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Recitation
بت خانہ بن جائے گی ۔ بھارتیندو ہرشچندر رساؔ
۱
بال بکھیرے آج پری تُربت پر میرے آئے گی
موت بھی میری ایک تماشہ عالم کو دکھلائے گی
۲
محوِ ادا ہو جاؤں گا گر وصل میں وہ شرمائے گی
بارِ خدایا دل کی حسرت کیسے پھر بر آئے گی
۳
کاہیدہ ایسا ہوں میں بھی ڈھونڈا کرے نہ پائے گی
میری خاطر موت بھی میری برسوں سر ٹکرائے گی
۴
عشقِ بتاں میں جب دل الجھا دین کہاں اسلام کہاں
واعظ کالی زلف کی الفت سب کو رام بنائے گی
۵
چنگا ہوگا جب نہ مریضِ کاکُلِ شب گُوں حضرت سے
آپ کی اُلفت عیسیٰ کی اب عظمت آج مٹائے گی
۶
بہرِ عیادت بھی جو نہ آئیں گے ہمارے بالیں پر
برسوں میرے دل کی حسرت سر پر خاک اُڑائے گی
۷
دیکھوں گا محرابِ حرم یاد آئے گی ابروئے صنم
میرے جانے سے مسجد بھی بت خانہ بن جائے گی
۸
غافل اتنا حُسن پہ غُرّہ دھیان کدھر ہے توبہ کر
آخر اک دن صورت یہ سب مٹی میں مل جائے گی
۹
عارف جو ہیں اُن کے ہیں بس رنج و راحت ایک رساؔ
جیسے وہ گزری ہے یہ بھی کسی طرح نِبھ جائے گی
बुत-ख़ाना बन जाएगी – भारतेंदु हरिश्चन्द्र रसा
१
बाल बिखेरे आज परी तुर्बत पर मेरे आएगी
मौत भी मेरी एक तमाशा आलम को दिखलाएगी
२
महव-ए-अदा हो जाऊँगा गर वस्ल में वो शरमाएगी
बार-ए-ख़ुदाया दिल की हस्रत कैसे फिर बर आएगी
३
काहीदा ऐसा हूँ मैं भी ढूँडा करे न पाएगी
मेरी ख़ातर मौत भी मेरी बरसों सर टक्राएगी
४
इश्क़-ए-बुताँ में जब दिल उलझा दीन कहाँ इस्लाम कहाँ
वाएज़ काली ज़ुल्फ़ की उल्फ़त सब को राम बनाएगी
५
चंगा होगा जब न मरीज़-ए काकुल-ए शब-गूँ हज़रत से
आप की उल्फ़त ईसा की अब अज़्मत आज मिटाएगी
६
बहर-ए अयादत भी जो न आएँगे हमारे बालीं पर
बरसों मेरे दिल की हस्रत सर पर ख़ाक उड़ाएगी
७
देखूँगा मेहराब-ए-हरम याद आएगी अबरू-ए-सनम
मेरे जाने से मस्जिद भी बुत-ख़ाना बन जाएगी
८
ग़ाफ़िल इतना हुस्न पे ग़ुर्रा ध्यान किधर है तौबा कर
आख़िर एक दिन सूरत ये सब मिट्टी में मिल जाएगी
९
आरफ़ जो हैं उन के हैं बस रंज ओ राहत एक ‘रसा’
जैसे वो गुज़री है ये भी किसी तरह निभ जाएगी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. bhartendu harishchandra (1850-1885) was a prolific writer, poet, journalist and political activist. He was a scholar of urdu, farsi and sanskrit using ‘rasa’ as his taKhallus for classical urdu and ‘harichand’ for emerging hindi compositions. He even wrote articles on hindu law in urdu. But later he participated in and contributed greatly to the ‘hindi-urdu divide’. His personal life too was given to drinking and debauchery leading to an early death.
1
baal bikhere aaj pari1 turbat2 par mere aayegi
maut bhi meri ek tamaasha aalam3 ko dikhlaayegi 1.fairy, angel, beloved 2.grave, mausoleum 3.world
The poet/lover is dead, but this does not prevent him from writing about his own death/funeral. He is expecting that finally, after many broken promises, the beloved will come to his grave/funeral (conventionally/culturally required as a mark of respect for the dead). He funeral will then become a spectacle.
