For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
جلوۂ صبح ۔ برج نرائن چکبست
۱
جب رنگِ شب آئینۂ ہستی سے ہوا دور
ہنگامِ سحر کون و مکاں ہوگئے پُر نُور
تبدیل ہوئی صورتِ کوہِ شبِ دیجور
چمکا وہ تجلّیِ سحر سے صفتِ طُور
بجلی کی طرح چرخ پہ نورِ سحر آیا
آنکھوں کو نہ پھر خِرمنِ انجم نظر آیا
۲
تھی نُور میں تفریح تو نور ارض و سما میں
سرگرمی بشر میں تھی بشر یادِ خدا میں
تھی تازگی خُنکی میں تو خُنکی تھی ہوا میں
شادابی تھی نگہت میں تو نگہت تھی صبا میں
خورشیدِ منوّر کا دمِ جلوہ گری تھا
نورِ رُخِ مہتاب چراغِ سحری تھا
۳
دریائے فلک میں تھا عجب نور کا عالم
چکّر میں تھا گرداب صفت نیّرِ اعظم
اُٹھتی تھیں شعاعوں کی جو موجیں وہ شرر دم
سیّارے حبابوں کی طرح مٹتے تھے پیہم
تھی شورشِ طوفانِ سحر غرب سے تا شرق
آخر کو سفینہ مہِ گردوں کا ہوا غرق
۴
والشمس تھا کندہ شہ خاور کے نگیں پر
والّیل کا باقی تھا نشاں بھی نہ کہیں پر
تھی مہر کی پھیلی جو ضیا چرخِ بریں پر
آنے لگا رہ رہ کے وہی نور زمیں پر
ذرّوں کا ستارہ بھی چمکتا نظر آیا
پیمانۂ خورشید چھلکتا نظر آیا
۵
وہ صبح کا عالم وہ چمن زار کا عالم
مُرغانِ ہوا نغمہ زنی کرتے تھے باہم
ہنگامِ سحر بادِ سحر چلتی تھی پیہم
آرام میں سبزہ تھا تہہِ چادرِ شبنم
ہر سمت بندھی نعرۂ بلبل کی ہوا تھی
غنچوں کی نسیمِ سحری عقدہ کشا تھی
۶
جو نخل تھا گلشن میں برومند کھڑا تھا
دامانِ سحر میں گُلِ خورشید پڑا تھا
کیا خوب مقدّر چمنستاں کا لڑا تھا
ہر گُل پہ گہر قطرۂ شبنم کا جڑا تھا
بلبل کہیں طاؤس کہیں گھوم رہے تھے
مستوں کی طرح نخلِ چمن جھوم رہے تھے
۷
مُرغانِ چمن عالمِ ہستی میں سحر دم
وصفِ چمن آرائے جہاں کرتے تھے باہم
شاخیں تھیں کہیں گردنِ تسلیم صفت خم
تسبیحِ خدا میں ہمہ تن محو تھی شبنم
غنچوں کے بھی تھی وردِ زباں حمد خدا کی
آتی تھی چٹکنے میں صدا صلّ علےٰ کی
۸
تھا پیشِ نظر وادیِ ایمن کا تماشا
ہر شاخ و شجر میں شجرِ طور کا نقشا
تھا آتشِ گُل میں اثرِ برقِ تجلّےٰ
مدہوش تھے مُرغانِ ہوا صورتِ موسیٰ
شکلِ یدِ بیضا تھی ہر اِک شاخ نظر میں
اعجاز کا گُل تھا کفِ گلچینِ سحر میں
۹
رونق پہ دمِ صبح تھا خُمخانہ عالم
تھم تھم کے ہوا چلتی تھی سردی بھی تھی کم کم
پیمانۂ مہتاب تھا لبریز سحر دم
تھا جام صبوحی کے لئے نیّرِ اعظم
گردوں پہ شفق کی بھی عجب جلوہ گری تھی
مینائے فلک میں مئے گُلرنگ بھری تھی
जल्वा-ए सुबह – पंडित ब्रिज नरायन चक्बस्त
१
जब रंग-ए शब आईना-ए हस्ती से हुआ दूर
हंगाम-ए सहर कौन ओ मकां हो गए पुर नूर
तब्दील हुई सूरत-ए कोह-ए शब-ए देजूर
चम्का वो तजल्ली-ए सहर से सिफ़त-ए तूर
बिजली कि तरह चर्ख़ पे नूर-ए सहर आया
आंखौं को न फिर ख़िर्मन-ए अंजुम नज़र आया
२
थी नूर में तफ़्रीह तो नूर अर्ज़ ओ समा में
सरगर्मी बशर में थी बशर याद-ए ख़ुदा में
थी ताज़गि ख़ुन्की में तो ख़ुन्की थी हवा में
