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tishnagi maa’loom hoti hai-josh malihabadi
For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/jm-tishnagi-maaloom-hoti-hai-audio.mp3
Recitation
تشنگی معلوم ہوتی ہے ۔ جوؔش ملیح آبادی
۱
یہ دُنیا ذہن کی بازی گری معلوم ہوتی ہے
یہاں جس شے کو جو سمجھو، وہی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۲
نِکلتے ہیں کبھی تو چاندنی سے دُھوپ کے لشکر!
کبھی خود دُھوپ، نِکھری چاندنی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۳
کبھی کانٹوں کی نوکوں پر، لبِ گُلرنگ کی نرمی
کبھی، پُھولوں کی خوشبُو میں انی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۴
وہ آہِ صُبح گاہی، جس سے تارے کانپ اُٹھتے ہیں
ذرا سا رُخ بدل کر، راگنی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۵
نہ سوچیں تو، نہایت لُطف آتا ہے تَعَلّی میں
جو سوچیں، تو بڑی ناپُختگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۶
جو سچ پُوچھو تو، وہ اِک ضرب ہے عاداتِ ذہنی پر
وہ شے، جو نوعِ اِنساں کو بُری معلوم ہوتی ہے
۷
کبھی جِن کارناموں پر جوانی فخر کرتی تھی
اب اُن کی یاد سے، شرمندگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۸
بَلا کا ناز تھا کل جن مسائل کی صلابَت پر
اب اُن کی نیو، یکسر کھوکلی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۹
کبھی پُرہول بن جاتا ہے جب راتوں کا سنّاٹا!
سُریلے تار کی جھنکار سی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۱۰
اُسی نسبت سے آرائش پہ ہم مجبُور ہوتے ہیں
خُود اپنی ذات میں جتنی کجی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۱۱
پیئے بیٹھا ہُوں جوؔش! علم و نظر کے سینکڑوں قُلزم
ارے، پھر بھی، بَلا کی تشنگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
तिश्नगी मालूम होती है – जोश मलीहाबादी
१
ये दुनिया ज़हन की बाज़ीगरी मालूम होती है
यहाँ जिस शै को जो समझो, वही मालूम होती है
२
निकलते हैं कभी तो चाँदनी से धूप के लश्कर
कभी ख़ुद धूप, निखरी चाँदनी मालूम होती है
३
कभी काँटों की नोकों पर, लब-ए गुलरंग की नर्मी
कभी फूलों की ख़ुशबू में अनी मालूम होती है
४
वो आह-ए सुबहगाही, जिससे तारे काँप उठते हैं
ज़रा सा रुख़ बदलकर, रागिनी मालूम होती है
५
न सोचें तो, नेहा’एत लुत्फ़ आता है ता’अल्ली में
जो सोचें, तो बढी नापोख़्तगी मालूम होती है
६
जो सच पूछो तो, वो एक ज़र्ब है आदात-ए ज़हनी पर
वो शै, जो नौ-ए इंसाँ को बुरी मालूम होती है
७
कभी जिन कारनामों पर जवानी फ़ख़्र करती थी
अब उनकी याद से शर्मिंदगी मालूम होती है
८
बला का नाज़ था कल जिन मसा’एल की सलाबत पर
अब उनकी नींव यकसर खोखली मालूम होती है
९
कभी पुर-हौल बन जाता है जब रातों का सन्नाटा
सुरीले तार की झंकार-सी मालूम होती है
१०
उसी निस्बत से आरा’एश पे हम मज्बूर होते हैं
ख़ुद अपनी ज़ात में जितनी कजी मालूम होती है
११
पिये बैठा हूँ जोश! इल्म-ओ-नज़र के सैकढों क़ुल्ज़ुम
अरे, फिर भी बला की तिश्नगी मालूम होती है
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 Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye duniya zah’n1 ki baaziigari2 maa’loom hoti hai
yahaaN jis shai3 ko jo samjho4, vahi maa’loom hoti hai 1.mind 2.wager, trickery 3.thing 4.understand, perceive
The world appears to be a trick of the mind — a mental performance. Whatever you perceive something to be, it becomes just that. We see what we like to see; we hear what we want to hear. It suggests subjective biases in our observation of reality and how perception shapes our experience.
2
nikalte haiN kabhi to chaandni se dhoop ke lashkar1
kabhi Khud dhoop, nikhri2 chaandni maa’loom hoti hai 1.armies, rays 2.washed, freshened
A commentary on, many examples of, the biases of our perception continues – sometimes rays of sunlight emerge from moonlight, and sometimes the sunlight itself looks like refined moonlight.