2
mahv-e-adaa1 ho jaauNga gar vasl2 meN vo sharmaayegi
baar-e-Khudaayaa3 dil ki hasrat4 kaise phir bar5 aayegi 1.engrossed in admiring her style 2.union 3.glory of god 4.desire 5.fulfilled
The poet/lover has a longing in his heart to be with the beloved. But at the time of union, he will be engrossed in admiring her style and will not be able to get beyond being lost in this intense admiration. How then will his long-held desire be fulfilled.
3
kaahiida1 aisaa huN maiN bhi DhuNDaa kare na paayegi
meri Khaatir2 maut bhi meri barsoN3 sar Takraayegi 1.reduced in stature 2.with the intent of 3.years
Death will come seeking the poet/lover but he has been reduced in stature (due to the cruelties of the beloved) so much that Death will not be able to recognize him and will search for him in vain for years.
4
ishq-e-butaaN1 meN jab dil uljhaa2 diin3 kahaaN islaam kahaaN
vaa’ez4 kaali zulf5 ki ulfat6 sab ko raam7 banaayegi 1.love of idols/beloved 2.entangled 3.faith 4.preacher 5.hair 6.love 7.agree, accept
There are two wonderful word plays in this she’r. ishq-e butaaN is love of the beloved and also implies idol/hindu imagery. raam banaana is an expression used to mean convince or make someone agree with your opinion or desires, and raam is also hindu imagery. Thus, O, preacher, when they get entangled in love of the idol/beloved, they will forget faith. Her dark hair will force them to submit to her.
5
chaNga1 hoga jab na mariiz2-e kaakul3-e shab-guN4 hazrat5 se
aap ki ulfat6 iisaa7 ki ab azmat8 aaj miTaayegi 1.healthy, cured 2.sick patient 3.curls, hair 4.night colour, dark 5.an honorific like ‘sir’, used here for Jesus 6.love 7.Jesus 8.greatness
Jesus is known for miraculous curing the sick with his breath. But the poet/lover who sick with love of the beloved’s dark curls, will not be cured. Thus the reputation of Jesus will be affected and he will no longer be considered so great.
6
bahr1-e ayaadat2 bhi jo na aayeNge hamaare baaliiN3 par
barsoN4 mere dil ki hasrat5 sar par Khaak uRaayegi 1.for the sake of 2.inquiring after an ailing person 3.head, pillow 4.years 5.desire
The poet/lover is sick/dying of love. Everyone knows about it and the beloved must also surely have heard. If, even now, she does not come to inquire after him, sitting at the head of his bed, then his desire will mourn (dust on its head) for years.
7
dekhuNgaa mehraab1-e haram2 yaad aayegi abru3-e sanam
mere jaane se masjid bhi but-Khaana4 ban jaayegi 1.central arch 2.mosque 3.arched eyebrows 4.house of idols
If the poet/lover were to go to the mosque and see the central arch, he will be reminded of the arched eyebrows of the beloved. Thus the mosque will turn into a house of idols!
8
Ghaafil1 itna husn pe Ghurra2 dhyaan3 kidhar hai tauba4 kar
aaKhir ek din surat ye sab miTTi meN mil jaayegi 1.forgetful, transgressor, tresspasser 2.pride 3.attention 4.repent
The beloved is transgressing because she is so proud of her beauty. What are you thinking, repent now because in a few days, you will lose this beauty.
9
aarif1 jo haiN un ke haiN bas raNj2 o raahat3 ek rasaa4
jaise vo guzri5 hai ye bhi kisi tarah nibh6 jaayegi 1.mystic, wise 2.sorrow 3.comfort/pleasure 4.pen name of the poet 5.passed 6.reconciled
Those that are wise and pious do not differentiate between joy and sorrow. Just as they pass through joy, they will reconcile themselves of their sorrow.
bhartendu harishchandra (1850-1885) was a prolific writer, poet, journalist and political activist. He was a scholar of urdu, farsi and sanskrit using ‘rasa’ as his taKhallus for classical urdu and ‘harichand’ for emerging hindi compositions. He even wrote articles on hindu law in urdu. But later he participated in and contributed greatly to the ‘hindi-urdu divide’. His personal life too was given to drinking and debauchery leading to an early death.
