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Amīr Khusro Dehlawī ,was a Sufi mystic and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya of Delhi, was a notable poet but also a prolific scholar and a seminal musician. He wrote poetry in Persian for the court and Hindi for the common man.
Khusro’s riddles are witty and interesting. They have been orally transferred from generation to generation.
Two way riddles (Dosukhna)
Dosukhna, (literally meaning a two-liner or a two-verse-thing) is a smart form of riddle in which one has to find one answer for two completely different questions – though that answer could have different meanings for both questions. Interesting part is that the answer is not simply one word or a noun – it has to be a two or three word explanation, since the questions are always asked in ‘Whys’.
Raja pyasa kyon? Gadha udasa kyon?
Lota na tha
Why is the king thirsty? Why is the donkey sad?
Didn’t have the pot to drink (the king);
Hadn’t rolled on the ground (the donkey)
Deevar kyon tooti? Raah kyon looti?
Raaj na tha.
Why did the wall break? Why was there a robbery on the road?
There was no mason (for the wall);
There was no government (to stop the robbery)
Anar kyon na chakkha? Wazir kyon na rakha?
Danaa na tha
Why didn’t you taste the pomegranate? Why wasn’t a minister selected?
Didn’t have the seed (the pomegranate);
There wasn’t a wise one (the minister)
Dahi kyon na jama? Naukar kyon na rakha?
Zaamin na tha
Why didn’t the curd set? Why wasn’t the servant kept?
There was no essence (for the curd),
There was no one to give security(for the servant)
Ghar kyon andhiyaara? Faqeer kyon badbadaya?
Diya na tha
Why was the house in dark? Why did the beggar grumble?
There was no lamp (in the house);
Hadn’t given anything (to the beggar)
Gosht kyon na khaaya? Dom kyon na gaaya?
Gala na tha
Why wasn't the meat eaten? Why didn’t the bard sing?
Wasn’t done properly (the meat);
Didn’t have a voice (the bard)
Samosa kyon na khaaya? Joota kyon na pehna?
Tala na tha
Why wasn’t the samosa (a patty) eaten? Why wasn’t the shoe worn?
Wasn't fried (the samosa); Didn't have a sole (the shoe)
Sitar kyon na baja? Aurat kyon na nahayi?
Parda na tha
Why wasn’t the sitar played? Why didn’t the lady bathe?
Didn’t have a reed (the sitar);
There was no curtain (for the lady)
Pundit kyon na nahaaya? Dhoban kyon maari gayi?
Dhoti na thi
Why didn’t the priest bathe?Why was the washerwoman beaten?
Did not have a loincloth (the pundit);
Did not wash (the washerwoman)
Khichdi kyon na pakaayi? Kabootri kyon na bhagayi?
Chhadi na thi
Why didn’t you cook the Khichdi (a rice dish)? Why didn’t you drive away the (female) pigeon?
Didn’t have a spoon (for the Khichdi);
Didn’t have a stick (to drive away the pigeon)
Riddles:
Ghoom ghoomelaa lehenga pahne,
Ek paanv se rahe khari
Aath haath hain us naari ke,
Surat uski lage pari
Sab koi us ki chaah kare hai,
Musalamaan Hindu ya Chhatri.
“Khusaro” ne yeh kahi paheli,
Dil mein apane soch jari
A: Chhatri
Wearing a round skirt, she twirls on one leg,
With eight hands, she balances her head
So everyone wants her, she has the face of a fairy
Be it a Muslim, Hindu, or a Chhatri (of warrior caste).
