For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
زندگی اور موت ۔ جوش ملیح آبادی
عصرِ حاضر
بند ٧٩
ائے حسین ائے غیرتِ حق کے امینِ ذی وقار
ائے دیارِ حرمتِ اِنساں کے واحد شہریار
ائے بہ منبر نورِ یزداں، ائے بہ میداں ذوالفقار
ہاں پکار اپنے محبوّں کو سرِ میداں پکار
نیند کے روندے ہوے غفلت شعاروں کو جھنجھوڑ
ہو چکی ہے صبح اپنے سوگواروں کو جھنجھوڑ
بند ٨٠
پھر تمدّن کی طرف پھنکار کر جھپٹے ہیں ناگ
جل رہاہے پھر عروسِ زندگی کا سہاگ
کانپتی راتیں صدائیں دے رہی ہیں آگ آگ
جاگ ائے اِبنِ علی کے نوحہ خوانِ خفتہ جاگ
اُٹھ بھڑکتی آگ کو پانی بنانے کے لئے
کربلا آئی ہے بالیں پر جگانے کے لئے
بند ٨١
ائے برادر تجھ کو اکبر کی جوانی کی قسم
جو ہوا تھا بند اُس مقتل کے پانی کی قسم
ناتواں عابد کی بیڑی کی گرانی کی قسم
زینبِ خوددار کی آتش بیانی کی قسم
غرق کر دے ہچکیاں مردانگی کے راگ میں
کود پڑ نمرودِ حاضر کی بھڑکتی آگ میں
بند ٨٢
آج پھر دنیا میں ہے انسان کی مٹیّ پلید
ڈاکووٗں کی جیب میں ہے عصرِ حاضر کی کلید
ہاں بہ جزباتِ جہاں سوز و بہ ضرباتِ شدید
آج پھر بیعت طلب ہیں عصرِ حاضر کے یزید
فوجِ باطل شاد ہے سیراب ہے خورسند ہے
ہاں پھر اہلِ حق پہ سنتے ہیں کے پانی بند ہے
بند ٨٣
وقت ہے عباّس کے مانند پھر دریا پہ جا
ہاتھ کٹ جائیں اگر تو مشک دانتوں میں دبا
اشقیا چیں بر جبیں ہیں آستینوں کو چڑھا
اپنی شمعوں کی لَوؤں پر آندھیوں کو تھرتھرا
دہر کی ٹھنڈی رگوں کو خونِ سوز و ساز دے
مرد اگر ہے تو میری آواز پر آواز دے
بند ٨٤
دہر کو گھیرے ہوے ہے شورِ طبل و برق و باد
گھر میں برپا ہے تلاطم، در پہ ہے ابنِ زیاد
فوج میری سو رہی ہے اور سر پر ہے جہاد
کس طرف یارب نکل جائے یہ عبدِ نامراد
الاماں حدّ نظر تک ہے سیاہی کیا کروں
کوئی سنتا ہی نہیں میری الٰہی کیا کروں
بند ٨٥
داورا، ہلچل ہے پھر برپا میانِ مشرقین
ہر نظر ہے ایک ماتم ہر نفس ہے ایک بئین
تخت پر سرمایہ داری ہے بصد اِجلال و زین
اور ٹس سے مس نہیں ہوتے محباّنِ حسین
ہے یہی ایمان تو ایمان کو میرا سلام
اک فقط ایمان کیا قرآن کو میرا سلام
بند ٨٦
کبریا، پروردگارا، کردگارا، داورا
کب سے میری قوم گہری نیند میں ہے مبتلا
کب سے پامالِ نفیرِ خواب ہے میری صدا
نیند آنکھوں کی اُڑا دے، جوت سینوں کی جگا
یا لگا دے سینہؑ مومن میں باغِ زندگی
یا بجھا دے ائے خدا میرا چراغِ زندگی
७९
अए हुसैन अए ग़ैरत ए हक़ के अमिन ए ज़ी वक़ार
अए दयार ए हुरमत ए इन्सां के वाहिद शहरियार
अए बा मिम्बर नूर ए यज़्दां, अए बा मैदां ज़ुल्फ़िक़ार
हां पुकार अपने मोहिब्बों को सर ए मैदां पुकार
नींद के रौंदे हुए ग़फ़लत शु’अरों को झिंझोड़
हो चुकी है सुबह अपने सोग्वारों को झिंझोड़
८०
फिर तमद्दुन की तरफ़ फुन्कार कर झपटे हैं नाग
जल रहा है फिर उरूस ए ज़िन्दगी का सोहाग
कांपती रातें सदाएं दे रही हैं आग आग
जाग अए इब्न ए अली के नौहा ख़्वान-ए ख़ुफ़्ता जाग
उठ भड़कती आग को पानी बनाने के लिए
कर्बला आई है बालीं पर जगाने के लिए
८१
अए बरदार तुझ को अकबर की जवानी की क़सम
जो हुआ था बंद उस मक़्तल के पानी की क़सम
नातवां आबिद की बेड़ी की गिरानी की क़सम
ज़ैनब ए ख़ुददार की आतिश बयानी की क़सम
ग़र्क़ कर दे हिचकियाँ मरदानगी के राग में
कूद पड़ नमरूद ए हाज़िर की भड़कती आग में
८२
आज फिर दुनिया में है इंसान की मिटटी पलीद
डाकुओं की जेब में है अस्र ए हाज़िर की कलीद
हाँ ब जज़्बात ए जहाँ सोज़ ओ ब ज़र्बात ए शदीद
आज फिर बै’अत तलब हैं अस्र ए हाज़िर के यज़ीद
फ़ौज ए बातिल शाद है सैराब है ख़ुरसन्द है
हाँ फिर अहल ए हक़ पे सुनते हैं के पानी बंद है
८३
वक़्त है अब्बास की मानिंद फिर दरिया पे जा
हाथ कट जाएं अगर तो मश्क दांतों में दबा
अश्क़िया चीं बर जबीं हैं आस्तीनों को चढ़ा
अपनी शम’ओं की लौओं पर आँधियों को थरथरा
दहर की ठंडी रगों को ख़ून ए सोज़ ओ साज़ दे
मर्द है तो मेरी आवाज़ पर आवाज़ दे
८४
दहर को घेरे हुए है शोर ए तबल ओ बर्क़ ओ बाद
घर में बरपा है तलातुम दर पे है इब्न ए ज़ियाद
फ़ौज मेरी सो रही है और सर पर है जिहाद
किस तरफ़ यारब निकल जाए ये अब्द ए नामुराद
अलअमां हद्द ए नज़र तक है सियाही क्या करूं
कोई सुनता ही नहीं मेरी, इलाही क्या करूं
८५
दावरा, हलचल है फिर बरपा मियान ए मश्रिक़ैन
हर नज़र है एक मातम हर नफ़स है एक बैन
तख़्त पर सरमायादारी है बसद इजलाल ओ ज़ैन
और टस्स से मस्स नहीं होते मोहिब्बान ए हुसैन
है यही ईमान तो ईमान को मेरा सलाम
एक फ़क़त ईमान क्या, क़ुर’आन को मेरा सलाम
८६
किब्रिया, परवरदिगारा, किर्देगारा, दावरा
कब से मेरी क़ौम गहरी नींद में है मुब्तला
कब से पामाल ए नफ़ीर ए ख़्वाब है मेरी सदा
नींद आँखों की उड़ा दे, जोत सीनों की जग
या लगा दे सीना ए मोमिन में बाग़ ए ज़िन्दगी
या बुझा दे अए ख़ुदा मेरा चिराग़ ए ज़िन्दगी
79
aye husain aye Ghairat-e-haq1 ke amin2 e zi-vaqar3
aye dayar-e-hurmat4 e insaaN ke vaahid5 shahriyar6
aye ba-mimbar7 nur-e-yazdaaN8, aye ba-maidaN9 zulfiqar10
haaN pukaar apne mohibbauN11 ko sar-e-maidaN12 pukaar
neend ke raunde13 hue Ghaflat-shu’arauN14 ko jhinjhoR
ho chuki hai subah apne sogwaarauN15 ko jhinjhoR1. dignity of righteousness 2. keeper, protector 3. honoured 4. domain/realm of respect/dignity 5.only 6. king 7. on the pulpit 8. light of god 9. in the field (of battle) 10. sword of Ali, metaphor for valour 11. (lovers) followers 12. in the front (leading) of the field (of battle) 13. trampled by sleep (uncaring) 14. lost 15. mourners
O Husain, O respected keeper of the dignity of righteousness. O the only protector of the realm of human dignity. O voice of god from the pulpit, O reflection of the Zulfiqar in battle. Call your followers, call them into the open field. Shake up those that are lost in slumber. It is morning, wake up your mourners.
