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Recitation
شعلہ فشاں ہے اب تک ۔ جوش ملیح آبادی
۱
لللہ الحمد کہ دل شعلہ فشاں ہے اب تک
پیر ہے جسم مگر طبع جواں ہے اب تک
۲
برف باری ہے مہ و سال کی سر پر لیکن
خون میں گرمئ پہلوئے بُتاں ہے اب تک
۳
سر پہ ہر چند مہ و سال کا غلطاں ہے غُبار
فکر میں تاب و تبِ کاہکشاں ہے اب تک
۴
کب سے نبضوں میں وہ جھنکار نہیں ہے پھر بھی
شعر میں زمزمۂ آبِ رواں ہے اب تک
۵
لللہ الحمد کہ دربارِ خرابات کی خاک
سرمۂ دیدۂ صاحب نظراں ہے اب تک
۶
زندگی کب سے ہے کانٹوں کی تجارت سے فگار
پھر بھی تخئیل میں پھولوں کی دُکاں ہے اب تک
۷
فرخ پر وقت کا پتھراؤ ہے کب سے جاری
ذہن میں کار گہہ شیشہ گراں ہے اب تک
۸
کس سے کہیے کہ بہ ایں فکر مرا تارِ وجود
زخمۂ غیب سے لرزاں و تپاں ہے اب تک
۹
کب سے ہوں منکرِ گلبانگِ ملائک پھر بھی
دل پہ جبریل کی دستک کا گماں ہے اب تک
۱۰
کب سے ہوں بستۂ ناقوس و مزامیرِ بُتاں
پھر بھی سینے میں کوئی گرمِ اذاں ہے اب تک
۱۱
سخت حیراں ہوں کہ اس کفر کے جنگل میں بھی جوشؔ
چشمِ یزداں مِری جانب نگراں ہے اب تک
शोला-फ़िशाँ है अब तक -जोश मलीहाबादी
१
लिल्लाहिल-हम्द के दिल शोला-फ़िशाँ है अब तक
पीर है जिस्म मगर तब’अ जवाँ है अब तक
२
बर्फ़-बारी है मह ओ साल की सर पर लेकिन
ख़ून में गर्मी-ए पहलु-ए बुताँ है अब तक
३
सर पे हर चंद मह ओ साल का ग़लताँ है ग़ुबार
फ़िक्र में ताब-ओ-तब-ए काहकशाँ है अब तक
४
कब से नब्ज़ों में वो झंकार नहीं है फिर भी
शेर में ज़मज़मा-ए आब-ए रवाँ है अब तक
५
लिल्लाहिल-हम्द के दरबार-ए ख़राबात की ख़ाक
सुर्मा-ए दीदा-ए साहेब-नज़राँ है अब तक
६
ज़िंदगी कब से है काँटों की तिजारत से फ़िगार
फिर भी तख़्ईल में फूलों की दुकाँ है अब तक
७
फ़र्ख़ पर वक़्त का पथराओ है कब से जारी
ज़हन में कारगह-ए शीशागराँ है अब तक
८
किस से कहिए के ब-ईं फ़िक्र मेरा तार-ए वजूद
ज़ख़्मा-ए ग़ैब से लर्ज़ां ओ तपाँ है अब तक
९
कब से हूँ मुनकिर-ए गुल्बाँग-ए मलाएक फिर भी
दिल पे जिबरील की दस्तक का गुमाँ है अब तक
१०
कब से हूँ बस्ता-ए नाक़ूस-ओ-मज़ामीर-ए बुताँ
फिर भी सीने में कोई गर्म-ए अज़ाँ है अब तक
११
सख़्त हैराँ हूँ के इस कुफ़्र के जंगल में भी जोश
चश्म-ए यज़्दाँ मेरी जानिब निगराँ है अब तक
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) was a fiery poet writing with conviction protesting orthodoxy, communalism and colonialism. His command of language is without equal. He was also known for his ‘josh’/enthusiasm and youthful vigour. This Ghazal is an example of it.
1
lillaahil-hamd1 ki dil shola-fishaaN2 hai ab tak
piir3 hai jism magar tab’a4 javaaN hai ab tak 1.praise be to god 2.flame throwing 3.old 4.nature, character
Praise be to god that my heart is still fiery and can set fires. The body may be old, but my nature is still youthful.
2
barf-baari1 hai mah2 o saal ki sar par laikin
Khuun meN garmi-e pahlu3-e butaaN4 hai ab tak 1.snow fall 2.months 3.side, by the side of, company 4.idol, beloved
Months and years of snowfall on the head … grey hair. Thus, my hair may be grey, but I still have warmth in my blood to seek company of the beloved.
3
sar pe har-chand1 mah2 o saal ka GhaltaaN3 hai Ghubaar
fikr4 meN taab-o-tab5-e kaahkashaaN6 hai ab tak 1.even though 2.month 3.smeared 4.reason, thought 5.glittering brilliance 6.galaxies, stars
My mind may be clouded with months and years of dust but my intellect still is sharp and glitters like the stars.
4
kab se nabzoN1 meN vo jhankaar nahiN hai phir bhi
she’r meN zamzama2-e aab3-e ravaaN4 hai ab tak 1.nerves 2.gurgling, music 3.water 4.flowing
The erstwhile youthful tingle of the nerves is long gone but my verse still has the gurgle of flowing water.
5
lillaahil-hamd1 ki darbaar-e Kharaabaat2 ki Khaak
surma3-e dida-e saahib-nazraaN4 hai ab tak 1.praise be to god 2.tavern 3.collyrium 4.visionaries
The tavern is a symbol of free-thinking, rebellion against orthodoxy. ‘surma’ – collyrium is supposed to improve sight/vision. Thus, praise be to god that the dust of court of the tavern is still the collyrium of the eyes of visionaries (who can see far).
6
zindagi kab se hai kaaNToN ki tijaarat1 se figaar2
phir bhi taKh’eel3 meN phooloN ki dukaaN hai ab tak 1.trade 2.wounded 3.imagination
For long now Life has been wounded by the trade of thorns … the give and take of daily struggle. But still, imagination has flowers on offer.
7
farKh1 par vaqt ka pathraao hai kab se jaari
zahn2 meN kaargah3-e shisha-garaaN4 hai ab tak 1.face/brow/head 2.mind 3.worshop 4.glass blowers, crystal, delicate, subtle thought
The times/critics/powerful have been casting stones at my head for long. But the mind still is a workshop of subtle thought.
8
kis se kahiye ki ba-eeN1 fikr2 mera taar-e vajood3
zaKhma4-e Ghaib5 se larzaaN6 o tapaaN7 hai ab tak 1.because of this 2.worry 3.existence, life 4.injuries/difficulties 5.unforeseen 6.trembling 7.hot, agitated
Who can I complain to, that because of these worries and unforeseen difficulties, the thread of my life trembles and is agitated.
9
kab se huN munkir1-e gulbaaNg2-e malaa’ek3 phir bhi
dil pe jibril4 ki dastak5 ka gumaaN6 hai ab tak 1.denier 2.declarations 3.angels 4.archangel Gabriel 5.knocking 6.suspicion
For long have I denied all supernatural angels and spirits, but I still suspect that archangel Gabriel knocks at the door my heart with a divine message for me to write verse.
10
kab se huN basta1-e naaqoos2 o mazaamir3-e butaaN4
phir bhi siine meN koi garm5-e azaaN6 hai ab tak 1.captivated by 2.shankh, conch shell 3.muscial instruments 4.idols, temple 5.busy/engaged in, doing 6.call for prayer
For long now, I have been captivated by the sound of the conch shell and the hymns of the temple. But still in my heart someone is engaged in reciting the azaan.
11
saKht hairaaN1 huN ke is kufr2 ke jaNgal meN bhi josh
chashm3-e yazdaaN4 meri jaanib5 nigraaN6 hai ab tak 1.perplexed 2.non-belief, transgression 3.eye 4.god 5.towards 6.keeping an eye on, protecting
I am greatly preplexed that in spite of my sins, the benevolent eye of god still looks after me.
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) was a fiery poet writing with conviction protesting orthodoxy, communalism and colonialism. His command of language is without equal. He was also known for his ‘josh’/enthusiasm and youthful vigour. This Ghazal is an example of it.
