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Recitation
shivani gupta agarwal
بے خبری رہی ۔ قمرؔ جلالوی
۱
مجھے باغباں سے گِلہ ہے یہ، کہ چمن سے بے خبری رہی
کہ ہے نخلِ گُل کا تو ذکر کیا، کوئی شاخ تک نہ ہری رہی
۲
مرا حال دیکھ کے ساقیا، کوئی بادہ خوار نہ پی سکا
ترے جام خالی نہ ہو سکے، مری چشمِ تر نہ بھری رہی
۳
میں قفس کو توڑ کے کیا کروں، مجھے رات دِن یہ خیال ہے
یہ بہار بھی یونہی جائے گی، جو یہی شکستہ پری رہی
۴
مجھے علم تیرے جمال کا، نہ خبر ہے تیرے جلال کی
یہ کلیم جانے کہ طور پر، تری کیسی جلوہ گری رہی
۵
میں ازل سے آیا تو کیا مِلا، میں جاؤنگا تو ملے گا کیا
مری جب بھی دربدری رہی، مری اب بھی دربدری رہی
۶
یہی سوچتا ہوں شبِ الم، کہ نہ آئے وہ تو ہوا ہے کیا
وہاں جا سکی نہ مری فغاں، کہ فغاں کی بے اثری رہی
۷
شبِ وعدہ وہ جو نہ آسکے، تو قمر کہونگا یہ چرخ سے
ترے تارے بھی گئے رائگاں، تری چاندنی بھی دھری رہی
बे-ख़बरी रही – कम़र जलालवी
१
मुझे बाग़बाँ से गिला है ये, के चमन से बे-ख़बरी रही
के है नख़्ल-ए गुल का तो ज़िक्र क्या, कोई शाख़ तक ना हरी रही
२
मेरा हाल देख के साक़िया, कोई बादा-ख़्वार ना पी सका
तेरे जाम ख़ाली ना हो सके, मेरी चश्म-ए तर ना भरी रही
३
मैं क़फ़स को तोड़ के क्या करूं मुझे रात दिन ये ख़्याल है
ये बहार भी युं ही जाएगी जो यही शिकस्ता-परी रही
४
मुझे इल्म तेरे जमाल का, ना ख़बर है तेरे जलाल की
ये कलीम जाने के तूर पर तेरी कैसी जलवा गरी रही
५
मैं अज़ल से आया तो क्या मिला, मैं जाऊंगा तो मिलेगा क्या
मेरी जब भी दरबदरी रही मेरी अब भी दरबदरी रही
६
यही सोचता हुं शब-ए अलम के ना आए वो तो हुआ है क्या
वहां जा सकी ना मेरी फ़ोग़ां, के फ़ोग़ां की बे-असरी रही
७
शब-ए वादा वो जो ना आ सके, तो क़मर कहूंगा ये चर्ख़ से
तेरे तारे भी गऐ राएगां, तेरी चाँदनी भी धरी रही
Click on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion.
1
mujhe baaGhbaN1 se gila2 hai ye, ke chaman se be-Khabari3 rahi
ke hai naKhl4-e gul ka to zikr5 kya, koi shaaKh6 tak na hari rahi 1.gardener, god 2.complaint 3.unaware, neglect 4.tree/bush 5.mention 6.branch
The poet complains of the condition of the world or perhaps his own condition in the world. The garden (world) has been neglected by the gardener (god) so much so that – what to mention about the flower bearing bush, not a single branch is green anymore.
2
mera haal1 dekh ke saaqiya, koi baada-Khwaar2 na pi saka
tere jaam3 Khaali na ho sake, meri chashm4-e tar5 na bhari rahi 1.condition 2.wine-drinker, patron of the tavern 3.cup (of wine) 4.eye 5.wet, teary
The poet has been so sad and tearful that no patron of the tavern has turned to drinking. They are all looking at or sympathizing with him. Thus, the cups served up by the saaqi were not emptied even as the tearful eye kept emptying itself.
3
maiN qafas1 ko toR ke kya karuN mujhe raat din ye Khyaal hai
ye bahaar bhi yuN hi jaaegi jo yahi shikasta-pari2 rahi 1.cage 2.wounded/clipped wings
The poet is a caged bird and his wings have been clipped. What is the use of trying to break out of the cage, he cannot fly anyway. Thus, this spring too will be like the last one, if the poet’s wings remain clipped.
4
mujhe ilm1 tere jamaal2 ka, na Khabar3 hai tere jalaal4 ki
ye kaleem5 jaane ke toor6 par teri kaisi jalva-gari7 rahi 1.knowledge 2.beauty 3.awareness 4.grandeur 5.another name of Moses 6.Mt. Toor/Sinaii 7.display of beauty
Tradition is that Moses went up Mt. Toor asking to see god and he saw a manifestation. The poet claims that he is a simpleton – he is not knowledgable about/aware of god’s beauty or grandeur. Only Moses (or knowledgable people like him) can know how god displays his beauty. Thus, god (or the beloved) is playing favourites.
