For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تاج محل ۔ سکندر علی وجد
اے بارگاہِ حسنُ ترا فیضِ عام ہے
دریائے مہر و لطف رواں صبح و شام ہے
تو کشتہٗ وفا کا سہانا پیام ہے
فانی زمیں پہ نقشِ بقائے دوام ہے
جادو نگاہِ عشق کا پتھر پہ چل گیا
اُلفت کا خواب قالبِ مرمر میں ڈھل گیا
گلُ ریز رنگِ خونِ دلِ حسن کار ہے
اِس باغِ بے خزاں میں ہمیشہ بہار ہے
پانی پہ عکس قلب صفت بیقرار ہے
جمنا تیرے شباب کا آئینہ دار ہے
ہیبت سے تیری دلکشیِ بے پناہ کی
گنبد پہ کانپتی ہے کرن مہر و ماہ کی
یہ زرد و نرم دھوپ یہ پرُ کیف وقتِ شام
کندن بنے ہوے در و دیوار و سقف و بام
خورشید کر رہا ہے تجھے آخری سلام
وہ قلبِ شرق چیر کے نکلا مہ تمام
جونہی رواں سفینہ مہتاب ہو گیا
تو موج خیز قلزمِ سیم آب ہو گیا
بہزادِ عصر ہیں تیری گلکاریوں پہ دنگ
منظر کشِ بہارِ چمن ہے جبینِ سنگ
کلیوں کا وہ نکھار وہ گلہاے رنگ رنگ
فانوسِ شمع کشتہ سے لپٹے ہوے پتنگ
رنگینیاں ہیں جوہرِ اہلِ کمال کی
چھنتی ہے جالیوں سے نزاکت خیال کی
تو نقشِ آرزو ہے مجسم زمین پر
آ نکھوں نے تیرے حسن کی مئے پی ہے اِسقدر
اِک سرخوشی ہے قلب میں سرشار ہے نظر
بیٹھا ہوں پائے وقت کی آہٹ سے بیخبر
ارزاں قدم قدم پہ سکونِ حیات ہے
تیری حریمِ ناز میں دِن ہے نہ رات ہے
ताज महल – सिकन्दर अली वज्द
अय बारगाह ए हुस्न तेरा फ़ैज़-ए आम है
दरया-ए महर ओ लुत्फ़ रवां सुबह ओ शाम है
तू कुश्ता ए वफ़ा का सुहाना पयाम है
फ़ानी ज़मीं पे नक़्श-ए बक़ा-ए दवाम है
जादू निगाह-ए इश्क़ का पत्थर पे चल गया
उल्फ़त का ख़्वाब क़ालिब-ए मर मर पे चल गया
गुलरेज़ रंग-ए ख़ून-ए दिल-ए हुस्न कार है
इस बाग़-ए बे ख़िज़ां में हमेशा बहार है
पानी पे अक्स क़ल्ब सिफ़त बेक़रार है
जमना तेरे शबाब का आईना दार है
हैबत से तेरी दिलकशी-ए बे पनाह की
गुंबद पे कांपती है किरन महर ओ माह की
ये ज़र्द ओ नर्म धूप ये पुर कैफ़ वक़्त-ए शाम
कुंदन बने हुए दर ओ दीवार ओ सक़्फ़ ओ बाम
ख़ुर्शीद कर रहा है तुझे आख़री सलाम
वो क़ल्ब-ए शर्क़ चीर के निकला मह-ए तमाम
जूं ही रवां आख़री-ए महताब हो गया
तो मौज ख़ेज़ क़ुल्ज़ुम-ए सीम आब हो गया
बहज़ाद-ए अस्र हैं तेरी गुलकारियों पे दंग
मंज़र कश-ए बहार-ए चमन है जबीन-ए संग
कलियों का वो निखार वो गुल्हा-ए रंग रंग
फ़ानूस-ए शमा-ए कुश्ता से लपटे हुए पतंग
रंगीनियां हैं जौहर-ए अहल-ए कमाल की
छनती है जालियों से नज़ाकत ख़याल की
तू नक़्श-ए आर्ज़ू है मुजस्सिम ज़मीन पर
आँखों ने तेरे हुस्न की मै पी है इसक़दर
एक सरख़ुशी है क़ल्ब में सरशार है नज़र
बैठा हूं पा-ए वक़्त की आहट से बेख़बर
अरज़ां क़दम क़दम पे सुकून-ए हयात है
तेरी हरीम-ए नाज़ में दिन है न रात है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful writer from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom. This is a part of the series on taj mahal where shu’ara have written about its beauty, craftsmanship and symbolism. While a paid a full throated tribute to the workers who built the university while he was a student, here his tribute to labour and craftsmanship that went into the taj is less explicit.