3
kabhi kaaNToN1 ki nokoN2 par, lab3-e gulraNg4 ki narmi
kabhi phooloN ki Khushbuu5 meN anii6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.thorns 2.points, sharp end 3.lips 4.rose coloured 5.fragrance 6.sharp point
At times, the softness of rose-tinted lips seems to rest on the tips of thorns; at other times, the fragrance of flowers carries a sting. Beauty and pain are inseparable, and tenderness can be found amidst harshness, and vice versa.
4
voh aah1-e sub’h-gaahi2, jis se taare kaaNp3 uTht’e haiN
zara sa ruKh4 badal5 kar, raagini6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.sigh 2.of dawn 3.tremble 4.face, perspective, angle 5.change 6.musical melody
That sigh of dawn, which makes the stars tremble (because they are about to disappear in the sunlight), with a slight shift of perspective/angle becomes a melody. It shows how the same emotion – depending on context – can evoke fear or beauty. Pain turns into art.
5
na socheN1 to nehaa’et2 lutf3 aata hai ta’alli4 meN
jo socheN, to baRi naapuKhtagi5 maa’loom hoti hai 1.think, reflect 2.great, much 3.pleasure 4.sense of superiority 5.immaturity
When we don’t think; fall unthinkingly into the trap of a sense of superiority or pride, we can get great pleasure; but once we begin to reflect, it feels immature.
6
jo sach poochho to, voh ek zarb1 hai aadaat2-e zahni3 par,
voh shai4, jo nau-e-insaaN5 ko buri maa’loom hoti hai. 1.blow, strike 2.habits 3.mental 4.thing 5.human species, humanity
Mental/cultural habits/beliefs aadaat-e zahni are either inherited or cultivated. We get used to them. But if you look at the truth behind these beliefs/habits there may not be much rationality. Thus, if you ask the truth, our mental habits/beliefs receive a blow whenever we contemplate anything that appears to be unpleasant to human nature. Truth is discomforting because it challenges our conditioned ways of thinking.
7
kabhi jin kaarnaamoN1 par javaani2 faKhr3 karti thi
ab un ki yaad se sharmindagi4 maa’loom hoti hai 1.deeds 2.youth 3.pride 4.shame, embarrassment
The deeds once proudly celebrated in youth now bring embarrassment in memory.
8
balaa1 ka naaz2 tha kal jin masaa’el3 ki salaabat4 par
ab un ki neev5 yak-sar6 khokhli7 maa’loom hoti hai 1.great 2.pride 3.problems, mysteries 4.weight, profundity 5.foundation 6.total 7.hollow
The poet once took pride in the weight and solidity of certain issues; now their very foundations seem hollow. Time reveals the superficiality of what once felt profound.
9
kabhi pur-haul1 ban jaata hai jab raatoN ka sannaaTa2
suriil’e3 taar4 ki jhankaar5 si maa’loom hoti hai 1.fearsom, haunting 2.silence 3.melodious 4.(musical) string 5.resonance
When the silence of night turns haunting and fearful, then somewhere in the darkness of the night you might hear the resonance of a melodious string. The perception of fear and darkness is changed into melody and joy.
10
usi nisbat1 se aara’esh2 pe hum majboor3 hot’e haiN
Khud4 apni zaat5 meN jitni kajii6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.relationship, proportion 2.adornment 3.forced 4.self 5.person 6.crookedness, flaws
We are forced to resort to adornment and embellishment in proportion to the flaws we sense within our own selves. The poet points to vanity as compensation for inner flaws.
11
piye baiTha huN josh1! ilm2-o-nazar3 ke saikRoN qulzum4
ar’e, phir bhi, balaa5 ki tishnagi6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.pen-name 2.knowledge 3.insight, perception 4.oceans 5.great, much 6.thirst
Despite having drunk deeply from the oceans of knowledge and insight, O josh, the thirst remains unbearable. There is a lot more to know.
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 Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye duniya zah’n1 ki baaziigari2 maa’loom hoti hai
yahaaN jis shai3 ko jo samjho4, vahi maa’loom hoti hai
1.mind 2.wager, trickery 3.thing 4.understand, perceive
The world appears to be a trick of the mind — a mental performance. Whatever you perceive something to be, it becomes just that. We see what we like to see; we hear what we want to hear. It suggests subjective biases in our observation of reality and how perception shapes our experience.
