Mohe Apne Rang Mein...

So I heard a song in a friends car and it wont leave my head. So I searched it online and found it's sung by Shafqat. No surprises there -- he's an amazing singer. More interestingly, the song is written by Amir Khusro - the 12th century poet disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya. And that makes it second consecutive ear-worm for me that has originated from Khusro and dedicated to Nizamuddin Auliya. [The earlier one that I've been binging on for last few weeks is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SDrjwtfKMk ]

So obviously I got a bit curious about Khusro and these songs. And it turns out that this Kusro dude was, to put it colloquially, f'ing awesome! He invented sitar and tabla and Qawalli and maybe even Ghazal. And he was "originator of the khayal and tarana styles of music". Wow! Basically Khusro was to Hindustani music what Newton was to classical mechanics.

Coming to the song -- "Mehboob-e-illahi" in the song is one of the names of Nizannudin Auliya, of whom Khusro was a disciple. And the phrase means beloved of God. (And it reminds of the similar title of the emperor Ashoka -- "Devānāmpriya" (in Pali or was it Prakrit?) also meaning beloved of gods). Anyway, I digress. Coming back to the song -- here's my attempt at translating the simple yet beautiful lyrics -

मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले
मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले
तू तो साहिब मेरा मेहबूब-ए-इलाही
मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले

[Dye me in your own color
You're my master, O beloved of God
Dye me in your own color.]

हमरी चुनरिया, पिया की पगरिया
वो तो दोनो बसंती रंगले
तू तो साहिब मेरा मेहबूब-ए-इलाही
मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले

[My stole and beloved's turban
Color them both saffron.
You're my master, O beloved of God
Dye me in your own color.]

जो कुछ मांगे रंग कि रंगाई
मोरा जौबन गिरवी रख ले
तू तो साहिब मेरा मेहबूब-ए-इलाही
मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले

[If some fee you ask for dyeing
Keep my youth as security.
You're my master, O beloved of God
Dye me in your own color.]

आन पड़ी दरबार तेहारे
मोरी लाज़ सरम सब रख ले
तू तो साहिब मेरा मेहबूब-ए-इलाही
मोहे अपने ही रंग में रंगले

[I come to your court
Keep (uphold) my honor and dignity.
You're my master, O beloved of God
Dye me in your own color.]