aye baargaah1-e husn2 tera faiz3-e aam4 hai
darya5-e mahr-o-lutf6 ravaaN7 subah o shaam hai
tu kushta8-e vafa9 ka suhaana payaam hai
faani10 zamiN pe naqsh11-e baqa12-e davam13 hai
jadoo nigaah-e ishq ka pathhar pe chal gaya
ulfat14 ka Khwaab15 qalib16-e mar mar pe chal gaya1.shrine of 2.beauty 3.benevolence to/for 4.general, people 5.river of 6.grace and pleasure 7.flowing 8.dead – used here for rememberance 9.love 10.mortal 11.picture 12.permanence 13.eternal 14.love 15.dream, image, vision 16.heart
O, shrine of Beauty it is because of your benevolence to all that this river of grace and pleasure flows day and night. You are a heart pleasing message of rememberance of love. On this mortal earth you are the picture of immortal faith. The spell of the eye of love has worked even on stone. The vision of love cast in marble.
gulrez1 raNg-e Khoon-e dil-e husn-kaar2 hai
is baGh-e be-KhizaaN3 meN hamesha bahaar hai
pani pe aks4 qalb5 sifat6 beqaraar7 hai
jamna tere shabaab8 ka aaiina-daar9 hai
haibat10 se teri dilkashi11-e be-panaah12 ki
guNbad13 pe kaaNpti hai kiran mahr-o-maah14 ki1.scattering/speading flowers/petals 2.beauty creator, artisan 3.winterless 4.reflection 5.heart 6.with the characteristics of of, similar to 7.restless, shimmering 8.youth, beauty 9.bearer of mirror, reflecting 10. fear, awe 11.beauty 12.limitless 13.dome 14.sun and moon
It is as if the artisan has sprinkled his blood to make to make these flowery engravings. In this winterless garden there is spring forever. The waves/ripples in the river make your image shimmer like a beating heart. The Jumna holds up its mirror to reflect your beauty. In awe of your limitless beauty, rays of the sun and moon tremble on your dome.
ye zard1 o narm dhoop ye pur-kaif2 vaqt-e shaam
kundan3 bane hue dar4 o divar o saqf5 o baam6
Khurshid7 kar raha hai tujhe aaKhri salaam
vo qalb8-e sharq9 chiir ke nikla mah10-e tamaam11
jooN12 hi ravaaN13 safiina14-e mahtab15 ho gaya
to mauj-Khez16 qulzum17-e seem-aab18 ho gaya1.pale, fading, setting 2.full of pleasure 3.golden 4.door 5.ceiling 6.rooftop 7.sun 8.heart 9.east 10.moon 11.complete, full 12.as soon as 13.started (to flow, to move) 14.boat 15.full moon 16.wave creating 17.ocean 18.mercury, liquid silver
This soft, setting sunlight, this pleasant time of the evening. The walls and doors, the roof and ceiling, turned into gold, reflecting the golden rays of the setting sun. The sun giving you his parting tribute. There, tearing the heart of the east emerges the full moon. As soon as the full moon started its journey it was as if waves of silvery liquid sent ripples through marble.
