For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
اِسی دنیا میں جنّت ہے ۔ رگھوبیر سرن دواکر راہیؔ
۱
اِسی دنیا میں دوزخ ہے، اِسی دنیا میں جنّت ہے
یہ دنیا ہے یہاں محتاط رہنے کی ضرورت ہے
۲
جسے معلوم ہے کیا واہمہ ہے، کیا حقیقت ہے
وہی چشمِ طلب آئینۂ حُسنِ بصیرت ہے
۳
مِرا اِدراک نابینا نہیں ہے اِس لئے واعظ
مرا ذوقِ تجسُّس تشنۂ رازِ حقیقت ہے
۴
مری آوارہ نظریں ایک مرکز پر نہیں رکتیں
مگر اک ایسا چہرہ ہے جو بے حد خوبصورت ہے
۵
غلط دعوے کریں اُردو پہ جب خود اُس کے دیوانے
تو اِس ماحول میں راہیؔ تمہارا دم غنیمت ہے
इसी दुनिया में जन्नत है । रघुबीर सरन दिवाकर राहि
१
इसी दुनिया में दोज़ख है, इसी दुनिया में जन्नत है
ये दुनिया है यहां मुहतात रहने की ज़रूरत है
२
जिसे मालूम है क्या वाहम है, क्या हक़ीक़त है
वही चश्म-ए-तलब आईना-ए-हुस्न-ए-बसीरत है
३
मेरा इद्राक नाबीना नहीं है इस लिए वाइज़
मेरा ज़ौक-ए-तजस्सुस तिश्ना-ए-राज़-ए-हक़ीक़त है
४
मेरी आवारा नज़रें एक मरकज़ पर नहीं रुकतीं
मगर एक ऐसा चेहरा है जो बे हद ख़ूबसूरत है
५
ग़लत दावे करें उर्दू पे जब खुद उसके दीवाने
तो इस माहौल में राहि तुम्हारा दम ग़नीमत है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghubir saran divaakar raahi (1914-1968), rampur. Three Ghazal collections with hundreds of Ghazal in each. Born in amroha, learnt urdu and faarsi at school. BA, LLB from meeraTh. District Information Officer, UP. shaa’eri was in addition to his ‘day job’. Posted to and retired in rampur, 1954 and started law practice. Editor of hindi magazines. Very secular and makes much fun of the shaiKh and brahman.
1
isi duniya meN dozaKh1 hai, isi duniya meN jannat2 hai
yeh duniya hai yahaaN muhtaat3 rahne ki zaruurat4 hai 1.hell 2.heaven 3.careful, mindful 4.necessity
This suggests that both heaven (jannat) and hell (dozakh) are realized within this life itself. It implies that our experiences and the consequences of our actions can bring us either immense joy or suffering, depending on how we live our lives. We have to be cautious and mindfulness in navigating the rights and wrongs of life, as these choices determine what we experience – heaven or hell.
2
jise m’aaloom1 hai kya vaahema2 hai, kya haqiiqat3 hai
vahi chashm4-e talab5 aaiina6-e husn7-e basiirat8 hai 1.knowledge 2.superstition, conjecture 3.truth, reality 4.eye 5.desire, searching 6.reflection 7.beauty, skill 8.insight, discernment
They, who know what is conjecture and what is truth, it is their eyes that reflect the skill/ability of insight/discernment.
3
mera idraak1 naabiina2 nahiiN hai is liye vaa’ez3
mera zauq4-e tajassus5 tishna6-e raaz7-e haqiiqat8 hai 1.wisdom, knowledge 2.blind 3.muslim preacher 4.taste, ability 5.search, seek 6.thirsty 7.secret, mysery 8.truth, reality
My knowledge is not blind (as opposed to your blind belief) O vaa’ez. That is why my desire to seek (my intellectual curiosity) remains thirsty for the mystery/secret of truth i.e., in my thirst, I keep seeking the truth while you are satisfied in your blind belief.
4
meri aavaara1 nazareN2 aek markaz3 par nahiN ruktiiN
magar ek aisa chehra4 hai jo be-hadd5 Khuubsuurat6 hai 1.wandering 2.eyes, gaze 3.focus 4.face, image 5.without limits, exceeding 6.beautiful
Normally, the poet’s wandering gaze does not stop at any one focus, but there is one exceedingly beautiful image that captivates him. What this image is, he does not share with us. Perhaps it is intellectual curiosity itself that is the beautiful image.
