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Recitation
لکشمی جی ۔ دُرگا سہائے سرور جہان آبادی
۱
سُبھ مہورت وہ عجب تھی، وہ عجب سُبھ تھی لگن
کہ جب آکاش سے اُترا تھا ترا سنگھاسن
نظر آئی تری صورت میں عجب حُسن کی جوت
تو نے دیوی ہمیں اپنے جو دکھائے درشن
شعلۂ حسنِ دل اَفروز بھڑک اُٹھتا تھا
رُخِ روشن پہ جو پڑ جاتی تھی سورج کی کرن
۲
ترچھی بانکیں وہ کمانیں تھیں کڑی دونوں بھویں
لئے پھرتے تھے کبھی بن میں جنھیں رام و لکھن
تیرے ماتھے پہ تھا چندن کا لگایا ٹیکا
اپسراؤں نے کیا تھا ترے رُخ پر اُبٹن
رُخِ تاباں پہ برستا تھا ترے نورِ ازل
بن کے ساون کی جھڑی اور کبھی بھادوں کی بھرن
۳
کوکلِا سی وہ تری ہائے سریلی آواز
میٹھے میٹھے ترے ڈوبے ہوئے امرت میں بچن
گوری گوری تھی جبیں بِرج کی سُندر کوئی نار
زُلف تھی یا کوئی متھرا کی سکھی شام برن
تو اِس ناز و ادا سے جو زمیں پر اُتری
دیکھنے والوں نے جھُک کھُک کے لئے تیرے چرن
۴
اہلِ نظّارہ سے تصویر تری بول اُٹھی
لکشمی ہوں، تمہیں دینے کو ہوں آئی درشن
آہ! اے عِفّت و عِصمت کی مجسّم دیوی
میرا منھ کیا ہے کروں جو تری مہِما برنن
تو وہ مورت تھی کہ اے لعبُتِ زیبا تمثال
سب سے پہلے ترا بھارت میں ہوا استھاپن
۵
سب سے پہلے تھی جو رُشیوں کی زمیں پر چمکی
وہ ترے حسن کی ضو تھی ترے جلوہ کی کرن
جاتری آتے تھے دیوی تری جھانکی کے لئے
دھوم متھرا سے جو تھی حُسن کی تا بندرابن
جوت اِس روپ سے تیری نظر آئی ہم کو
ہم یہ سمجھے، ہوئے ہردوار میں ہر کے درشن
۶
گھی کے پریاگ میں جلتے تھے اِدھر آہ چراغ
کاشی والے تھے اُدھر تیری عبادت میں مگن
الغرض ایک چراغاں کا تھا عالم ہر سُو
روز و شب نور برستا تھا زمیں پر چھن چھن
آہ! سونے کی تھی لنکا کبھی بھارت کی زمیں
بھاگوان ایسے عجب کچھ ترے دیوی تھے چرن
۷
سونے چاندی کے شگفتہ تھے ہر اک نخل میں پھول
آبِ زر سے تری رحمت نے تھا سینچا یہ چمن
وہی مِٹّی ہے یہ پارس کا اثر تھا جس میں
وہی ذرّے ہیں چمکتے تھے جو بن کر کندن
شان اگلی سی مگر آہ کہاں اب اُن میں
نہ وہ ضو ہے نہ تجلّی نہ وہ تاثیرِ کہن
۸
تیل بھی اب نہیں بھارت کے چراغوں کو نصیب
ہائے وہ دن! کہ دئے گھی کے تھے گھر گھر روشن
تیرے مندر میں نہ بتّی نہ دیا ہے افسوس
آہ! دیوی ترا سُونا ہے پڑا سنگھاسن
نظر آتی نہیں اب ہم کو تجلّی تیری
لگ گیا چاند سے رُخ کو ترے کیا آہ! گہن
۹
نہیں ملتے کہیں ہم کو ترے قدموں کے نشاں
جُستجُو میں تری برسوں سے ہیں پھِرتے بن بن
کنج گلیوں میں بھی متھرا کے نہ پایا تجھ کو
نظر آئے کہیں گوکل میں نہ تیرے درشن
جذبۂ شوق ترا ہم کو لئے پھرتا ہے
کبھی کاشی، کبھی پریاگ، کبھی بندرابن
۱۰
ہم وہ مشتاقِ زیارت ہیں کہ جوگی بن کر
رہگذر میں ہیں جمائے ہوئے بیٹھے آسن
ایک بار اور دکھا جا ہمیں درشن اپنے
