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Recitation

بندۂ  اوہام  ہے  ساقی  ۔  جوشؔ  ملیح  آبادی

۱

اُٹھا  ساغر  کہ  اِنساں  کشتۂ  آلام  ہے  ساقی

یہ  بربت  ہے،  یہ  مے،  آگے  خدا  کا  نام  ہے  ساقی

۲

نہ  جانے  نوعِ  اِنساں  کیوں  اجل  سے  خوف  کھاتی  ہے

اجل  کہتے  ہیں  جس  کو  زحمتِ  یک  گام  ہے  ساقی

۳

حقیقت  کیا  سمجھ  میں  آ  سکے  اشیائے  عالم  کی

فقط  اِک  شکل  ہے  ساقی،  فقط  اِک  نام  ہے  ساقی

۴

سناؤں  سازِ  حِکمت  کے  ترانے  کس  توقع  پر

کہ  اب  تک  نوعِ  اِنساں  بندۂ  اوہام  ہے  ساقی

۵

صداقت  آج  بھی  پوشیدہ  ہے  اولادِ  آدم  سے

دروغِ  مصلحت  آمیز  اب  بھی  عام  ہے  ساقی

۶

اُدھر  یہ  قول  ہم  نے  شرح  کر  دی  ہے  حقائق  کی

اِدھر  اب  تک  وہی  ابہام  کا  ابہام  ہے  ساقی

۷

اُدھر  تکمیلِ  دیں  کا  ہو  چکا  ہے  دعویٔ  محکم

اِدھر  ایماں  تھا  جیسا  خام  اب  تک  خام  ہے  ساقی

۸

اُدھر  شِدّت  کے  ساتھ  اعلان  ہے  اِتمامِ  نعمت  کا

اِدھر  ہر  ہر  سانس  اب  تک  زہر  کا  اک  جام  ہے  ساقی

۹

کہا  جاتا  ہے  مجھ  سے  زندگی  اِنعامِ  قدرت  ہے

سزا  کیا  ہوگی  اُس  کی  جس  کا  یہ  اِنعام  ہے  ساقی

۱۰

شکایت  کیا  کسی  خوں  ریز  چنگیز  و  ہلاکو  کی

خود  اپنا  دل  ہی  جب  خوں  آشام  ہے  ساقی

बंदा-ए औहाम है साक़ी – जोश मलीहाबादी

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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’. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index page.

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’.  This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index page.

1.cup 2.killed 3.sorrows, suffering 4.lute 5.wine

O saaqi raise the wine cup and serve wine, for humanity is being killed by suffering; here the lute for music and here is the wine, the rest is up to god.   Could this be the wine of love or is josh only keen on grape wine?

1.no one knows 2.progeny 3.death 4.fear 5.bother, incovenience 6.single step

No one knows why humanity is fearful of death ajal.  That which is called death is the inconvenience of a single step yak gaam.  Wrapped in what josh euphemistically calls ‘fear of death’ is a slew of superstitions about life after death and vivid description of burning in hell.  josh mocks this irrational fear, taking an existential tone – death is inevitable, yet humans cling to illusions of permanence.

1.truth, reality 2.understanding 3.ingredients 4.world, universe 5.only 6.form, shape

How can we comprehend the reality haqiiqat of the ingredients of the universe i.e., the inner workings of what goes into making the universe.  All we know is the shape and the name that we give them.  This may be a simple statement of the inadequacy of the state of knowledge rather than some esoteric reflection of the material vs spiritual.

1.music 2.wisdom, knowledge 3.songs 4.expectation 5.human species, humanity 6.servant 7.superstitions, illusions

With what expectation should I sing songs of wisdom/knowledge when humanity remains a slave of superstitions/illusions.

1.truth, credibility 2.hidden 3.progeny of Adam, humanity 4.falsehood, lies 5.mixed with expedience/convenience, hidden agenda 6.common

Truth (sadaaqat) is still hidden from Adam’s descendants, while convenient lies (daroGh-e maslahat aamez) are still common.

1.statement, saying 2.explained, published 3.truths 4.confusion, ambiguity

Over there udhar and over here idhar, is probably a reference to liberal thinkers, rebels and poets on the one hand and conservative clergy on the other.  Thus, there we have stated/declared the explanation of truths while here there is still the same confusion and intentional obfuscation.

1.completion, perfection 3.claim 4.strong, clear 5.faith 6.defective, incomplete

Over there udhar refers to orthodoxy, religious institutions; they lay claim to, boast of perfecting faith (takmiil-e diiN), yet over here idhar among the populace faith itself remains unripe (Khaam).

1.intensity 2.declaration 3.completion, perfection 4.blessings 5.every 6.poison 7.cup

Over there they strongly declare the celebration/perfection of divine blessings.  While over here, among the people, every breath is like a cup of poison (zahr kaa jaam).  This could be a contrast between the priveleged and the exploited.

1.reward, gift 2.nature, god 3.punishment

They tell me that life is a gift/reward of god.  If this is so, then just imagine what punishment will be like i.e., life is no blessing, it is a struggle.

1.complaint, blame 2.blood spilling 3.legendary warriors known for merciless killing 4.blood-drinking, bloodthirsty

Why blame tyrants like chaNgez KhaaN and halaaku of spilling blood when our own hearts are bloodthirsty (KhuuN-aashaam)?   A call for self-awareness.

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