शादाबी थी निकहत में तो निकहत थी सबा में
ख़ुर्शीद-ए मुनव्वर का दम-ए जल्वा गरी था
नूर-ए रुख़-ए महताब चिराग़-ए सहरी था
३
दर्या-ए फ़लक में था अजब नूर का आलम
चक्कर में था गिर्दाब सिफ़त नय्यर-ए आज़म
उठती थीं शुआऔं कि जो मौजें वो शरर दम
सय्यारे हुबाबौं कि तरह मिटते थे पैहम
थी शोरिश-ए तूफ़ान-ए सहर ग़र्ब से ता शर्क़
आख़िर को सफ़ीना मह-ए गर्दूं का हुआ ग़र्क़
४
वश्शम्स था कन्दा शह-ए ख़ावर के नगीं पर
वल्लैल का बाक़ी था निशां भी न कहीं पर
थी महर कि फैली जो ज़िया चर्ख़-ए बरीं पर
आने लगा रह रह के वही नूर ज़मीं पर
ज़र्रौं का सितारा भि चमकता नज़र आया
पैमाना-ए ख़ुर्शीद छलक्ता नज़र आया
५
वो सुबह का आलम वो चमन-ज़ार का आलम
मुर्ग़ान-हवा नग़्मा-ज़नि करते थे बाहम
हंगाम-ए सहर बाद-ए सहर चलती थी पैहम
आराम से सब्ज़ा था तह-ए चादर-ए शब्नम
हर समत बन्धी नारा-ए बुल्बुल कि हवा थी
ग़ुंचौं कि नसीम-ए सहरी उक़्दा कुशा थी
६
जो नख़्ल था गुल्शन में बरोमन्द खढा था
दामान-ए सहर में गुल-ए ख़ुर्शीद पढा था
क्या ख़ूब मुक़द्दर चमनिस्तां का लढा था
हर गुल पे गोहर क़त्रा-ए शब्नम का जढा था
बुल्बुल कहीं ताऊस कहीं घूम रहे थे
मस्तौं कि तरह नख़्ल-ए चमन झूम रहे थे
७
मुर्ग़ान-ए चमन आलम-ए हस्ती में सहर दम
वस्फ़-ए चमन आरा-ए जहां करते थे बाहम
शाख़ें थीं कहीं गर्दन-ए तस्लीम सिफ़त ख़म
तस्बीह-ए ख़ुदा में हमा-तन महव थी शब्नम
ग़ुंचौं के भि थी वर्द-ए ज़बां हम्द ख़ुदा कि
आती थी चिटक्ने में सदा सल्ल-ए अला कि
८
था पेश-ए नज़र वादि-ए ऐमन का तमाशा
हर शाख़ ओ शजर में शजर-ए तूर का नक़्शा
था आतिश-ए गुल में असर-ए बर्क़-ए तजल्ला
मदहोश थे मुर्ग़ान-ए हवा सूरत-ए मूसा
शक्ल-ए यद-ए बैज़ा थि हर एक शाख़ नज़र में
ऐजाज़ का गुल था कफ़-ए गुलचीन-ए सहर में
९
रौनक़ पे दम-ए सुबह था ख़ुमख़ाना-ए आलम
थम थम के हवा चलती थि सर्दी भि थी कम कम
पैमाना-ए महताब था लब्रेज़ सहर दम
था जाम सुबूही के लिए नय्यर-ए आज़म
गर्दूं पे शफ़क़ की भि अजब जल्वा गरी थी
मीना-ए फ़लक में मै-ए गुल रंग भरी थी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. brij narain chakbast (1882-1926) was born in faizabad into a kashmiri brahmin family who moved to lakhnau soon after his birth. He received his early education from a maulvi, learning urdu, arabi and faarsi. Later, he got a law degree and then practised law in lakhnau. Unfortunately, he died very young of a stroke he suffered while traveling by train to argue a case in bareily. His book was published posthumously. This is a lovely description of the beauty of dawn. Also see his description of the beauty of kashmir in ‘muraqqa-e ibrat-part 2’ and other shu’ara on the beauty of dawn in the ‘subject-wise index’.
