For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
گمراہ مسافر ۔ آنند نرائن مُلّا
۱
دنیا کے اندھیرے زنداں سے اِنساں نے بہت چاہا نہ مِلا
اِس غم کی بھول بھلیّاں سے باہر کا کوئی رستا نہ ملا
۲
اہلِ طاقت اُٹھتے ہی رہے، بھاری بھاری تیشے لے کر
دیوار پسِ دیوار مِلی دیوار میں دروازا نہ مِلا
۳
ایماں کا فسوں گر بھی آیا، جادو کا عصا ہاتھوں میں لئے
اِک لکڑی تو اندھے کو ملی، آنکھوں کو مگر جلوا نہ ملا
۴
جرّاحِ خِرد آتا ہی رہا، صد مرہمِ اکسیری لے کر
جو زیست کے زخموں کو بھرتے ایسا کوئی پھاہا نہ ملا
۵
ساقیِ سیاست محفل کے جام و مینا بدلا ہی کیا
جس میں اِک تہہ تلخی کی نہ ہو، کوئی شیریں جرعا نہ ملا
۶
دولت کا مُغنّی بھی آیا، مضرابِ فراموشی لے کر
ہر ساز سے اِک نغمہ پھوٹا، لیکن دل کا پردا نہ ملا
۷
رقاصہِ عشرت نے آکر پھر دل سے نکالیں کچھ پھانسیں
لیکن اُس کی چُٹکی کو بھی جو روح میں کانٹا تھا نہ ملا
۸
تقسیمِ مساوی کے حامی پھر لے کے بڑھے میزاں اپنا
جو سب کو یکساں تول کے دے میزان میں وہ پلّا نہ ملا
۹
کچھ کیمیہ گر پھر ذرّوں کا دل چیر کے لائے آگ نئی
شعلوں کی خدائی ہاتھ آئی شبنم کا مگر قطرا نہ ملا
۱۰
بیچاری اُلفت کی مشعل، کونے میں پڑی، جل جل کے بجھی
لیکن اُسے ہاتھوں میں لے کر کوئی بڑھنے والا نہ مِلا
۱۱
اِر پھر کے وہیں پر آتا ہے اِنساں ہے رہِ باطل پہ ابھی
صدیاں گذریں چلتے چلتے لیکن ہے اُسی منزل پہ ابھی
गुमराह मुसाफ़र-पँडित आनँद नारायन मुल्ला
१
दुनिया के अंधेरे ज़िन्दाँ से इन्साँ ने बहुत चाहा ना मिला
इस ग़म की भूल भुलय्याँ से बाहिर का कोइ रस्ता ना मिला
२
अहल-ए ताक़त उठते ही रहे, भारी भारी तीशे ले कर
दीवार पस-ए दीवार मिली, दीवार में दरवाज़ा ना मिला
३
ईमाँ का फ़ुसूँ-गर भी आया, जादू का असा हाथोँ में लिए
एक लक्ड़ी तो अंधे को मिली, आँखौँ को मगर जल्वा ना मिला
४
जर्राह-ए ख़िरद आता ही रहा, सद मरहम-ए एक्सीरी ले कर
जो ज़ीस्त के ज़ख़्मौँ को भरते, ऐसा कोई फाहा ना मिला
५
साक़ि-ए सियासत महफ़िल के जाम ओ मीना बदला ही किया
जिस में एक तह तल्ख़ी की ना हो, कोइ शिरीँ जुर’आ ना मिला
६
दौलत का मुग़न्नी भी आया, मिज़्राब-ए फ़रमोशी ले कर
हर साज़ से एक नग़्मा फूटा, लैकिन दिल का परदा ना मिला
७
रक़्क़ासा-ए इश्रत ने आ कर फिर दिल से निकालीँ कुछ फ़ाँसेँ
लैकिन उस की चुट्कि को भी, जो रूह में काँटा था ना मिला
८
तक़्सीम-ए मसावी के हामी फिर ले के बढ़े मीज़ाँ अपना
जो सब को यक्साँ तोल के दे, मीज़ान में वो पल्ला ना मिला
९
कुछ कीमिय-गर फिर ज़र्रौं का दिल चीर के लाए आग नई
शोलौं कि ख़ुदाई काम आई शब्नम का मगर क़त्रा न मिला
१०
बेचारी उल्फ़त की मश’अल, कोने में पढी, जल जल के बुझी
लैकिन उसे हाथोँ में ले कर कोइ बढ़ने वाला ना मिला
११
ईर-फिर के वहीँ पर आता है, इन्साँ है रह-ए बातिल पे अभी
सदियाँ गुज़्रीँ चलते चलते, लैकिन है उसी मंज़िल पे अभी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. panDit anand narain mulla (1901-1997) thoughtful and thought provoking shaa’er. urdu lover. judge, parliamentarian and strong secularist. Here in each she’r he describes the attempts of conquerors/dictators, philosophers, politicians, capitalists, socialists and people of faith to find a cure for human ills. The only one that did not find a champion was ‘universal love’. So human beings are still going round in circles.
