For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

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Recitation

اپنی  ملکۂ  سخن  سے  ۔  ۱۔۸۔  جوشؔ  ملیح  آبادی

۱

اے  شمع  جوشؔ  و  مشعلِ  ایوانِ  آرزو

اے  مہرِ  ناز  و  ماہِ  شبستانِ  آرزو

اے  جانِ  درد  مندی  و  ایمانِ  آرزو

اے  شمع  طور  و  یوسف  کنعانِ  آرزو

ذرّے  کو  آفتاب  تو  کانٹے  کو  پھول  کر

اے  روحِ  شعر  سجدۂ  شاعر  قبول  کر

۲ِ

دریا  کا  موڑ  نغمۂ  شیریں  کا  زیر  و  بم

چادر  شبِ  نجوم  کی  شبنم  کا  رختِ  نم

تتلی  کا  نازِ  رقص،  غزالہ  کا  حسنِ  رم

موتی  کی  آب،  گل  کی  مہک،  ماہِ  نو  کا  خم

ان  سب  کے  امتزاج  سے  پیدا  ہوی  ہے  تو

کتنے  حسیں  اُفق  سے  ہویدا  ہوی  ہے  تو

۳

ہوتا  ہے  مہ  وشوں  کا  وہ  عالم  ترے  حضور

جیسے  چراغِِِ  مردہ،  سرِ  بزمِ  شمعِ  طور

آ  کر  تری  جناب  میں  اے  کارسازِ  نور

پلکوں  میں  منہ  چھپاتے  ہیں  جھینپے  ہوئے  غرور

آتی  ہے  اِک  لہر  سی  چہروں  پر  آہ  کی

آنکھوں  میں  چھوٹ  جاتی  ہیں  نبضیں  نگاہ  کی

۴

رفتار  ہے  کہ  چاندنی  راتوں  میں  موجِِِ  گنگ

یا  بھیرویں  کی  پچھلے  پہر  قلب  میں  اُمنگ

یہ  کاکلوں  کی  تاب  ہے  یا  عارضوں  کا  رنگ

جِس  طرح  جھٹپٹے  میں  شب  و  روز  کی  ترنگ

رُوۓ  مُبیں  نہ  گیسوۓ  سُنبُل  قوام  ہے

وہ  برہمن  کی  صبح،  یہ  ساقی  کی  شام  ہے

۵

آواز  میں  یہ  رس  یہ  لطافت  یہ  اِضطرار

جیسے  سُبُک  مہین  رواں،  ریشمی  پھوار

لہجے  میں  یہ  کھٹک  ہے  کہ  ہے  نیشتر  کی  دھار

اور  گِر  رہا  ہے  دھار  سے  شبنم  کا  آبشار

چہکی  جو  تُو  چمن  میں،  ہوائیں  مہک  گیئں

گل  برگِ  تر  سے  اوس  کی  بُوندیں  ٹپک  گیئں

۶

جادو  ہے  تیری  صوت  کا  گُل  پر  ہزار  پر

جیسے  نسیمِ  صبح  کی  رَو  جوۓ  بار  پر

ناخُن  کسی  نگار  کا  چاندی  کے  تار  پر

مضرابِ  عکس  قوسِ  رگِ  آبشار  پر

موجیں  صبا  کی  باغ  پہ  صہبا  چِھڑک  گیئں

جنبش  ہوی  لبوں  کو  تو  کلیاں  چِٹک  گیئں

۷

چشمِ  سیاہ  میں  وہ  تلاطم  ہے  نُور  کا

جیسے  شرابِ  ناب  میں  جوہر  سُرُور  کا

یا  چہچہوں  کے  وقت  تَموّج  طیُور  کا

باندھے  ہوئے  نشانہ  کوئی  جیسے  دور  کا

ہر  موج  رنگ  قامتِ  گُل  ریز  رم  میں  ہے

گویا  شرابِ  تند  بلوریں  قلم  میں  ہے

۸

تجھ  سے  نظر  ملاے  یہ  کِس  کی  بھلا  مجال

تیرے  قدم  کا  نقش  حسینوں  کا  خدّ  و  خال

اللہ  رے  تیرے  حسن  ملک  سوز  کا  جلال

جب  دیکھتی  ہیں  خلد  سے  حوریں  ترا  جمال

پرتو  سے  تیرے  چہرہ  پرویں  سرشت  کے

گھبرا  کے  بند  کرتی  ہیں  غرفے  بہشت  کے

अपनी मलका-ए सुख़न से – १-८ – जोश मलीहाबादी

१

अए शमा-ए जोश ओ मश’अल-ए ऐवान-ए आर्ज़ू

अए महर-ए नाज़ ओ माह-ए शबिस्तान-ए आर्ज़ू

अए जान-ए दर्दमन्दी ओ इमान-ए आर्ज़ू

अए शमा-ए तूर ओ यूसुफ़-ए कन’आन-ए आर्ज़ू

ज़र्रे को आफ़्ताब तो कांटे को फूल कर

अए रूह-ए शेर सिज्दा-ए शा’एर क़ुबूल कर

२

दरया का मोड़ नग़मा-ए शीरीं का ज़ेर ओ बम

चादर शब-ए नुजूम की शबनम का रख़त-ए नम

तितली का नाज़-ए रक़्स ग़ज़ाला का हुस्न-ए रम

मोती कि आब, गुल की महक, माह-ए नौ का ख़म

इन सब के इम्तेज़ाज से पैदा हुई है तू

कितने हसीं उफ़क़ से हुवैदा हुई है तू