1
jab raNg-e shab1 aaiina-e hasti2 se hua duur
haNgaam3-e sahr4 kaun-o-makaaN5 ho gaye pur-noor6
tabdeel7 hui soorat8-e koh9-e shab1-e dejoor10
chamka vo tajalli11-e sahr4 se sifat12-e tuur13
bijli ki tarah charKh14 pe noor-e sahr aaya
aaNkhoN ko na phir Khirman15-e anjum16 nazar aaya 1.night 2.life 3.at the time of 4.dawn 5.time and place 6.filled with light 7.change 8.face 9.mountain 10.dark moonless night 11.brilliance 12.same characteristics, similar 13.Mt. tuur 14.sky 15.harvest, heap 16.stars
When the colour of night disappeared from the mirror/palette of the day. When, at dawn, all time and place was filled with light. When the face of the heavy dark night changed. The brilliance of dawn shone like the divine light that Moses saw on tuur. The rays of light of dawn spread across the skies like streaks of lightning. The harvest of stars disappeared from sight.
2
thi noor meN tafreeh1 to noor arz-o-sama2 meN
sargarmi3 bashar4 meN thi bashar yaad-e Khuda meN
thi taazagi Khunki5 meN to Khunki thi hava meN
shaadaabi6 thi nikhat7 meN to nikhat thi saba8 meN
Khursheed9-e munavvar10 ka dam11-e jalva-gari12 tha
noor-e ruKh13-e mahtaab14 chiraaGh-e-sahri15 tha 1.happiness, pleasure 2.earth and sky 3.enthusiasm, activity 4.humans 5.moist 6.freshness 7.fragrance 8.morning breeze 9.sun 10.bright 11.time of 12.display 13.face 14.moon 15.late night lamp that flickers and dies out
Even as the light was pleasurable, it diffused through the sky down to the earth. People were active and busy thinking of/praying to their god. The damp morning felt fresh, the air was cool. There was freshness in the fragrance and fragrance in the morning breeze. It was time for the bright sun to display its glory. The light of the moon was flickering on its last legs.
3
darya-e falak1 meN tha ajab2 noor ka aalam3
chakkar4 meN tha girdaab-sifat5 nayyar-e-aazam6
uThti thiiN shuaaoN7 ki jo maujeN vo sharar-dam8
sayyaare9 hubaaboN10 ki tarah miTte the paiham11
thi shorish12-e toofan-e sahr13 Gharb14 se ta sharq15
aaKhir ko safeena16 mah-e-gardooN17 ka hua Gharq18 1.skies 2.enchanting, mysterious 3.ambience 4.revolving 5.like a whirlpool 6.great/bright sun 7.rays of light 8.spark 9.planet, meteor 10.bubbles 11.again and again 12.madness, confusion, commotion 13.dawn 14.west 15.east 16.boat (shape of the new moon) 17.moon of the skies 18.drowned, sank
In the ocean of the skies, there was an enchanting ambience of light. The bright sun revolving as if in a whirlpool (of the heavenly ocean). Waves of slender rays shone like sparks as if meteors were bursting like bubbles again and again. There was a stormy commotion of dawn all across the sky from east to west. At last the boat-like new moon sank in the heavenly ocean.
4
vashshams1 tha kanda2 shah-e Khaavar3 ke nagiiN4 par
vallail5 ka baaqi tha nishaaN bhi na kahiN par
thi mahr6 ki phaili jo ziya7 charKh-e-bariN8 par
aane laga rah rah ke vahi noor zamiN par
zarroN9 ka sitaara bhi chamakta nazar aaya
paimaana10-e Khurshid11 chhalakta nazar aaya 1.the sun 2.engraved 3.sun 4.jewel, ring, signet ring 5.the night 6.sun 7.light 8.seventh heaven 9.particles, grains of sand 10.cup 11.sun
Its name was engraved on the signet ring of the sun. There was no sign of the name of the night anywhere. The light of the sun, dispersed on the seventh heaven, gradually descended on the earth. Grains of sand shone like stars (double meaning, the luck of the grains of sand turned for the better). The brimming cup of the sun began to overflow.