1
duniya ke andhere zindaaN1 se insaaN ne bahut chaaha na mila
is Gham2 ki bhool-bhulayyaaN3 se baahir ka koii rastaa na mila 1.prison 2.sorrow, material attachment 3.maze
Human beings, trapped in this dark prison of attachment (to the material world), tried to find a way out, but could not get out of this maze.
2
ahl-e-taaqat1 uThte hi rahe, bhaari bhaari teeshe2 le kar
deevaar pas3-e deevaar mili, deevaar meN darvaaza na mila 1.powerful people 2.pick-axe 3.behind
Powerful people arose (conquerors, dictators), carrying heavy pickaxes, but all they found was another wall behind the wall. They did not find a door.
3
eemaaN ka fusuN-gar1 bhi aaya, jaadu ka asa2 haathoN meN liye
ek lakRi to andhe ko mili, aaNkhoN ko magar jalva3 na mila 1.magician 2.wand as in magic wand 3.face, image, sight
The magicians of faith came with their magic wands. The blind got a stick (to probe) but the did not get to see (Truth, god). This appears to have an allusion to the story of moosa and the court magician, both with their magic tricks.
4
jarraah1-e Khirad2 aata hi raha, sad3 marham-e-ekseeri4 le kar
jo zeest5 ke zaKhmoN ko bharte, aisa koi phaaha6 na mila 1.physician 2.knowledge, wisdom 3.hundred 4.ointments of elixir 5.life 6.swab, bandage
Purveyors of knowledge (philosophers/scientists) kept coming with a hundred ointments and elixirs but they could not produce any cure for the wounds of life.
5
saaqi-e siyaasat1 mahfil ke jaam2 o meena3 badla hi kiya
jis meN ek tah4 talKhi5 ki na ho, koii shiriN6 jur’aa7 na mila 1.politics 2.cup (of wine) 3.flask 4.layer 5.bitterness 6.sweet 7.gulp, mouthful
The wine server of politics came and tried many different goblets and flasks but all mouthfuls had a bitter layer. They could not find a sweet mouthful.
6
daulat1 ka muGhanni2 bhi aaya, mizraab3-e faramoshi4 le kar
har saaz5 se ek naGhma6 phooTa, laikin dil ka parda7 na mila 1.wealth 2.singer, musician 3.pluck worn on finger to pluck strings 4.forgetting, intoxication 5.lute 6.song 7.harmonic scale
The balladeer of wealth (capitalist) arrived, with his enchanting pluck and intoxicating music. Music/song broke out of every lute, but did not match the harmony of the heart.
7
raqqaasa1-e ishrat2 ne aa kar phir dil se nikaaliiN kuchh phaaNseN3
laikin us ki chuTki4 ko bhi, jo rooh5 meN kaaNTa tha na mila 1.dancer 2.comfort, luxury 3.slivers, thorns 4.(finger) pinch 5.soul
The dancer of luxury (hedonist, materialist) came and pulled out a few thorns from the heart but her fingers too could not find the irritating thorn in the soul.
8
taqsim1-e masaavi2 ke haami3 phir le ke baRhe meezaaN4 apna
jo sub ko yaksaaN5 tol ke de, meezaan meN vo palla6 na mila 1.distribution 2.equal 3.partisans, advocates, champions 4.scales 5.same, equal 6.pan (of weighing scales)
The champions of equal distribution (socialists) came forward with their scales. But they did not have the pan that could divide equally among all.
9
kuchh keemiya-gar1 phir zarroN2 ka dil chiir ke laaye aag nayi
sholoN ki Khudaaii haath aaii shabnam3 ka magar qatra4 na mila 1.chemists (atomic physics/chemistry) 2.particles/atoms 3.dew/tenderness/love 4.drop
Some chemists came forward and tore open the breast of atoms. The power of fire came to hand but there was not a drop of love to be found.
10
bechaari1 ulfat2 ki mash’al3, kone meN paRi, jal jal ke bujhi
laikin use haathoN meN le kar koii baRhne vaala na mila 1.helpless, poor 2.(universal) love 3.torch
But the poor torch of universal love, lay there in a corner, burning and getting extinguished. But no one came forward who could pick it up and carry it.
11
ir-phir1 ke vahiN par aata hai, insaaN hai rah-e-baatil2 pe abhi
sadiyaaN3 guzriN4 chalte chalte, laikin hai usi manzil5 pe abhi 1.going round and round 2.wrong path 3.centuries 4.passed 5.stage (along the path towards the goal)
Humans go round and round and finally come back to the same point. Man is still on the wrong path. Centuries have passed but they are still stuck at the same stage.
panDit anand narain mulla (1901-1997) thoughtful and thought provoking shaa’er. urdu lover. judge, parliamentarian and strong secularist. Here in each she’r he describes the attempts of conquerors/dictators, philosophers, politicians, capitalists, socialists and people of faith to find a cure for human ills. The only one that did not find a champion was ‘universal love’. So human beings are still going round in circles.