३

होता है महवशों का वो आलम तेरे हुज़ूर

जैसे चिराग़-ए मुर्दा, सर-ए बज़्म-ए शमा’-ए तूर

आकर तेरी जनाब में अए कारसाज़-ए नूर

पलकौं में मुंह छुपाते हैं छीने हुए ग़ुरूर

आती है ऐक लहर सी चेहरों पर आह की

आँखों में छूट जाती हैं नब्ज़ें निगाह की

४

रफ़्तार है के चांदनी रातों में मौज-ए गंग

या भैरवीं कि पिछले पहर क़ल्ब में उमंग

ये काकुलौं की तब है ये आरिज़ों का रंग

जिस तरह झट पटे में शब ओ रोज़ की तरंग

रू-ए मुबीं, न गेसू-ए सुम्बल क़वाम है

वो बरहमन कि सुबह, ये साक़ी की शाम है

५

आवाज़ में ये रस ये लताफ़त ये इज़्तेरार

जैसे सुबुक, महीन, रवां, रेशमी फुवार

लहजे में ये खटक है के है नश्तर की धार

और गिर रहा है धार से शबनम का आबशार

चहकी जो तू चमन में हवाएं महक गईं

गुल बर्ग-ए तर से ओस की बूंदें टपक गईं

६

जादू है तेरी सूत का गुल पर, हज़ार पर

जैसे नसीम-ए सुबह की रौ जू-ए बार पर

नाख़ुन किसी निगार का चांदी के तार पर

मिज़राब अक्स-ए क़ौस-ए रग-ए आबशार पर

मौजें सब की बाग़ पे सहबा छिड़क गईं

जुम्बिश हुई लबों को तो कलियाँ चिटक गईं

७

चश्म-ए सियाह में वो तलातुम है नूर का

जैसे शराब-ए नाब में जौहर सुरूर का

या चहचहौं के वक़्त तमवुज्ज तुयूर का

बांधे हुए निशाना कोई जैसे दूर का

हर मौज-ए क़ामत-ए गुल रेज़ रम में है

गोया शराब-ए तुन्द बिल्लोरीं क़लम में है

८

तुझ से नज़र मिलाए ये किस की भला मजाल

तेरे क़दम का नक़्श हसीनों का ख़द ओ ख़ाल

अल्लाह रे तेरे हुस्न-ए मालक सोज़ का जलाल

जब देखती हैं ख़ुल्द से हूरें तेरा जमाल

परतौ से तेरे चेहरा-ए परवीं सरशत के

घबरा के बंद करती हैं ग़ुरफ़े बेहिश्त के

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is called shaa’er-e inqelaab, poet of change/revolution. He is very secular and nationalistic in his writings and rebels against orthodoxy. His range of language and vocabulary is simply amazing. He has written extensively about the beauty of dawn. His collection of nazm/Ghazal and rubaaii about the beauty of dawn can be accessed both under the poet’s name and from the Theme Index, ‘jalva-e sahr’. In this musaddas, josh is ostensibly addressing the “queen of his verse – urdu” and lavishes great praise on her. In the process he has equal if not more (certainly well deserved) praise for his own verse rather than just urdu.

josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is called shaa’er-e inqelaab, poet of change/revolution.  He is very secular and nationalistic in his writings and rebels against orthodoxy.  His range of language and vocabulary is simply amazing.  He has written extensively about the beauty of dawn.  His collection of nazm/Ghazal and rubaaii about the beauty of dawn can be accessed both under the poet’s name and from the Theme Index, ‘jalva-e sahr’.  In this musaddas, josh is ostensibly addressing the “queen of his verse – urdu” and lavishes great praise on her. In the process he has equal if not more (certainly well deserved) praise for his own verse rather than just urdu.