ارپن آہ! ہے دیوی! ترے سب تن من دھن
گرچہ برسوں سے نہیں جلوہ فزائی تیری
اب بھی دھندلا سا دیا ہے ترے مَٹھ میں روشن
۱۱
اب بھی دیوالی کو جلتے ہیں تیرے آہ! چراغ
اب بھی بھارت میں ہے دیوی تیرے پوجا کا چلن
اب بھی مندر میں ترے گھِستے ہیں ماتھا اپنا
تیری تقدیس کی ہم جپتے ہیں اب بھی سمرن
ڈھونڈتے پھرتے ہیں ہر سُو تجھے بھارت باسی
کبھی پورب، کبھی پچّھم، کبھی اُتّر دکّھن
۱۲
تیرے مندر کے پجاری ہیں دیا کر اِن پر
کہ یہ بیراگ لئے پھرتے ہیں تیرے کارن
تیرے چرنوں میں ہیں یہ سیس نوانے والے
تک رہے راہ تری دے اِنہیں ماتا درشن
خوش نصیب آہ! ہے وہ قوم جہاں ضو ہے تری
بھاگ اُس دیس کے جس دیس میں ہیں تیرے چرن
लक्ष्मी जी – दुर्गा सहाय सुरूर जहानाबादी
१
सुभ महूरत वो अजब थी, वो अजब सुभ थी लगन
के जब आकाश से उतरा था तेरा सिंघासन
नज़र आई तेरी सूरत में अजब हुस्न कि जोत
तू ने देवी हमें अपने जो दिखाए दर्शन
शोला-ए हुस्न-ए दिल-अफ़्रोज़ भढक उठता था
रुख़-ए रौशन पे जो पढ जाती थी सूरज की किरन
२
तिर्छि बांकी वो कमानें थीं कढि दोनों भवें
लिए फिरते थे कभी बन में जिन्हें राम ओ लखन
तेरे माथे पे था चंदन का लगाया टीका
अप्सराओं ने किया था तेरे रुख़ पर उब्टन
रुख़-ए ताबां पे बरसता था तेरे नूर-ए अज़ल
बन के सावन की झढि और कभी भादों कि भरन
३
कोकिला सी वो तेरी हाए सुरेली आवाज़
मीठे मीठे तेरे डूबे हुए अम्रत में बचन
गोरी गोरी थी जबीं बिर्ज कि सुंदर कोई नार
ज़ुल्फ़ थी या कोई मथुरा की सखी शाम बरन
तु इस नाज़ ओ अदा से जो ज़मीं पर उतरी
देखने वालौं ने झुक झुक के लिए तेरे चरन
४
अहल-ए नज़्ज़ारा से तस्वीर तेरी बोल उठी
लक्ष्मी हूँ, तुम्हें देने को हूँ आई दर्शन
आह! अए इफ़्फ़त ओ इस्मत की मुजस्सम देवी
मेरा मुंह क्या है करूँ जो तेरी महिमा बरनन
तू वो मूरत थी के अए लुब’अत-ए ज़ेबा-तिम्साल
सब से पहले तेरा भारत में हुआ स्थापन
५
सब से पहले थी जो रुशियौं की ज़मीं पर चम्की
वो तेरे हुस्न की ज़ौ थी तेरे जल्वे की किरन
जात्री आते थे देवी तेरी झांकि के लिए
धूम मथुरा से जो थी हुस्न की ता बिंद्राबन
जोत इस रूप से तेरी नज़र आई हम को
हम ये समझे, हुए हरद्वार में हर के दर्शन
६
घी के पर्याग में जलते थे इधर आह चिराग़
काशी वाले थे उधर तेरी इबादत में मगन
अल्ग़रज़ एक चिराग़ां का था आलम हर सू
रोज़ ओ शब नूर बरसता था ज़मीं पर छन छन
आह! सोने की थी लंका कभी भारत कि ज़मीं
भागवान ऐसे अजब कुछ तेरे देवी थे चरन
७
सोने चाँदी के शगुफ़्ता थे हर एक नख़्ल में फूल
आब-ए ज़र से तेरी रहमत ने था सींचा ये चमन
वही मिट्टि है ये पारस का असर था जिस में
वही ज़र्रे हैं चमकते थे जो बन कर कुंदन
शान अग्ली सी मगर आह कहां अब उन में
ना वो ज़ौ है ना तजल्ली ना वो तासीर-ए कोहन
८
तेल भी अब नहीं भारत के चराग़ौं को नसीब
