For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
divaakar raahi
درسِ کربلا ۔ رگھوبیر سرن دواکر راہیؔ
۱
وقارِ خونِ شہیدانِ کربلا کی قسم
یزید مورچہ جیتا ہے، جنگ ہارا ہے
۲
تم مٹے لیکن تمہیں مٹنے نہ دیں گے ہم حسین
وہ تمہارا کام تھا اور یہ ہمارا کام ہے
تشنہ کامی کا میں یہ مفہوم سمجھا ہوں حسین
جو نہ آئے آپ کی محفل میں تشنہ کام ہے
۳
میں حق پرست مبصّر ہوں اس لئے شبّیر
تمہیں کو فاتح عالم قرار دیتا ہوں
جو چاہتے ہیں اُجالا کہوں اندھیرے کو
اُنہیں یہ علم نہیں ہے کہ میں تمہارا ہوں
میں کیا کہوں کہ عقیدت کے جوش میں راہیؔ
حَسین لکھتا ہوں لیکن حُسین پرھتا ہوں
۴
جو رہبری کریں گے ہمیشہ حیات کی
چھوڑے ہیں تم نے راہ میں وہ نقشِ پا حسین
موقوف کچھ نہیں ہے انیس و دبیر پر
راہیؔ بھی کہہ رہا ہے ترا مرثیا حسین
۵
حسین گُلشنِ توحید کے نگہباں تھے
وہ ریگزارِ بلا میں بھی گُل کِھلا کے رہے
امینِ نُورِ رِسالت حسین تھے راہیؔ
یہی ہوا کہ اندھیرے شکست کھا کے رہے
۶
خود اپنا خون دے کر آپ نے دُنیائے فانی کو
بڑا اعزاز بخشا ہے حیاتِ جاودانی کو
یہی مژدہ ملا ہے تجھ سے میری حق بیانی کو
کہ ترسے گا ہمیشہ ظُلم اپنی کامرانی کو
۷
آبروئے غمِ شہیداں کو
اپنے اشکوں میں کیوں ڈبوتے ہو
ہنستے ہنستے جو ہو گئے قربان
اُن کی قربانیوں پہ روتے ہو
दर्स-ए करबला – रघुबीर सरन दिवाकर राही
१
वक़ार-ए ख़ून-ए शहीदान-ए करबला की क़सम
यज़ीद मोर्चा जीता है जंग हारा है
२
तुम मिटे लैकिन तुम्हें मिटने न देंगे हम हुसैन
वो तुम्हारा काम था और ये हमारा काम है
तिश्ना-कामी का मैं ये मफ़्हूम समझा हुं हुसैन
जो न आए आप की महफ़िल में तिश्ना-काम है
३
मैं हक़-परस्त मुबस्सर हुं इस लिये शब्बीर
तुम्हीं को फ़ातह आलम क़रार देता हूं
जो चाहते हैं उजाला कहूं अंधेरे को
उन्हें ये इल्म नहीं है के मैं तुम्हारा हूं
मैं क्या कहूं के अक़ीदत के जोश में राही
हसीन लिखता हुं लैकिन हुसैन पढता हूं
४
जो रहबरी करेंगे हमेशा हयात की
छोढे हैं तुम ने राह में वो नक़्श-ए पा हुसैन
मौक़ूफ़ कुछ नहीं है अनीस ओ दबीर पर
राही भी कह रहा है तेरा मर्सिया हुसैन
५
हुसैन गुल्शन-ए तौहीद के निगहबां थे
वो रेगज़ार-ए बला में भी गुल खिला के रहे
अमीन-ए नूर-ए रिसालत हुसैन थे राही
यही हुआ के अंधेरे शिकस्त खा के रहे
६
ख़ुद अपना ख़ून दे कर, आप ने दुनिया-ए फ़ानी को
बढा एज़ाज़ बख़्शा है हयात-ए जावदानी को
यही मुज़्शदा मिला है तुझ से मेरी हक़ बयानी को
के तर्सेगा हमेशा ज़ुल्म अपनी कामरानी को
७
आब्रू-ए ग़म-ए शहीदां को
अपने अश्कौं में क्यूं डुबोते हो
हंस्ते हंस्ते जो हो गये क़ुर्बान
उन की क़ुर्बानियौं पे रोते हो
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghubir saran divaakar raahi (1914-1968), rampur. Three Ghazal collections with hundreds of Ghazal in each. Born in amroha, learnt urdu and faarsi at school. BA, LLB from meeraTh. District Information Officer, UP. shaa’eri was in addition to his ‘day job’. Posted to and retired in rampur, 1954 and started law practice. Editor of hindi magazines. Very secular and makes much fun of the shaiKh and brahman. This is a collection of his ash’aar and qat’aat linked to ‘karbal katha’ in the page ‘kaaba kaashi’ which features cross-religious compositions.
