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 ۔۱۷۔۲۴۔ جوشؔ  ملیح  آبادی

۱۷

نغمے  پلے  ہیں  دولتِ  گفتار  سے  تری

پایا  ہے  نطق  چشمِ  سخن  بار  سے  تری

طاقت  ہے  دل  میں  نرگسِ  بیمار  سے  تری

کیا  کیا  ملا  ہے  جوشؔ  کو  سرکار  سے  تری

بانکے  خیال  ہیں  خَمِ  گردن  لئے  ہوۓ

ہر  شعر  کی  کلائی  ہے  کنگن  لئے  ہوۓ

۱۸

اے  لیلیِ  نہفتہ  و  اے  حُسنِ  شرمگیں

تجھ  پر  نثار  دولتِ  دنیا  متاعِ  دیں

منسوب  مجھ  سے  ہے  جو  بہ  اندازِ  دل  نشیں

تیری  وہ  شاعری  ہے  مری  شاعری  نہیں

آوازہ  چرخ  پر  جو  ہے  اِس  دردمند  کا

گویا  وہ  عکس  ہے  تیرے  قدّ  بلند  کا

۱۹

میرے  بیاں  میں  یہ  جو  وفورِ  سرور  ہے

طاقِ  سخن  وری  میں  جو  یہ  شمعِ  طور  ہے

یہ  جو  میرے  چراغ  کی  ضو  دور  دور  ہے

سرکار  کی  ہی  موجِ  تبسُّم  کا  نور  ہے

شعروں  میں  کروٹیں  یہ  نہیں  سوز  و  ساز  کی

لہریں  ہیں  یہ  حضور  کی  زلفِ  دراز  کی

۲۰

مجھ  رِندِ  حسن  کار  کی  مے  خواریاں  نہ  پوچھ

اس  خوابِ  جاں  فروز  کی  بیداریاں  نہ  پوچھ

کرتی  ہے  کیوں  شراب  خِرد  باریاں  نہ  پوچھ

بے  ہوشیوں  میں  کیوں  ہیں  یہ  ہشیاریاں  نہ  پوچھ

پیتا  ہوں  وہ  جو  زُلف  کی  رنگیں  گھٹاؤں  میں

کھنچتی  ہے  اِن  کُھلی  ہوی  پلکوں  کی  چھاؤں  میں

۲۱

ہشیار  اِس  لئے  ہوں  کہ  مے  خوار  ہوں  ترا

صیّادِ  شعر  ہوں  کہ  گرفتار  ہوں  ترا

لہجہ  ملیح  ہے  کہ  نمک  خوار  ہوں  ترا

صحت  زبان  میں  ہے  کہ  بیمار  ہوں  ترا

تیرے  کرم  سے  شعر  و  ادب  کا  اِمام  ہوں

شاہوں  پہ  خندہ  زن  ہوں  کہ  تیرا  غلام  ہوں

۲۲

میں  وہ  ہوں  جس  کے  غم  نے  ترے  دل  میں  راہ  کی

اک  عمر  جس  کے  عشق  میں  خود  تو  نے  آہ  کی

سویا  ہے  شوق  سیج  پہ  تیری  نگاہ  کی

راتیں  کٹی  ہیں  ساۓ  میں  چشمِ  سیاہ  کی

کیونکر  نہ  شاخِِ  گُل  کی  لچک  ہو  بیان  میں

تیری  کمر  کا  لوچ  ہے  میری  زبان  میں

۲۳

ترشے  ہوے  لبوں  کے  بہکتے  خطاب  سے

زرتار  کاکلوں  کے  مہکتے  سحاب  سے

سرشار  انکھڑیوں  کے  دہکتے  شباب  سے

موجِِ  نفس  کے  عطر  سے  مکھڑے  کی  آب  سے

بارہ  برس  تپا  کے  زمانہ  سہاگ  کا

سینچا  ہے  تو  نے  باغ  مرے  دل  کی  آگ  کا

۲۴

گرمی  سے  جس  کی  برف  کا  دیوتا  ڈرے  وہ  آگ

شعلوں  میں  اوس  کو  جو  مبدّل  کرے  وہ  آگ

لو  سے  جو  زمہریر  کا  دامن  بھرے  وہ  آگ

حد  ہے  جو  نام  نارِ  سقر  پر  دھرے  وہ  آگ

جِس  کی  لپٹ  گلے  میں  جلاتی  ہے  راگ  کو

پالا  ہے  قلبِ  ناز  میں  تو  نے  وہ  آگ  کو

अपनी मलका-ए सुख़न से -१७-२४- जोश मलीहाबादी

१७

नग़्मे पले हैं दौलत-ए गुफ़्तार से तेरी

पाया है नुत्क़ चश्म-ए सुख़न बार से तेरी

ताक़त है दिल में नर्गिस-ए बीमार से तेरी