Khusro asks this riddle, standing in the rain
Think and answer, you will gain
A: Umbrella
Bala thaa jab man ko bhaayaa,
Badaa huaa kuchh kaam na aayaa,
“Khusro” keh diya us kaa naanv,
Bujhe nahin to chhodiye gaanv
A: Diya
When we was little he was loved,
But wasn't of any use, once he was old
Khusro's brain has lit up the name,
Pity if you cant answer it, all the same
A: Lamp
Ek kahani main kahun,
Tu sunlay meray poot
Bina paron ke ud gayee,
Woh baandh galay mein soot
A: Patang
I start off with a story
Listen my son very carefully
Around her neck was a string
And she flew off without any wings
A: A kite
Nar naari kehlaati hai,
Aur bin varsha jal jati hai;
Purkh say aaway purkh mein jaai,
Na Di kisi nay boojh bataai
A: Nadi
Is she a girl, is she a boy,
She waters up without any rain ;
Travels the world, glaciers and plains
She is even found in Spain
A: River
Pawan chalat wah dehe badhavay
Jal peevat wah jeev ganvavay
Hai wah piyari sundar naar,
Naar nahin par hai wah naar
A: Aag
With the passing wind she grows,
She drinks water and dies;
She is a beautiful light to see
Not a woman, although she acts like one
A: Fire
Ek guni nay yeh gun keena,
Hariyal pinjray mein de deena;
Dekho jadoogar ka kamaal,
Daalay hara, nikle laal
A: Paan
A trickster came, and this was seen
In a cage went a parrot which was green
How amazing is what everybody said
What went in green, came out red !
A: Betel leaf
Bheetar chilmun, baahar chilmun,
Beech kaleja dhadkay,
Amir Khusrau yun kahay
Woh do do ungal sarkay
A: Qainchi
Sharp inside, blunt outside,
A heart pounds in between,
Says Amir Khusrau,
Its moves every two inches
A: Scissors
Ujjal ateet moti barani paayi
Kabant diyay moye dharani,
Jahaan dhari wahan nahin paayi,
Haat bazaar sabhay dhoondh aayi;
Aye sakhi ab keejay ka?
Pi maangay to deejay kya?
A: Olaiy
There was a box of sparkling pearls
That I was given to keep
The place I kept them, I cannot find them
So I went wandering about searching every place
But what I am to do now
How do I give what now cannot be found
A: Hail
And here is a work in progress link of more Amir Khusro riddles.
Amir Khusro Dehwali -Riddles - II
I have posted some riddles I will be update more on the above link soon.
Khusro’s riddles are witty and interesting. They have been orally transferred from generation to generation.
Two way riddles (Dosukhna)
Dosukhna, (literally meaning a two-liner or a two-verse-thing) is a smart form of riddle in which one has to find one answer for two completely different questions – though that answer could have different meanings for both questions. Interesting part is that the answer is not simply one word or a noun – it has to be a two or three word explanation, since the questions are always asked in ‘Whys’.
Raja pyasa kyon? Gadha udasa kyon?
Lota na tha
Why is the king thirsty? Why is the donkey sad?
Didn’t have the pot to drink (the king);
Hadn’t rolled on the ground (the donkey)
Deevar kyon tooti? Raah kyon looti?
Raaj na tha.
Why did the wall break? Why was there a robbery on the road?
There was no mason (for the wall);
There was no government (to stop the robbery)
Anar kyon na chakkha? Wazir kyon na rakha?
Danaa na tha
Why didn’t you taste the pomegranate? Why wasn’t a minister selected?
Didn’t have the seed (the pomegranate);
There wasn’t a wise one (the minister)
Dahi kyon na jama? Naukar kyon na rakha?
Zaamin na tha
Why didn’t the curd set? Why wasn’t the servant kept?
There was no essence (for the curd),
There was no one to give security(for the servant)
Ghar kyon andhiyaara? Faqeer kyon badbadaya?
Diya na tha
Why was the house in dark? Why did the beggar grumble?
There was no lamp (in the house);
Hadn’t given anything (to the beggar)
Gosht kyon na khaaya? Dom kyon na gaaya?
Gala na tha
Why wasn't the meat eaten? Why didn’t the bard sing?
Wasn’t done properly (the meat);
Didn’t have a voice (the bard)
Samosa kyon na khaaya? Joota kyon na pehna?
Tala na tha
Why wasn’t the samosa (a patty) eaten? Why wasn’t the shoe worn?