1
vaqaar1-e Khoon-e shahiidaan2-e karbala ki qasam3
yaziid4 morcha5 jiita hai juNg haara hai 1.honour, dignity 2.martyrs 3.equivalent to ‘I swear by’, ‘I affirm/declare’ 4.see notes 5.entrenchment, fortification, used here to mean battle
The battle of karbala between the overwhelmingly large force of yazid and the small group of companions of husain and his family, in 680 CE, is considered symbolic of the struggle between right and wrong. yazid managed to kill husain and his followers but the moral/spiritual victory is placed with husain. Thus, I declare by the honour of the blood of the martyrs of karbala, that yazid may have won the battle but he lost the war.
2
tum miTe1 laikin tumheN miTne2 na deNge hum husain
vo tumhaara kaam tha aur ye hamaara kaam hai
tishna-kaami3 ka maiN ye maf’hoom4 samjha huN husain
jo na aaye aap ki mahfil5 meN tishna-kaam6 hai 1.used here to mean ‘killed’ 2.used here to mean forgotten 3.thirsty/dry throat 4.meaning, significance 5.gatherinng 6.used here to mean unfulfilled
In the battle of karbala, husain, his family and companions were cut off from access to water. Their thirst and suffering is commemorated and mourned by believers all over the world.
You sacrificed yourself, but we will not let your sacrifice be forgotten, O husain. That (martyrdom) was your accomplishment, and this (remembering) is our task.
This is what I understand to be the meaning of your thirst, O husain. They who do not come to pay tribute at gatherings to commemorate your sacrifice, remain unfulfilled.
3
maiN haq-parast1 mubassir2 huN is liye shabbiir3
tumhiiN ko faaateh4-e aalam5 qaraar6 deta huN
jo chaahte haiN ujaala kahuN andhere ko
unheN ye ilm nahiN hai keh maiN tumhaara huN
maiN kya kahuN keh aqeedat7 ke josh8 meN raahi9
hasiin10 likhta huN laikin husain paRhta huN 1.honouring righteousness/truth/justice 2.one who can see clearly 3.another name of husain 4.victorious 5.world 6.declare 7.belief 8.passion 9.penname of the poet 10.beautiful
This is a play on how hasiin and husain are written in urdu script. They are indistinguishable unless diacritical marks are placed on the words.
I respect truth/righteousness/justice and can see clearly, that is why O husain, I declare you to have been truly victorious.
Those who want me to declare that darkness is light, do not know that I am your lover/devotee/follower.
What can I say O raahi, the intensity of my devotion is such that I write ‘hasiin’ and read ‘husain’, implying that husain evokes thoughts of beauty.
4
jo rahbari1 kareNge hamesha hayaat2 ki
chhoRe haiN tum ne raah3 meN vo naqsh-e-paa4 husain
mauqoof5 kuchh nahiN hai aniis-o-dabiir6 par
raahi7 bhi kah raha tera marsia8 husain 1.guidance 2.life 3.path 4.footprints 5.settled, decide, dependent 6.celebrated marsia composers – aniis and dabiir 7.penname of the poet 8.elegy
O husain, you have left such footprints on the path of life as will always guide us.