क्या क्या मिला है जोश को सरकार से तेरी

बांके ख़याल हैं ख़म-ए गर्दन लिए हुए

हर शेर की कलाई है कंगन लिए हुए

१८

अए लैली-ए नहफ़्ता ओ अए हुस्न-ए शर्मगीं

तुझ पर निसार दौलत-ए दुनिया मता-ए दीं

मन्सूब मुझ से है जो ब अंदाज़-ए दिल नशीं

तेरी वो शाएरी है, मेरी शाएरी नहीं

आवाज़ा चर्ख़ पर है जो इस दर्दमंद का

गोया वो अक्स है तेरे क़द्द-ए बलन्द का

१९

मेरे बयां से ये जो वफ़ूर-ए सुरूर है

ताक़-ए सुख़न वरी में जो ये शमा-ए तूर है

ये जो मेरे चिराग़ की ज़ौ दूर दूर है

सरकार की ही मौज-ए तबस्सुम का नूर है

शेरों में करवटें ये नहीं सोज़ ओ साज़ की

लहरें हैं ये हुज़ूर की ज़ुल्फ़-ए दराज़ की

२०

मुझ रिन्द-ए हुस्न कार की मै ख़्वारियां न पूछ

इस ख़्वाब-ए जां फ़रोज़ कि बेदारियां न पूछ

करती है क्यों शराब ख़िरदबारियां न पूछ

बेहोशियों में क्यों हैं ये हुशियारियां न पूछ

पीता हूं वो जो ज़ुल्फ़ की रंगीं घटाओं में

खिंचती है इन घनी हुई पलकौं की छाऊँ में

२१

हुशिआर इस लिए हूँ के मैख़्वार हूँ तेरा

सय्याद-ए शेर हूं के गिरफ़्तार हूँ तेरा

लहजा मलीह है के नमक ख़्वार हूँ तेरा

सेहत ज़बान में है के बीमार हूँ तेरा

तेरे करम से शेर ओ अदब का इमाम हूँ

शाहों पे ख़न्दा ज़न हूँ के तेरा ग़ुलाम हूँ

२२

मैं वो हूँ जिसके ग़म ने तेरे दिल में राह की

एक उम्र जिसके इश्क़ में ख़ुद तू ने आह की

सोया है शौक़ सेज पे तेरी निगाह की

रातें कटी हैं साए में चश्म-ए सियाह की

क्यूंकर न शाख़-ए गुल की लचक हो बयान में

तेरी कमर का लोच है मेरी ज़बान में

२३

तरशे हुए लबों के बहकते ख़िताब से

ज़रतार काकुलौं के महकते सहाब से

सरशार अंखड़ियों के दहकते शबाब से

मौज-ए नफ़स के इत्र से मुखड़े की आब से

बारा बरस बिता के ज़माना सोहाग का

सींचा है तू ने बाग़ मेरे दिल के आग का

२४

गर्मी से जिस की बर्फ़ का देवता डरे वो आग

शोलौं में ओस को जो मुबददिल करे वो आग

लौ से जो ज़महरीर का दामन भरे वो आग

हद है जो नाम नार-ए सक़र पर धरे वो आग

जिस की लपट गले में जलाती है राग को

पाल है क़ल्ब-ए नाज़ में तू ने उस आग को

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.wealth of conversation 2.voice 3.eye dripping with verse 4.half-closed eye, intoxication 5.spirited, lively 6.curve of the neck i.e.neck bent in humility

My songs have been nurtured by the strength of your words. Your verse-scattering looks grant me voice. My heart gets strength from your intoxicating glance. O, look at what Josh has received from your bounty. My spirited thoughts are tinged with just the right humility, with their heads bowed. Every verse wearing a beautiful bracelet on its wrist.

