For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
چلو صبا کی طرح ۔ دیوی دیال آتشؔ بھاول پوری
۱
خموش بیٹھے ہو کیوں سازِ بے صدا کی طرح
کوئی پیام تو دو رمز آشنا کی طرح
۲
کہیں تمہاری روش خار و گل پہ بار نہ ہو
ریاضِ دہر سے گزرے چلو صبا کی طرح
۳
نیاز و عجز ہی معراجِ آدمیت ہیں
بڑھاؤ دستِ سخاوت بھی اِلتجا کی طرح
۴
جو چاہتے ہو بدلنا مزاجِ طوفاں کو
تو ناخدا پہ بھروسا کرو خدا کی طرح
۵
مجھے ہمیشہ رہ زیست کے دوراہوں پر
اک اجنبی ہے جو ملتا ہے آشنا کی طرح
۶
تمام عمر رہا سابقہ یزیدوں سے
مرے لیے تو یہ دنیا ہے کربلا کی طرح
۷
امید ان سے وفا کی تو خیر کیا کیجے
جفا بھی کرتے نہیں وہ کبھی جفا کی طرح
۸
یہ دہر بھی تو ہے مے خانۂ الست نما
رہو یہاں بھی کسی رند پارسا کی طرح
۹
زباں پہ شکوۂ بے مہریٔ خدا کیوں ہے؟
دعا تو مانگیے آتشؔ کبھی دعا کی طرح
चलो सबा की तरह – देवी दयाल आतिश भावलपूरी
१
ख़मोश बैठे हो क्यूँ साज़-ए बे-सदा की तरह
कोई पयाम तो दो रम्ज़-आशना की तरह
२
कहीं तुम्हारी रविश ख़ार-ओ-गुल पे बार न हो
रियाज़-ए दहर से गुज़रे चलो सबा की तरह
३
नियाज़-ओ-इज्ज़ ही मेराज-ए आदमिय्यत हैं
बढ़ाओ दस्त-ए सख़ावत भी इल्तेजा की तरह
४
जो चाहते हो बदलना मिज़ाज-ए तूफ़ाँ को
तो नाख़ुदा पे भरोसा करो ख़ुदा की तरह
५
मुझे हमेशा रह-ए ज़ीस्त के दोराहों पर
एक अजनबी है जो मिलता है आश्ना की तरह
६
तमाम उम्र रहा साबक़ा यज़ीदों से
मेरे लिये तो ये दुनिया है करबला की तरह
७
उमीद उन से वफ़ा की तो ख़ैर क्या कीजे
जफ़ा भी करते नहीं वो कभी जफ़ा की तरह
८
ये दहर भी तो है मय-ख़ाना-ए अलस्त-नुमा
रहो यहाँ भी किसी रिंद-ए पारसा की तरह
९
ज़बाँ पे शिक्वा-ए बे-मेहरी-ए ख़ुदा क्यूँ है?
दुआ तो माँगिये आतिश कभी दुआ की तरह
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. devidayal aatish bhaavalpuri (1915-1993), sonipat, haryana. Served as general secretary of the sahitya academy. He was born in Khairpur, muzaffargaRh (now pakistan). Influenced by many shu’ara around him, among them jaimini sarshaar, he began composing. But his composition matured and received recognition in bhaavalpur. They moved to the Indian side even before partition. He worked as an editor of a weekly magazine ‘naya jiivan’ and then as lecturer of urdu in chhoTuram aarya college. He started and edited a magazine called ‘paiGhaam’ and was a staunch secularist throughout his life. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal ‘dulhan ki tarah’ on the Refrain page.
1
Khamosh baiThe ho kyuN saaz1-e be-sada2 ki tarah
koi payaam3 to do ramz4-aashna5 ki tarah 1.musical instrument, harp 2.sound-less 3.message 4.secrets, mysteries 5.familiar, knowledgeable
This is probably addressed to god. Why are you silent, like a soundless harp. You, who know all the mysteries, at least send some message.