5
vo subah ka aalam1 vo chaman-zaar ka aalam
murGhaan2-e hava naGhma-zani3 karte the baaham4
haNgaam5-e sahr6 baad7-e sahr chalti thi paiham8
aaraam se sabza tha tah9-e chaadar-e shabnam
har samt10 bandhi naara-e bulbul ki hava thi
GhunchoN11 ki nasim12-e sahri uqda-kusha13 thi 1.ambience 2.birds 3.singing songs 4.together 5.time of 6.dawn 7.breeze 8.again and again 9.under 10.direction 11.unopened buds 12.breeze 13.undoing knots
The ambience of the garden at dawn – birds chirping and singing in unison. Gusts of morning breeze blowing again and again. The grass and leaves, fast asleep, under the covering of a sheet of dew. In every direction the cry of the bulbul. The playful morning breeze untying the knots of the robe of unopened buds (the tradition in urdu poetry is that flowers bloom when tickled by the morning breeze).
6
jo naKhl1 tha gulshan meN baromand2 khaRa tha
daamaan3-e sahr4 meN gul-e Khurshid5 paRa tha
kya Khoob6 muqaddar chamanistaaN ka laRa tha
har gul pe gohar7 qatra-e shabnam ka jaRa tha
bulbul kahiN, taaoos8 kahiN ghoom rahe the
mastoN9 ki tarah naKhl1-e chaman jhoom rahe the 1.tree 2.fruitful 3.apron, robe, lap 4.dawn 5.sun 6.good 7.pearl 8.peacock 9.drunkards
Every tree in the garden stood loaded with fruit. It was as if the flowers of the sun had fallen into the lap of dawn. Shining fruit on trees are pictured as the yield of the sun, as mini-suns. The fortune of the garden had put up a good fight to get it. On every petal a drop of dew was stitched like a pearl. Bulbul here and peacock there, strutting. The trees of the garden sway like drunkards.
7
murGhaan1-e chaman aalam-e-hasti2 meN sahr-dam3
vasf4-e chaman-aara5-e jahaaN karte the baaham6
shaaKheN thiiN kahiN gardan-e tasleem7 sifat8 Kham9
tasbih10-e Khuda meN hama-tan11 mahv12 thi shabnam
GhunchoN ke bhi thi vard13-e zabaaN hamd14 Khuda ki
aati thi chiTakne meN sada sall-e-ala15 ki 1.birds 2.world of existence, material world, this world 3.at the time of dawn 4.praise 5.designer/creator of the garden (of the world) i.e. god 6.together 7.accepting, respecting 8.in the nature/character of 9.bowed, curved 10.rosary, jap-maal, prayer beads 11.head to toe, completely 12.engrossed 13.chanting 14.praise 15.praise
Birds of the garden, at the time of dawn, were chirping/singing together in praise of the creator of the garden. Branches/boughs were bowed down like heads are bowed in respect/devotion/prayer (to god). The dew was busy counting/chanting prayer beads. When a bud blooms into a flower, its petals unfurl. In urdu poetry, the imagery of an unfurling petal is associated with a gentle, clicking sound ‘chiTakna’. Thus the poet imagines even this to be a chant in praise of god as each petal unfolds.