1
duniya ke andhere zindaaN1 se insaaN ne bahut chaaha na mila
is Gham2 ki bhool-bhulayyaaN3 se baahir ka koii rastaa na mila
1.prison 2.sorrow, material attachment 3.maze
Human beings, trapped in this dark prison of attachment (to the material world), tried to find a way out, but could not get out of this maze.
2
ahl-e-taaqat1 uThte hi rahe, bhaari bhaari teeshe2 le kar
deevaar pas3-e deevaar mili, deevaar meN darvaaza na mila
1.powerful people 2.pick-axe 3.behind
Powerful people arose (conquerors, dictators), carrying heavy pickaxes, but all they found was another wall behind the wall. They did not find a door.
3
eemaaN ka fusuN-gar1 bhi aaya, jaadu ka asa2 haathoN meN liye
ek lakRi to andhe ko mili, aaNkhoN ko magar jalva3 na mila
1.magician 2.wand as in magic wand 3.face, image, sight
The magicians of faith came with their magic wands. The blind got a stick (to probe) but the did not get to see (Truth, god). This appears to have an allusion to the story of moosa and the court magician, both with their magic tricks.
4
jarraah1-e Khirad2 aata hi raha, sad3 marham-e-ekseeri4 le kar
jo zeest5 ke zaKhmoN ko bharte, aisa koi phaaha6 na mila
1.physician 2.knowledge, wisdom 3.hundred 4.ointments of elixir 5.life 6.swab, bandage
Purveyors of knowledge (philosophers/scientists) kept coming with a hundred ointments and elixirs but they could not produce any cure for the wounds of life.
5
saaqi-e siyaasat1 mahfil ke jaam2 o meena3 badla hi kiya
jis meN ek tah4 talKhi5 ki na ho, koii shiriN6 jur’aa7 na mila
1.politics 2.cup (of wine) 3.flask 4.layer 5.bitterness 6.sweet 7.gulp, mouthful
The wine server of politics came and tried many different goblets and flasks but all mouthfuls had a bitter layer. They could not find a sweet mouthful.
6
daulat1 ka muGhanni2 bhi aaya, mizraab3-e faramoshi4 le kar
har saaz5 se ek naGhma6 phooTa, laikin dil ka parda7 na mila
1.wealth 2.singer, musician 3.pluck worn on finger to pluck strings 4.forgetting, intoxication 5.lute 6.song 7.harmonic scale
The balladeer of wealth (capitalist) arrived, with his enchanting pluck and intoxicating music. Music/song broke out of every lute, but did not match the harmony of the heart.
7
raqqaasa1-e ishrat2 ne aa kar phir dil se nikaaliiN kuchh phaaNseN3
laikin us ki chuTki4 ko bhi, jo rooh5 meN kaaNTa tha na mila
1.dancer 2.comfort, luxury 3.slivers, thorns 4.(finger) pinch 5.soul
The dancer of luxury (hedonist, materialist) came and pulled out a few thorns from the heart but her fingers too could not find the irritating thorn in the soul.
8
taqsim1-e masaavi2 ke haami3 phir le ke baRhe meezaaN4 apna
jo sub ko yaksaaN5 tol ke de, meezaan meN vo palla6 na mila
1.distribution 2.equal 3.partisans, advocates, champions 4.scales 5.same, equal 6.pan (of weighing scales)
The champions of equal distribution (socialists) came forward with their scales. But they did not have the pan that could divide equally among all.
9
kuchh keemiya-gar1 phir zarroN2 ka dil chiir ke laaye aag nayi
sholoN ki Khudaaii haath aaii shabnam3 ka magar qatra4 na mila
1.chemists (atomic physics/chemistry) 2.particles/atoms 3.dew/tenderness/love 4.drop
Some chemists came forward and tore open the breast of atoms. The power of fire came to hand but there was not a drop of love to be found.
10
bechaari1 ulfat2 ki mash’al3, kone meN paRi, jal jal ke bujhi
laikin use haathoN meN le kar koii baRhne vaala na mila
1.helpless, poor 2.(universal) love 3.torch
But the poor torch of universal love, lay there in a corner, burning and getting extinguished. But no one came forward who could pick it up and carry it.
11
ir-phir1 ke vahiN par aata hai, insaaN hai rah-e-baatil2 pe abhi
sadiyaaN3 guzriN4 chalte chalte, laikin hai usi manzil5 pe abhi
1.going round and round 2.wrong path 3.centuries 4.passed 5.stage (along the path towards the goal)
Humans go round and round and finally come back to the same point. Man is still on the wrong path. Centuries have passed but they are still stuck at the same stage.
Key Search Words:
