For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
گلستاں کر دیں ۔ اَسرار الحق مجازؔ
۱
آؤ اب مل کے گلستاں کو گلستاں کر دیں
ہر گل و لالہ کو رقصاں و غزل خواں کر دیں
۲
عقل ہے فتنۂ بیدار سُلا دیں اُس کو
عشق کی جِنس گراں مایہ کو ارزاں کر دیں
۳
دستِ وحشت میں یہ اپنا ہی گریباں کب تک
ختم اب سلسلۂ چاک گریباں کر دیں
۴
خونِ آدم پہ کوئی حرف نہ آنے پائے
جنہیں انساں نہیں کہتے اُنہیں انساں کر دیں
۵
دامن خاک پہ یہ خون کے چھینٹے کب تک
اِنہیں چھینٹوں کو بہشتِ گل و ریحاں کر دیں
۶
ماہ و انجم بھی ہوں شرمندۂ تنویر مجازؔ
دشت ظلمات میں اک ایسا چراغاں کر دیں
गुलिस्तां कर दें – मजाज़
१
आओ अब मिल के गुलिस्ताँ को गुल्सिताँ कर दें
हर गुल-ओ-लाला को रक़्साँ ओ ग़ज़ल-ख़्वाँ कर दें
२
अक़्ल है फ़ित्ना-ए-बेदार सुला दें इस को
इश्क़ की जिंस-ए-गिराँ-माया को अर्ज़ां कर दें
३
दस्त-ए-वहशत में ये अपना ही गरेबाँ कब तक
ख़त्म अब सिलसिला-ए-चाक-ए-गरेबाँ कर दें
४
ख़ून-ए-आदम पे कोई हर्फ़ न आने पाए
जिन्हें इंसाँ नहीं कहते उन्हें इंसाँ कर दें
५
दामन-ए-ख़ाक पे ये ख़ून के छींटे कब तक
इन्हीं छींटों को बहिश्त-ए-गुल-ओ-रेहाँ कर दें
६
माह ओ अंजुम भी हों शर्मिंदा-ए-तन्वीर ‘मजाज़’
दश्त-ए-ज़ुल्मात में इक ऐसा चराग़ाँ कर दें
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This is a call to assertiveness, rebellion and also calling upon fellow poets to change their focus to the workers’ plight.
1
aao ab mil ke gulistaaN ko gulsitaaN kar deN
har gul-o-laala1 ko raqsaaN2 o Ghazal-KhwaaN3 kar deN 1.rose and tulip 2.dancing 3.reciting Ghazal, singing
Come, let us turn the garden into a real garden. Let every rose and tulip dance and sing with joy.
2
aql hai fitna-e-bedaar1 sulaa deN is ko
ishq ki jins2-e giraaN-maayaa3 ko arzaaN4 kar deN 1.mischief of wakefulness/awareness 2.component, ingredient 3.high value, expensive, rare 4.plentiful, cheap
Wisdom/awareness/reason causes a lot of mischief. Let us put it to sleep. The ingredients of (universal/divine/sufi) love are rare. Let us make them plentiful.
3
dast1-e vahshat2 meN ye apna hi garebaaN3 kab tak
Khatm ab silsila4-e chaak5-e garebaaN kar deN 1.hand of 2.frenzy 3.collar 4.continuity, tradition 5.tear, rip
The tradition in urdu poetry is that the poet/lover tears his collar in a sign of frenzy (of love). How long will the hand of frenzy hold its own collar and tear it. Let us stop this tradition of holding/tearing our own collar. Let us demand justice from the oppressor instead.
4
Khoon-e-aadam1 pe koi harf2 na aane paaye
jinheN insaaN nahiN kahte unheN insaaN kar deN 1.blood/progeny of Adam, humans 2.word, ‘harf aana’ is be maligned
Let the progeny of Adam not be maligned. Those who are not even considered human, let us turn them into (respected) humans.
5
daaman-e-Khaak1 pe ye Khuun ke chhiNTe2 kab tak
inhiN chhiNToN ko bahisht3-e gul-o-rehaaN4 kar deN 1.valley/field of dust i.e. earth 2.drops, stains 3.paradise, garden 4.rose and basil
How long will this earth be stained with drops of blood. Let us change these red stains into a garden of rose and fragrant basil.
6
maah1 o anjum2 bhi hoN sharminda-e-tanvir3 majaaz
dasht-e-zulmaat4 meN ek aisaa charaaGhaaN5 kar deN 1.moon 2.stars 3.ashamed of (their lack of) brilliance 4.wilderness of darkness 5.illumination of lamps
Let us light up brilliant lamps so bright that even the moon and stars feel ashamed of their lack of brilliance.
asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This is a call to assertiveness, rebellion and also calling upon fellow poets to change their focus to the workers’ plight.
1
aao ab mil ke gulistaaN ko gulsitaaN kar deN
har gul-o-laala1 ko raqsaaN2 o Ghazal-KhwaaN3 kar deN
1.rose and tulip 2.dancing 3.reciting Ghazal, singing
Come, let us turn the garden into a real garden. Let every rose and tulip dance and sing with joy.
2
aql hai fitna-e-bedaar1 sulaa deN is ko
ishq ki jins2-e giraaN-maayaa3 ko arzaaN4 kar deN
1.mischief of wakefulness/awareness 2.component, ingredient 3.high value, expensive, rare 4.plentiful, cheap
Wisdom/awareness/reason causes a lot of mischief. Let us put it to sleep. The ingredients of (universal/divine/sufi) love are rare. Let us make them plentiful.
3
dast1-e vahshat2 meN ye apna hi garebaaN3 kab tak
Khatm ab silsila4-e chaak5-e garebaaN kar deN
1.hand of 2.frenzy 3.collar 4.continuity, tradition 5.tear, rip
The tradition in urdu poetry is that the poet/lover tears his collar in a sign of frenzy (of love). How long will the hand of frenzy hold its own collar and tear it. Let us stop this tradition of holding/tearing our own collar. Let us demand justice from the oppressor instead.
4
Khoon-e-aadam1 pe koi harf2 na aane paaye
jinheN insaaN nahiN kahte unheN insaaN kar deN
1.blood/progeny of Adam, humans 2.word, ‘harf aana’ is be maligned
Let the progeny of Adam not be maligned. Those who are not even considered human, let us turn them into (respected) humans.
5
daaman-e-Khaak1 pe ye Khuun ke chhiNTe2 kab tak
inhiN chhiNToN ko bahisht3-e gul-o-rehaaN4 kar deN
1.valley/field of dust i.e. earth 2.drops, stains 3.paradise, garden 4.rose and basil
How long will this earth be stained with drops of blood. Let us change these red stains into a garden of rose and fragrant basil.
6
maah1 o anjum2 bhi hoN sharminda-e-tanvir3 majaaz
dasht-e-zulmaat4 meN ek aisaa charaaGhaaN5 kar deN
1.moon 2.stars 3.ashamed of (their lack of) brilliance 4.wilderness of darkness 5.illumination of lamps
Let us light up brilliant lamps so bright that even the moon and stars feel ashamed of their lack of brilliance.
Excellent choice and excellent collection of Asrar-ul-Haq Majaz. Keep up your good work