2
kahiN tumhaari ravish1 Khaar2-o-gul3 pe baar4 na ho
riyaaz5-e dahr6 se guzre7 chalo saba8 ki tarah 1.manner, habit, tradition 2.thorns 3.roses 4.burden 5.garden 6.world 7.pass through 8.morning breeze
This could be addressed to himself and/or to fellow humans. For fear that your ways might become a burden on roses and thorns, pass through the garden of this world gently like the morning breeze (without trampling on nature).
3
niyaaz1-o-ijz2 hi me’raaj3-e aadmiyyat4 haiN
baRhaao dast5-e saKhaavat6 bhi ilteja7 ki tarah 1.supplication, offering 2.humility 3.peak 4.human qualities 5.hand 6.generosity 7.appeal, plead
Supplication and humility are peak human qualities. Extend the helping hand of generosity as if you were asking for something.
4
jo chaahte ho badalna mizaaj1-e toofaaN2 ko
to naaKhuda3 pe bharosa4 karo Khuda ki tarah 1.character, quality 2.storm 3.boatman, oarsman 4.trust
This is a nice variation of an oft-used word play. ‘naaKhuda’ which sounds like ‘non-god’ means the boatman taking you through the storm. If you want to change the nature of the storm (tame it), then trust the naaKhuda like you trust Khuda.
5
mujhe hamesha rah1-e ziist2 ke doraahoN3 par
ek ajnabi4 hai jo milta hai aashna5 ki tarah 1.path 2.life 3.fork in the road 4.stranger 5.familiar, friend
The poet/seeker is on the path of life. He comes upon forks in the path and has to decide which fork to take. That is when he encounters a stranger who greets him like a friend. Perhaps he means that his intuition guides him to the right path whenever he is faced with a choice.
6
tamaam1 umr2 raha saabiqa3 yazidoN se
mere liye to ye duniya hai karbala ki tarah 1.all 2.life 3.dealing with
This has reference to the battle of karbala in which yazid’s (arbitrary and cruel king) army killed husain and his followers (symbols of steadfast righteousness). All my life, I had to deal with people like yazid. To me this world has been like the battle of karbala.
7
umiid1 un se vafa2 ki to Khair3 kya kiije
jafa4 bhi karte nahiN vo kabhi jafa ki tarah 1.hope, expectation 2.faith, fidelity 3.after all 4.oppression
There is a certain traditional etiquette of oppression that the beloved is supposed to follow. She does not even do that so how can I expect any fidelity from her.
8
ye dahr1 bhi to hai mai-Khaana2-e alast3-numa4
raho yahaaN bhi kisi riNd5-e paarsa6 ki tarah 1.world 2.tavern 3.god 4.like, similar to 5.wine lover 6.observant, devout, orthodox
There are opposites nicely juxtaposed here. ‘alast’ is a quraanic verse meaning ‘am I not your god’ and is used here to mean divinity. ‘rind-e paars’ means devout wine-lover. Juxtaposing mai-Khaana with god-like and rind with paarsa makes for an interesting she’r. Thus, this world is a divine tavern. Live your life here like a devout wine-lover.
9
zabaaN pe shikva1-e be-mehri2-e Khuda kyuN hai?
dua to maaNgiye aatish3 kabhi dua ki tarah 1.complaint 2.unkindness 3.pen-name of the poet
Why is there a complaint of god’s mercilessness on your lips, O aatish. At least pray with sincerity (before you complain).
devidayal aatish bhaavalpuri (1915-1993), sonipat, haryana. Served as general secretary of the sahitya academy. He was born in Khairpur, muzaffargaRh (now pakistan). Influenced by many shu’ara around him, among them jaimini sarshaar, he began composing. But his composition matured and received recognition in bhaavalpur. They moved to the Indian side even before partition. He worked as an editor of a weekly magazine ‘naya jiivan’ and then as lecturer of urdu in chhoTuram aarya college. He started and edited a magazine called ‘paiGhaam’ and was a staunch secularist throughout his life. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal ‘dulhan ki tarah’ on the Refrain page.
