43. Sheikh ul Alam: Onn khoachi...

 

اوْن کھوژِ نہِ انہِ گٹے

وودُر کولہِ پھٹہِ نہِ زانہہ 

ہوٗنس أڈِج روٹہِ نہِ ہٹے

کمینس خٔدمت ویژِٔ نہِ زانہہ

Onn khoachi ne anni gattay,

Wodur koli phatti ne zanh.

Hoonis adij roati ne hattay,

Kameenas khedmat wechhi ne zanh.

Wodur: Otter

Rotte: One who, or that which, obstructs.

The blind will not be scared of darkness,

An otter will never drown in a stream.

The bone will not get stuck in dog's throat,

A mean person will never approve service (to him).

Explanation:

Some qualities (good or bad) are innate and can never die. A blind person doesn't not fear darkness as darkness is innate to him. An otter's innate quality is to be in water and therefore it will never drown in it. A dog is never choked by the bones it eat as it is it's innate quality. Likewise, if you serve a mean person day and night, he will never approve of what you do for him because it is his innate quality.

A kashmiri proverb also says to the effect:

کمینس خٔدمت گئی زمینس چوب

Kameenas khedmat gayi zameenas choab.

Serving a mean person is like beating the earth i.e., useless activity.