80
phir tamddun1 ki taraf phunkaar kar jhapTe haiN naag
jal raha hai phir uroos2-e-zindagi ka sohaag
kaNpti raateN sadaaeN de rahi haiN aag aag
jaag aye ibn-e-ali3 ke nauha-Khwan-e-Khufta4 jaag
uTh bhaRakti aag ko paani banaane ke liye
karbala aaii hai baaleeN5 par jagaane ke liye1. culture, tradition 2. bride 3. son of Ali, Husain 4. elegy singer/mourner who is lost/asleep 5. at the head, at the door
Once again hissing snakes are headed for valued traditions. It is as if life itself is being obliterated. Trembling nights are crying out in fear. Wake up O mourner of Husain, wake up. Wake up to put out this fire. Karbala is come at the door to wake you up. There are some traditional metaphors worth commenting on. “Uroos e zindagi” is the “bride of life”. “sohaag” is its matrimonial bliss. The matrimonial bliss of the bride of life is on fire. Traditionally, this is a great catastrophe, calling upon all kinds of emotions. One of the main features of the story of Karbala is the cutting off of water to Husain and his followers. So the present order is on fire and Karbala has come to put out the fire with water! And of course, the call for the mourners to wake up and do something more than mere mourning.
81
aye baradar tujh ko akbar ki javaani ki qasam
jo hua thha band us maqtal1 ke paani ki qasam
natawaaN2 abid ki beRi3 ki giraani4 ki qasam
zainab e Khuddaar5 ki aatish-bayani6 ki qasam
Gharq7 kar de hichkiyaN mardaanagi ke raag meN
kood paR namrood-e-hazir8 ki bhaRakti aag meN1. field of slaughter (Karbala) 2. weak, ill 3. fetters, shackles 4. weight 5. self respecting, fearless, 6. fiery speech 7. drown 8. present day Nimrod
O brother, I call on you in the name of Akbar’s youth. I call you in the name of water that was denied in Karbala. I call you in the name of the heavy chains of Abid. I call you in the name of the brave Zainab of fiery speech. Drown your sobs in the song of manhood. Jump into the fire started by today’s oppressors. Akbar was Husain’s youthful son killed in battle in Karbala. Abid was his older son, who was very ill and could not participate in battle. Later he was taken prisoner and put in shackles …which were heavy. Zainab, Husain’s sister was also taken prisoner and she is reputed to have addressed the court of Yazid in fiery and defiant language which had a huge impact. Nimrod, a king in the Mesopotamian region is reported to have built a huge fire and to have thrown Abraham in it. Abraham defiantly walked into the fire and came out unscathed. Nimrod “accepted” god. Josh is using that story to suggest that present day braves (Abrahams) can come out of the fire that has been lit by present day oppressors (Nimrods) unscathed and victorious, if only they had the courage.
82
aaj phir duniya meN hai insaan ki miTTi palid1
DakuauN ki jeb meN hai asr-e-hazir2 ki kalid3
haaN ba jazbaat4 e jahaN-soz5 o ba zarbat-e-shadid6
aaj phir bai’at7 talab8 haiN asr e hazir ke Yazid
fauj e batil9 shaad10 hai sairaab11 hai Khursand12 hai
haaN phir ahl-e-haq13 pe sunte haiN ke pani band hai1. being pound into dust 2. present times 3. key 4. passions 5. setting the world on fire 6. strong blows 7. allegiance 8. demanding 9. evil 10. happy 11. quenched, fulfilled 12. satisfied 13. people of righteousness
Again today human beings are being trampled in the dust. Robbers hold the key to the wealth/prosperity of present times. And yes, with a desire burn and strike hard. Today’s Yazid’s (the rulers) are again demanding allegiance. The army of evil is happy, satiated and well fed. And yes, we hear that again water is denied to righteous people.