हाए वो दिन! के दिए घी के थे घर घर रौशन
तेरे मंदिर में ना बत्ती ना दिया है अफ़्सोस
आह! देवी तेरा सूना है पढा सिंघासन
नज़र आती नहीं अब हम को तजल्ली तेरी
लग गया चाँद से रुख़ को तेरे क्या आह! गहन
९
नही मिल्ते कहीं हम को तेरे क़द्मौं के निशां
जुस्तजू में तेरी बर्सौं से हैं फिरते बन बन
कुंज गलियौं में भी मथुरा के ना पाया तुझ को
नज़र आए कहिं गोकुल में ना तेरे दर्शन
जज़्बा-ए शौक़ तेरा हम को लिए फिरता है
कभी काशी, कभी पर्याग, कभी बिंद्राबन
१०
हम वो मुश्ताक़-ए ज़ियारत हैं के जोगी बन कर
रहगुज़र में हैं जमाए हुए बैठे आसन
एक बार और दिखा जा हमें दर्शन अपने
अर्पन आह! है देवी! तेरे सब तन मन धन
गरचे बर्सौं से नहीं जल्वा फ़िज़ाई तेरी
अब भी धुंद्ला सा दिया है तेरे मठ में रौशन
११
अब भी दीवाली को जलते हैं तेरे आह! चिराग़
अब भी भारत में है देवी तेरी पूजा का चलन
अब भी मंदिर में तेरे घिसते हैं माथा अपना
तेरी तक़्दीस कि हम जप्ते हैं अब भी समरन
ढून्ढते फिरते हैं हर सू तुझे भारत बासी
कभी पूरब, कभी पच्छिम, कभी उत्तर दक्खन
१२
तेरे मंदिर के पुजारी हैं दया कर इन पर
के ये बैराग लिए फिरते हैं तेरे कारन
तेरे चर्नौं में हैं ये सीस नवाने वाले
तक रहे राह तेरी दे इन्हें माता दर्शन
ख़ुश नसीब आह! है वो क़ौम जहां ज़ौ है तेरी
भाग उस देस के जिस देस में हैं तेरे चरन
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. durga sahay suroor jahanabadi (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking. Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor. He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli. This is an ode to lakshmi, the hindu godess of prosperity. In some places, the poet uses her as a symbol of India, under British occupation. This is a slightly abbreviated version of a long nazm.
1
subh1 mahoorat vo ajab thi, vo ajab subh thi lagan
ke jab aakaash2 se utra tha tera siNghaasan3
nazar aaii teri soorat meN ajab husn ki jot4
tu ne devi hameN apne jo dikhaaye darshan5
shola6-e husn7-e dil-afroz8 bhaRak uThta tha
rukh-e-raushan9 pe jo paR jaati thi sooraj ki kiran 1.shubh-good omen 2.sky 3.throne 4.jyoti-brilliance 5.manifestation 6.flame 7.beauty 8.heart pleasing 9.shining visage/face
It was a good omen, a fascinating time, when your throne descended from the sky. The brilliance of an enchanting beauty could be seen in your face when you, godess, showed us your manifestation. Whenever rays of the sun glanced off your shining face, a heat-pleasing flame of beauty would burst forth.
2
tirchhi baaNki vo kamaaneN theeN kaRi donoN bhaveN
liye phirtay the kabhi ban1 meN jinheN raam o lakhan2
tere maathe pe tha chandan3 ka lagaaya Teeka4
apsaraaoN5 ne kya tha tere ruKh6 par ubTan7
ruKh-e-taabaN8 pe barasta tha tere noor-e-azal9
ban ke saavan ki jhaRi aur kabhi bhaadoN ki bharan .forest 2.lakshman, ram’s brother 3.sandal paste 4.ritual mark on the brow 5.angels 6.face 7.face scrub, rouge 8.shining face 9.eternal light
The arched eyebrows of lakshmi are compated to the archery bows carried in the jungle by ram and lakshman. Her forehead had a mark of sandalwood paste and her face had been adorned by angels. “Eternal brilliance” rained down from face, sometimes like a spring drizzle at other times like a downpour of the rainy season.
3
kokila1 si vo teri haa’e sureli aawaz
meeThe meeThe tere Doobe hue amrat2 meN bachan3
gori gori thi jabiN4 birj5 ki sundar koi naar6
zulf7 thi ya koi mathura8 ki sakhi9 shaam-baran10
tu is naaz11 o ada12 se jo zamiN par utri
dekhnay vaaloN ne jhuk jhuk ke liye tere charan13 1.koel, lark 2.elixir, nectar 3.vachan, words 4.brow 5.brij-bhoomi, land of krishn 6.woman 7.hair 8.krishn’s kingdom 9.woman friend probably ‘gopi’, a consort of krishn 10.shyaam varn – dark colour 11.pride, pomp 12.style 13.feet
Your words, musical like the kook of the koel, sweet as if dipped in nectar. Your fair brow like that of beautiful women of brij-bhoomi. Your hair, dark like those of the gopi of mathura. You came down to earth with such pomp and style that all those who could see, bowed down to touch your feet.
4
ahl-e-nazzaara1 se tasveer teri bol uThee
lakshmi huN, tumheN dene ko huN aayi darshan2
aah! aye iffat3 o ismat4 ki mujassam5 devi
mera muNh kya hai karooN jo teri mahima6 barnan7
tu vo murat8 thi ke aye lo’but9 zeba-timsaal10
sab se pahle tera bharat meN hua sthaapan11 1.people who could see 2.viewing, manifestation 3.piety 4.virtuous 5.embodiment 6.glory 7.description 8.idol 9.picture 10.exemplary beauty 11.establishment, installation
Your appearance announced to the onlookers, “I am lakshmi, I have come here so you can see my glory”. O, godess, the embodiment of piety and virtue. I do not have the tongue to describe your glory. You are an idol of exemplary beauty who first made her appearance in India.
5
sab se pahle thi jo rushiyauN1 ki zamiN par chamki
vo tere husn ki zau2 thi tere jalve3 ki kiran
jaatri4 aate the devi teri jhaaNki5 ke liye
dhoom mathura se jo thi husn ki taa6 bindraban
jot7 is roop8 se teri nazar aayi hum ko
hum yeh samjhay, hue hardwaar9 meN har10 ke darshan 1.ascetics, hermits 2.light 3.face, beauty 4.travelers, pilgrims 5.glimpse 6.until, to 7.jyoti, light 8.shape 9.literally, door to god, name of a city 10.hari, god
The first glow that shone on the land of hermits was the beauty of your brilliance, the ray of light of your beauty. Pilgrims came to get a glimpse of you, O, godess. The fame of your beauty spread from mathura to brindavan. We saw your light in a such a way that we thought it was a glimpse of god from hardwaar.
