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Recitation
آج کی رات اور باقی ہے ۔ اَسرار الحق مجاز
۱
کل تو جانا ہی ہے سفر پہ مجھے
زندگی منتظر ہے منہ پھاڑے
زندگی خاک و خون میں لِتھڑی
آنکھ میں شعلہ ہائے تند لیے
دو گھڑی خود کو شادماں کر لیں
آج کی رات اور باقی ہے
۲
چلنے ہی کو ہے اک سموم ابھی
رقص فرما ہے روحِ بربادی
بربریت کے کاروانوں سے
زلزلے میں ہے سینۂ گیتی
ذوق پنہاں کو کامراں کر لیں
آج کی رات اور باقی ہے
۳
ایک پیمانہ مے سر جوش
لطفِ گفتار گرمئی آغوش
بوسے اس درجہ آتشیں بوسے
پھونک ڈالیں جو میری کشت ہوش
روح یخ بستہ ہے تپاں کر لیں
آج کی رات اور باقی ہے
۴
ایک دو اور ساغر سرشار
پھر تو ہونا ہی ہے مجھے ہشیار
چھیڑنا ہی ہے ساز زیست مجھے
آگ برسائیں گے لبِ گفتار
کچھ طبیعت تو ہم رواں کر لیں
آج کی رات اور باقی ہے
۵
پھر کہاں یہ حسیں سہانی رات
یہ فراغت یہ کیف کے لمحات
کچھ تو آسودگیِ ذوقِ نہاں
کچھ تو تسکینِ شورشِ جذبات
آج کی رات جاوداں کر لیں
آج کی رات اور آج کی رات
आज की रात और बाक़ी है – अस्रार-उल-हक़्क़ मजाज़
१
कल तो जाना ही है सफ़र पे मुझे
ज़िंदगी मुंतज़िर है मुँह फाड़े
ज़िंदगी ख़ाक ओ ख़ून में लुथड़ी
आँख में शोला-हा-ए-तुंद लिए
दो घड़ी ख़ुद को शादमाँ कर लें
आज की रात और बाक़ी है
२
चलने ही को है इक सुमूम अभी
रक़्स-फ़रमा है रूह-ए-बर्बादी
बरबरियत के कारवानों से
ज़लज़ले में है सीना-ए-गीती
ज़ौक़-ए-पिन्हाँ को कामराँ कर लें
आज की रात और बाक़ी है
३
एक पैमान-ए-मय-ए-सरजोश
लुत्फ़-ए-गुफ़्तार गर्मी-ए-आग़ोश
बोसे इस दर्जा आतिशीं बोसे
फूँक डालें जो मेरी किश्त-ए-होश
रूह यख़-बस्ता है तपाँ कर लें
आज की रात और बाक़ी है
४
एक दो और साग़र-ए-सरशार
फिर तो होना ही है मुझे होशियार
छेड़ना ही है साज़-ए-ज़ीस्त मुझे
आग बरसाएँगे लब-ए-गुफ़्तार
कुछ तबीअत तो हम रवाँ कर लें
आज की रात और बाक़ी है
५
फिर कहाँ ये हसीं सुहानी रात
ये फ़राग़त ये कैफ़ के लम्हात
कुछ तो आसूदगी-ए-ज़ौक़-ए-निहाँ
कुछ तो तस्कीन-ए-शोरिश-ए-जज़्बात
आज की रात जावेदाँ कर लें
आज की रात और आज की रात
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This reads like he wants to keep on drinking and enjoying himself, tomorrow may go to hell. There is much pathos and suffering in this.
1
kal to jaana hi hai safar pe mujhe
zindagi muntazir1 hai muNh phaaRe
zindagi Khaak o Khoon meN lithRi
aaNkh meN sho’la-ha2-e tund3 liye
do ghaRi Khud ko shadmaaN4 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai 1.waiting 2.flames 3.fierce 4.happy
Tomorrow, I have to depart on my journey anyway. Life waits, mouth wide open (to swallow/chew me up), smeared with blood and sust, with fire in her eyes. Why not be happy for a few more minutes (before I depart on my journey). There is still some night left.
2
chalne hi ko hai ek sumoom1 abhi
raqs-farma2 hai rooh-e-barbaadi3
barbariyat4 ke kaarvaanoN se
zalzale meN hai sina-e-geti5
zauq-e-pinhaaN6 ko kamraaN7 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai 1.poisoned breeze 2.dancing 3.spirit/demon of destruction 4.barbarism 5.bosom/heart of the world 6.hidden desires 7.victorious
A poisonous wind blows. The heart of the world throbs like a quake because of the trampling caravans of barbarism. Why not let hidden desires triumph (over all this barbarity). There is still some night left.