1
baal bikhere aaj pari1 turbat2 par mere aayegi
maut bhi meri ek tamaasha aalam3 ko dikhlaayegi
1.fairy, angel, beloved 2.grave, mausoleum 3.world
The poet/lover is dead, but this does not prevent him from writing about his own death/funeral. He is expecting that finally, after many broken promises, the beloved will come to his grave/funeral (conventionally/culturally required as a mark of respect for the dead). He funeral will then become a spectacle.
2
mahv-e-adaa1 ho jaauNga gar vasl2 meN vo sharmaayegi
baar-e-Khudaayaa3 dil ki hasrat4 kaise phir bar5 aayegi
1.engrossed in admiring her style 2.union 3.glory of god 4.desire 5.fulfilled
The poet/lover has a longing in his heart to be with the beloved. But at the time of union, he will be engrossed in admiring her style and will not be able to get beyond being lost in this intense admiration. How then will his long-held desire be fulfilled.
3
kaahiida1 aisaa huN maiN bhi DhuNDaa kare na paayegi
meri Khaatir2 maut bhi meri barsoN3 sar Takraayegi
1.reduced in stature 2.with the intent of 3.years
Death will come seeking the poet/lover but he has been reduced in stature (due to the cruelties of the beloved) so much that Death will not be able to recognize him and will search for him in vain for years.
4
ishq-e-butaaN1 meN jab dil uljhaa2 diin3 kahaaN islaam kahaaN
vaa’ez4 kaali zulf5 ki ulfat6 sab ko raam7 banaayegi
1.love of idols/beloved 2.entangled 3.faith 4.preacher 5.hair 6.love 7.agree, accept
There are two wonderful word plays in this she’r. ishq-e butaaN is love of the beloved and also implies idol/hindu imagery. raam banaana is an expression used to mean convince or make someone agree with your opinion or desires, and raam is also hindu imagery. Thus, O, preacher, when they get entangled in love of the idol/beloved, they will forget faith. Her dark hair will force them to submit to her.
5
chaNga1 hoga jab na mariiz2-e kaakul3-e shab-guN4 hazrat5 se
aap ki ulfat6 iisaa7 ki ab azmat8 aaj miTaayegi
1.healthy, cured 2.sick patient 3.curls, hair 4.night colour, dark 5.an honorific like ‘sir’, used here for Jesus 6.love 7.Jesus 8.greatness
Jesus is known for miraculous curing the sick with his breath. But the poet/lover who sick with love of the beloved’s dark curls, will not be cured. Thus the reputation of Jesus will be affected and he will no longer be considered so great.
6
bahr1-e ayaadat2 bhi jo na aayeNge hamaare baaliiN3 par
barsoN4 mere dil ki hasrat5 sar par Khaak uRaayegi
1.for the sake of 2.inquiring after an ailing person 3.head, pillow 4.years 5.desire
The poet/lover is sick/dying of love. Everyone knows about it and the beloved must also surely have heard. If, even now, she does not come to inquire after him, sitting at the head of his bed, then his desire will mourn (dust on its head) for years.
7
dekhuNgaa mehraab1-e haram2 yaad aayegi abru3-e sanam
mere jaane se masjid bhi but-Khaana4 ban jaayegi
1.central arch 2.mosque 3.arched eyebrows 4.house of idols
If the poet/lover were to go to the mosque and see the central arch, he will be reminded of the arched eyebrows of the beloved. Thus the mosque will turn into a house of idols!
8
Ghaafil1 itna husn pe Ghurra2 dhyaan3 kidhar hai tauba4 kar
aaKhir ek din surat ye sab miTTi meN mil jaayegi
1.forgetful, transgressor, tresspasser 2.pride 3.attention 4.repent
The beloved is transgressing because she is so proud of her beauty. What are you thinking, repent now because in a few days, you will lose this beauty.
9
aarif1 jo haiN un ke haiN bas raNj2 o raahat3 ek rasaa4
jaise vo guzri5 hai ye bhi kisi tarah nibh6 jaayegi
1.mystic, wise 2.sorrow 3.comfort/pleasure 4.pen name of the poet 5.passed 6.reconciled
Those that are wise and pious do not differentiate between joy and sorrow. Just as they pass through joy, they will reconcile themselves of their sorrow.