6
ghee ke paryaag meN jalte the idhar aah chiraaGh
kaashi vaale the udhar teri ibaadat1 meN magan
alGharaz2 ek chiraaGhaaN3 ka tha aalam4 har soo5
roz-o-shab6 noor barasta tha zamiN par chhan chhan
aah! sone ki thi laNka kabhi bharat ki zamiN
bhaagwaan7 aise ajab kuchh tere devi the charan8 1.worship 2.in summary 3.celebration 4.condition, atmosphere 5.direction 6.day and night 7.lucky, blessed 8.feet
Lamps of ghee burned in prayaag (city at the junction of gaNga and jumna). The people of kaashi were engorssed/happy in worshipping you. In summary, there was an atmosphere of celebration all around. Day and night, blessed light rained down on earth. O, the soil of bharat and lanka was sprinkled with gold, such good luck did your feet bring to this land.
7
sone chaandi ke shagufta1 the har ek naKhl2 meN phool
aab-e-zar3 se teri rahmat4 ne tha seeNcha5 ye chaman
vahi miTTi hai ye paaras6 ka asar7 tha jis meN
vahi zarre haiN chamakte the jo ban kar kundan8
shaan agli9 si magar aah kahaaN ab un meN
na voh zau10 hai na tajalli11 na vo taaseer-e-kohan12 1.blossoming 2.tree 3.golden water 4.benevolence 5.watered 6.legendary stone that converts base metal to gold 7.effect 8.gold 9.past 10.light 11.brilliance 12.effect of days gone by
On every tree, flowers of gold and silver blossomed. Your benevolence had irrigated this land with golden water. This is the same earth that once coverted everything to gold. These are the same grains of sand that once shown with golden hue. But no longer do they have the glory of the past, not that brilliance or glow, nor the effect of days gone by.
8
tel bhi ab nahiN bharat ke charaGhoN ko naseeb1
haaye vo din! ke diye ghee ke the ghar ghar raushan
tere mandir meN na batti2 na diya3 hai afsos4
aah! devi tera soona hai paRa siNghaasan5
nazar aati nahiN ab hum ko tajalli6 teri
lag gaya chaand se ruKh ko tere kya aah! gahan7 1.granted, fated 2.wick 3.lamp 4.alas 5.throne 6.brilliance 7.eclipse
The lamps of bharat do not even have oil in their fate. O, for those days when lamps of ghee lit up every home. There is no lamp, not even a wick in your temple, godess. Alas, your throne is desolate. We do not see your brilliance any more. Alas, your moon-like face is eclipsed.
9
nahiN milte kahiN hum ko tere qadmoN1 ke nishaaN
justajoo2 meN teri barsoN se haiN phirte ban3 ban
kunj galiyoN meN bhi mathura ke na paaya tujh ko
nazar aaye kahiN gokul4 meN na tere darshan5
jazba6-e shauq7 tera hum ko liye phirta hai
kabhi kaashi, kabhi paryaag, kabhi bindraban 1.steps 2.search 3.jungle 4.krishna’s village 5.manifestation 6.emotion, passion 7.love
We no longer find your footprints. We have searched for years from wilderness to wilderness. Even in the narrow streets of mathura did we not see you, nor manifestation was seen in gokul. Our love for you carried us to kaashi, prayaag and brindavan all to no avail.
10
hum vo mushtaaq-e-ziyaarat1 haiN ke jogi2 ban kar
rahguzar3 meN haiN jamaaye hue baiThe aasan4
ek baar aur dikha ja hameN darshan apne
arpan5 aah! hai devi! tere sab tan man dhan
garche6 barsoN se nahiN jalva-fizaaii7 teri
ab bhi dhundla sa diya hai tere maTh8 meN raushan 1.desirous of sighting 2.hermits 3.path 4.posture (prayerful) 5.offering 6.even though 7.beauty-increasing 8.monastery
We are so desirous of seeing you that we have become hermits sitting in your (expected) path, assuming a prayerful posture. Show us your manifestation one more time. We are ready to make an offering of all we have, body, soul and possessions. Even though we have not seen your glory for many years, a faint lamp (of hope) still burns.
11
ab bhi diivaali ko jalte haiN tere aah! chiraaGh
ab bhi bharat meN hai devi teri pooja ka chalan
ab bhi mandir meN tere ghiste haiN maatha1 apna
teri taqdees2 ki hum japte3 haiN ab bhi samran4
DhoonDte phirte haiN har soo5 tujhe bharat-baasi6
kabhi purab, kabhi pachhim, kabhi uttar dakkhan 1.forehead 2.sanctity, divinity 3.click, count (rosary beads) 4.chanting 5.direction 6.people of bharat
Even now in divaali, we light lamps for you. Even now there is a tradition to pray to you in bharat. Even now they to your temple and rub their foreheads (on your threshold). We still chant hymns of your sanctity. People of bharat look for you in all directions … east, west, north and south.
12
tere mandir ke pujaari haiN daya1 kar in par
ke ye bairaag2 liye phirte haiN tere kaaran3
tere charnoN4 meN haiN ye sees-navaane5 vaale
tak6 rahe raah teri de iِnheN maataa darshan
Khush-naseeb7 aah! hai vo qaum jahaaN zau8 hai teri
bhaag9 us des ke jis des meN haiN tere charan4 1.kindness, pity 2.reclusive 3.because of 4.feet 5.bowing head 6.gaze in anticipation 7.fortunate 8.light 9.fortune
Have pity on them, they pray in your temple. They have become hermits/recluse because of love of you. They are the ones who will bow their heads to you. They gaze at the pathway in anticipation. O, mother reveal your manifestation to them. Fortunate are the people where your light shines. Fortune descends to the country where your feet alight.
durga sahay suroor jahanabadi (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking. Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor. He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli. This is an ode to lakshmi, the hindu godess of prosperity. In some places, the poet uses her as a symbol of India, under British occupation. This is a slightly abbreviated version of a long nazm.
1
subh1 mahoorat vo ajab thi, vo ajab subh thi lagan
ke jab aakaash2 se utra tha tera siNghaasan3
nazar aaii teri soorat meN ajab husn ki jot4
tu ne devi hameN apne jo dikhaaye darshan5
shola6-e husn7-e dil-afroz8 bhaRak uThta tha
rukh-e-raushan9 pe jo paR jaati thi sooraj ki kiran
1.shubh-good omen 2.sky 3.throne 4.jyoti-brilliance 5.manifestation 6.flame 7.beauty 8.heart pleasing 9.shining visage/face
It was a good omen, a fascinating time, when your throne descended from the sky. The brilliance of an enchanting beauty could be seen in your face when you, godess, showed us your manifestation. Whenever rays of the sun glanced off your shining face, a heat-pleasing flame of beauty would burst forth.
2
tirchhi baaNki vo kamaaneN theeN kaRi donoN bhaveN
liye phirtay the kabhi ban1 meN jinheN raam o lakhan2
tere maathe pe tha chandan3 ka lagaaya Teeka4
apsaraaoN5 ne kya tha tere ruKh6 par ubTan7
ruKh-e-taabaN8 pe barasta tha tere noor-e-azal9
ban ke saavan ki jhaRi aur kabhi bhaadoN ki bharan
1.forest 2.lakshman, ram’s brother 3.sandal paste 4.ritual mark on the brow 5.angels 6.face 7.face scrub, rouge 8.shining face 9.eternal light
The arched eyebrows of lakshmi are compated to the archery bows carried in the jungle by ram and lakshman. Her forehead had a mark of sandalwood paste and her face had been adorned by angels. “Eternal brilliance” rained down from face, sometimes like a spring drizzle at other times like a downpour of the rainy season.
3
kokila1 si vo teri haa’e sureli aawaz
meeThe meeThe tere Doobe hue amrat2 meN bachan3
gori gori thi jabiN4 birj5 ki sundar koi naar6
zulf7 thi ya koi mathura8 ki sakhi9 shaam-baran10
tu is naaz11 o ada12 se jo zamiN par utri
dekhnay vaaloN ne jhuk jhuk ke liye tere charan13
1.koel, lark 2.elixir, nectar 3.vachan, words 4.brow 5.brij-bhoomi, land of krishn 6.woman 7.hair 8.krishn’s kingdom 9.woman friend probably ‘gopi’, a consort of krishn 10.shyaam varn – dark colour 11.pride, pomp 12.style 13.feet
Your words, musical like the kook of the koel, sweet as if dipped in nectar. Your fair brow like that of beautiful women of brij-bhoomi. Your hair, dark like those of the gopi of mathura. You came down to earth with such pomp and style that all those who could see, bowed down to touch your feet.
4
ahl-e-nazzaara1 se tasveer teri bol uThee
lakshmi huN, tumheN dene ko huN aayi darshan2
aah! aye iffat3 o ismat4 ki mujassam5 devi
mera muNh kya hai karooN jo teri mahima6 barnan7
tu vo murat8 thi ke aye lo’but9 zeba-timsaal10
sab se pahle tera bharat meN hua sthaapan11
1.people who could see 2.viewing, manifestation 3.piety 4.virtuous 5.embodiment 6.glory 7.description 8.idol 9.picture 10.exemplary beauty 11.establishment, installation
Your appearance announced to the onlookers, “I am lakshmi, I have come here so you can see my glory”. O, godess, the embodiment of piety and virtue. I do not have the tongue to describe your glory. You are an idol of exemplary beauty who first made her appearance in India.
5
sab se pahle thi jo rushiyauN1 ki zamiN par chamki
vo tere husn ki zau2 thi tere jalve3 ki kiran
jaatri4 aate the devi teri jhaaNki5 ke liye
dhoom mathura se jo thi husn ki taa6 bindraban
jot7 is roop8 se teri nazar aayi hum ko
hum yeh samjhay, hue hardwaar9 meN har10 ke darshan
1.ascetics, hermits 2.light 3.face, beauty 4.travelers, pilgrims 5.glimpse 6.until, to 7.jyoti, light 8.shape 9.literally, door to god, name of a city 10.hari, god
The first glow that shone on the land of hermits was the beauty of your brilliance, the ray of light of your beauty. Pilgrims came to get a glimpse of you, O, godess. The fame of your beauty spread from mathura to brindavan. We saw your light in a such a way that we thought it was a glimpse of god from hardwaar.
6
ghee ke paryaag meN jalte the idhar aah chiraaGh
kaashi vaale the udhar teri ibaadat1 meN magan
alGharaz2 ek chiraaGhaaN3 ka tha aalam4 har soo5
roz-o-shab6 noor barasta tha zamiN par chhan chhan
aah! sone ki thi laNka kabhi bharat ki zamiN
bhaagwaan7 aise ajab kuchh tere devi the charan8
1.worship 2.in summary 3.celebration 4.condition, atmosphere 5.direction 6.day and night 7.lucky, blessed 8.feet
Lamps of ghee burned in prayaag (city at the junction of gaNga and jumna). The people of kaashi were engorssed/happy in worshipping you. In summary, there was an atmosphere of celebration all around. Day and night, blessed light rained down on earth. O, the soil of bharat and lanka was sprinkled with gold, such good luck did your feet bring to this land.
7
sone chaandi ke shagufta1 the har ek naKhl2 meN phool
aab-e-zar3 se teri rahmat4 ne tha seeNcha5 ye chaman
vahi miTTi hai ye paaras6 ka asar7 tha jis meN
vahi zarre haiN chamakte the jo ban kar kundan8
shaan agli9 si magar aah kahaaN ab un meN
na voh zau10 hai na tajalli11 na vo taaseer-e-kohan12
1.blossoming 2.tree 3.golden water 4.benevolence 5.watered 6.legendary stone that converts base metal to gold 7.effect 8.gold 9.past 10.light 11.brilliance 12.effect of days gone by
On every tree, flowers of gold and silver blossomed. Your benevolence had irrigated this land with golden water. This is the same earth that once coverted everything to gold. These are the same grains of sand that once shown with golden hue. But no longer do they have the glory of the past, not that brilliance or glow, nor the effect of days gone by.
8
tel bhi ab nahiN bharat ke charaGhoN ko naseeb1
haaye vo din! ke diye ghee ke the ghar ghar raushan
tere mandir meN na batti2 na diya3 hai afsos4
aah! devi tera soona hai paRa siNghaasan5
nazar aati nahiN ab hum ko tajalli6 teri
lag gaya chaand se ruKh ko tere kya aah! gahan7
1.granted, fated 2.wick 3.lamp 4.alas 5.throne 6.brilliance 7.eclipse
The lamps of bharat do not even have oil in their fate. O, for those days when lamps of ghee lit up every home. There is no lamp, not even a wick in your temple, godess. Alas, your throne is desolate. We do not see your brilliance any more. Alas, your moon-like face is eclipsed.
9
nahiN milte kahiN hum ko tere qadmoN1 ke nishaaN
justajoo2 meN teri barsoN se haiN phirte ban3 ban
kunj galiyoN meN bhi mathura ke na paaya tujh ko
nazar aaye kahiN gokul4 meN na tere darshan5
jazba6-e shauq7 tera hum ko liye phirta hai
kabhi kaashi, kabhi paryaag, kabhi bindraban
1.steps 2.search 3.jungle 4.krishna’s village 5.manifestation 6.emotion, passion 7.love
We no longer find your footprints. We have searched for years from wilderness to wilderness. Even in the narrow streets of mathura did we not see you, nor manifestation was seen in gokul. Our love for you carried us to kaashi, prayaag and brindavan all to no avail.
10
hum vo mushtaaq-e-ziyaarat1 haiN ke jogi2 ban kar
rahguzar3 meN haiN jamaaye hue baiThe aasan4
ek baar aur dikha ja hameN darshan apne
arpan5 aah! hai devi! tere sab tan man dhan
garche6 barsoN se nahiN jalva-fizaaii7 teri
ab bhi dhundla sa diya hai tere maTh8 meN raushan
1.desirous of sighting 2.hermits 3.path 4.posture (prayerful) 5.offering 6.even though 7.beauty-increasing 8.monastery
We are so desirous of seeing you that we have become hermits sitting in your (expected) path, assuming a prayerful posture. Show us your manifestation one more time. We are ready to make an offering of all we have, body, soul and possessions. Even though we have not seen your glory for many years, a faint lamp (of hope) still burns.
11
ab bhi diivaali ko jalte haiN tere aah! chiraaGh
ab bhi bharat meN hai devi teri pooja ka chalan
ab bhi mandir meN tere ghiste haiN maatha1 apna
teri taqdees2 ki hum japte3 haiN ab bhi samran4
DhoonDte phirte haiN har soo5 tujhe bharat-baasi6
kabhi purab, kabhi pachhim, kabhi uttar dakkhan
1.forehead 2.sanctity, divinity 3.click, count (rosary beads) 4.chanting 5.direction 6.people of bharat
Even now in divaali, we light lamps for you. Even now there is a tradition to pray to you in bharat. Even now they to your temple and rub their foreheads (on your threshold). We still chant hymns of your sanctity. People of bharat look for you in all directions … east, west, north and south.
12
tere mandir ke pujaari haiN daya1 kar in par
ke ye bairaag2 liye phirte haiN tere kaaran3
tere charnoN4 meN haiN ye sees-navaane5 vaale
tak6 rahe raah teri de iِnheN maataa darshan
Khush-naseeb7 aah! hai vo qaum jahaaN zau8 hai teri
bhaag9 us des ke jis des meN haiN tere charan4
1.kindness, pity 2.reclusive 3.because of 4.feet 5.bowing head 6.gaze in anticipation 7.fortunate 8.light 9.fortune
Have pity on them, they pray in your temple. They have become hermits/recluse because of love of you. They are the ones who will bow their heads to you. They gaze at the pathway in anticipation. O, mother reveal your manifestation to them. Fortunate are the people where your light shines. Fortune descends to the country where your feet alight.
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