Recitation
گنگا کے گھاٹ پر – جوش ملیح آبادی
بڑھاۓ سرخیِ عارض ہواۓ صحرا سے
نہایا کون چلا آ رہا ہے گنگا سے
سِرا دُلائی کاسر پر، نظر جھکاۓ ہوئے
دباۓ دانتوں میں آنچل بدن چراۓ ہوئے
لبوں پہ مہر خموشی، خموشیوں میں خطاب
کمر میں لوچ، جبیں پر دمک، نظر میں شراب
قدم قدم پہ تمنائیں دل ستائی کی
رُخِ شگفتہ پہ طغیانیاں جوانی کی
شرابِ ناب لئے نرگسی کٹوروں میں
لہو چمن کا رواں سُرخ سُرخ ڈوروں میں
دراز زلف میں جادو ، سیاہ آنکھ میں مدھ
نسیمِ صبح بنارس، ہلالِ شام اودھ
ہواۓ صبح سے روشن چراغ سیم تنی
شگفتہ غسلِ سحر سے مزاج گل بدنی
نظر نہ آۓ وہ چہرے پہ چادرِ آبی
بیاض چشم میں گل کاری شکر خوابی
خنک شمیم سے ابھرے ہوئے نقوش شباب
صباحتیں ہیں کہ برسات کی شبِ مہتاب
عجیب حسن ٹپکتا ہے چشم و ابرو سے
مہک رہی ہے ہوا کمسنی کی خوشبو سے
مقابلہ جو کرے کوئی، چاند پھیکا ہے
جبینِ شوق پہ صندل کا سرخ ٹیکا ہے
نمی ہے زلف میں شنان کر کے نکلی ہے
یہ کس کی موت کا سامان کر کے نکلی ہے
لبوں پہ کھیل رہا ہے اثر نہانے کا
گمان ہوتا ہے ہر بار مسکرانے کا
سیاہ زلف پہ آنچل خفیف آبی ہے
برہنہ پا ہے تو ہر نقش پا گلابی ہے
مری طرف سے کوئی کاش یوں ہو گرمِ خطاب
کہ وقت صبح ہے اے دختر شبِ مہتاب
ازل کے دن سے درِ حسن کا بھکاری ہوں
ادھر بھی ایک نظر میں تیرا پُجاری ہوں
गंगा के घाट पर – जोश मलीहाबादी
बढ़ाए सुर्ख़ी-ए आरीज़ हवा-ए सेहरा से
नहाया कौन चला आ रहा है गंगा से
सिरा दुलाइ का सर पर, नज़र झुकाए हुए
दबाए दांतों में आंचल बदन चुराए हुए
लबों पे मोहर-ए ख़मोशी, ख़मोशियों में ख़िताब
कमर में लोच, जबीं पर दमक, नज़र में शराब
क़दम क़दम पे तमन्नाएं दिल सतानी की
रुख़-ए शगुफ़्ता पे तुग़ियानीयां जवानी की
शराब-ए नाब लिए नरगीसी कटोरौं में
लहू चमन का रवां सुर्ख़ सुर्ख़ डोरौं में
दराज़ ज़ुलफ में जादू, सियाह आंख में मध
नसीम-ए सुबह बनारस, हिलाल-ए शाम-ए अवध
हवा-ए सुबह से रौशन चिराग़-ए सीम तनी
शगुफ़्ता ग़ुस्ल-ए सहर से मिज़ाज-ए गुल बदनी
नज़र ना आए वो चेहरे पे चादर-ए आबी
बयाज़-ए चश्म में गुलकारी-ए शकर ख़्वाबी
ख़ुनक नसीम से उभरे हुए नुक़ूश-ए शबाब
सबाहतें हैं के बरसात की शब-ए महताब
अजीब हुस्न टपकता है चश्म ओ अबरू से
महक रही है हवा कमसिनी की ख़ुश्बू से
मुक़ाबला जो करे कोई, चाँद फीका है
जबीन-ए शूख़ पे संदल का सुर्ख़ टीका है
नमी है ज़ुल्फ़ में श्नान कर के निक्ली है
ये किस की मौत का सामान कर के निक्ली है
लबों पे खेल रहा है असर नहाने का
गुमान होता है हर बार मुस्कुराने का
सियाह ज़ुल्फ़ पे आंचल ख़फ़ीफ़ आबी है
बरहना पा है तो हर नक़्श-ए पा गुलाबी है
मेरी तरफ से कोइ काश युं हो गर्म-ए ख़िताब
के वक़्त-ए सुबह है आए दुख़्तर-ए शब-ए महताब
अज़ल के दिन से दर-ए हुस्न का भिकारी हूं
इधर भी एक नज़र मैं तेरा पुजारी हूं
ganga ke ghaaT par – josh malihabadi
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. Josh has several compositions on the beauty of rural girls. He has references to this in his autobiography too. Leaving aside our newfound sensitivity to sexist implications, we can enjoy the beauty of his words, metaphors, pictorialization and rhythm.