5
Ghalat1 d’aave2 kareN urdu pe jab Khud us ke diivaane
to is maahaul3 meN raahi4 tumhaara dam5 Ghaniimat6 hai 1.wrong, misguided 2.claims, accusations 3.atmosphere, conditions 4.pen-name of the poet 5.breath, life, power, presence 6.fortunate, valuable
Here d’aava is used in the sense of accusation and claim. It is not clearly stated what that claim or accusation might have been. Perhaps there was an atmosphere of accusation that it was a language of muslims only. But ‘us ke diivaane’ throws a wrinkle. Hence the other possibility is that urdu speaking people themselves were claiming that it is a language of muslims. In either case, the poet’s power, ability, presence is fortunate that it can counter such claims/accusations.
raghubir saran divaakar raahi (1914-1968), rampur. Three Ghazal collections with hundreds of Ghazal in each. Born in amroha, learnt urdu and faarsi at school. BA, LLB from meeraTh. District Information Officer, UP. shaa’eri was in addition to his ‘day job’. Posted to and retired in rampur, 1954 and started law practice. Editor of hindi magazines. Very secular and makes much fun of the shaiKh and brahman.
1
isi duniya meN dozaKh1 hai, isi duniya meN jannat2 hai
yeh duniya hai yahaaN muhtaat3 rahne ki zaruurat4 hai
1.hell 2.heaven 3.careful, mindful 4.necessity
This suggests that both heaven (jannat) and hell (dozakh) are realized within this life itself. It implies that our experiences and the consequences of our actions can bring us either immense joy or suffering, depending on how we live our lives. We have to be cautious and mindfulness in navigating the rights and wrongs of life, as these choices determine what we experience – heaven or hell.
2
jise m’aaloom1 hai kya vaahema2 hai, kya haqiiqat3 hai
vahi chashm4-e talab5 aaiina6-e husn7-e basiirat8 hai
1.knowledge 2.superstition, conjecture 3.truth, reality 4.eye 5.desire, searching 6.reflection 7.beauty, skill 8.insight, discernment
They, who know what is conjecture and what is truth, it is their eyes that reflect the skill/ability of insight/discernment.
3
mera idraak1 naabiina2 nahiiN hai is liye vaa’ez3
mera zauq4-e tajassus5 tishna6-e raaz7-e haqiiqat8 hai
1.wisdom, knowledge 2.blind 3.muslim preacher 4.taste, ability 5.search, seek 6.thirsty 7.secret, mysery 8.truth, reality
My knowledge is not blind (as opposed to your blind belief) O vaa’ez. That is why my desire to seek (my intellectual curiosity) remains thirsty for the mystery/secret of truth i.e., in my thirst, I keep seeking the truth while you are satisfied in your blind belief.
4
meri aavaara1 nazareN2 aek markaz3 par nahiN ruktiiN
magar ek aisa chehra4 hai jo be-hadd5 Khuubsuurat6 hai
1.wandering 2.eyes, gaze 3.focus 4.face, image 5.without limits, exceeding 6.beautiful
Normally, the poet’s wandering gaze does not stop at any one focus, but there is one exceedingly beautiful image that captivates him. What this image is, he does not share with us. Perhaps it is intellectual curiosity itself that is the beautiful image.
5
Ghalat1 d’aave2 kareN urdu pe jab Khud us ke diivaane
to is maahaul3 meN raahi4 tumhaara dam5 Ghaniimat6 hai
1.wrong, misguided 2.claims, accusations 3.atmosphere, conditions 4.pen-name of the poet 5.breath, life, power, presence 6.fortunate, valuable
Here d’aava is used in the sense of accusation and claim. It is not clearly stated what that claim or accusation might have been. Perhaps there was an atmosphere of accusation that it was a language of muslims only. But ‘us ke diivaane’ throws a wrinkle. Hence the other possibility is that urdu speaking people themselves were claiming that it is a language of muslims. In either case, the poet’s power, ability, presence is fortunate that it can counter such claims/accusations.