8
tha pesh-e-nazar1 vaadi-e-aiman2 ka tamaasha3
har shaaKh o shajar4 meN shajar-e tuur5 ka naqsha6
tha aatish7-e gul meN asar8-e barq-e-tajalla9
madhosh the murGhaan10-e hava soorat11-e moosa12
shakl-e yad-e-baiza13 thi har ek shaaKh nazar meN
aijaaz14 ka gul tha kaf15-e gulchin16-e sahr17 meN 1.before the eyes 2.valley of paradise 3.display 4.tree 5.mount tuur where moses went asking to see god 6.picture 7.flame, redness 8.effect 9.lightning flash 10.birds 11.similar to 12.Moses 13.white hand (see notes) 14.miracle 15.hand 16.flower picker/gardener, god 17.dawn
This stanza draws heavily on the story of Moses. He went up mount tuur asking to see god. He was asked to put his hand inside his robe and then draw it out. His hand had ‘miraculously’ turned milky white – ‘yad-e baiza’. There was a flash of lightning and the mountain was turned to ashes and moosa fainted. Just as this story on the peak of tuur indicates the presence of god, so the beauty of dawn indicates his/her presence. Before the eyes, there was a display of the garden of paradise. Every branch and tree was a picture of the “burning bush” of tuur. In the redness of flowers was the effect of the flash of lightning (of tuur). Birds appeared drunk like moosa had lost his consciousness. Every branch looked like ‘yad-e baiza’. Dawn displayed the miracle of the hand of god, just like on tuur.
9
raunaq1 pe dam-e-subah2 tha KhumKhaana3-e aalam4
tham tham ke hava chalti thi sardi bhi thi kam kam
paimana5-e mahtaab6 tha labrez7 sahr-dam8
tha jaam9 suboohi10 ke liye nayyar-e-aazam11
garduN12 pe shafaq13 ki bhi ajab14 jalva-gari15 thi
meena16-e falak17 meN mai18-e gul-raNg19 bhari thi 1.brilliance, beauty 2.time of dawn 3.tavern 4.world 5.cup 6.moon 7.brimming 8.time of dawn 9.cup 10.morning draught of wine 11.great/brilliant sun 12.skies 13.redness of the horizon 14.enchanting 15.display of beauty 16.flask of wine 17.sky 18.wine 19.rose coloured
This world (which is like a tavern) was shining bright at dawn. The breeze blew gently and it was not too cold. At dawn, the cup of the moon was brimming (with light) and the brilliant sun brought the morning draught of wine in its cup. On the sky, the redness of the horizon put up an enchanting display. The flask of the skies was full of rose coloured wine.
brij narain chakbast (1882-1926) was born in faizabad into a kashmiri brahmin family who moved to lakhnau soon after his birth. He received his early education from a maulvi, learning urdu, arabi and faarsi. Later, he got a law degree and then practised law in lakhnau. Unfortunately, he died very young of a stroke he suffered while traveling by train to argue a case in bareily. His book was published posthumously. This is a lovely description of the beauty of dawn. Also see his description of the beauty of kashmir in ‘muraqqa-e ibrat-part 2’ and other shu’ara on the beauty of dawn in the ‘subject-wise index’.
1
jab raNg-e shab1 aaiina-e hasti2 se hua duur
haNgaam3-e sahr4 kaun-o-makaaN5 ho gaye pur-noor6
tabdeel7 hui soorat8-e koh9-e shab1-e dejoor10
chamka vo tajalli11-e sahr4 se sifat12-e tuur13
bijli ki tarah charKh14 pe noor-e sahr aaya
aaNkhoN ko na phir Khirman15-e anjum16 nazar aaya
1.night 2.life 3.at the time of 4.dawn 5.time and place 6.filled with light 7.change 8.face 9.mountain 10.dark moonless night 11.brilliance 12.same characteristics, similar 13.Mt. tuur 14.sky 15.harvest, heap 16.stars
When the colour of night disappeared from the mirror/palette of the day. When, at dawn, all time and place was filled with light. When the face of the heavy dark night changed. The brilliance of dawn shone like the divine light that Moses saw on tuur. The rays of light of dawn spread across the skies like streaks of lightning. The harvest of stars disappeared from sight.
2
thi noor meN tafreeh1 to noor arz-o-sama2 meN
sargarmi3 bashar4 meN thi bashar yaad-e Khuda meN
thi taazagi Khunki5 meN to Khunki thi hava meN
shaadaabi6 thi nikhat7 meN to nikhat thi saba8 meN
Khursheed9-e munavvar10 ka dam11-e jalva-gari12 tha
noor-e ruKh13-e mahtaab14 chiraaGh-e-sahri15 tha
1.happiness, pleasure 2.earth and sky 3.enthusiasm, activity 4.humans 5.moist 6.freshness 7.fragrance 8.morning breeze 9.sun 10.bright 11.time of 12.display 13.face 14.moon 15.late night lamp that flickers and dies out
Even as the light was pleasurable, it diffused through the sky down to the earth. People were active and busy thinking of/praying to their god. The damp morning felt fresh, the air was cool. There was freshness in the fragrance and fragrance in the morning breeze. It was time for the bright sun to display its glory. The light of the moon was flickering on its last legs.