baRhaae surKhi-e aariz1 havaa-e sehra2 se
nahaaya kaun chalaa aa raha hai ganga se
sira3 dulaaii4 ka sar par, nazar jhukaae hue
dabaae daaNtauN meN aaNchal badan churaae hue1.redness of the cheeks 2.breeze of the wilderness 3.edge, corner 4.shawl
She has just emerged from her bath in the Ganga, her cheeks are flushed with cold breeze, a shawl casually thrown on her head, downcast eyes, wrapped in wet clothes, holding the corner of her saree in her teeth, bashfully shrinking in her posture.
labauN pe mohr1-e Khamoshi, KhamoshiyauN meN Khitaab2
kamar meN loch3, jabiN4 par damak, nazar meN sharaab
qadam qadam pe tamannaa’eN5 dil sataani6 ki
ruKh7-e shagufta8 pe tuGhiyaaniyaaN9 javaani ki1.stamp 2.conversation 3.suppleness 4.brow 5.desires 6.playfulness 7.face, cheeks 8.happy, blooming 9.floods
She can say a lot even though her lips are sealed. Supple waist, bright brow and intoxicating eyes. Playful desires at every step and a flood of youthful vigour on her smiling face.
sharaab-e naab1 liye nargisi2 kaTorauN3 meN
lahu4 chaman5 ka ravaaN6 surKh surKh7 DorauN8 meN
daraaz9 zulf10 meN jadoo, siyaah11 aaNkh meN madh12
naseem-e subah13 banaaras, hilaal14-e shaam-e avadh1.strong/pure wine 2.like narcissus, eyes of the beloved 3.cups, eyes 4.blood 5.garden-colourful-red 6.flowing 7.red 8.lines, veins/arteries (of the eye) 9.long 10.tresses, curls 11.black, dark 12.honey, wine 13.morning breeze 14.crescent moon
Her beautiful eyes carry the intoxication of strong wine. Her eyes are lined red, perhaps the cold water bath or sleeplessness from a rioutous night. Josh describes her eyes as “blood of the garden flowing through red lines”. Enchantment in her long tresses and honey/wine in her dark eyes. She is pleasant like the morning breeze of Benaras (several poets have used the freshness of the dawn, breeze of Benaras as a simile), the crescent moon of Avadh (don’t know what is special about Avadh).
havaa-e subah se raushan chiraaGh-e seem tani1
shagufta2 Ghusl-e sahr3 se mizaaj-e gul badani4
nazar na aae vo chehre pe chaadar-e aabi5
bayaaz-e chashm6 meN gulkaari7-e shakar Khwaabi81.silver bodied 2.fresh 3.morning bath 4.nature of flower body 5.sheet of water/mist 6.book/page of the eye 7.flowery etchings/decoration 8 sweet dreams
She is fair/silver bodied and the body is glowing like a lamp in the mornging breeze. Fresh from the morning bath, she looks like she is flower bodied. She is still wet and has a “watery sheet” on her face, but it is subtle/cannot be seen. Sweet dreams of last night show up as red lines like flowers drawn on the white page of her eyes.
Khunak1 naseem2 se ubhre hue nuqoosh-e shabaab3
sabaahateN4 haiN ke barsaat ki shab-e mahtaab5
ajeeb husn Tapakta hai chashm o abruu6 se
mahak7 rahi hai hava kamsini8 ki Khushbuu se1.crisp, cool 2.morning breeze 3.signs of youth 4.elegance, beauty 5.full moon of rainy/wintry season 6.eye and eye-brow 7.fragrance 8.youth
The cool morning breeze makes youthful features (breasts) stand out. Elegant beauty like the full moon of winter. An enchanting beauty emanates from the eyes and eyebrows. The air is redolent with the fragrance of youth.
muqaabala1 jo kare koii, chaand pheeka2 hai
jabeen-e shooKh3 pe sandal ka surKh Teeka hai
nami4 hai zulf5 meN ishnaan kar ke nikli hai
ye kis ki maut ka saamaan kar ke nikli hai1.comparison 2.pale 3.playful/flirtatious brow 4.dampness 5.hair
If someone were to check, the moon would appear pale in comparison to her. On her playful brow is a red “teeka”, her hair still damp, she has just emerged from her bath intent on making a killing.
labauN pe khel raha hai asar1 nahaane ka
gumaan2 hota hai har baar muskuraane ka
siyaah zulf3 pe aaNchal Khafeef4 aabi5 hai
barahna6 paa hai to har naqsh-e paa7 gulaabi8 hai1.effect 2.suspicion 3.dark hair 4.light, soft 5.damp 6.bare 7.foot prints 8.rosy
The effect of the cold bath on her lips plays such that there is a hint of smiling. The wetness from the bath is likened to a light damp sheet covering her dark hair. Her bare feet leave rosy footprints on the ground.
meri taraf se koii kaash1 yuN ho garm-e Khitaab2
ke vaqt-e subah hai ae duKhtar3-e shab-e mahtaab4
azal5 ke din se dar-e husn6 ka bhikaari huN
idhar bhi eyk nazar maiN tera pujaari huN1.I wish 2.engage in conversation 3.daughter of 4.full moon 5.from the beginning of time 6.door/abode of beauty
The poet/lover is beseeching someone to speak to her and say that from the beginning of time he has been a mendicant at the door of beauty. Would she please give him a glance, he is her devotee.
ganga ke ghaaT par – josh malihabadi
Josh has several compositions on the beauty of rural girls. He has references to this in his autobiography too. Leaving aside our newfound sensitivity to sexist implications, we can enjoy the beauty of his words, metaphors, pictorialization and rhythm.
baRhaae surKhi-e aariz1 havaa-e sehra2 se
nahaaya kaun chalaa aa raha hai ganga se
sira3 dulaaii4 ka sar par, nazar jhukaae hue
dabaae daaNtauN meN aaNchal badan churaae hue
1.redness of the cheeks 2.breeze of the wilderness 3.edge, corner 4.shawl
She has just emerged from her bath in the Ganga, her cheeks are flushed with cold breeze, a shawl casually thrown on her head, downcast eyes, wrapped in wet clothes, holding the corner of her saree in her teeth, bashfully shrinking in her posture.
labauN pe mohr1-e Khamoshi, KhamoshiyauN meN Khitaab2
kamar meN loch3, jabiN4 par damak, nazar meN sharaab
qadam qadam pe tamannaa’eN5 dil sataani6 ki
ruKh7-e shagufta8 pe tuGhiyaaniyaaN9 javaani ki
1.stamp 2.conversation 3.suppleness 4.brow 5.desires 6.playfulness 7.face, cheeks 8.happy, blooming 9.floods
She can say a lot even though her lips are sealed. Supple waist, bright brow and intoxicating eyes. Playful desires at every step and a flood of youthful vigour on her smiling face.