The art of composing marsia/elegy is not finished with aniis and dabiir. raahi too, composes marsia in your memory, O husain.
5
husain gulshan1-e tauhiid2 ke nigahbaaN3 the
vo regzaar4-e balaa5 meN bhi gul khila ke rahe
amiin6-e noor7-e risaalat8 husain the raahi
yahi hua keh andhere9 shikast10 khaa ke rahe 1.garden 2.monotheism 3.guardian 4.sandy desert 5.calamity 6.protector 7.light 8.prophethood (of mohammed) 9.darkness, injustice 10.defeat
husain was the guardian of the garden of monotheism (i.e., islam). He made a garden bloom even in the calamitous desert sands (of karbala).
O raahi, husain was the protector of the light (message) of the prophethood of mohammed. It was inevitable that inustice would be defeated.
6
Khud apna Khoon de kar, aap ne duniya-e faani1 ko
baRa ezaaz2 baKhsha3 hai hayaat4-e jaavedaani5 ko
yahi muzshda6 mila hai tujh se meri haq-bayaani7 ko
keh tarsega8 hamesha zulm9 apni kaamraani10 ko 1.mortal, material 2.respect 3.granted 4.life 5.immortality 6.good tidings, encouragement 7.truth speaking 8.thirst 9.oppression 10.triumph, victory
By offering/sacrificing your own blood to this material world (O husain), you have granted great respect to eternal/spiritual (just and truthful) life.
My courage to speak truth has received this encouragement from you (O husain), that oppression will always thirst for victory.
7
aabru1-e Gham2-e shahiidaaN3 ko
apne ashkoN4 meN kyuN Dubote5 ho
haNste haNste jo ho gaye qurbaan6
un ki qurbaaniyoN pe rote ho 1.respect 2.sorrow 3.martyrs 4.tears 5.drown 6.sacrificed
Mourning has become the main tradition of observing/commemorating moharram. The poet wants to turn the focus towards the courageous and righteous stand taken against oppression even at the cost of death.
Thus, you drown/wash away the respect for the sorrow for martyrs in your tears.
You cry over those who sacrifice their lives cheerfully (instead of celebrating their sacrifice).
raghubir saran divaakar raahi (1914-1968), rampur. Three Ghazal collections with hundreds of Ghazal in each. Born in amroha, learnt urdu and faarsi at school. BA, LLB from meeraTh. District Information Officer, UP. shaa’eri was in addition to his ‘day job’. Posted to and retired in rampur, 1954 and started law practice. Editor of hindi magazines. Very secular and makes much fun of the shaiKh and brahman. This is a collection of his ash’aar and qat’aat linked to ‘karbal katha’ in the page ‘kaaba kaashi’ which features cross-religious compositions.
1
vaqaar1-e Khoon-e shahiidaan2-e karbala ki qasam3
yaziid4 morcha5 jiita hai juNg haara hai
1.honour, dignity 2.martyrs 3.equivalent to ‘I swear by’, ‘I affirm/declare’ 4.see notes 5.entrenchment, fortification, used here to mean battle
The battle of karbala between the overwhelmingly large force of yazid and the small group of companions of husain and his family, in 680 CE, is considered symbolic of the struggle between right and wrong. yazid managed to kill husain and his followers but the moral/spiritual victory is placed with husain. Thus, I declare by the honour of the blood of the martyrs of karbala, that yazid may have won the battle but he lost the war.
2
tum miTe1 laikin tumheN miTne2 na deNge hum husain
vo tumhaara kaam tha aur ye hamaara kaam hai
tishna-kaami3 ka maiN ye maf’hoom4 samjha huN husain
jo na aaye aap ki mahfil5 meN tishna-kaam6 hai
1.used here to mean ‘killed’ 2.used here to mean forgotten 3.thirsty/dry throat 4.meaning, significance 5.gatherinng 6.used here to mean unfulfilled
In the battle of karbala, husain, his family and companions were cut off from access to water. Their thirst and suffering is commemorated and mourned by believers all over the world.
