For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
یہ کتاب آہستہ آہستہ ۔ پریم بھنڈاری
۱
اُفق پہ ڈوبتا ہے آفتاب آہستہ آہستہ
اُبھرتا جا رہا ہے ماہتاب آہستہ آہستہ
۲
سنا ہے یہ در و دیوار کے بھی کان ہوتے ہیں
سوال آہستہ آہستہ، جواب آہستہ آہستہ
۳
لیا کرتا ہوں میں سونے سے پہلے رات کو اکثر
عذابوں کا ثوابوں کا حساب آہستہ آہستہ
۴
نہیں سمجھیں گے ہم اک دوسرے کو یک بیک ہمدم
کھلیں گے دل کے جتنے ہیں حجاب آہستہ آہستہ
۵
چھپی ہیں ان گنت چنگاریاں لفظوں کے دامن میں
ذرا پڑھنا غزل کی یہ کتاب آہستہ آہستہ
ये किताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता – प्रेम भंडारी
१
उफ़क़ पे डूबता है आफ़्ताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
उभरता जा रहा है माहताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
२
सुना है ये दर ओ दीवार के भी कान होते हैं
सवाल आहिस्ता आहिस्ता, जवाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
३
लिया करता हुं मैं सोने से पहले रात को अक्सर
अज़ाबौं का सवाबौं का हिसाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
४
नहीं समझेंगे हम एक दूसरे को यक ब-यक हमदम
खुलेंगे दिल के जितने हैं हिजाब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
५
छुपी हैं अनगिनत चिंगारियां लफ़्ज़ौं के दामन में
ज़रा पढ़ना ग़ज़ल की ये किताब आहिस्ता आहिस्ता
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. prem bhandaari (1949-????), udaipur, rajasthan. His collection was published in 2003. It is not clear how he came to urdu. His introduction says that ‘during this time’ he completed his PhD dissertation. It does not say in what subject. I assume it was in/about urdu literature.
1
ufaq1 pe Doobta2 hai aaftaab3 aahista aahista
ubharta4 jaa raha maahtaab5 aahista aahista 1.horizon 2.sinks 3.sun 4.emerges 5.full moon
The ‘maahtaab’ here stands for the beloved rather than literally for the full moon because the full moon is already at the apex and on the way to sink rather than to rise at sunset. Thus, the sun sinks down the horizon gradually and the beloved comes up on roof gently.
2
suna hai ye dar-o-diivaar1 ke bhi kaan2 hote haiN
savaal3 aahista aahista, javaab4 aahista aahista 1.doors and walls 2.ears 3.question 4.answer
The poet/lover is asking the beloved for favours. But he is fearful that someone might hear him. Thus, I hear that even wall have ears, make your entreaties gently and whisper your answers.
3
liya karta huN maiN sone se pahle raat ko aksar1
azaaboN2 ka savaaboN3 ka hisaab4 aahista aahista 1.often 2.sins, transgression 3.virtues, good deeds 4.reckoning
Here ‘azaab’ and ‘savaab’ are used in a slightly different way from punishment and reward. They are used to mean transgressions and good deeds. Thus, often the poet before going to bed takes stock of the good deeds he has done and his transgression during the day.
4
nahiN samjheNge hum ek doosre to yak-ba-yak1 hamdam2
khuleNge dil ke jitne haiN hijaab3 aahista aahista 1.suddenly, immediately 2.friend, beloved 3.used here to mean hidden secrets
This could be addressed to the beloved, to a friend or a commentary about mutual trust between communities. Thus, we will not instantly understand each other. The secrets hidden in our hearts will be revealed gradually as we get to know each other.
5
chhupi haiN anginat1 chiNgaariyaaN lafzoN2 ke daaman3 meN
zara paRhna Ghazal ki ye kitaab aahista aahista 1.countless 2.words 3.hem of the robe
Behind the cloak of words are hidden countless sparks (meanings). Read this book of Ghazal slowly/carefully.
prem bhandaari (1949-????), udaipur, rajasthan. His collection was published in 2003. It is not clear how he came to urdu. His introduction says that ‘during this time’ he completed his PhD dissertation. It does not say in what subject. I assume it was in/about urdu literature.
1
ufaq1 pe Doobta2 hai aaftaab3 aahista aahista
ubharta4 jaa raha maahtaab5 aahista aahista
1.horizon 2.sinks 3.sun 4.emerges 5.full moon
The ‘maahtaab’ here stands for the beloved rather than literally for the full moon because the full moon is already at the apex and on the way to sink rather than to rise at sunset. Thus, the sun sinks down the horizon gradually and the beloved comes up on roof gently.
2
suna hai ye dar-o-diivaar1 ke bhi kaan2 hote haiN
savaal3 aahista aahista, javaab4 aahista aahista
1.doors and walls 2.ears 3.question 4.answer
The poet/lover is asking the beloved for favours. But he is fearful that someone might hear him. Thus, I hear that even wall have ears, make your entreaties gently and whisper your answers.
3
liya karta huN maiN sone se pahle raat ko aksar1
azaaboN2 ka savaaboN3 ka hisaab4 aahista aahista
1.often 2.sins, transgression 3.virtues, good deeds 4.reckoning
Here ‘azaab’ and ‘savaab’ are used in a slightly different way from punishment and reward. They are used to mean transgressions and good deeds. Thus, often the poet before going to bed takes stock of the good deeds he has done and his transgression during the day.
4
nahiN samjheNge hum ek doosre to yak-ba-yak1 hamdam2
khuleNge dil ke jitne haiN hijaab3 aahista aahista
1.suddenly, immediately 2.friend, beloved 3.used here to mean hidden secrets
This could be addressed to the beloved, to a friend or a commentary about mutual trust between communities. Thus, we will not instantly understand each other. The secrets hidden in our hearts will be revealed gradually as we get to know each other.
5
chhupi haiN anginat1 chiNgaariyaaN lafzoN2 ke daaman3 meN
zara paRhna Ghazal ki ye kitaab aahista aahista
1.countless 2.words 3.hem of the robe
Behind the cloak of words are hidden countless sparks (meanings). Read this book of Ghazal slowly/carefully.