sharaab-e naab1 liye nargisi2 kaTorauN3 meN
lahu4 chaman5 ka ravaaN6 surKh surKh7 DorauN8 meN
daraaz9 zulf10 meN jadoo, siyaah11 aaNkh meN madh12
naseem-e subah13 banaaras, hilaal14-e shaam-e avadh
1.strong/pure wine 2.like narcissus, eyes of the beloved 3.cups, eyes 4.blood 5.garden-colourful-red 6.flowing 7.red 8.lines, veins/arteries (of the eye) 9.long 10.tresses, curls 11.black, dark 12.honey, wine 13.morning breeze 14.crescent moon
Her beautiful eyes carry the intoxication of strong wine. Her eyes are lined red, perhaps the cold water bath or sleeplessness from a rioutous night. Josh describes her eyes as “blood of the garden flowing through red lines”. Enchantment in her long tresses and honey/wine in her dark eyes. She is pleasant like the morning breeze of Benaras (several poets have used the freshness of the dawn, breeze of Benaras as a simile), the crescent moon of Avadh (don’t know what is special about Avadh).
havaa-e subah se raushan chiraaGh-e seem tani1
shagufta2 Ghusl-e sahr3 se mizaaj-e gul badani4
nazar na aae vo chehre pe chaadar-e aabi5
bayaaz-e chashm6 meN gulkaari7-e shakar Khwaabi8
1.silver bodied 2.fresh 3.morning bath 4.nature of flower body 5.sheet of water/mist 6.book/page of the eye 7.flowery etchings/decoration 8 sweet dreams
She is fair/silver bodied and the body is glowing like a lamp in the mornging breeze. Fresh from the morning bath, she looks like she is flower bodied. She is still wet and has a “watery sheet” on her face, but it is subtle/cannot be seen. Sweet dreams of last night show up as red lines like flowers drawn on the white page of her eyes.
Khunak1 naseem2 se ubhre hue nuqoosh-e shabaab3
sabaahateN4 haiN ke barsaat ki shab-e mahtaab5
ajeeb husn Tapakta hai chashm o abruu6 se
mahak7 rahi hai hava kamsini8 ki Khushbuu se
1.crisp, cool 2.morning breeze 3.signs of youth 4.elegance, beauty 5.full moon of rainy/wintry season 6.eye and eye-brow 7.fragrance 8.youth
The cool morning breeze makes youthful features (breasts) stand out. Elegant beauty like the full moon of winter. An enchanting beauty emanates from the eyes and eyebrows. The air is redolent with the fragrance of youth.
muqaabala1 jo kare koii, chaand pheeka2 hai
jabeen-e shooKh3 pe sandal ka surKh Teeka hai
nami4 hai zulf5 meN ishnaan kar ke nikli hai
ye kis ki maut ka saamaan kar ke nikli hai
1.comparison 2.pale 3.playful/flirtatious brow 4.dampness 5.hair
If someone were to check, the moon would appear pale in comparison to her. On her playful brow is a red “teeka”, her hair still damp, she has just emerged from her bath intent on making a killing.
labauN pe khel raha hai asar1 nahaane ka
gumaan2 hota hai har baar muskuraane ka
siyaah zulf3 pe aaNchal Khafeef4 aabi5 hai
barahna6 paa hai to har naqsh-e paa7 gulaabi8 hai
1.effect 2.suspicion 3.dark hair 4.light, soft 5.damp 6.bare 7.foot prints 8.rosy
The effect of the cold bath on her lips plays such that there is a hint of smiling. The wetness from the bath is likened to a light damp sheet covering her dark hair. Her bare feet leave rosy footprints on the ground.
meri taraf se koii kaash1 yuN ho garm-e Khitaab2
ke vaqt-e subah hai ae duKhtar3-e shab-e mahtaab4
azal5 ke din se dar-e husn6 ka bhikaari huN
idhar bhi eyk nazar maiN tera pujaari huN
1.I wish 2.engage in conversation 3.daughter of 4.full moon 5.from the beginning of time 6.door/abode of beauty
The poet/lover is beseeching someone to speak to her and say that from the beginning of time he has been a mendicant at the door of beauty. Would she please give him a glance, he is her devotee.
