Nit Khair Manga Sohneya Main Teri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi
Tere Pairaanch Akheer Hove Meri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi

Everyday, my beloved, I pray for your well being. I ask for nothing else.
May I be at your feet in my last moments. I ask for nothing else.

The opening couplet is the summary of the whole composition. What does it mean to be at the feet of one's beloved? Let us explore.

In Sufi poetry, one's beloved also means one's spiritual guide ('guru' or 'peer' or 'murshid'). It also refers to the Almighty or the Universe. So being at the feet of one's beloved means submission of one's ego. Here are some examples:

1) In many parts of the Indian sub-continent, children are taught to routinely touch their elders' feet and seek blessings. This habit continues into adulthood. Hindi movies set in Punjab show many people touching the feet of elders and saying 'pairi paina', which means 'I touch your feet and seek your blessings'.

2) In the East, there is the belief that one gets salvation if one's dying moment happens to be in prostration in front of an enlightened being (a 'peer' or 'fakir'). In Punjabi, we have the phrase 'matha tek ke charna wich pran chhadna', which means 'to become nothing at your feet, in obeisance'.

3) The idea of being at the feet of one's beloved can also be seen as selfless service: 'to become nothing while serving you'. A delightful Urdu phrase for the same idea is 'khidmat karte hue fanaa ho jana'.

4) In spiritual traditions with a martial flavor, one actually lays down one's life for the spiritual guide to preserve teachings of love for others.

5) The theme of surrendering at the feet of one's beloved comes up in many compositions in Urdu and Punjabi. Below is a couplet by Wamiq Jaunpuri, sung very well by Farid Ayaz Qawwal (YouTube: 10:06).

Sajda Kar Ke Qadam-E-Yaar Pe Qurbaan Hona
Yun Likha Tha Meri Qismat Mein Musalmaan Hona

'Sajda kar ke' means 'after bowing'. 'Qadam-E-Yaar' means 'feet of the beloved', where the beloved could refer to one's sweetheart or one's spiritual guide or the Almighty. 'Qurbaan' means sacrifice. 'Yun Likha Tha Meri Qismat Mein' means 'it was written in my destiny'. 'Musalman' is an Arabic word that means 'one who submits to the Almighty'.

There is a subtlety in the sentiments of submission above. There is no ego, no I, even in submission. In other words, the fact that the poet experienced the joy of submission was due to His lovingkindness, His grace.

6) Submission at the Guru's feet is mentioned commonly in Sikh hymns. Hundreds of search results show up when you type "feet" in the search box at Searchable Guru Granth Sahib, the holy text for Sikhs. A famous line is by Guru Nanak:

ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਖੁ ਮਾਗੈ ਮੋ ਕਉ ਕਰਿ ਸੰਤਨ ਕੀ ਧੂਰੇ ॥੪॥੫॥
नानक दासु इहै सुखु मागै मो कउ करि संतन की धूरे ॥४॥५॥
Nānak ḏās ihai sukẖ māgai mo ka▫o kar sanṯan kī ḏẖūre. ||4||5||
Nanak, Your slave, begs for this happiness: let me be the dust of the feet of the Saints. ||4||5||

7) In every spiritual tradition in the world, the dying moments are deemed very important. No physical possessions are of use in these moments. Only the training of our mind is helpful. All traditions emphasize absorption of themes like 'letting go', 'acceptance' and 'submission'. With such training, we experience peace and joy during our dying moments. Such training is also helpful in our living moments!

What does submission mean? It means 'letting go' or 'acceptance'. Basically, if the situation we are facing is X but the situation that we desire instead is Y, which is different from X, then we are not at peace. The idea of letting go of Y (which stems from our ego) and accepting X (the will of the Universe) is submission.

One who has internalized the above concepts is able to experience peace and joy in everything, at every moment, without any guilt or blame :) Everything is perfect, exactly as it should be! There is joy in breathing, there is joy in being alive, there is joy in experiencing so many lines and forms, so many colors of nature around us.

Tere Pyar Ditta Jado Da Sahara Ve, Mainu Bhul Gaiya Maiya Jag Saara Ve
Khushi Eho Mainu Sajna Batheri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi

Tu Mileya Te Mil Gayi Khudai Ve, Hath Jode Aakha Paayi Na Judai Ve
Mar Jaawaangi Je Ankh Metho Pheri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi

Ever since your love supported me, I forgot the world around me.
This joy is sufficient for me, my love. I ask for nothing else.

With your presence, I experienced oneness. With folded hands, I pray that you never be separated.
I will be no more if you turn your eyes away from me. I ask for nothing else.

The two couplets above are sung by everybody (Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hans Raj Hans, Mukhtiar Ali and others). Themes of separation and union are central to Sufi compositions. Separation from one's beloved causes pain. Union is bliss. The poet prays for an eternal union, nothing else.

Hor Ki Mangna Main Rab Kolo, Ik Khair Manga Tere Dam Di
Baaj Sajan Lajpaal Tere, Main Kohjiyaa Kede Kam Di
Pal Pal Maane Sukh Ve Hazaaraa, Ghadi Vekhe Na Koi Alam Di
Badr Hamesha Maula Rakhe, Dholaa Tain Te Nazar Karam Di

Dam Dam Khair Kare Rab Teri, Manga Roz Main Sajan Duaawa!
Peer Shabeer Da Sadkaa Dhola, Tainu Lagan Na Garam Hawaava!

*** Tera Vaal Vinga Na Howe, Teri Aayi Main Mar Jaava

Khaira Dam Dam Dhola Manga Teriya, Shala Lag Jaan Tainu Shaava Meriya
Mai Te Mar Ke Vi Raina Maiya Teri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi

What else should I ask Him for? I ask only for your safety and your well being.
Without you, my beloved, I am worthless, I am of no use.
May you relish millions of joys in every passing moment. May grief never touch you.
Badr (the poet) wishes that Maula (He) always keeps an eye on you blessedly.

Breath after breath, may He take care of you; I seek these blessings every day.
With the good wishes of Peer Shabeer, may hot winds never touch you (may difficult times never envelop you).

*** (difficult to translate) Tera Vaal Vinga Na howe, Teri Aayi Main Mar Jaava

I seek your safety and well being in my prayers. May my days be transferred to your life.
Even after death, I shall remain yours. I seek no other blessings.

The lines above are sung only by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The words 'Sajan' and 'Dhola' refer to one's beloved. The lyrics are simple. The poet seeks blessings for one's dear beloved.

Kise Da Yaar Naa Pardes Jaave, Bichhoda Na Kise De Pesh Aawe
Nit Khair Manga ...

Eho Rab Tainu Mangiya Duaawa Ve, Alla Kare Teri Aayi Mar Jaawa Ve
Hathi Bakr Banaawi Saadi Dheri, Dua Na Koi Hor Mangdi

May one's beloved never go to a land afar. May one never have to experience a separation.

(difficult to translate couplet)

Mukhtiar Ali sings these additional lines. The idea of one's beloved going to a land afar denotes separation. Union and separation are central themes in Sufi poetry. Separation from one's beloved is painful. Union is bliss.