bahzaad-e asr1 haiN teri gulkaariyoN2 pe daNg3
manzar-kash4-e bahaar-e chaman hai jabiin5-e saNg6
kaliyauN ka vo nikhaar7 vo gulha8-e raNg raNg
fanoos9-e shama-e kushta10 se lapTe hue pataNg11
raNginiaN haiN jauhar12-e ahl13-e kamaal14 ki
chhanti15 hai jaaliyauN16 se nazakaat17 Khyaal18 ki 1.present day bahzaad (ancient Persian painter) 2.engravings 3.awe-struck 4.scene maker, painer 5.brow 6.stone 7.freshness, blooming 8.flowers of 9.chandelier 10.extinguished 11.moth 12.qualities, excellence 13.people of 14.skill 15.filters 16. (engraved marble) screens 17.delicacy, 18.imagination
The Bahzaads of today are awe-struck by the beauty of your engravings. It is as if the brow of the stone reflects the beauty/flowers of the garden. Those fresh buds and flowers of many colours. Moths clinging to chandeliers even though their lamps have long been extinguished. Such is the colourful display of the skills of the artisans. The delicacy of their imagination filters through engraved screens of marble.
tu naqsh1-e aarzu2 hai mujassim3 zamin par
aankhauN ne tere husn ki mae4 pi hai is qadar5
ek sarKhushi6 hai qalb7 meN sarshaar8 hai nazar
baiTha huN paa9-e vaqt ki aahaT10 se beKhabar11
arzaaN12 qadam qadam pe sukoon13-e hayaat14 hai
teri hariim15-e naaz16 meN din hai na raat hai1.picture of 2.love 3.personified 4.wine 5.so much 6.elation, extreme happiness 7.heart 8.fulfilled, satiated 9.foot, foot steps 10.sound 11.unaware, oblivious 12.plentiful 13.tranquility 14.life 15.sanctum sanctorum, sanctuary 16.style, beauty
You are the picture of love, personfied on this earth. My eyes have drunk so much of the wine of your beauty that my heart is elated and my eyes are satiated. I sit gazing at you unaware of the passage of time. All around me, complete tranquility of life. In the sanctuary of your beauty, Time stands still.
tsikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful writer from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom. This is a part of the series on taj mahal where shu’ara have written about its beauty, craftsmanship and symbolism. While a paid a full throated tribute to the workers who built the university while he was a student, here his tribute to labour and craftsmanship that went into the taj is less explicit.
aye baargaah1-e husn2 tera faiz3-e aam4 hai
darya5-e mahr-o-lutf6 ravaaN7 subah o shaam hai
tu kushta8-e vafa9 ka suhaana payaam hai
faani10 zamiN pe naqsh11-e baqa12-e davam13 hai
jadoo nigaah-e ishq ka pathhar pe chal gaya
ulfat14 ka Khwaab15 qalib16-e mar mar pe chal gaya
1.shrine of 2.beauty 3.benevolence to/for 4.general, people 5.river of 6.grace and pleasure 7.flowing 8.dead – used here for rememberance 9.love 10.mortal 11.picture 12.permanence 13.eternal 14.love 15.dream, image, vision 16.heart
O, shrine of Beauty it is because of your benevolence to all that this river of grace and pleasure flows day and night. You are a heart pleasing message of rememberance of love. On this mortal earth you are the picture of immortal faith. The spell of the eye of love has worked even on stone. The vision of love cast in marble.
