Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza jaafar ali KhaaN asar lakhnavi (1885-1967). Classical education at home until the age of 11, then formal schooling and college to BA. Indulged in MA and LLB but did not finish. Served in the British government as Deputy Collector (1909), Executive Officer and Collector until 1940. Resigned from service. Several collections of his Ghazal and nazm including descriptions of nature in kashmir where he served in the cabinet and also as acting prime minister (until 1945) to the maharaja. He also did a versified translation of the bhagwad-giita. This nazm/giit is linked to krish bhakti under kaaba kaashi on the Theme Index page.
1
aye brij¹ ke laal² aa ja
aye mere dayaal³ aa ja     1.birthplace of krishn 2.son, beloved child 3.generous
It is believed that whenever the world is in dire need god/vishnu comes in some incarnation/avtaar. Perhaps the poet feels that the world is in turmoil and he is praying for krishn to come back and show his generous self.
2
aye gulban-e-raa’naai¹ aye rashk²-e bahaar³ aa ja
ek jaan-e sitamkash⁴ ko aa jaa’e qaraar⁵ aa ja     1.forest/field of roses of elegance/grace 2.envy 3.spring 4.oppressed 5.peace, calm
krishn is described in glowing terms … his beauty is the envy of spring, his grace and elegance are like a field of roses. The poet refers to himself as ‘jaan-e sitamkash’- a person whose life/soul is oppressed. He beseeches krishn to come so he may find peace and calm.
3
vaa¹ teri tamanna² meN aaGhosh³-e muhabbat hai
Khud apni muhabbat se hone ko do-chaar⁴ aa ja    1.wide open 2.desire 3.lap, embrace 4.face to face
The poet (and other devotees) have opened their arms wide to welcome and embrace him when he comes. They invite him to come face to face, to see himself, the love that his devotees have for him.
4
tutlaate¹ hue GhunchoN² ki saadaa³ nafaasat⁴ meN
phooloN ki malaahat⁵ meN aye turfah⁶ nigaar⁷ aa ja     1.lisp, childlike baby talk 2.unopened buds 3.plain, clean, pure 4.refined, exquisite 5.beauty of salty complexion 6.fascinating, mysterious 7.beauty, beloved
The most common image of krishn is that of his playful childhood which evokes maternal emotions. Thus, the poet krishn’s image in what he considers lisping buds. Of course, buds don’t actually lisp but the adjective is used to attribute childlike qualities to them. He see krishn in the plain, pure refinement of buds and in the salty beauty of blooming flowers. krishn is a mysterious beauty and begs him to come.
5
aye brij¹ ke laal² aa ja
aye mere dayaal³ aa ja     1.birthplace of krishn 2.son, beloved child 3.generous
It is believed that whenever the world is in dire need god/vishnu comes in some incarnation/avtaar. Perhaps the poet feels that the world is in turmoil and he is praying for krishn to come back and show his generous self.
6
bansi¹ ke madhur² geetoN aur taan³ ke palToN⁴ meN
haNsta hua, iThlaata⁵ gulshan⁶ ba-kanaar⁷ aa ja    1.flute 2.sweet 3.note 4.turns, layers 5.coquettish walk, strut 6.garden 7.edge, embrace
The poet sees krishn in the sweet notes of the flute. Hearing these he calls him to come to the garden (the world) smiling, walking with his beguiling/tantalizing gait.
7
badmast¹ havaaoN² ko daaman³ se lipaTne de
aaNkhoN meN liye meeThe sapnoN ka Khumaar⁴ aa ja     1.heavily inebriated 2.breeze, also means desire 3.hem of the garment 4.intoxication
All his devotees have an intense desire for him. The imagery for this desire is heavily inebriated breeze, drunk with love, reaching out to hold the hem of the garment of the child-krishn. The poets say, let this desire grasp the hem of your garment. Come with the intoxication of sweet dreams in your eyes.
8
maiN dil ke jharoke¹ se jis vaqt tujhe jhaaNkuuN²
ashkoN³ ke dhundhlake⁴ meN, maiN tere nisaar⁵ aa ja     1.window 2.peep 3.tears 4.fog 5.devotional offering of self
The poet looks for krishn … described as his soul peeping out of his eyes. The longing to see brings tears to his eyes and he can only see a fuzzy and foggy scene. The poet offering himself in devotion, begs krishn to come through this fog.
9
aye brij¹ ke laal² aa ja
aye mere dayaal³ aa ja     1.birthplace of krishn 2.son, beloved child 3.generous
It is believed that whenever the world is in dire need god/vishnu comes in some incarnation/avtaar. Perhaps the poet feels that the world is in turmoil and he is praying for krishn to come back and show his generous self.