2
nikalte haiN kabhi to chaandni se dhoop ke lashkar1
kabhi Khud dhoop, nikhri2 chaandni maa’loom hoti hai
1.armies, rays 2.washed, freshened
A commentary on, many examples of, the biases of our perception continues – sometimes rays of sunlight emerge from moonlight, and sometimes the sunlight itself looks like refined moonlight.
3
kabhi kaaNToN1 ki nokoN2 par, lab3-e gulraNg4 ki narmi
kabhi phooloN ki Khushbuu5 meN anii6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.thorns 2.points, sharp end 3.lips 4.rose coloured 5.fragrance 6.sharp point
At times, the softness of rose-tinted lips seems to rest on the tips of thorns; at other times, the fragrance of flowers carries a sting. Beauty and pain are inseparable, and tenderness can be found amidst harshness, and vice versa.
4
voh aah1-e sub’h-gaahi2, jis se taare kaaNp3 uTht’e haiN
zara sa ruKh4 badal5 kar, raagini6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.sigh 2.of dawn 3.tremble 4.face, perspective, angle 5.change 6.musical melody
That sigh of dawn, which makes the stars tremble (because they are about to disappear in the sunlight), with a slight shift of perspective/angle becomes a melody. It shows how the same emotion – depending on context – can evoke fear or beauty. Pain turns into art.
5
na socheN1 to nehaa’et2 lutf3 aata hai ta’alli4 meN
jo socheN, to baRi naapuKhtagi5 maa’loom hoti hai
1.think, reflect 2.great, much 3.pleasure 4.sense of superiority 5.immaturity
When we don’t think; fall unthinkingly into the trap of a sense of superiority or pride, we can get great pleasure; but once we begin to reflect, it feels immature.
6
jo sach poochho to, voh ek zarb1 hai aadaat2-e zahni3 par,
voh shai4, jo nau-e-insaaN5 ko buri maa’loom hoti hai.
1.blow, strike 2.habits 3.mental 4.thing 5.human species, humanity
Mental/cultural habits/beliefs aadaat-e zahni are either inherited or cultivated. We get used to them. But if you look at the truth behind these beliefs/habits there may not be much rationality. Thus, if you ask the truth, our mental habits/beliefs receive a blow whenever we contemplate anything that appears to be unpleasant to human nature. Truth is discomforting because it challenges our conditioned ways of thinking.
7
kabhi jin kaarnaamoN1 par javaani2 faKhr3 karti thi
ab un ki yaad se sharmindagi4 maa’loom hoti hai
1.deeds 2.youth 3.pride 4.shame, embarrassment
The deeds once proudly celebrated in youth now bring embarrassment in memory.
8
balaa1 ka naaz2 tha kal jin masaa’el3 ki salaabat4 par
ab un ki neev5 yak-sar6 khokhli7 maa’loom hoti hai
1.great 2.pride 3.problems, mysteries 4.weight, profundity 5.foundation 6.total 7.hollow
The poet once took pride in the weight and solidity of certain issues; now their very foundations seem hollow. Time reveals the superficiality of what once felt profound.
9
kabhi pur-haul1 ban jaata hai jab raatoN ka sannaaTa2
suriil’e3 taar4 ki jhankaar5 si maa’loom hoti hai
1.fearsom, haunting 2.silence 3.melodious 4.(musical) string 5.resonance
When the silence of night turns haunting and fearful, then somewhere in the darkness of the night you might hear the resonance of a melodious string. The perception of fear and darkness is changed into melody and joy.
10
usi nisbat1 se aara’esh2 pe hum majboor3 hot’e haiN
Khud4 apni zaat5 meN jitni kajii6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.relationship, proportion 2.adornment 3.forced 4.self 5.person 6.crookedness, flaws
We are forced to resort to adornment and embellishment in proportion to the flaws we sense within our own selves. The poet points to vanity as compensation for inner flaws.
11
piye baiTha huN josh1! ilm2-o-nazar3 ke saikRoN qulzum4
ar’e, phir bhi, balaa5 ki tishnagi6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.pen-name 2.knowledge 3.insight, perception 4.oceans 5.great, much 6.thirst
Despite having drunk deeply from the oceans of knowledge and insight, O josh, the thirst remains unbearable. There is a lot more to know.
The post tishnagi maa’loom hoti hai-josh malihabadi appeared first on UrduShahkar.
