,<
Soe said# <I ha%e alwa$s thought this5
That is $ own point of %iew,<
Soe asked# <0hat $ster$ he re%ealed;
0hat wonder did he perfor;<
Soe answered# <0e ask no wonder#
So long as his heart is war,<
Soe said# <.e is a an as we are#
0hat difference in hi do $ou see;<
Soe answered# <It is not to know5
0hat is needed# is to *e,<

&efore $ou 4udge $ actions#
)ord# I pra$# $ou will forgi%e,
&efore $ heart has *roken#
0ill $ou help $ soul to li%e;
&efore $ e$es are co%ered#
0ill $ou let e see $our face;
&efore $ feet are tired#
/a$ I reach $our dwelling2place;
&efore I wake fro slu*er#
7ou will watch e# )ord# I hold,
&efore I throw $ antle#
0ill $ou take e in $our fold;
&efore $ work is o%er#
7ou# $ )ord# will right the wrong,
&efore $ou pla$ $our usic#
0ill $ou let e sing $ song;

&+-)AS
('indled words)
The saints are forgi%eness itself,

In the influence that controls a situation the hand of God is seen,

The ore one can *ear# the ore one is gi%en to *ear,

If one wants to know life# one can *est know it *$ one"s own life,

No *elo%ed has e%er known the depth of the lo%er"s heart,

Soeties success is a defeat and defeat is a success,

The greater the responsi*ilit$# the greater the person,

/an unconsciousl$ pa$s happiness in order to *u$ pleasure,

)ife is interesting with friends and eneies *oth,

A sharp tongue can cut one deeper than a knife,

Sin is a sin# whether thought# said# or done,

There are an$ dead sins# *ut to separate two lo%ing hearts is a li%ing sin,

6%er$ difficult$ can *e ade eas$ *$ the power of a willing spirit,

/an sees in another his own fault,

Gi%e not nor clai lo%e *$ force# for lo%e is an affair of utual willingness,

Silence is an unaditting consent and an uncoitting refusal,

0alking on the turning wheel of the earth#
li%ing under the e%er2rotating sun#
an expects a peaceful life,

/an"s 4ealous$ is woan"s %anit$,

A consent after refusing is worse than a refusal,

To disco%er the heart is the greatest initiation,

+ne"s own self has the right to accuse oneself of one"s faults#
rather than an$one else,

Truth is *orn of falsehood as light coes fro darkness,

A charing personalit$ is great riches,

The $stic perfects hiself *$ aking hiself ept$ of hiself,

Sorrow ena*les an to experience 4o$,

The punishent of the God of (opassion is a reward too,

The (reator# *$ eans of the huan heart# experiences life within and without,

Tears of 4o$ are ore precious than pearls,

If $ou a%oid wrongdoing# it will a%oid $ou,

A real artist expresses his soul in his art,

Di%init$ is the exaltation of the huan soul,

It is not the action which is a sin5
it is the attitude of ind which akes it so,

Silence speaks louder than words,

Realit$ unfolds with the *reaking of the heart,

The %ision of nature is the presence of God,

In the heart of sorrow there is a seed of 4o$,

A sharp tongue is a poisoned sword,

A house is *uilt with atter# *ut ade with spirit,

The one who trou*les uch a*out the cause is far reo%ed fro the cause,

Righteousness gi%es strength# and falseness weakens the ind,

No one would do wrong if he knew the wrong of it,

)o%e in gi%ing and taking is coerciali1ed,
In its pure essence lo%e is for its own 4o$,

The spirit of feeling is lost when a sentient is expressed in words,

No earth# no water# no fire# no air can e%er disunite two hearts that ha%e *ecoe
one,

Retire fro the undane things of life as uch as life will perit $ou,

A%oid all nonsense,

Accoplishent is ore %alua*le than what is accoplished,

)ife is tie# and death is its di%ision,

0e need not tolerate inharon$# *ut we can act indifferent to it,

6%il is like a shadow,

.e who gi%es lo%e will recei%e a thousandfold in return,

It is the separation which is separated# not we,

Nature is *orn# character is *uilt# and personalit$ is de%eloped,

Tie and space are the hands and feet of the $stic5
through space he cli*s# and through tie he accoplishes,

The sae thing that a$ *ring pride to one# a$ cause shae to another,

/an seeks freedo and pursues capti%it$,

The one who seeks the spiritual path is sought after *$ the spirit,

To life there is no death# and to death there is no life,

!erfection is to *e found in looking for +ne# in pursuing +ne# in finding +ne# in
reali1ing +ne,

The ore $ou depend upon God# the ore God *ecoes dependa*le,

)o%e"s reward is lo%e itself,

The essence of reason is the knowledge of God,

TA)AS
(Rh$thic expressions of ideas)
&efool not# + night# the orn will *reak5
*eware# + darkness# the sun will shine5
*e not %ain# + ist# it will once ore *e clear5
$ sorrow# forget not# once again 4o$ will arise,

A la*or done without wages# a ser%ice without thanks#
a erit without appreciation# a lo%e without answer
ha%e a different %alue,

It is a weakness to withdraw fro struggle5 it is foolishness to go through it,

If $ou are anno$ed *$ an$ disagreea*le experience# it is a loss5
*ut if $ou ha%e learnt *$ it# it is a gain,

0hat feeling it is to ask forgi%eness to those who ust ask forgi%eness of $ou#
and to thank those who ust thank $ou3

It does not atter how hard $ou la*or5
it is what $ou accoplish that counts,

0ickedness that anifests fro an intelligent person
is like a poisonous fruit springing fro a fertile ground,

The life of lo%e is ore than innuera*le li%es#
and the death of lo%e is worse than a thousand deaths,

As the *irds will ne%er ha%e a lasting attachent to *easts# so it is e%en with an9
the wa$farer of the hea%ens can ne%er keep constantl$ attached to the dweller of the
earth,

'nowledge ends in no knowledge# learning ends in unlearning,

Sweeter than hone$ are the results of one"s toil5
ore fragrant than flowers are the words of praise5
ore delicious than fruit is an o*edient child5
ore precious than a pearl is a congenial ate,

A *eautiful sin is a %irtue# and an ugl$ %irtue is a sin,

Ipulse is intoxicating5 action is a*sor*ing5
*ut it is the result of e%er$ deed that leads an to reali1ation,

An optiist takes the chance of losing5
a pessiist loses the chance of gaining,

0hen $ou care for the opinion of others# $ou are *elow the5
when $ou do not care# $ou are a*o%e the,

It is the lo%er"s heart that touches the depths of life5
it is the godl$ soul that soars to the highest hea%ens5
it is the seer"s e$e that penetrates through the wall of atter5
and it is the knower"s spirit that assiilates all the knowledge,

0e experience death *$ pla$ing life# and we experience life *$ pla$ing death,

(.A)AS
(Illuinated words)
If a an of principle akes a *reach of law# it is to pursue a high ideal,

Raise not dust fro the ground5 it will enter into $our e$es,
Sprinkle soe water on it that it a$ settle down and lie under $our feet,

A wrongdoer who is sorr$ for his wrongdoings
profits ore than the one who has ne%er done wrong,

It does not need courage to *e *old and *lunt# sharp and rude5
one has onl$ to *e shaeless,

!ick not flowers# for it will detain $ou in $our progress on the path#
and as $ou go# the$ will onl$ fade awa$,
)ook at the# therefore# and adire their *eaut$#
and as $ou proc