1
Khamosh baiThe ho kyuN saaz1-e be-sada2 ki tarah
koi payaam3 to do ramz4-aashna5 ki tarah
1.musical instrument, harp 2.sound-less 3.message 4.secrets, mysteries 5.familiar, knowledgeable
This is probably addressed to god. Why are you silent, like a soundless harp. You, who know all the mysteries, at least send some message.
2
kahiN tumhaari ravish1 Khaar2-o-gul3 pe baar4 na ho
riyaaz5-e dahr6 se guzre7 chalo saba8 ki tarah
1.manner, habit, tradition 2.thorns 3.roses 4.burden 5.garden 6.world 7.pass through 8.morning breeze
This could be addressed to himself and/or to fellow humans. For fear that your ways might become a burden on roses and thorns, pass through the garden of this world gently like the morning breeze (without trampling on nature).
3
niyaaz1-o-ijz2 hi me’raaj3-e aadmiyyat4 haiN
baRhaao dast5-e saKhaavat6 bhi ilteja7 ki tarah
1.supplication, offering 2.humility 3.peak 4.human qualities 5.hand 6.generosity 7.appeal, plead
Supplication and humility are peak human qualities. Extend the helping hand of generosity as if you were asking for something.
4
jo chaahte ho badalna mizaaj1-e toofaaN2 ko
to naaKhuda3 pe bharosa4 karo Khuda ki tarah
1.character, quality 2.storm 3.boatman, oarsman 4.trust
This is a nice variation of an oft-used word play. ‘naaKhuda’ which sounds like ‘non-god’ means the boatman taking you through the storm. If you want to change the nature of the storm (tame it), then trust the naaKhuda like you trust Khuda.
5
mujhe hamesha rah1-e ziist2 ke doraahoN3 par
ek ajnabi4 hai jo milta hai aashna5 ki tarah
1.path 2.life 3.fork in the road 4.stranger 5.familiar, friend
The poet/seeker is on the path of life. He comes upon forks in the path and has to decide which fork to take. That is when he encounters a stranger who greets him like a friend. Perhaps he means that his intuition guides him to the right path whenever he is faced with a choice.
6
tamaam1 umr2 raha saabiqa3 yazidoN se
mere liye to ye duniya hai karbala ki tarah
1.all 2.life 3.dealing with
This has reference to the battle of karbala in which yazid’s (arbitrary and cruel king) army killed husain and his followers (symbols of steadfast righteousness). All my life, I had to deal with people like yazid. To me this world has been like the battle of karbala.
7
umiid1 un se vafa2 ki to Khair3 kya kiije
jafa4 bhi karte nahiN vo kabhi jafa ki tarah
1.hope, expectation 2.faith, fidelity 3.after all 4.oppression
There is a certain traditional etiquette of oppression that the beloved is supposed to follow. She does not even do that so how can I expect any fidelity from her.
8
ye dahr1 bhi to hai mai-Khaana2-e alast3-numa4
raho yahaaN bhi kisi riNd5-e paarsa6 ki tarah
1.world 2.tavern 3.god 4.like, similar to 5.wine lover 6.observant, devout, orthodox
There are opposites nicely juxtaposed here. ‘alast’ is a quraanic verse meaning ‘am I not your god’ and is used here to mean divinity. ‘rind-e paars’ means devout wine-lover. Juxtaposing mai-Khaana with god-like and rind with paarsa makes for an interesting she’r. Thus, this world is a divine tavern. Live your life here like a devout wine-lover.
9
zabaaN pe shikva1-e be-mehri2-e Khuda kyuN hai?
dua to maaNgiye aatish3 kabhi dua ki tarah
1.complaint 2.unkindness 3.pen-name of the poet
Why is there a complaint of god’s mercilessness on your lips, O aatish. At least pray with sincerity (before you complain).