1.Laila, damsel 2.hidden 3.coy beauty 4.sacrifice, forsake 5.worldly possessions 6.wealth of faith 7.associated 8.with heart pleasing style 9.sound, cry 10.wheel, sky 11.pain feeling, poor wretch 12.as if 13.reflection 14.tall stature

O, beautiful Laila, shy and secluded for you I forsake all worldly wealth and rewards of the hereafter. That which is associated with me/credited to me in this heart warming style, is your versification, not mine. The cry of this wretch reaches heavens only because it is a reflection of your high stature.

1.speech, recitation 2.excess of happiness 3.alcove 4.poetry recitation 5.divine light 6.light 7.wave/onslaught of smiles 8.brilliance 9.layers 10.melancholy — song and music 11.waves, layers 12.long hair

My verse which overflows with pleasure, and shines lik divine light in the alcove of recitation, and my light shining far and wide is nothing but the brilliance of Her Majesty’s (urdu is ‘maleka’ – queen) smile. The layers of rhyme and rhythm in my verse are nothing but layers of your long, curly tresses.

1.reveler, imbiber (of wine) 2.beauty creating, artist 3.wine drinking 4.life giving dream/drunken-ness 5.wakefulness, knowing 6.knowledge showering 7.drunken-ness, senseless 8.cleverness, sensible 9.hair, tresses 10.clouds 11.filtered 12.dense 13.eyelashes

Do not ask about the wine drinking of this creative artist. Do not ask about this awareness enhancing drunken-ness. Do not ask how wine (of love or wine of versificiation) increases wisdom. Do not ask how senselessness makes for sensible verse. That which I drink in the shadow of your tresses is filtered through your own thick eyelashes.

1.wine drinker 2.hunter/captor of verse 3.captive 4.accent 5.savoury 6.’eaten your salt’-beholden to you 7.health, strength 8.sick, love-sick, lover 9.benevolence 10.poetry and prose 11.leader 12.sneer, laugh at

My senses are sharp for I am drunk senseless with your wine. I can capture verse because I am your captive. My accent is savoury, because I have ‘eaten your salt’. My tongue gets its strength from being sick with love of you. Because of your benevolence, I am a leader in she’r o adab. I can sneer at the powerful because I am your slave. Note the beautiful play on words – the juxtaposition of opposites and likes as in hoshiyar and behosh; captor and captive; savoury accent and namak Khwar; sehat and beemar; Khanda zan and Ghulam. And of course there is ‘maleeh lahja’ and ‘malihabadi’.

1.way, place, home 2.sigh 3.desire, ambition 4.bridal bed 5.vision 6.dark, beautiful eyes 7.flower laden bough 8.suppleness, curve 9.recitation, verse 10.curve, wave, suppleness

I am the one whose desire made a home in your heart..All life long it was you who loved me too. On your vision did my desire make a bridal bed. My nights have been spent in the shadow of your beautiful, dark eyes. Why should there not be a lilt in my verse after all my tongue has the suppleness of your waist.

1.carved, shaped 2.drunken 3.recitation 4.golden thread 5.forelocks, tresses 6.fragrant 7.cloud 8.satiated, drunk 9.glowing 10.youth 11.wave of breath 12.fragrance 13.brilliance 14.irrigate, nurture

With beautifully shaped lips and intoxicating speech, with gold threaded locks of your fragrant hair, with the glowing youthfulness of your satiated eyes, with fragrant breath and brilliant visage, twelve long years you kept me waiting. Thus did you nurture the garden of heart’s desire. The twelve year wait is probably a reference to the onset of puberty. That is how long Josh had to wait for his beloved. Alternatively, his autobiography mentions that he was forbidden by his very strict father from writing verse during his boyhood. His father even burnt his papers in a fit of anger. It was much later that he relented and allowed him to write.

1.flames 2.dew 3.change 4.flame, fire 5.intense cold 6.apron 7.limit, excess 8.hell fire 9.to lay – naam dharna – call names, deprecate 10.fold, embrace 11.proud heart

The fire which frightens the god of ice, which converts flames into cool mist, which fills the lap of intense cold with flame, which sneers even at the heat of hell, the embrace of which lights up a melody in my throat, you have nurtured that fire/passion in my loving heart.

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