3
darya-e falak1 meN tha ajab2 noor ka aalam3
chakkar4 meN tha girdaab-sifat5 nayyar-e-aazam6
uThti thiiN shuaaoN7 ki jo maujeN vo sharar-dam8
sayyaare9 hubaaboN10 ki tarah miTte the paiham11
thi shorish12-e toofan-e sahr13 Gharb14 se ta sharq15
aaKhir ko safeena16 mah-e-gardooN17 ka hua Gharq18
1.skies 2.enchanting, mysterious 3.ambience 4.revolving 5.like a whirlpool 6.great/bright sun 7.rays of light 8.spark 9.planet, meteor 10.bubbles 11.again and again 12.madness, confusion, commotion 13.dawn 14.west 15.east 16.boat (shape of the new moon) 17.moon of the skies 18.drowned, sank
In the ocean of the skies, there was an enchanting ambience of light. The bright sun revolving as if in a whirlpool (of the heavenly ocean). Waves of slender rays shone like sparks as if meteors were bursting like bubbles again and again. There was a stormy commotion of dawn all across the sky from east to west. At last the boat-like new moon sank in the heavenly ocean.
4
vashshams1 tha kanda2 shah-e Khaavar3 ke nagiiN4 par
vallail5 ka baaqi tha nishaaN bhi na kahiN par
thi mahr6 ki phaili jo ziya7 charKh-e-bariN8 par
aane laga rah rah ke vahi noor zamiN par
zarroN9 ka sitaara bhi chamakta nazar aaya
paimaana10-e Khurshid11 chhalakta nazar aaya
1.the sun 2.engraved 3.sun 4.jewel, ring, signet ring 5.the night 6.sun 7.light 8.seventh heaven 9.particles, grains of sand 10.cup 11.sun
Its name was engraved on the signet ring of the sun. There was no sign of the name of the night anywhere. The light of the sun, dispersed on the seventh heaven, gradually descended on the earth. Grains of sand shone like stars (double meaning, the luck of the grains of sand turned for the better). The brimming cup of the sun began to overflow.
5
vo subah ka aalam1 vo chaman-zaar ka aalam
murGhaan2-e hava naGhma-zani3 karte the baaham4
haNgaam5-e sahr6 baad7-e sahr chalti thi paiham8
aaraam se sabza tha tah9-e chaadar-e shabnam
har samt10 bandhi naara-e bulbul ki hava thi
GhunchoN11 ki nasim12-e sahri uqda-kusha13 thi
1.ambience 2.birds 3.singing songs 4.together 5.time of 6.dawn 7.breeze 8.again and again 9.under 10.direction 11.unopened buds 12.breeze 13.undoing knots
The ambience of the garden at dawn – birds chirping and singing in unison. Gusts of morning breeze blowing again and again. The grass and leaves, fast asleep, under the covering of a sheet of dew. In every direction the cry of the bulbul. The playful morning breeze untying the knots of the robe of unopened buds (the tradition in urdu poetry is that flowers bloom when tickled by the morning breeze).
6
jo naKhl1 tha gulshan meN baromand2 khaRa tha
daamaan3-e sahr4 meN gul-e Khurshid5 paRa tha
kya Khoob6 muqaddar chamanistaaN ka laRa tha
har gul pe gohar7 qatra-e shabnam ka jaRa tha
bulbul kahiN, taaoos8 kahiN ghoom rahe the
mastoN9 ki tarah naKhl1-e chaman jhoom rahe the
1.tree 2.fruitful 3.apron, robe, lap 4.dawn 5.sun 6.good 7.pearl 8.peacock 9.drunkards
Every tree in the garden stood loaded with fruit. It was as if the flowers of the sun had fallen into the lap of dawn. Shining fruit on trees are pictured as the yield of the sun, as mini-suns. The fortune of the garden had put up a good fight to get it. On every petal a drop of dew was stitched like a pearl. Bulbul here and peacock there, strutting. The trees of the garden sway like drunkards.
