For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
فروزاں ہے زندگی ۔ جوشؔ ملیح آبادی
۱۱
پیہم کشاں کشان و پیاپئے رواں دواں
گرمِ تلاشِ چشمۂ حیواں ہے زندگی
۱۲
بہرِ حصول طنطنۂ حی لایموت
دیوِ اجل سے دست و گریباں ہے زندگی
۱۳
ہر بار جو الجھ کے سنورتی ہے اور بھی
نامِ خدا وہ گیسوئے پیچاں ہے زندگی
۱۴
گاہے نوائے مغبچۂ نیم آستیں
گاہے ادائے یوسفِ کنعاں ہے زندگی
۱۵
سلمے کی اوڑھنی ہے ستاروں کی چھاؤں میں
مدھ ماتیوں کی لرزِشِ مژگاں ہے زندگی
۱۶
جیسے دف و رباب سے بجتی ہوئی برات
یوں جادۂ نفس پہ خراماں ہے زندگی
۱۷
لاکھوں جگر خراش حوادث کے باوجود
بانگِ طیور و سازِ بہاراں ہے زندگی
۱۸
با وصف نالہائے سحر گاہ و آہِ شب
چنگ و ربابِ خاطرِ شاداں ہے زندگی
۱۹
تسخیرِ مہر و مہ سے بھی ہوگی نہ مطمئن
وہ آرزوئے منصبِ یزداں ہے زندگی
۲۰
اُترا ہے الغرض جو رسولِ وجود پر
اے رحلِ کائنات وہ قرآن ہے زندگی
फ़रोज़ां है ज़िंदगी – जोश मलीहआबादी
१०
देखें तो का’एनात के दामन की सिर्फ़ बेल
जांचें तो का’एनात ब-दामां है ज़िंदगी
११
पेहम कशां-कशान ओ पयापय रवां-दवां
गर्म-ए तलाश-ए चश्मा-ए हैवां है ज़िंदगी
१२
बहर-ए हुसूल-ए तन्तना-ए हय्यु-ला-यमूत
देव-ए अजल से दस्त-ओ-गरेबां है ज़िंदगी
१३
हर बार जो उलझ के संवरती है और भी
नाम-ए ख़ुदा वो गेसू-ए पेचां है ज़िंदगी
१४
गाहे नवा-ए मुग़बचा-ए नीम-आस्तीं
गाहे अदा-ए यूसुफ़-ए कन’आं है ज़िंदगी
१५
सलमे की ओढ़नी है सितारों की छांव में
मधमातियों की लर्ज़िश-ए मिज़्श्गां है ज़िंदगी
१६
जैसे दफ़ ओ रबाब से बजती हुई बरात
यूं जादा-ए नफ़स पर ख़िरामां है ज़िंदगी
१७
लाखों जिगर ख़राश हवादिस के बावजूद
बांग-ए तुयूर ओ साज़-ए बहारां है ज़िंदगी
१८
बा-वस्फ़-ए नाला’हा-ए सहर-गाह ओ आह-ए शब
चंग-ओ-रबाब-ए ख़ातिर-ए शादां है ज़िंदगी
१९
तस्ख़ीर-ए महर-ओ-मह से भी होगी न मुत्मा’इन
वो आर्ज़ू-ए मन्सब-ए यज़्दां है ज़िंदगी
२०
उतरा है अलग़रज़ जो रसूल-ए वुजूद पर
अए रहल-ए का’एनात वो क़ुर’आं है ज़िंदगी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. Here josh celebrates life because it is finite and circumscribed, but still enjoyable. In this celebration, josh defies the rather morose convention that ‘real life begins after death’. He would much rather enjoy what he has. This is a long Ghazal-numa nazm, posted in two parts for easy reading.
11
paiham1 kashaaN-kashaan2 o pa’e-aa-pa’e3 ravaaN-davaaN4
garm5-e talaash6-e chashma-e-haivaaN7 hai zindagi 1.again and again 2.pulling, attracted, lured 3.step by step 4.flowing, moving 5.enthusiastically, feverishly 6.search 7.fountain of life
Life is perpetually pulling itself forward, feverishly seeking the fountain of life, a restless, unquenchable thirst.
12
bahr1-e husuul2-e tantana3-e hayyu-laa-yamuut4
dev5-e ajal6 se dast-o-garebaaN7 hai zindagi 1.for the sake of 2.obtaining 3.glory 4.eternal, immortal 5.god 6.death 7.hand grabbing the collar, fighting
In its quest for immortal glory, life grapples with death itself, grabbing the collar of the god of death in defiant struggle.
13
har baar1 jo ulajh2 ke saNvarti3 hai aur bhi
naam-e-Khudaa4 voh gesuu5-e pechaaN6 hai zindagi 1.every time 2.entangled 3.beautified, freshened 4.in the name of god, by god 5.hair 6.curly, tangled
Every time, after getting entangled it becomes even more beautiful/well arranged. By god, life is that kind of hair.
14
gaahe1 navaa2-e muGhbacha3-e niim-aastiN4
gaahe adaa5-e yuusuf-e-kan’aaaN6 hai zindagi 1.at times 2.sound 3.trainee wine-maker/wine-server 4.half-sleeve 5.style, gestures 6.Joseph of the tribe of Canaan
Probably muGhbacha is being used as a symbol of person of low status and niim-aastiiN is added for emphasis; yuusuf-e kan’aaN symbolizes beauty and elegance. Life alternates between the half-sleeved beggar’s cry and Joseph of Canaan’s beauty and elegance, between deprivation and splendor.
15
bahr1-e husuul2-e tantana3-e hayyu-laa-yamuut4
dev5-e ajal6 se dast-o-garebaaN7 hai zindagi 1.for the sake of 2.obtaining 3.glory 4.eternal, immortal 5.god 6.death 7.hand grabbing the collar, fighting
In its quest for immortal glory, life grapples with death itself, grabbing the collar of the god of death in defiant struggle.
16
jaise daf1 o rabaab2 se bajti hui baraat3
yuN jaadah4-e nafas5 par KharaamaaN6 hai zindagi 1.cymbals 2.stringed musical instrument 3.wedding procession 4.path 5.breath, life 6.graceful walk
Life is beautiful like the music of daf o rabab of a wedding procession. It walks gracefully down the path of life/existence with celebratory rhythm.
17
laakhoN jigar-Kharaash1 havaadis2 ke baavujuud3
baaNg4-e tuyuur5 o saaz6-e bahaaraaN7 hai zindagi 1.heart-wrenching 2.calamities 3.in spite of 4.sound, song 5.birds 6.music 7.spring
Despite a million heart-wrenching calamities, life remains birdsong and spring’s melody – indestructible music rejuvenating every time.
18
baa-vasf1-e naalaa2-e sahar-gaah3 o aah-e-shab4
chaNg-o-rabaab5-e Khaatir6-e shaadaaN7 hai zindagi 1.inspite of, not withstanding 2.wail 3.dawn 4.night sigh/lament 5.harp and lute 6.heart, mind, soul 7.happiness
Even with dawn-sighs and night-laments, life plays as the happy heart’s harp and lute; celebrating and enjoying inspite of the many sorrows.
19
tasKhiir1-e mahr2 o mah3 se bhi hogi na mutma’in4
voh aarzuu5-e mansab6-e yazdaaN7 hai zindagi 1.conquest 2.sun 3.moon 4.satisfied 5.longing 6.office 7.divine
Not content with conquering sun and moon, life aspires to divine position/throne.
20
utraa hai alGharaz1 jo rasuul2-e vujuud3 par
aye rahl4-e kaa’enaat5 voh qur’aaN hai zindagi 1.in summary 2.prophet, messenger 3.existence, being 4.folding bookstand especially for the qur’aan 5.universe, cosmos
voh qur’aaN hai zindagi is used to mean life is that special qur’aan. What is meant by ‘that special’. It is the special qur’aan that descended on/was revealed to the messenger of life/existence and is placed on the rahl-e kaa’enaat the bookstand of the universe i.e., this is a sacred text of the universe; it is universal rather than limited to believers.
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. Here josh celebrates life because it is finite and circumscribed, but still enjoyable. In this celebration, josh defies the rather morose convention that ‘real life begins after death’. He would much rather enjoy what he has. This is a long Ghazal-numa nazm, posted in two parts for easy reading.
10
dekheN to kaa’enaat1 ke daaman2 ki sirf bel3
jaaaNcheN4 to kaa’enaat1 ba-damaaN5 hai zindagi
1.universe, cosmos 2.hem of the garment 3.vine, embroidery along the hem 4.examining 5.carrying/gathering in the hem, possessing
While superficially life appears as mere embroidery on the hem of the robe of the universe/existence, on closer examination you can see that life carries the universe in the hem of its garment i.e., it owns the universe.
11
paiham1 kashaaN-kashaan2 o pa’e-aa-pa’e3 ravaaN-davaaN4
garm5-e talaash6-e chashma-e-haivaaN7 hai zindagi
1.again and again 2.pulling, attracted, lured 3.step by step 4.flowing, moving 5.enthusiastically, feverishly 6.search 7.fountain of life
Life is perpetually pulling itself forward, feverishly seeking the fountain of life, a restless, unquenchable thirst.
12
bahr1-e husuul2-e tantana3-e hayyu-laa-yamuut4
dev5-e ajal6 se dast-o-garebaaN7 hai zindagi
1.for the sake of 2.obtaining 3.glory 4.eternal, immortal 5.god 6.death 7.hand grabbing the collar, fighting
In its quest for immortal glory, life grapples with death itself, grabbing the collar of the god of death in defiant struggle.
13
har baar1 jo ulajh2 ke saNvarti3 hai aur bhi
naam-e-Khudaa4 voh gesuu5-e pechaaN6 hai zindagi
1.every time 2.entangled 3.beautified, freshened 4.in the name of god, by god 5.hair 6.curly, tangled
Every time, after getting entangled it becomes even more beautiful/well arranged. By god, life is that kind of hair.
14
gaahe1 navaa2-e muGhbacha3-e niim-aastiN4
gaahe adaa5-e yuusuf-e-kan’aaaN6 hai zindagi
1.at times 2.sound 3.trainee wine-maker/wine-server 4.half-sleeve 5.style, gestures 6.Joseph of the tribe of Canaan
Probably muGhbacha is being used as a symbol of person of low status and niim-aastiiN is added for emphasis; yuusuf-e kan’aaN symbolizes beauty and elegance. Life alternates between the half-sleeved beggar’s cry and Joseph of Canaan’s beauty and elegance, between deprivation and splendor.
15
salme1 ki oRhni2 hai sitaaroN ki chhaauN3 meN
madhmaatiyoN4 ki larzish5-e mizshgaaN6 hai zindagi
1.embroidered 2.shawl, veil 3.shadow, image 4.intoxicating 5.fluttering 6.eyelashes
Life is like the bridal veil embroidered with stars. It is beautiful/intoxicating like the fluttering of the eyelashes of the beloved.
16
jaise daf1 o rabaab2 se bajti hui baraat3
yuN jaadah4-e nafas5 par KharaamaaN6 hai zindagi
1.cymbals 2.stringed musical instrument 3.wedding procession 4.path 5.breath, life 6.graceful walk
Life is beautiful like the music of daf o rabab of a wedding procession. It walks gracefully down the path of life/existence with celebratory rhythm.
17
laakhoN jigar-Kharaash1 havaadis2 ke baavujuud3
baaNg4-e tuyuur5 o saaz6-e bahaaraaN7 hai zindagi
1.heart-wrenching 2.calamities 3.in spite of 4.sound, song 5.birds 6.music 7.spring
Despite a million heart-wrenching calamities, life remains birdsong and spring’s melody – indestructible music rejuvenating every time.
18
baa-vasf1-e naalaa2-e sahar-gaah3 o aah-e-shab4
chaNg-o-rabaab5-e Khaatir6-e shaadaaN7 hai zindagi
1.inspite of, not withstanding 2.wail 3.dawn 4.night sigh/lament 5.harp and lute 6.heart, mind, soul 7.happiness
Even with dawn-sighs and night-laments, life plays as the happy heart’s harp and lute; celebrating and enjoying inspite of the many sorrows.
19
tasKhiir1-e mahr2 o mah3 se bhi hogi na mutma’in4
voh aarzuu5-e mansab6-e yazdaaN7 hai zindagi
1.conquest 2.sun 3.moon 4.satisfied 5.longing 6.office 7.divine
Not content with conquering sun and moon, life aspires to divine position/throne.
20
utraa hai alGharaz1 jo rasuul2-e vujuud3 par
aye rahl4-e kaa’enaat5 voh qur’aaN hai zindagi
1.in summary 2.prophet, messenger 3.existence, being 4.folding bookstand especially for the qur’aan 5.universe, cosmos
voh qur’aaN hai zindagi is used to mean life is that special qur’aan. What is meant by ‘that special’. It is the special qur’aan that descended on/was revealed to the messenger of life/existence and is placed on the rahl-e kaa’enaat the bookstand of the universe i.e., this is a sacred text of the universe; it is universal rather than limited to believers.
While your efforts are praiseworthy ,your selection of words needs to be as well. With all honesty, how many of your readers are able to understand such difficult and unproduceable words which you have used . Your job is to make things easier and easy to follow. This is not happening on your site as of now.
Syed Ali