1.lamp of passion, candle of josh 2.torch (light) 3.halls of desire 4.sun/brilliance of style/pride 5.moon of the bedchamber (of desire) 6.life/essence of sympathy/love 7.faith, truth 8.divine light of mount toor 9.Joseph of the tribe of Canaan (considered to be a very good looking man – epitome of beauty) 10.particle 11.sun, brilliant 12.spirit of poetry 13.homage 14.accept

O, lamp of passion, O, torch of desire; O, brilliance of style, moon of desire. O, embodiment of love, the very faith of desire. O, divine light (the divine brilliance that manifested itself on mount toor), O, epitome of beauty (Joseph-yuusuf). Make this particle shine like the sun, change this prickly thorn to a rose. O, spirit of verse, accept the homage of this poet. The ‘this’ to be changed is his own verse. Thanks to the benevolence of the language, josh’s verse is going to shine like the bright sun!  It is also worth dwelling on the first phrase of the first misra – sham’a-e josh – it can mean that urdu is the shama’ of the poet josh and he is the parvaana willing to lay down its life for the love of his beloved.

1.sweet song 2.high and low 3.starry night 4.damp dress/sheet 5.style of dance 6.deer 7.beauty of prancing/dancing 8.luster of pearl 9.fragrance of rose 10.new/crescent moon 11.curve 12.combination 13.horizon, sky 14.emerge, materialize

Like the beautiful curve of the river, like the notes of a sweet song, like the sheet of a starry night, the damp cover of dew on earth. Like the flight of the butterfly, the prancing dance of the gazelle. Like the luster of pearls, the fragrance of roses, the curve of the new moon. You were born of the combination of these beauties. What a beautiful horizon on which you manifested yourself. The ‘you’ being urdu.

1.revelers drinking wine 2.condition, state 3.presence 4.extinguished lamp 5.at the head, in front of 6.assembly, gathering 7.lamp of Mt.Toor, divine light 8.presence 9.architect/builder of brilliance 10.vanity 11.sigh 12.pulse 13.sight

In your presence the imbibers of wine are but like an extinguished lamp before divine brilliance. When they come before you, O maker of brilliance, they lower their eyes in shame because of stolen glory. A wave of sorrowful sighs overcomes them. Excess of shame robs them of the power to look you in the eye. In this stanza, ‘wine’ is urdu itself. Imbibers of wine – ‘mahvash’ are poets. They are mere extinguished lamps before the divine brilliance of urdu. Their glory, their pride rightfully belongs to urdu but they have stolen it. So they are shamefaced in the presence of urdu. Note the beautiful imagery that Josh uses … ‘palkauN meN muNh chhupaana’ … lowering eyes is like trying to hide your face behind eyelashes!!!!!

