Mana Re, Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare
Wo Nirmohi Moh Na Jaane, Jinka Moh Kare
Mana Re ...

मन रे तू काहे ना धीर धरे
वो निर्मोही मोह ना जाने, जिनका मोह करे
मन रे ...

O mind, why not cultivate calmness?
The one you yearn for, understands neither love nor affection.

Calmness: The opening verse ('Man Re Tu Kahe Na Dheer Dhare') implores us to cultivate calmness. 'Mana' means heart and 'dheer' means patience, calmness. Calmness is lost when one's ego or 'I' desires X but reality is Y, where X and Y are different. The deeper the attachment to X, the deeper the pain and trauma. By accepting Y and by letting go of X, peace and calmness is restored. This concept may be paraphrased as 'submission of I to the will of the Universe'.

Unrequited love: The second line ('Wo Nirmohi Moh Na Jaane, Jinka Moh Kare') provides context for the song: unrequited love (wikipedia), which is quite painful. The protagonist's beloved does not reciprocate his feelings. What is the antidote to unmet expectations? Let go!

A Heart in Winter: How disturbing can unrequited love be? A few years ago, I watched the French movie Un Coeur en Hiver (A Heart in Winter) by Claude Sautet (1993). The movie revolves around Camille and Stephane. Camille is a violinist par excellence, who imbues her music with feelings. She is a colorful, expressive romantic who swims in the world of emotions. In contrast, Stephanie is a skilled craftsman with few friends. He is cold, quiet, reserved, clinical and unexpressive. In their first few meetings, Stephane looks at Camille with obviously romantic glances. Slowly, Camille falls for Maxime and declares her love for him. But Stephane never makes a move beyond his glances. He even denies his romantic interest in Camille! Stephane's coldness drives Camille mad. She tries hard to get him interested but fails, suffering great pain in the process. Further reading: review by Roger Ebert — review at Rotten Tomatoes — a detailed psychological analysis of various personalities in the movie.

Nit Khair Manga: In case of unrequited love, one may go beyond acceptance to wishing well for the other person. For example, the song 'Nit Khair Manga Main Teri, Dua Na Hor Koi Mangdi' comes to my mind. The recurring theme in the song is praying for the welfare of one's beloved. Renditions by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (14:28) — Mukhtiar Ali (5:19) are my favorites. I'll attempt a translation of this beautiful composition in a few days.

Is Jeevan Ki Chadhti Dhalti Dhoop Ko Kisne Baandha
Rang Pe Kisne Pehre Dalle, Roop Ko Kisne Baandha
Kahe Ye Jatan Kare
Mana Re ...

इस जीवन की चढ़ती ढलती धूप को किसने बांधा
रंग पे किसने पहरे डाले रुप को किसने बांधा
काहे ये जतन करे
मन रे ...

Has anybody fettered the ebb and flow of sunlight in our lives?
Has anybody restrained color? Has anybody confined beauty?
Why make such efforts?
O mind, why not cultivate calmness?

Control: Sahir reminds us that we have no control over the ebb and flow of life, no control over splendour of nature. Our attempts to preserve, protect, own or control beautiful creations around us are futile. One's beloved is an example of such beauty. Let go. If your beloved does not reciprocate, does not wish to be with you, accept it.

Summarization: The word 'baandha' (to contain) can also mean summarization through language and intellectual thought. Understanding life, understanding nature is challenging. There are uncertainties and random phenomena to surprise us. These may be attributed to free will of others. Even if we discount free will and believe in determinism, the sheer diversity of phenomena rules out summarization into a small set of words. These sentiments are echoed in books like Infinite in All Directions by Freeman Dyson, an eminent physicist. In spiritual traditions, experience is emphasized over intellectualization. The idea is to stop finding patterns in nature through thinking and to enjoy the experience of living, moment by moment.

Utna Hi Upkar Samajh Koi Jitna Saath Nibha De
Janam Maran Ka Mel Hai Sapna, Ye Sapna Bisra De
Koi Na Sang Mare
Mana Re ...

उतना ही उपकार समझ कोई, जितना साथ निभा दे
जनम मरण का मेल है सपना, ये सपना बिसरा दे
कोई न संग मरे, मन रे ...

Howsoever long somebody walked with you, consider it a favor.
The confluence of birth and death is a dream. Let go of this dream.
One dies alone.
O mind, why not cultivate calmness?

Gratitude: The first line ('Utna Hi Upkar Samajh Koi Jitna Saath Nibha De') reminds us of gratitude. We must thank our companions, our helpers, our well wishers, for whatever time and energy they invested in us. Thankfulness is an awesome technique for submission of one's ego. This line also reminds us of impermanence. Our associations with people around us are temporary. They come, they enrich our lives and they go.

Cycle of Birth and Death: The second line ('Janam Maran Ka Mel Hai Sapna, Ye Sapna Bisra De') reflects the sentiment in many spiritual traditions that our entire experience ('samsara') is merely a dream. Sahir implores us to let go of this dream. What does this mean? In Eastern traditions, there is belief in rebirth. Repeated births and deaths keep us in 'samsara', the world we perceive around us. Rebirth is attributed to desires that manifest themselves during our last moments. So letting go is critical. We must let go of all desires, even the desire to hold on to our body, our breath, our existence.

Life is but a dream: The second line also reminds me of an English song for kids: 'Row, row, row your boat. Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily. Life is but a dream'.

Dying moments: The last line 'Koi Na Sang Mare' (we die alone) reminds us that in our dying moments, there is nobody else with us. Not even the unloving beloved whom the protagonist is clamouring for.

Summary: Let go. Let go. Let go. Let contentment be your abode. Let peace and joy be with you.