1
lillaahil-hamd1 ki dil shola-fishaaN2 hai ab tak
piir3 hai jism magar tab’a4 javaaN hai ab tak
1.praise be to god 2.flame throwing 3.old 4.nature, character
Praise be to god that my heart is still fiery and can set fires. The body may be old, but my nature is still youthful.
2
barf-baari1 hai mah2 o saal ki sar par laikin
Khuun meN garmi-e pahlu3-e butaaN4 hai ab tak
1.snow fall 2.months 3.side, by the side of, company 4.idol, beloved
Months and years of snowfall on the head … grey hair. Thus, my hair may be grey, but I still have warmth in my blood to seek company of the beloved.
3
sar pe har-chand1 mah2 o saal ka GhaltaaN3 hai Ghubaar
fikr4 meN taab-o-tab5-e kaahkashaaN6 hai ab tak
1.even though 2.month 3.smeared 4.reason, thought 5.glittering brilliance 6.galaxies, stars
My mind may be clouded with months and years of dust but my intellect still is sharp and glitters like the stars.
4
kab se nabzoN1 meN vo jhankaar nahiN hai phir bhi
she’r meN zamzama2-e aab3-e ravaaN4 hai ab tak
1.nerves 2.gurgling, music 3.water 4.flowing
The erstwhile youthful tingle of the nerves is long gone but my verse still has the gurgle of flowing water.
5
lillaahil-hamd1 ki darbaar-e Kharaabaat2 ki Khaak
surma3-e dida-e saahib-nazraaN4 hai ab tak
1.praise be to god 2.tavern 3.collyrium 4.visionaries
The tavern is a symbol of free-thinking, rebellion against orthodoxy. ‘surma’ – collyrium is supposed to improve sight/vision. Thus, praise be to god that the dust of court of the tavern is still the collyrium of the eyes of visionaries (who can see far).
6
zindagi kab se hai kaaNToN ki tijaarat1 se figaar2
phir bhi taKh’eel3 meN phooloN ki dukaaN hai ab tak
1.trade 2.wounded 3.imagination
For long now Life has been wounded by the trade of thorns … the give and take of daily struggle. But still, imagination has flowers on offer.
7
farKh1 par vaqt ka pathraao hai kab se jaari
zahn2 meN kaargah3-e shisha-garaaN4 hai ab tak
1.face/brow/head 2.mind 3.worshop 4.glass blowers, crystal, delicate, subtle thought
The times/critics/powerful have been casting stones at my head for long. But the mind still is a workshop of subtle thought.
8
kis se kahiye ki ba-eeN1 fikr2 mera taar-e vajood3
zaKhma4-e Ghaib5 se larzaaN6 o tapaaN7 hai ab tak
1.because of this 2.worry 3.existence, life 4.injuries/difficulties 5.unforeseen 6.trembling 7.hot, agitated
Who can I complain to, that because of these worries and unforeseen difficulties, the thread of my life trembles and is agitated.
9
kab se huN munkir1-e gulbaaNg2-e malaa’ek3 phir bhi
dil pe jibril4 ki dastak5 ka gumaaN6 hai ab tak
1.denier 2.declarations 3.angels 4.archangel Gabriel 5.knocking 6.suspicion
For long have I denied all supernatural angels and spirits, but I still suspect that archangel Gabriel knocks at the door my heart with a divine message for me to write verse.
10
kab se huN basta1-e naaqoos2 o mazaamir3-e butaaN4
phir bhi siine meN koi garm5-e azaaN6 hai ab tak
1.captivated by 2.shankh, conch shell 3.muscial instruments 4.idols, temple 5.busy/engaged in, doing 6.call for prayer
For long now, I have been captivated by the sound of the conch shell and the hymns of the temple. But still in my heart someone is engaged in reciting the azaan.
11
saKht hairaaN1 huN ke is kufr2 ke jaNgal meN bhi josh
chashm3-e yazdaaN4 meri jaanib5 nigraaN6 hai ab tak
1.perplexed 2.non-belief, transgression 3.eye 4.god 5.towards 6.keeping an eye on, protecting
I am greatly preplexed that in spite of my sins, the benevolent eye of god still looks after me.