1.speed, gait 2.waves of the Ganges 3.morning raag 4.late night/early morning (just before dawn) 5.heart 6.upwelling, desire 7.forelocks, curls 8.brilliance 9.face, brow 10.twilight, alternating light and dark 11.night and day 12.music 13.clear face 14.tresses, hair 15.having the fragrant nature of sumbal

Your gait, like the ripples of the Ganges in moonlight, like the outpouring of bhairaviiN in the early dawn. Like the brilliance of the brow peaking through dark curls. As if day and night singing alternately at twilight. Neither a clear brow nor dark fragrant locks but at times like the Brahmin’s shining dawn (the dawn of banaras is legendary for its beauty), at times like the saaqi’s dusky evening (celebrated because of the beginning of serving wine). Thus, it is neither the beloved’s shining brow nor her dark tresses but the brilliant dawn of banaras and festivities of the tavern at dusk.

5

1.pleasure 2.insistence, emphasis 3.soft 4.fine 5.flowing 6.silken 7.mist 8.accent 9.pain, cut 10.dagger, spear 11.sharp edge 12.waterfall, drip 13.chirp, warble, twitter 14.fragrance 15.moist/fresh rose petal

The lilt, the pleasure and the power of your voice, like a soft silken flow of fine mist. Your accent like the sharp edge of a dagger, yet like soothing mist dripping from the edge (a combination of pain and pleasure). When you sing in the garden, the breeze becomes fragrant and sweet nectar drips from rose petals. It is often said that even those who do not fully comprehend the meaning of urdu verse, still enjoy its enunciation and musicality.

1.sound, voice 2.morning breeze 3.flow 4.flowing river 5.beauty, creator of beauty/music i.e.musician/poet 6.plectrum used to pluck strings for music 7.reflection 8.rainbow 9.vein/string water drops in the waterfall 10.dawn, morning breeze 11.wine 12.sprinkle 13.movement 14.buds blooming – in urdu poetry ‘chiTakna’ is not just a flower blooming but as the delicate petal unfolds, it is supposed to make an equally delicate sound.

The magic of your voice bestowed on the rose, and on thousands of others; like the morning breeze flowing over the river. Like the fingers of the artist on a silver string plucking the colourful strings of the rainbow to make music. Waves of the morning breeze sprinkling wine over the garden. The movement of your lips like the gentle sound of opening petals. Consider the delicacy of the imagery. A rainbow is formed by a string of drops in the waterfall. The plectrum is plucking the colours of the rainbow to make music. Note the juxtaposition of colour and sound and the seven colours of the rainbow as seven strings, notes … but each set formed by one string of drops of the waterfall.

1.dark (beautiful) eyes 2.tumult 3.light 4.clear/pure wine 5.qualities 6.joy 7.warbling, birdsong 8.waves 9.birds 10.wave 11.stature, form 12.scattering flower petals 13.run, flow 14.as if 15.strong wine 16.crystalline, beautiful

Dark eyes sparkling like a riot of bright rays, like the pleasure dissolved in fine wine, or like waves of chirping birds descending, or like someone looking far into the beautiful horizon. Every colourful, petal scattering wave is in a joyful flow/run like strong wine flowing from a crystalline pen. Most pens have ink. This poet’s pen has wine that writes and conveys/gives pleasure.

1.daring, courage 2.(foot)prints 3.cheek/chin and mole (considered to be a beauty spot) 4.beauty that sets angels on fire 5.grandeur 6.heaven 7.face, beauty 8.reflection, image 9.face beautiful like (constellation) pleiades 10.nature, disposition 11.windows 12.heaven

Who is it that can dare look you in the eye. Even your footprints rival the beauty spot on the chin of beauties. By god, the grandeur of your beauty sets angels afire and when hoories in heaven look at your beauty and at the reflection of your starlike face, they hastily close the windows of heaven in a jealous fit.

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