5
maiN azal1 se aaya to kya mila, maiN jaauNga to milega kya
meri jab bhi darbadari2 rahi meri ab bhi darbadari rahi 1.eternity, used here to mean the other world/non-existence 2.homelessness
What did I get when I arrived here (in this world) from non-existence, what will I get when I leave here. I was homeless then, I am homeless now.
6
yahi sochta huN shab-e alam1 ke na aaye vo2 to hua hai kya
vahaaN ja saki na meri fuGhaaN3, ke fuGhaaN ki be-asari4 rahi 1.evening of sorrow 2.he (god or the beloved) 3.wailing 4.ineffectiveness
The poet is confused/is thinking. He was wailing/crying for help during his evening of sorrow but god/beloved did not come. Is it because his wailing did not reach there or because it was ineffective.
7
shab-e vaada1 vo jo na aa sake, to qamar kahuNga ye charKh2 se
tere taare bhi gaye raae’gaaN3, teri chaandni bhi dhari4 rahi 1.evening of promise (of tryst/union) 2.sky, fate, god 3.useless 4.remained lying unused
A starlit and/or a moonlit night is supposed to be a romantic night. That is when a tryst/union with the beloved should happen and she has promised to come. If she does not, then the moon (also the poet) will complain to god that his (god’s) stars and moon have all gone to waste.
1
mujhe baaGhbaN1 se gila2 hai ye, ke chaman se be-Khabari3 rahi
ke hai naKhl4-e gul ka to zikr5 kya, koi shaaKh6 tak na hari rahi
1.gardener, god 2.complaint 3.unaware, neglect 4.tree/bush 5.mention 6.branch
The poet complains of the condition of the world or perhaps his own condition in the world. The garden (world) has been neglected by the gardener (god) so much so that – what to mention about the flower bearing bush, not a single branch is green anymore.
2
mera haal1 dekh ke saaqiya, koi baada-Khwaar2 na pi saka
tere jaam3 Khaali na ho sake, meri chashm4-e tar5 na bhari rahi
1.condition 2.wine-drinker, patron of the tavern 3.cup (of wine) 4.eye 5.wet, teary
The poet has been so sad and tearful that no patron of the tavern has turned to drinking. They are all looking at or sympathizing with him. Thus, the cups served up by the saaqi were not emptied even as the tearful eye kept emptying itself.
3
maiN qafas1 ko toR ke kya karuN mujhe raat din ye Khyaal hai
ye bahaar bhi yuN hi jaaegi jo yahi shikasta-pari2 rahi
1.cage 2.wounded/clipped wings
The poet is a caged bird and his wings have been clipped. What is the use of trying to break out of the cage, he cannot fly anyway. Thus, this spring too will be like the last one, if the poet’s wings remain clipped.
4
mujhe ilm1 tere jamaal2 ka, na Khabar3 hai tere jalaal4 ki
ye kaleem5 jaane ke toor6 par teri kaisi jalva-gari7 rahi
1.knowledge 2.beauty 3.awareness 4.grandeur 5.another name of Moses 6.Mt. Toor/Sinaii 7.display of beauty
Tradition is that Moses went up Mt. Toor asking to see god and he saw a manifestation. The poet claims that he is a simpleton – he is not knowledgable about/aware of god’s beauty or grandeur. Only Moses (or knowledgable people like him) can know how god displays his beauty. Thus, god (or the beloved) is playing favourites.
5
maiN azal1 se aaya to kya mila, maiN jaauNga to milega kya
meri jab bhi darbadari2 rahi meri ab bhi darbadari rahi
1.eternity, used here to mean the other world/non-existence 2.homelessness
What did I get when I arrived here (in this world) from non-existence, what will I get when I leave here. I was homeless then, I am homeless now.
6
yahi sochta huN shab-e alam1 ke na aaye vo2 to hua hai kya
vahaaN ja saki na meri fuGhaaN3, ke fuGhaaN ki be-asari4 rahi
1.evening of sorrow 2.he (god or the beloved) 3.wailing 4.ineffectiveness
The poet is confused/is thinking. He was wailing/crying for help during his evening of sorrow but god/beloved did not come. Is it because his wailing did not reach there or because it was ineffective.
7
shab-e vaada1 vo jo na aa sake, to qamar kahuNga ye charKh2 se
tere taare bhi gaye raae’gaaN3, teri chaandni bhi dhari4 rahi
1.evening of promise (of tryst/union) 2.sky, fate, god 3.useless 4.remained lying unused
A starlit and/or a moonlit night is supposed to be a romantic night. That is when a tryst/union with the beloved should happen and she has promised to come. If she does not, then the moon (also the poet) will complain to god that his (god’s) stars and moon have all gone to waste.
Key Search Words: sufiyaana, sufi
Wow! Wow! That is wah wah wah!.
I was very skeptical about any imitation or ridicule about the classic. A pleasant surprise awaited me. This is an excellent takeoff on the original expression used by Siraj Aurangabadi. Entirely worthy of the inconsolable loss expressed by the great Aurangabadi.
Incidentally, I have looked for a painter in India or Pakistan who could depict in his/her own style the sha’ir — chali simt-e ghaib se ek hawa . . . . . I even suggested viewing pictures or videos of wild forest fires of California, for example, for inspiration. No takers even at $100 or more.