7
murGhaan1-e chaman aalam-e-hasti2 meN sahr-dam3
vasf4-e chaman-aara5-e jahaaN karte the baaham6
shaaKheN thiiN kahiN gardan-e tasleem7 sifat8 Kham9
tasbih10-e Khuda meN hama-tan11 mahv12 thi shabnam
GhunchoN ke bhi thi vard13-e zabaaN hamd14 Khuda ki
aati thi chiTakne meN sada sall-e-ala15 ki
1.birds 2.world of existence, material world, this world 3.at the time of dawn 4.praise 5.designer/creator of the garden (of the world) i.e. god 6.together 7.accepting, respecting 8.in the nature/character of 9.bowed, curved 10.rosary, jap-maal, prayer beads 11.head to toe, completely 12.engrossed 13.chanting 14.praise 15.praise
Birds of the garden, at the time of dawn, were chirping/singing together in praise of the creator of the garden. Branches/boughs were bowed down like heads are bowed in respect/devotion/prayer (to god). The dew was busy counting/chanting prayer beads. When a bud blooms into a flower, its petals unfurl. In urdu poetry, the imagery of an unfurling petal is associated with a gentle, clicking sound ‘chiTakna’. Thus the poet imagines even this to be a chant in praise of god as each petal unfolds.
8
tha pesh-e-nazar1 vaadi-e-aiman2 ka tamaasha3
har shaaKh o shajar4 meN shajar-e tuur5 ka naqsha6
tha aatish7-e gul meN asar8-e barq-e-tajalla9
madhosh the murGhaan10-e hava soorat11-e moosa12
shakl-e yad-e-baiza13 thi har ek shaaKh nazar meN
aijaaz14 ka gul tha kaf15-e gulchin16-e sahr17 meN
1.before the eyes 2.valley of paradise 3.display 4.tree 5.mount tuur where moses went asking to see god 6.picture 7.flame, redness 8.effect 9.lightning flash 10.birds 11.similar to 12.Moses 13.white hand (see notes) 14.miracle 15.hand 16.flower picker/gardener, god 17.dawn
This stanza draws heavily on the story of Moses. He went up mount tuur asking to see god. He was asked to put his hand inside his robe and then draw it out. His hand had ‘miraculously’ turned milky white – ‘yad-e baiza’. There was a flash of lightning and the mountain was turned to ashes and moosa fainted. Just as this story on the peak of tuur indicates the presence of god, so the beauty of dawn indicates his/her presence. Before the eyes, there was a display of the garden of paradise. Every branch and tree was a picture of the “burning bush” of tuur. In the redness of flowers was the effect of the flash of lightning (of tuur). Birds appeared drunk like moosa had lost his consciousness. Every branch looked like ‘yad-e baiza’. Dawn displayed the miracle of the hand of god, just like on tuur.
9
raunaq1 pe dam-e-subah2 tha KhumKhaana3-e aalam4
tham tham ke hava chalti thi sardi bhi thi kam kam
paimana5-e mahtaab6 tha labrez7 sahr-dam8
tha jaam9 suboohi10 ke liye nayyar-e-aazam11
garduN12 pe shafaq13 ki bhi ajab14 jalva-gari15 thi
meena16-e falak17 meN mai18-e gul-raNg19 bhari thi
1.brilliance, beauty 2.time of dawn 3.tavern 4.world 5.cup 6.moon 7.brimming 8.time of dawn 9.cup 10.morning draught of wine 11.great/brilliant sun 12.skies 13.redness of the horizon 14.enchanting 15.display of beauty 16.flask of wine 17.sky 18.wine 19.rose coloured
This world (which is like a tavern) was shining bright at dawn. The breeze blew gently and it was not too cold. At dawn, the cup of the moon was brimming (with light) and the brilliant sun brought the morning draught of wine in its cup. On the sky, the redness of the horizon put up an enchanting display. The flask of the skies was full of rose coloured wine.
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