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By For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/jm-tishnagi-maaloom-hoti-hai-audio.mp3
Recitation
تشنگی معلوم ہوتی ہے ۔ جوؔش ملیح آبادی
۱
یہ دُنیا ذہن کی بازی گری معلوم ہوتی ہے
یہاں جس شے کو جو سمجھو، وہی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۲
نِکلتے ہیں کبھی تو چاندنی سے دُھوپ کے لشکر!
کبھی خود دُھوپ، نِکھری چاندنی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۳
کبھی کانٹوں کی نوکوں پر، لبِ گُلرنگ کی نرمی
کبھی، پُھولوں کی خوشبُو میں انی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۴
وہ آہِ صُبح گاہی، جس سے تارے کانپ اُٹھتے ہیں
ذرا سا رُخ بدل کر، راگنی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۵
نہ سوچیں تو، نہایت لُطف آتا ہے تَعَلّی میں
جو سوچیں، تو بڑی ناپُختگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۶
جو سچ پُوچھو تو، وہ اِک ضرب ہے عاداتِ ذہنی پر
وہ شے، جو نوعِ اِنساں کو بُری معلوم ہوتی ہے
۷
کبھی جِن کارناموں پر جوانی فخر کرتی تھی
اب اُن کی یاد سے، شرمندگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۸
بَلا کا ناز تھا کل جن مسائل کی صلابَت پر
اب اُن کی نیو، یکسر کھوکلی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۹
کبھی پُرہول بن جاتا ہے جب راتوں کا سنّاٹا!
سُریلے تار کی جھنکار سی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۱۰
اُسی نسبت سے آرائش پہ ہم مجبُور ہوتے ہیں
خُود اپنی ذات میں جتنی کجی معلوم ہوتی ہے
۱۱
پیئے بیٹھا ہُوں جوؔش! علم و نظر کے سینکڑوں قُلزم
ارے، پھر بھی، بَلا کی تشنگی معلوم ہوتی ہے
तिश्नगी मालूम होती है – जोश मलीहाबादी
१
ये दुनिया ज़हन की बाज़ीगरी मालूम होती है
यहाँ जिस शै को जो समझो, वही मालूम होती है
२
निकलते हैं कभी तो चाँदनी से धूप के लश्कर
कभी ख़ुद धूप, निखरी चाँदनी मालूम होती है
३
कभी काँटों की नोकों पर, लब-ए गुलरंग की नर्मी
कभी फूलों की ख़ुशबू में अनी मालूम होती है
४
वो आह-ए सुबहगाही, जिससे तारे काँप उठते हैं
ज़रा सा रुख़ बदलकर, रागिनी मालूम होती है
५
न सोचें तो, नेहा’एत लुत्फ़ आता है ता’अल्ली में
जो सोचें, तो बढी नापोख़्तगी मालूम होती है
६
जो सच पूछो तो, वो एक ज़र्ब है आदात-ए ज़हनी पर
वो शै, जो नौ-ए इंसाँ को बुरी मालूम होती है
७
कभी जिन कारनामों पर जवानी फ़ख़्र करती थी
अब उनकी याद से शर्मिंदगी मालूम होती है
८
बला का नाज़ था कल जिन मसा’एल की सलाबत पर
अब उनकी नींव यकसर खोखली मालूम होती है
९
कभी पुर-हौल बन जाता है जब रातों का सन्नाटा
सुरीले तार की झंकार-सी मालूम होती है
१०
उसी निस्बत से आरा’एश पे हम मज्बूर होते हैं
ख़ुद अपनी ज़ात में जितनी कजी मालूम होती है
११
पिये बैठा हूँ जोश! इल्म-ओ-नज़र के सैकढों क़ुल्ज़ुम
अरे, फिर भी बला की तिश्नगी मालूम होती है
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 Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye duniya zah’n1 ki baaziigari2 maa’loom hoti hai
yahaaN jis shai3 ko jo samjho4, vahi maa’loom hoti hai 1.mind 2.wager, trickery 3.thing 4.understand, perceive
The world appears to be a trick of the mind — a mental performance. Whatever you perceive something to be, it becomes just that. We see what we like to see; we hear what we want to hear. It suggests subjective biases in our observation of reality and how perception shapes our experience.