Wasn't fried (the samosa); Didn't have a sole (the shoe)
Sitar kyon na baja? Aurat kyon na nahayi?
Parda na tha
Why wasn’t the sitar played? Why didn’t the lady bathe?
Didn’t have a reed (the sitar);
There was no curtain (for the lady)
Pundit kyon na nahaaya? Dhoban kyon maari gayi?
Dhoti na thi
Why didn’t the priest bathe?Why was the washerwoman beaten?
Did not have a loincloth (the pundit);
Did not wash (the washerwoman)
Khichdi kyon na pakaayi? Kabootri kyon na bhagayi?
Chhadi na thi
Why didn’t you cook the Khichdi (a rice dish)? Why didn’t you drive away the (female) pigeon?
Didn’t have a spoon (for the Khichdi);
Didn’t have a stick (to drive away the pigeon)
Riddles:
Ghoom ghoomelaa lehenga pahne,
Ek paanv se rahe khari
Aath haath hain us naari ke,
Surat uski lage pari
Sab koi us ki chaah kare hai,
Musalamaan Hindu ya Chhatri.
“Khusaro” ne yeh kahi paheli,
Dil mein apane soch jari
A: Chhatri
Wearing a round skirt, she twirls on one leg,
With eight hands, she balances her head
So everyone wants her, she has the face of a fairy
Be it a Muslim, Hindu, or a Chhatri (of warrior caste).
Khusro asks this riddle, standing in the rain
Think and answer, you will gain
A: Umbrella
Bala thaa jab man ko bhaayaa,
Badaa huaa kuchh kaam na aayaa,
“Khusro” keh diya us kaa naanv,
Bujhe nahin to chhodiye gaanv
A: Diya
When we was little he was loved,
But wasn't of any use, once he was old
Khusro's brain has lit up the name,
Pity if you cant answer it, all the same
A: Lamp
Ek kahani main kahun,
Tu sunlay meray poot
Bina paron ke ud gayee,
Woh baandh galay mein soot
A: Patang
I start off with a story
Listen my son very carefully
Around her neck was a string
And she flew off without any wings
A: A kite
Nar naari kehlaati hai,
Aur bin varsha jal jati hai;
Purkh say aaway purkh mein jaai,
Na Di kisi nay boojh bataai
A: Nadi
Is she a girl, is she a boy,
She waters up without any rain ;
Travels the world, glaciers and plains
She is even found in Spain
A: River
Pawan chalat wah dehe badhavay
Jal peevat wah jeev ganvavay
Hai wah piyari sundar naar,
Naar nahin par hai wah naar
A: Aag
With the passing wind she grows,
She drinks water and dies;
She is a beautiful light to see
Not a woman, although she acts like one
A: Fire
Ek guni nay yeh gun keena,
Hariyal pinjray mein de deena;
Dekho jadoogar ka kamaal,
Daalay hara, nikle laal
A: Paan
A trickster came, and this was seen
In a cage went a parrot which was green
How amazing is what everybody said
What went in green, came out red !
A: Betel leaf
Bheetar chilmun, baahar chilmun,
Beech kaleja dhadkay,
Amir Khusrau yun kahay
Woh do do ungal sarkay
A: Qainchi
Sharp inside, blunt outside,
A heart pounds in between,
Says Amir Khusrau,
Its moves every two inches
A: Scissors
Ujjal ateet moti barani paayi
Kabant diyay moye dharani,
Jahaan dhari wahan nahin paayi,
Haat bazaar sabhay dhoondh aayi;
Aye sakhi ab keejay ka?
Pi maangay to deejay kya?
A: Olaiy
There was a box of sparkling pearls
That I was given to keep
The place I kept them, I cannot find them
So I went wandering about searching every place
But what I am to do now
How do I give what now cannot be found
A: Hail
And here is a work in progress link of more Amir Khusro riddles.
Amir Khusro Dehwali -Riddles - II
I have posted some riddles I will be update more on the above link soon.