gulrez1 raNg-e Khoon-e dil-e husn-kaar2 hai
is baGh-e be-KhizaaN3 meN hamesha bahaar hai
pani pe aks4 qalb5 sifat6 beqaraar7 hai
jamna tere shabaab8 ka aaiina-daar9 hai
haibat10 se teri dilkashi11-e be-panaah12 ki
guNbad13 pe kaaNpti hai kiran mahr-o-maah14 ki
1.scattering/speading flowers/petals 2.beauty creator, artisan 3.winterless 4.reflection 5.heart 6.with the characteristics of of, similar to 7.restless, shimmering 8.youth, beauty 9.bearer of mirror, reflecting 10. fear, awe 11.beauty 12.limitless 13.dome 14.sun and moon
It is as if the artisan has sprinkled his blood to make to make these flowery engravings. In this winterless garden there is spring forever. The waves/ripples in the river make your image shimmer like a beating heart. The Jumna holds up its mirror to reflect your beauty. In awe of your limitless beauty, rays of the sun and moon tremble on your dome.
ye zard1 o narm dhoop ye pur-kaif2 vaqt-e shaam
kundan3 bane hue dar4 o divar o saqf5 o baam6
Khurshid7 kar raha hai tujhe aaKhri salaam
vo qalb8-e sharq9 chiir ke nikla mah10-e tamaam11
jooN12 hi ravaaN13 safiina14-e mahtab15 ho gaya
to mauj-Khez16 qulzum17-e seem-aab18 ho gaya
1.pale, fading, setting 2.full of pleasure 3.golden 4.door 5.ceiling 6.rooftop 7.sun 8.heart 9.east 10.moon 11.complete, full 12.as soon as 13.started (to flow, to move) 14.boat 15.full moon 16.wave creating 17.ocean 18.mercury, liquid silver
This soft, setting sunlight, this pleasant time of the evening. The walls and doors, the roof and ceiling, turned into gold, reflecting the golden rays of the setting sun. The sun giving you his parting tribute. There, tearing the heart of the east emerges the full moon. As soon as the full moon started its journey it was as if waves of silvery liquid sent ripples through marble.
bahzaad-e asr1 haiN teri gulkaariyoN2 pe daNg3
manzar-kash4-e bahaar-e chaman hai jabiin5-e saNg6
kaliyauN ka vo nikhaar7 vo gulha8-e raNg raNg
fanoos9-e shama-e kushta10 se lapTe hue pataNg11
raNginiaN haiN jauhar12-e ahl13-e kamaal14 ki
chhanti15 hai jaaliyauN16 se nazakaat17 Khyaal18 ki
1.present day bahzaad (ancient Persian painter) 2.engravings 3.awe-struck 4.scene maker, painer 5.brow 6.stone 7.freshness, blooming 8.flowers of 9.chandelier 10.extinguished 11.moth 12.qualities, excellence 13.people of 14.skill 15.filters 16. (engraved marble) screens 17.delicacy, 18.imagination
The Bahzaads of today are awe-struck by the beauty of your engravings. It is as if the brow of the stone reflects the beauty/flowers of the garden. Those fresh buds and flowers of many colours. Moths clinging to chandeliers even though their lamps have long been extinguished. Such is the colourful display of the skills of the artisans. The delicacy of their imagination filters through engraved screens of marble.
tu naqsh1-e aarzu2 hai mujassim3 zamin par
aankhauN ne tere husn ki mae4 pi hai is qadar5
ek sarKhushi6 hai qalb7 meN sarshaar8 hai nazar
baiTha huN paa9-e vaqt ki aahaT10 se beKhabar11
arzaaN12 qadam qadam pe sukoon13-e hayaat14 hai
teri hariim15-e naaz16 meN din hai na raat hai
1.picture of 2.love 3.personified 4.wine 5.so much 6.elation, extreme happiness 7.heart 8.fulfilled, satiated 9.foot, foot steps 10.sound 11.unaware, oblivious 12.plentiful 13.tranquility 14.life 15.sanctum sanctorum, sanctuary 16.style, beauty
You are the picture of love, personfied on this earth. My eyes have drunk so much of the wine of your beauty that my heart is elated and my eyes are satiated. I sit gazing at you unaware of the passage of time. All around me, complete tranquility of life. In the sanctuary of your beauty, Time stands still.