2
nikalte haiN kabhi to chaandni se dhoop ke lashkar1
kabhi Khud dhoop, nikhri2 chaandni maa’loom hoti hai 1.armies, rays 2.washed, freshened
A commentary on, many examples of, the biases of our perception continues – sometimes rays of sunlight emerge from moonlight, and sometimes the sunlight itself looks like refined moonlight.
3
kabhi kaaNToN1 ki nokoN2 par, lab3-e gulraNg4 ki narmi
kabhi phooloN ki Khushbuu5 meN anii6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.thorns 2.points, sharp end 3.lips 4.rose coloured 5.fragrance 6.sharp point
At times, the softness of rose-tinted lips seems to rest on the tips of thorns; at other times, the fragrance of flowers carries a sting. Beauty and pain are inseparable, and tenderness can be found amidst harshness, and vice versa.
4
voh aah1-e sub’h-gaahi2, jis se taare kaaNp3 uTht’e haiN
zara sa ruKh4 badal5 kar, raagini6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.sigh 2.of dawn 3.tremble 4.face, perspective, angle 5.change 6.musical melody
That sigh of dawn, which makes the stars tremble (because they are about to disappear in the sunlight), with a slight shift of perspective/angle becomes a melody. It shows how the same emotion – depending on context – can evoke fear or beauty. Pain turns into art.
5
na socheN1 to nehaa’et2 lutf3 aata hai ta’alli4 meN
jo socheN, to baRi naapuKhtagi5 maa’loom hoti hai 1.think, reflect 2.great, much 3.pleasure 4.sense of superiority 5.immaturity
When we don’t think; fall unthinkingly into the trap of a sense of superiority or pride, we can get great pleasure; but once we begin to reflect, it feels immature.
6
jo sach poochho to, voh ek zarb1 hai aadaat2-e zahni3 par,
voh shai4, jo nau-e-insaaN5 ko buri maa’loom hoti hai. 1.blow, strike 2.habits 3.mental 4.thing 5.human species, humanity
Mental/cultural habits/beliefs aadaat-e zahni are either inherited or cultivated. We get used to them. But if you look at the truth behind these beliefs/habits there may not be much rationality. Thus, if you ask the truth, our mental habits/beliefs receive a blow whenever we contemplate anything that appears to be unpleasant to human nature. Truth is discomforting because it challenges our conditioned ways of thinking.
7
kabhi jin kaarnaamoN1 par javaani2 faKhr3 karti thi
ab un ki yaad se sharmindagi4 maa’loom hoti hai 1.deeds 2.youth 3.pride 4.shame, embarrassment
The deeds once proudly celebrated in youth now bring embarrassment in memory.
8
balaa1 ka naaz2 tha kal jin masaa’el3 ki salaabat4 par
ab un ki neev5 yak-sar6 khokhli7 maa’loom hoti hai 1.great 2.pride 3.problems, mysteries 4.weight, profundity 5.foundation 6.total 7.hollow
The poet once took pride in the weight and solidity of certain issues; now their very foundations seem hollow. Time reveals the superficiality of what once felt profound.
9
kabhi pur-haul1 ban jaata hai jab raatoN ka sannaaTa2
suriil’e3 taar4 ki jhankaar5 si maa’loom hoti hai 1.fearsom, haunting 2.silence 3.melodious 4.(musical) string 5.resonance
When the silence of night turns haunting and fearful, then somewhere in the darkness of the night you might hear the resonance of a melodious string. The perception of fear and darkness is changed into melody and joy.
10
usi nisbat1 se aara’esh2 pe hum majboor3 hot’e haiN
Khud4 apni zaat5 meN jitni kajii6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.relationship, proportion 2.adornment 3.forced 4.self 5.person 6.crookedness, flaws
We are forced to resort to adornment and embellishment in proportion to the flaws we sense within our own selves. The poet points to vanity as compensation for inner flaws.
11
piye baiTha huN josh1! ilm2-o-nazar3 ke saikRoN qulzum4
ar’e, phir bhi, balaa5 ki tishnagi6 maa’loom hoti hai 1.pen-name 2.knowledge 3.insight, perception 4.oceans 5.great, much 6.thirst
Despite having drunk deeply from the oceans of knowledge and insight, O josh, the thirst remains unbearable. There is a lot more to know.
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 Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
ye duniya zah’n1 ki baaziigari2 maa’loom hoti hai
yahaaN jis shai3 ko jo samjho4, vahi maa’loom hoti hai
1.mind 2.wager, trickery 3.thing 4.understand, perceive
The world appears to be a trick of the mind — a mental performance. Whatever you perceive something to be, it becomes just that. We see what we like to see; we hear what we want to hear. It suggests subjective biases in our observation of reality and how perception shapes our experience.
