Heer Waris Shah

Verse 20 - Ranjha is accused of being a rake

Ranjha's sister in law rebukes him sharply for his interest in young woman has become the subject of much gossip in the village. She alludes to his rakish good looks and suggests that he has been the ruin of many a young girl. She sarcastically says they she is blessed to have a worthy brother in law like him.

Verse 21 - Ranjha is told that he is worthless

Ranjha's sister-in-law has more to say; she reminds him about how pampered he is and once again accuses him of being a dandy and ladies' man. She berates him saying that he enjoys the finest food and wears the finest clothes without doing any thing useful and tells him that he has no right to be haughty.

Verse 22 - A chastened Ranjha changes his tune

Stung by his sister-in-law's rebuke, Ranjha changes his tune. He extols her beauty and bemoans her arrogance and hauteur and he begs that she not turn him out of her home. The poet, Waris Shah skillfully and subtly paints a picture of heartache. The young Ranjha seems to be enamored of his siter-in-law, but she is is older brother's wife rendering any romantic notions taboo. Yet his repeated references to her beauty, her adornments and her haughtiness seem to be an expression of hidden yearning.

Verse 23 - Ranjha is subjected to further taunts

Ranjha's sister-in-law mocks him, and taunts him, suggesting that a ladies' man like him should surely be able to seduce and marry a beauty from the powerful Sial clan of Jhang, perhaps even Heer Sial herself, the beautiful and haughty daughter of the Sial chief.

Verse 24 - Ranjha lashes out

Stung by his sister-in-law's taunts, Ranja lashes out angrily.

Verse 25 - The quarrel escalates as Ranjha's manhood is challenged

The quarrel between Ranjha and his sister-in-law escalates when she casts aspersions on his manhood. Frustrated, he strikes his own head and resolves to leave home.

Verse 26 - Ranjha's brothers learn that he is leaving home

Ranjha's brothers are dismayed at the news that he plans to leave home and resolve to stop him. As a weeping Ranjha takes the road, his brothers lie in wait, hoping to dissuade him.

Verse 27 - Ranjha leaves home

Stung by his sister-in-law's jibes about being a wastrel, a dandy and womanizer, Ranjha leaves home.

Verse 28 - Ranjha's brothers beg him not to leave

Ranjha's seven brothers block his path and beg him not to leave. This particular verse is a testament to Waris Shah's genius for in just a few lines he presents a dynamic that is all too familiar in Punjabi clans or joint families. Ranjha, the youngest brother, is constantly mocked as a wastrel and a dandy by his sisters-in-law, even when there is some mutual, illicit attraction that is never acted upon. His brothers conspire with the Qazis and the village council to rob him of his fair share of their late father's land. Yet his brothers and their wives genuinely love him and are devastated at the thought of his leaving home. While some of this may be dismissed as an attempt to preserve the honor of the clan, anyone who is familiar with Punjabi families will recognize the complexity of the relationships that exist within them. Jealousy, rivalry, love, mockery all coexist and the notion of the youngest brother, who is not exactly adept at taking care of himself leaving home elicits genuine feelings of concerns that are expressed poignantly by the poet. There is another interesting element of Punjabi clan culture that emerges in this verse. Wile Ranjha's brothers are complicit in seizing his land, they are very willing to blame their wives for Ranjha's despair and ask him to forgive his sisters-in-law for their faults! Thus they neatly try to sidestep responsibility for their own actions and blame their women for the discord.

Verse 29 - Ranjha's bitter response to his brothers

Ranjha remonstrates with his brothers, accusing them of hypocrisy. They have taken his land, their wives mock him and now they are pleading with him not to leave. He bitterly claims that they are wont to unjustly send him to the gallows like Mansur. Mansur Al Hallaj was a Persian Sufi who was executed for declaring "I am the Truth" (Ana'l-Ḥaqq)”. Mansur is a very  important figure in the Sufi tradition and he is referred to frequently in Sufi poetry. Ranjha’s invoking of Mansur is a symbol of his transformation, which has begun with his leaving the comforts of home behind.