3
ek paimana1-e mai-e-sarjosh2
lutf-e-guftaar3 garmi-e-aGhosh4
bosay5 is darja6 atishiN7 bosay
phooNk DaaleN jo meri kisht-e-hosh8
rooh9 yaKh-basta10 hai tapaaN11 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai 1.cup, goblet 2.wine of extreme intoxication, strong wine 3.pleasure of conversation (with the beloved) 4.warmth of embrace 5.kisses 6.degree, much 7.fiery 8.harvest of awareness/senses 9.spirit, soul 10.icy, frozen 11.warm
One more cup of strong wine. A little longer the pleasure of conversation, the warmth of embrace. Kisses, such fiery kisses, that blow away my senses. My soul is frozen, let me warm it up. There is still some night left.
4
ek do aur saaGhar1-e sarshaar2
phir to hona hi hai mujhe hoshiyaar3
chheRna hi hai saaz-e-zist4 mujhe
aag barsaa’eNge lab-e-guftaar5
kuchh tabi’at6 to hum ravaaN7 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai 1.cup, bowl 2.satiating 3.wakeful 4.song of life 5.lips that read verse 6.mood 7.flowing, cheerful
One of two more satiating cups. After all I will have to wake up/sober up, sometime. I have to sing the song of life. My lips have to recite verse. Why not get into a cheerful mood first. There is still some night left.
5
phir kahaaN ye hasiN suhaani raat
ye faraaGhat1 ye kaif2 ke lamhaat3
kuchh to asoodagi4-e zauq-e-nihaaN5
kuchh to taskin6-e shorish-e-jazbaat7
aaj ki raat javedaaN8 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur aaj ki raat 1.carefree 2.pleasure 3.moments 4.comforting 5.hidden desires 6.satisfaction, fulfillment 7.onslaught of sentiments/craving 8.eternal, never ending
When will there be another such soothing and beautiful night. These few moments that are carefree and pleasurable. A little comfort for my hidden desires, a little fulfillment for the onslaught of craving. Let this night never end. There is still some night left.
asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This reads like he wants to keep on drinking and enjoying himself, tomorrow may go to hell. There is much pathos and suffering in this.
1
kal to jaana hi hai safar pe mujhe
zindagi muntazir1 hai muNh phaaRe
zindagi Khaak o Khoon meN lithRi
aaNkh meN sho’la-ha2-e tund3 liye
do ghaRi Khud ko shadmaaN4 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai
1.waiting 2.flames 3.fierce 4.happy
Tomorrow, I have to depart on my journey anyway. Life waits, mouth wide open (to swallow/chew me up), smeared with blood and sust, with fire in her eyes. Why not be happy for a few more minutes (before I depart on my journey). There is still some night left.
2
chalne hi ko hai ek sumoom1 abhi
raqs-farma2 hai rooh-e-barbaadi3
barbariyat4 ke kaarvaanoN se
zalzale meN hai sina-e-geti5
zauq-e-pinhaaN6 ko kamraaN7 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai
1.poisoned breeze 2.dancing 3.spirit/demon of destruction 4.barbarism 5.bosom/heart of the world 6.hidden desires 7.victorious
A poisonous wind blows. The heart of the world throbs like a quake because of the trampling caravans of barbarism. Why not let hidden desires triumph (over all this barbarity). There is still some night left.
3
ek paimana1-e mai-e-sarjosh2
lutf-e-guftaar3 garmi-e-aGhosh4
bosay5 is darja6 atishiN7 bosay
phooNk DaaleN jo meri kisht-e-hosh8
rooh9 yaKh-basta10 hai tapaaN11 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai
1.cup, goblet 2.wine of extreme intoxication, strong wine 3.pleasure of conversation (with the beloved) 4.warmth of embrace 5.kisses 6.degree, much 7.fiery 8.harvest of awareness/senses 9.spirit, soul 10.icy, frozen 11.warm
One more cup of strong wine. A little longer the pleasure of conversation, the warmth of embrace. Kisses, such fiery kisses, that blow away my senses. My soul is frozen, let me warm it up. There is still some night left.
4
ek do aur saaGhar1-e sarshaar2
phir to hona hi hai mujhe hoshiyaar3
chheRna hi hai saaz-e-zist4 mujhe
aag barsaa’eNge lab-e-guftaar5
kuchh tabi’at6 to hum ravaaN7 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur baaqi hai
1.cup, bowl 2.satiating 3.wakeful 4.song of life 5.lips that read verse 6.mood 7.flowing, cheerful
One of two more satiating cups. After all I will have to wake up/sober up, sometime. I have to sing the song of life. My lips have to recite verse. Why not get into a cheerful mood first. There is still some night left.
5
phir kahaaN ye hasiN suhaani raat
ye faraaGhat1 ye kaif2 ke lamhaat3
kuchh to asoodagi4-e zauq-e-nihaaN5
kuchh to taskin6-e shorish-e-jazbaat7
aaj ki raat javedaaN8 kar leN
aaj ki raat aur aaj ki raat
1.carefree 2.pleasure 3.moments 4.comforting 5.hidden desires 6.satisfaction, fulfillment 7.onslaught of sentiments/craving 8.eternal, never ending
When will there be another such soothing and beautiful night. These few moments that are carefree and pleasurable. A little comfort for my hidden desires, a little fulfillment for the onslaught of craving. Let this night never end. There is still some night left.
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