83
vaqt hai abbas ki maanind1 phir dariya2 pe jaa
haath kaT jaaeN agar to mashk3 daaNtauN meN daba
ashqiya4 cheeN-bar-jabeeN5 haiN aastinoN ko chaRha
apni shama’oN ki lauoN6 par aandhiyoN ko tharthara
dahar7 ki ThanDi ragauN8 ko Khoon e soz-o-saaz9 de
mard hai to meri aawaz par aawaz de1. like, in the manner of 2. river 3. water bag 4. oppressors 5. wrinkled brow, angry 6. flame 7. world, times 9. enthusiasm, passion
This is the time, go to the river like Abbas (to fetch water). If your hands are chopped off, carry the water bag in your teeth. The tyrants are about, roll up your sleeves to fight. Let your lamp face the mighty storm. Give the cold blood in the veins of the times some passion. If you are a man, then answer my call. The story of Karbala includes a legend of Abbas, the half brother of Husain and the commander of his small band. The legend has it that Abbas went to the river to fetch water in a leather water bag. He managed to get some and was fighting his way back when his hands were chopped off. He grabbed the water bad with his teeth, protected it with his body and tried to take it to the camp. Josh is calling upon his audience to follow that example and carry water in their teeth even if their hands are chopped off. In Urdu poetry the rivalry between storm and lamp is traditional. The lamp gets blown off by the storm. Josh is turning this metaphor on its head … calling upon the audience to make the storm tremble on the flame not the other way around, the flame being a metaphor for the weak in the face of the strong (storm). Josh is calling for the victory of the weak over the powerful. His call to “manhood” has to be seen in the context of the times.
84
dahr1 ko ghere hue hai shor-e-tabl2 o barq3 o baad4
ghar meN barpa hai talaatum5 dar pe hai ibn-e-ziyad6
fauj meri so rahi hai aur sar par hai jihad7
kis taraf yaarab8 nikal jaaye ye abd-e-namuraad9
alamaaN10 hadd-e-nazar11 tak hai siyaahi12 kya karooN
koi sunta hi nahiN meri ilaahi13 kya karooN1. world 2. sound of drums (of war) 3. lightning 4. storm 5. tumult, tempest 6. commander in chief of the army that killed Husain and his followers 7. struggle 8. god 9. unfortunate servant (of god)-Josh referring to himeself 11. as far as the eye can see 12. darkness 13. god
The sounds of war, thunder and lightning all around. Storm raging in the house and ibn e Ziyad at the door. My army is asleep and struggle is at hand. Where can this servant of yours turn O god. Help, there is darkness as far as I can see. Nobody listens to me any more, O god.
85
daavara1, halchal2 hai phir barpa3 miyan4 e mashriqain5
har nazar hai ek maatam har nafas6 hai ek ba’en7
taKht par sarmayadari8 hai basad9 ijlaal-o-zain10
aur Tass-se-mass11 nahiN hote mohibbaan12 e husain
hai yahi eeman13 to eeman ko mera salaam
ek faqat14 eeman kya, quran ko mera salaam1. O lord 2. turmoil 3. going on 4. between 5. east and west 6. breath 7. lament 8. capital, wealth 9. with a hundred 10. pomp and show 11. no movement 12. (lovers) followers 13. faith 14. only
O lord, there is great turmoil all over. Every sight mournful, every breath a sigh. Wealth occupies the seat of power. And the followers of Husain do not do anything. If this is faith, then goodbye to this faith. Not just faith, goodbye even to the Quraan.
86
kibriya1, parvardigara2, kirdegara3, daavara4
kab se meri qaum gahri neend meN hai mubtala5
kab se paamaal6 e nafir-e-Khwaab7 hai meri sada8
neend aankhoN ki uRaa de jot9 seenauN ki jaga
ya laga de seena-e-momin10 meN baGh-e-zindagi11
ya bujha de aye Khuda mera chiraGh-e-zindagi1. O great one 2. O nourisher 3. O who makes things happen 4. O lord 5. involved/immersed in 6. wounded, trampled 7. hatred/neglect of vision 8. sound, voice 9. jyoti, light 10. bosom of the faithful 11. garden of life
O great master, O lord, O nourisher, O sustainer, for how long now my community is deep in sleep. For how long now I am wounded for not being heard. Take this slumber out of their eyes, light a fire in their hearts. Either nourish the garden of life in their hearts or extinguish the lamp of my life.
