The Jand Tree

Sandal Bar is a fertile piece of land between Rivers Ravi and Chenab. Before the development of irrigation system the land was thickly forested and inhabited by a number of interrelated tribes. Of these tribes were Kharrals of Danabad and Sials of Jhang. Jand is what a Bunyan tree is called in Punjabi. 

The Jand tree earned its place in Punjabi culture as Jandola of Sandal Bar through the folk tale of Mirza Sahiban. Eloping with Sahiban from the Sials of Kheewa on Bakki’s back, Mirza was tempted by the soothing shades of Jand Tree on the outskirts of Danabad. Sahiban, sensing the danger of her brothers on their trail, urged Mirza to rush up to Danabad. Here ensues a dialogue between Mirza and Sahiban that has been poetically retold by many and is the most celebrated part of the folklore whenever the tale of Mirza Sahiban is performed. 

The Jand Tree - Mirza and Sahiban met their Climax

Mirza…

نی توں ویکھ جنڈولہ بار دا، ایہدی کیسی چھاں وی بنٹریں

جنیاں  پوراں نال زمین دے،  ایتھے پیندی نئیں نہ  کنڑیں

گھوڑی کیوں دوپہرٰیں مارئیے، کیہڑی سر تے ساڑ بنڑیں

تینوں  لے  چلاں  دن  ڈیگرے،   نی  توں  دانا باد  وڑیں

"Just see the Jand (tree) of (Sandal) Bar, how shady are its comforts!

So thick are the branches that even the rain drops can’t find a route to the ground;

What’s the hurry at our end? Why to kill our mare (Bakki) under the scorching sun;

I shall take you by daybreak, and you shall enter Danabad"

Sahiban …

رات  چنے  دی چاننی  وت  چوراں  وٹ  لئی چپ

ہن   تیرے   میرے عشق دی کوئی  نہ رہ گئی لک

چھاویں  بہیئے   اوسدی   جیہڑا ہتھیں  لائیے  رکھ

لے  چل  دانا با د  نوں مرزیا   جاہن   تکاوے مک

"Just as it’s true that on a moonlit night the thieves manoeuvre quietly;

It’s also true that my love with you now is left with nothing hidden;

It’s also true that the shade of only that tree is reliable that you grow by your own hands;

Take me Danabad O Mirza! Only then we shall be shedding our fatigue"

Mirza in his own might preferred to rest under the Jand Tree and eventually was reached by Sahiban’s brothers. Sensing the danger to her brothers against the superior archery of Mirza and hoping for a compromise, Sahiban slung all of Mirza’s arches on the Jand Tree putting him at a dire disadvantage. Mirza was eventually killed under the Jand Tree by Sahiban’s brothers and seeing the dreadful end to her love, Sahiban killed herself with Mirza’s sword. The Jand Tree bears witness to the tragic climax of Mirza Sahiban.

مرزے وچ بڑے گمان سی، پھیر سوں گیا جنڈورے پاس

میں   ول ول  وڈھ  دیاں گا  سورمیں،  دئیوں پور  کھپا

میں  جھٹ  کو ٹھوںکا  لا لین  دے، ستے نوں   نہ جگا

دن  چڑھدے  نوں  چلاں  گے، تینوں  لے چلاں داناباد

ہونی   مرزے  دی  کد  پئی، رلی   سیالاں   دے   نال

چھٹی   کانی   غضب   دی، لے  گئی  مرزے نوں  نال

روح   مرزے   دی   نکل   گئی، لگی   جنڈورے   نال

"Mirza muddled in his own strength, went on to sleep under the Jand Tree;

I shall slay every soul once they reach here, and shall finish their count;

Let me doze off for a while, just don’t rouse me from my sleep;

We shall resume our journey on daybreak, and I shall take you to Danabad;

Hence, fate came across Mirza, as Sahiban switched sides with Sials;

The ferocious events ensued, and swayed Mirza with it;

His soul evaded Mirza, his body left stranded by the Jand Tree"