You sacrificed yourself, but we will not let your sacrifice be forgotten, O husain. That (martyrdom) was your accomplishment, and this (remembering) is our task.
This is what I understand to be the meaning of your thirst, O husain. They who do not come to pay tribute at gatherings to commemorate your sacrifice, remain unfulfilled.
3
maiN haq-parast1 mubassir2 huN is liye shabbiir3
tumhiiN ko faaateh4-e aalam5 qaraar6 deta huN
jo chaahte haiN ujaala kahuN andhere ko
unheN ye ilm nahiN hai keh maiN tumhaara huN
maiN kya kahuN keh aqeedat7 ke josh8 meN raahi9
hasiin10 likhta huN laikin husain paRhta huN
1.honouring righteousness/truth/justice 2.one who can see clearly 3.another name of husain 4.victorious 5.world 6.declare 7.belief 8.passion 9.penname of the poet 10.beautiful
This is a play on how hasiin and husain are written in urdu script. They are indistinguishable unless diacritical marks are placed on the words.
I respect truth/righteousness/justice and can see clearly, that is why O husain, I declare you to have been truly victorious.
Those who want me to declare that darkness is light, do not know that I am your lover/devotee/follower.
What can I say O raahi, the intensity of my devotion is such that I write ‘hasiin’ and read ‘husain’, implying that husain evokes thoughts of beauty.
4
jo rahbari1 kareNge hamesha hayaat2 ki
chhoRe haiN tum ne raah3 meN vo naqsh-e-paa4 husain
mauqoof5 kuchh nahiN hai aniis-o-dabiir6 par
raahi7 bhi kah raha tera marsia8 husain
1.guidance 2.life 3.path 4.footprints 5.settled, decide, dependent 6.celebrated marsia composers – aniis and dabiir 7.penname of the poet 8.elegy
O husain, you have left such footprints on the path of life as will always guide us.
The art of composing marsia/elegy is not finished with aniis and dabiir. raahi too, composes marsia in your memory, O husain.
5
husain gulshan1-e tauhiid2 ke nigahbaaN3 the
vo regzaar4-e balaa5 meN bhi gul khila ke rahe
amiin6-e noor7-e risaalat8 husain the raahi
yahi hua keh andhere9 shikast10 khaa ke rahe
1.garden 2.monotheism 3.guardian 4.sandy desert 5.calamity 6.protector 7.light 8.prophethood (of mohammed) 9.darkness, injustice 10.defeat
husain was the guardian of the garden of monotheism (i.e., islam). He made a garden bloom even in the calamitous desert sands (of karbala).
O raahi, husain was the protector of the light (message) of the prophethood of mohammed. It was inevitable that inustice would be defeated.
6
Khud apna Khoon de kar, aap ne duniya-e faani1 ko
baRa ezaaz2 baKhsha3 hai hayaat4-e jaavedaani5 ko
yahi muzshda6 mila hai tujh se meri haq-bayaani7 ko
keh tarsega8 hamesha zulm9 apni kaamraani10 ko
1.mortal, material 2.respect 3.granted 4.life 5.immortality 6.good tidings, encouragement 7.truth speaking 8.thirst 9.oppression 10.triumph, victory
By offering/sacrificing your own blood to this material world (O husain), you have granted great respect to eternal/spiritual (just and truthful) life.
My courage to speak truth has received this encouragement from you (O husain), that oppression will always thirst for victory.
7
aabru1-e Gham2-e shahiidaaN3 ko
apne ashkoN4 meN kyuN Dubote5 ho
haNste haNste jo ho gaye qurbaan6
un ki qurbaaniyoN pe rote ho
1.respect 2.sorrow 3.martyrs 4.tears 5.drown 6.sacrificed
Mourning has become the main tradition of observing/commemorating moharram. The poet wants to turn the focus towards the courageous and righteous stand taken against oppression even at the cost of death.
You drown/wash away the respect for the sorrow for martyrs in your tears.
You cry over those who sacrifice their lives cheerfully (instead of celebrating their sacrifice).