79
aye husain aye Ghairat-e-haq1 ke amin2 e zi-vaqar3
aye dayar-e-hurmat4 e insaaN ke vaahid5 shahriyar6
aye ba-mimbar7 nur-e-yazdaaN8, aye ba-maidaN9 zulfiqar10
haaN pukaar apne mohibbauN11 ko sar-e-maidaN12 pukaar
neend ke raunde13 hue Ghaflat-shu’arauN14 ko jhinjhoR
ho chuki hai subah apne sogwaarauN15 ko jhinjhoR
1. dignity of righteousness 2. keeper, protector 3. honoured 4. domain/realm of respect/dignity 5.only 6. king 7. on the pulpit 8. light of god 9. in the field (of battle) 10. sword of Ali, metaphor for valour 11. (lovers) followers 12. in the front (leading) of the field (of battle) 13. trampled by sleep (uncaring) 14. lost 15. mourners
O Husain, O respected keeper of the dignity of righteousness. O the only protector of the realm of human dignity. O voice of god from the pulpit, O reflection of the Zulfiqar in battle. Call your followers, call them into the open field. Shake up those that are lost in slumber. It is morning, wake up your mourners.
80
phir tamddun1 ki taraf phunkaar kar jhapTe haiN naag
jal raha hai phir uroos2-e-zindagi ka sohaag
kaNpti raateN sadaaeN de rahi haiN aag aag
jaag aye ibn-e-ali3 ke nauha-Khwan-e-Khufta4 jaag
uTh bhaRakti aag ko paani banaane ke liye
karbala aaii hai baaleeN5 par jagaane ke liye
1. culture, tradition 2. bride 3. son of Ali, Husain 4. elegy singer/mourner who is lost/asleep 5. at the head, at the door
Once again hissing snakes are headed for valued traditions. It is as if life itself is being obliterated. Trembling nights are crying out in fear. Wake up O mourner of Husain, wake up. Wake up to put out this fire. Karbala is come at the door to wake you up. There are some traditional metaphors worth commenting on. “Uroos e zindagi” is the “bride of life”. “sohaag” is its matrimonial bliss. The matrimonial bliss of the bride of life is on fire. Traditionally, this is a great catastrophe, calling upon all kinds of emotions. One of the main features of the story of Karbala is the cutting off of water to Husain and his followers. So the present order is on fire and Karbala has come to put out the fire with water! And of course, the call for the mourners to wake up and do something more than mere mourning.
81
aye baradar tujh ko akbar ki javaani ki qasam
jo hua thha band us maqtal1 ke paani ki qasam
natawaaN2 abid ki beRi3 ki giraani4 ki qasam
zainab e Khuddaar5 ki aatish-bayani6 ki qasam
Gharq7 kar de hichkiyaN mardaanagi ke raag meN
kood paR namrood-e-hazir8 ki bhaRakti aag meN
1. field of slaughter (Karbala) 2. weak, ill 3. fetters, shackles 4. weight 5. self respecting, fearless, 6. fiery speech 7. drown 8. present day Nimrod
O brother, I call on you in the name of Akbar’s youth. I call you in the name of water that was denied in Karbala. I call you in the name of the heavy chains of Abid. I call you in the name of the brave Zainab of fiery speech. Drown your sobs in the song of manhood. Jump into the fire started by today’s oppressors. Akbar was Husain’s youthful son killed in battle in Karbala. Abid was his older son, who was very ill and could not participate in battle. Later he was taken prisoner and put in shackles …which were heavy. Zainab, Husain’s sister was also taken prisoner and she is reputed to have addressed the court of Yazid in fiery and defiant language which had a huge impact. Nimrod, a king in the Mesopotamian region is reported to have built a huge fire and to have thrown Abraham in it. Abraham defiantly walked into the fire and came out unscathed. Nimrod “accepted” god. Josh is using that story to suggest that present day braves (Abrahams) can come out of the fire that has been lit by present day oppressors (Nimrods) unscathed and victorious, if only they had the courage.
82
aaj phir duniya meN hai insaan ki miTTi palid1
DakuauN ki jeb meN hai asr-e-hazir2 ki kalid3
haaN ba jazbaat4 e jahaN-soz5 o ba zarbat-e-shadid6
aaj phir bai’at7 talab8 haiN asr e hazir ke Yazid
fauj e batil9 shaad10 hai sairaab11 hai Khursand12 hai
haaN phir ahl-e-haq13 pe sunte haiN ke pani band hai
1. being pound into dust 2. present times 3. key 4. passions 5. setting the world on fire 6. strong blows 7. allegiance 8. demanding 9. evil 10. happy 11. quenched, fulfilled 12. satisfied 13. people of righteousness
Again today human beings are being trampled in the dust. Robbers hold the key to the wealth/prosperity of present times. And yes, with a desire burn and strike hard. Today’s Yazid’s (the rulers) are again demanding allegiance. The army of evil is happy, satiated and well fed. And yes, we hear that again water is denied to righteous people.
