Heer Waris Shah

Verse 10 - The jealous brothers

We learn that Ranjha's father Mauju dotes on him, making his brothers intensely jealous. While fear of the patriarch has a restraining effect on the brothers, they constantly needle and taunt Ranjha, making his life miserable.

Verse 11 - Mauju Chaudhary passes away

Mauju Chaudhary's passing throws Ranjha at the mercy of his seven brothers and their wives, who constantly mock and belittle him.

Verse 12 - Ranjha's land is stolen

After Mauju Chaudhary's passing, Ranjha's brothers get the family's land surveyed. Corrupt judges and village councilmen are bribed and the brothers seize all the fertile land. Ranjha, who is given some barren land as his share, is incessantly mocked.

Verse 13 - Ranjha is mocked by his sisters-in-law

Ranjha is subjected to taunts and mockery by his sharp tongued sisters-in-law, who call him a dandy and a fop.

Verse 14 - Tired from ploughing, Ranjha complains to his sister-in-law

After a hard day's work ploughing, Ranjha limps home and complains to his sister-in-law about his cuts and blisters. His sharp tongued siter-in-law responds by mocking him and calling him a pampered child.

Verse 15 - Ranjha berates his sister-in-law in response

After Ranjha's sister in law taunts him, he berates her and accuses her and the other sisters-in-law of turning his seven brothers against him.

Verse 16 - Ranjha's sister-in-law retaliates

Ranjha's sister-in-law responds sharply, reminding him that he is well cared for and pampered so much by his sisters-in-law that the village women gossip about their closeness.

Verse 17 - Ranjha's misogynistic rant

Goaded by his sister-in-law's taunts, Ranjha launches into a misogynistic tirade, digging deep into the mythology of the Indian subcontinent to rant about the wiles of women!

Verse 18 - His sister-in-law's tart response

Ranjha's sister-in-law responds tartly to his rant, digging into folklore herself and accusing him of being capable of drowning her. She bemoans the fact that the villagers gossip salaciously about Ranjha's relationship with his sisters-in-law. She taunts him, saying that he will make no headway with her, and that instead he should go marry a storied beauty form the Sial clan of Jhang.

Verse 19 - Ranjha's bitter response

Ranjha responds bitterly to his sister-in-law, suggesting that she has been leading him on.