Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. panDit labhuram josh malsiani (1884-1976) from malsian in the now pakistani side of punjab migrated to India a little before partition/independence. He has written with great feeling about communal harmony and about the loss of his homeland – pakistan. This poem, of a clearly islamic theme, is written in the genre of ‘salaam’ and is a tribute to the commander of husain’s small band of followers in the battle of karbala. It is steeped in shia belief and terminology that could have been learnt only through intimate contact and exposure.
1
lo aa gaye abbas-e-dilaavar¹ lab-e-darya²
lo teGh³-e adu⁴ rah gaii kaT kar lab-e darya    1.abbas the brave 2.bank of the river 3.sword 4.enemy
‘dilaavar’ is a commonly used adjective for husain’s half brother, abbas who was also the commander of the small band of fighters. He has fought his way and arrived at the bank of the river. Also in karbala tradition, the fight/sacrifice is depicted as a spiritual victory even if they were killed. Thus, the sword of the enemy was cut up.
2
kahte the har ek mauj¹ ke taivar² lab-e darya
toofaan³ uThaayeN na sitamgar⁴ lab-e darya  1.waves 2.style, posture 3.storm (of cruelty) 4.oppressors
Even the river is depicted as expressing sympathy for husain and his followers. The posture of the waves of the river (for example beating their head against the sand in sorrow) shows that they (the waves) are praying/hoping that the oppressors will not raise a storm of cruelty against husain.
3
paani bhi kisi ko na diya ahl-e-sitam¹ ne
pyaase the bahattar² ke bahattar lab-e darya    1.people of cruelty, oppressors 2.seventy two
It is commonly believed that husain had only 72 followers left with him on the day of the battle. The oppressors denied even water and 72 were thirsty, even though they were at the bank of a river.
4
girdaab¹ bhi aa’da² se ye kahta tha ba-aavaaz³
chalta hai ye taqdir⁴ ka chakkar⁵ lab-e darya    1.whirlpool 2.enemy 3.loudly 4.fate 5.wheel, troublesome mess
Just like the waves, whirlpools/eddies of the river are also depicted as sympathetic to husain and his followers. Their rotation shows clearly and loudly that this is the cycle of fate … it is written that virtue will triumph (spiritually) over evil.
5
kya tishnagi¹-e shauq²-e shahaadat³ thi ke abbas
pyaase hi palaT aaye pahuNch kar lab-e darya    1.thirst 2.desire 3.martyrdom
Their willingness to die for the cause is presented as a thirst/desire for martyrdom. This desire was so strong that even though abbas reached the river, he turned back without drinking water. The more common belief is that he turned back without drinking water because he was thinking of thirsty children and could not possibly drink himself without first providing them with water.
6
dushman ki safeN¹ darham² o barham³ thiiN kuchh aisi
shabbir⁴ pahuNch jaate the aksar⁵ lab-e darya    1.lines, files (of soldiers) 2.confused 3.disorderly 4.another name of husain 5.often, frequently
Interpreting this she’r requires considerable liberties. There is no story even in folklore of husain getting to the river bank often, even though there is plenty about the confusion and disorderliness of the enemy lines (because of the virtuous standing of husain and the bravery of his followers). So, I interpret the second misra to mean that he “could have” reached the bank of the river but did not. Thus, enemy lines were so confused and disorderly that husain could have reached the river bank, but chose not to.
7
is Gham¹ se ke bachchauN ko bhi milta nahiN pani
rah jaati thi har mauj² taRap³ kar lab-e darya 1.sorrow 2.waves 3.writhing (in pain)
Once again, waves are depicted as showing sympathy for husain and his family and followers. They are sorrowful that even children are unable to get water and this makes them writhe in pain at the bank of the river.
8
ek samt¹ faqat² chand³ nufoos⁴ aur vo pyaase
ek samt hazaarauN ke ye lashkar⁵ lab-e darya     1.direction, side 2.only 3.a few 4.souls 5.army
On one side only a few souls and even they were thirsty. On the other side an army of thousands.
9
vo sard-mizaajauN¹ ke mazaalim² sar-e maidaaN³
vo garmi⁴-e haNgaama-e-mahshar⁵ lab-e darya   1.cold hearted, cruel 2.cruelties 3.(battle) field 4.activity, confusion 5.time of doomsday
Such were the cruelties of the oppressors on the battlefield that the confusion looked like doomsday.
10
mashkeeza¹-e be-aab² alamdaar⁴ ki roodaad⁵
kuchchh bar-lab⁶-e soofaar⁷ hai, kuchchh bar-lab-e darya    1.leather water bag 2.water-less 3.flag bearer, commander, a name used for abbas 5.story 6.on the lips of 7.the root of the arrow that engages with the string of the bow
The story of karbala is that abbas fought his way to the river, filled the water bag and turned back, protecting the bag with his shield, opening himself up to attack. Eventually, arrow pierced the water bag and water drained out. The hapless story of the water-less bag of abbas can be heard partly from the arrow and partly from the river bank.
11
kis dil se sune un ki museebat koii aye josh¹
pyaase hi jo mar jaayeN taRap kar lab-e darya    1.pen name of the poet labhuram (1884-1976). Note that josh malihabadi (1898-1982) also had the same taKhallus
O, josh, how can I brave my heart to hear the travails of those who died thirsty at the bank of the river.