83
vaqt hai abbas ki maanind1 phir dariya2 pe jaa
haath kaT jaaeN agar to mashk3 daaNtauN meN daba
ashqiya4 cheeN-bar-jabeeN5 haiN aastinoN ko chaRha
apni shama’oN ki lauoN6 par aandhiyoN ko tharthara
dahar7 ki ThanDi ragauN8 ko Khoon e soz-o-saaz9 de
mard hai to meri aawaz par aawaz de
1. like, in the manner of 2. river 3. water bag 4. oppressors 5. wrinkled brow, angry 6. flame 7. world, times 9. enthusiasm, passion
This is the time, go to the river like Abbas (to fetch water). If your hands are chopped off, carry the water bag in your teeth. The tyrants are about, roll up your sleeves to fight. Let your lamp face the mighty storm. Give the cold blood in the veins of the times some passion. If you are a man, then answer my call. The story of Karbala includes a legend of Abbas, the half brother of Husain and the commander of his small band. The legend has it that Abbas went to the river to fetch water in a leather water bag. He managed to get some and was fighting his way back when his hands were chopped off. He grabbed the water bad with his teeth, protected it with his body and tried to take it to the camp. Josh is calling upon his audience to follow that example and carry water in their teeth even if their hands are chopped off. In Urdu poetry the rivalry between storm and lamp is traditional. The lamp gets blown off by the storm. Josh is turning this metaphor on its head … calling upon the audience to make the storm tremble on the flame not the other way around, the flame being a metaphor for the weak in the face of the strong (storm). Josh is calling for the victory of the weak over the powerful. His call to “manhood” has to be seen in the context of the times.
84
dahr1 ko ghere hue hai shor-e-tabl2 o barq3 o baad4
ghar meN barpa hai talaatum5 dar pe hai ibn-e-ziyad6
fauj meri so rahi hai aur sar par hai jihad7
kis taraf yaarab8 nikal jaaye ye abd-e-namuraad9
alamaaN10 hadd-e-nazar11 tak hai siyaahi12 kya karooN
koi sunta hi nahiN meri ilaahi13 kya karooN
1. world 2. sound of drums (of war) 3. lightning 4. storm 5. tumult, tempest 6. commander in chief of the army that killed Husain and his followers 7. struggle 8. god 9. unfortunate servant (of god)-Josh referring to himeself 11. as far as the eye can see 12. darkness 13. god
The sounds of war, thunder and lightning all around. Storm raging in the house and ibn e Ziyad at the door. My army is asleep and struggle is at hand. Where can this servant of yours turn O god. Help, there is darkness as far as I can see. Nobody listens to me any more, O god.
85
daavara1, halchal2 hai phir barpa3 miyan4 e mashriqain5
har nazar hai ek maatam har nafas6 hai ek ba’en7
taKht par sarmayadari8 hai basad9 ijlaal-o-zain10
aur Tass-se-mass11 nahiN hote mohibbaan12 e husain
hai yahi eeman13 to eeman ko mera salaam
ek faqat14 eeman kya, quran ko mera salaam
1. O lord 2. turmoil 3. going on 4. between 5. east and west 6. breath 7. lament 8. capital, wealth 9. with a hundred 10. pomp and show 11. no movement 12. (lovers) followers 13. faith 14. only
O lord, there is great turmoil all over. Every sight mournful, every breath a sigh. Wealth occupies the seat of power. And the followers of Husain do not do anything. If this is faith, then goodbye to this faith. Not just faith, goodbye even to the Quraan.
86
kibriya1, parvardigara2, kirdegara3, daavara4
kab se meri qaum gahri neend meN hai mubtala5
kab se paamaal6 e nafir-e-Khwaab7 hai meri sada8
neend aankhoN ki uRaa de jot9 seenauN ki jaga
ya laga de seena-e-momin10 meN baGh-e-zindagi11
ya bujha de aye Khuda mera chiraGh-e-zindagi
1. O great one 2. O nourisher 3. O who makes things happen 4. O lord
5. involved/immersed in 6. wounded, trampled 7. hatred/neglect of vision
8. sound, voice 9. jyoti, light 10. bosom of the faithful 11. garden of life
O great master, O lord, O nourisher, O sustainer, for how long now my community is deep in sleep. For how long now I am wounded for not being heard. Take this slumber out of their eyes, light a fire in their hearts. Either nourish the garden of life in their hearts or extinguish the lamp of my life.