2
nikalte haiN kabhi to chaandni se dhoop ke lashkar1
kabhi Khud dhoop, nikhri2 chaandni maa’loom hoti hai
1.armies, rays 2.washed, freshened
A commentary on, many examples of, the biases of our perception continues – sometimes rays of sunlight emerge from moonlight, and sometimes the sunlight itself looks like refined moonlight.
3
kabhi kaaNToN1 ki nokoN2 par, lab3-e gulraNg4 ki narmi
kabhi phooloN ki Khushbuu5 meN anii6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.thorns 2.points, sharp end 3.lips 4.rose coloured 5.fragrance 6.sharp point
At times, the softness of rose-tinted lips seems to rest on the tips of thorns; at other times, the fragrance of flowers carries a sting. Beauty and pain are inseparable, and tenderness can be found amidst harshness, and vice versa.
4
voh aah1-e sub’h-gaahi2, jis se taare kaaNp3 uTht’e haiN
zara sa ruKh4 badal5 kar, raagini6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.sigh 2.of dawn 3.tremble 4.face, perspective, angle 5.change 6.musical melody
That sigh of dawn, which makes the stars tremble (because they are about to disappear in the sunlight), with a slight shift of perspective/angle becomes a melody. It shows how the same emotion – depending on context – can evoke fear or beauty. Pain turns into art.
5
na socheN1 to nehaa’et2 lutf3 aata hai ta’alli4 meN
jo socheN, to baRi naapuKhtagi5 maa’loom hoti hai
1.think, reflect 2.great, much 3.pleasure 4.sense of superiority 5.immaturity
When we don’t think; fall unthinkingly into the trap of a sense of superiority or pride, we can get great pleasure; but once we begin to reflect, it feels immature.
6
jo sach poochho to, voh ek zarb1 hai aadaat2-e zahni3 par,
voh shai4, jo nau-e-insaaN5 ko buri maa’loom hoti hai.
1.blow, strike 2.habits 3.mental 4.thing 5.human species, humanity
Mental/cultural habits/beliefs aadaat-e zahni are either inherited or cultivated. We get used to them. But if you look at the truth behind these beliefs/habits there may not be much rationality. Thus, if you ask the truth, our mental habits/beliefs receive a blow whenever we contemplate anything that appears to be unpleasant to human nature. Truth is discomforting because it challenges our conditioned ways of thinking.
7
kabhi jin kaarnaamoN1 par javaani2 faKhr3 karti thi
ab un ki yaad se sharmindagi4 maa’loom hoti hai
1.deeds 2.youth 3.pride 4.shame, embarrassment
The deeds once proudly celebrated in youth now bring embarrassment in memory.
8
balaa1 ka naaz2 tha kal jin masaa’el3 ki salaabat4 par
ab un ki neev5 yak-sar6 khokhli7 maa’loom hoti hai
1.great 2.pride 3.problems, mysteries 4.weight, profundity 5.foundation 6.total 7.hollow
The poet once took pride in the weight and solidity of certain issues; now their very foundations seem hollow. Time reveals the superficiality of what once felt profound.
9
kabhi pur-haul1 ban jaata hai jab raatoN ka sannaaTa2
suriil’e3 taar4 ki jhankaar5 si maa’loom hoti hai
1.fearsom, haunting 2.silence 3.melodious 4.(musical) string 5.resonance
When the silence of night turns haunting and fearful, then somewhere in the darkness of the night you might hear the resonance of a melodious string. The perception of fear and darkness is changed into melody and joy.
10
usi nisbat1 se aara’esh2 pe hum majboor3 hot’e haiN
Khud4 apni zaat5 meN jitni kajii6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.relationship, proportion 2.adornment 3.forced 4.self 5.person 6.crookedness, flaws
We are forced to resort to adornment and embellishment in proportion to the flaws we sense within our own selves. The poet points to vanity as compensation for inner flaws.
11
piye baiTha huN josh1! ilm2-o-nazar3 ke saikRoN qulzum4
ar’e, phir bhi, balaa5 ki tishnagi6 maa’loom hoti hai
1.pen-name 2.knowledge 3.insight, perception 4.oceans 5.great, much 6.thirst
Despite having drunk deeply from the oceans of knowledge and insight, O josh, the thirst remains unbearable. There is a lot more to know.
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