Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is called shaa’er-e inqelaab, poet of change/revolution. He is very secular and nationalistic in his writings and rebels against orthodoxy. His range of language and vocabulary is simply amazing. He has written extensively about the beauty of dawn. His collection of nazm/Ghazal and rubaaii can be accessed both under the poet’s name and from the Theme Index, ‘jalva-e sahr’. I have posted a series of nazm, Ghazal, bhajan the subject of which can be roughly characterized ‘krishn bhakti’. They are linked to ‘krishn bhakti’ under ‘kaaba-kaashi on the Theme Index page.
1
ye kin ne bajaaii muralia¹
hirdai² meN badri chhaaii³
gokul bun⁴ meN barsa raNg
baja har ghaT⁵ meN mardaNg⁶  1.flute 2.heart 3.clouds rolled in … in urdu and Indian tradition clouds are a sign of blessing, bringing a good harvest. ‘badri chhaana’ is therefore an occasion for joy and celebration 4.forest of gokul (the land of krishn) 5.short for ghaaT- pier, jetty, lakeside, riverside 6.clay pot drum
It is spring. Rain clouds roll in and it is time for holi. The poet hears the flute of krishn. In gokul, the land of krishn, colours (of holi) rain down and people drum on their pots. All of this brings joy to the poet’s heart.
2
Khud se khula har ek jooRa¹
har ek gopi² muskaaii³
ye kin ne bajaaii muralia
hirdai meN badri chhaaii 1.hair tied in a bun 2.cowgirl, krishn’s playmates 3.smiled
All the gopis smiled and let down their hair. Who is it that plays the flute. Our hearts fill with joy.
3
gaNga jal¹ ke halkore²
bun gaye nainauN³ ke Dore⁴
kaliyaaN chiTkiN⁵ gulshan⁶ meN
taarauN ne li aNgRaaii⁷ 1.water 2.gentle waves, flow 3.eyes 4.strings 5.blossomed 6.garden 7.yawn, stretch (in preparation to go to sleep)
It is dawn and stars who have been awake all night long, stretch and yawn getting ready to go to sleep. The world wakes up and buds blossom in the garden. Tears of joy flow down from eyes like the gentle flow of the Ganges.
4
ye kin ne bajaaii muralia
hirdai meN badri chhaaii Who is it that plays the flute. Our hearts fill with joy.
5
chahke¹ bahke² nar³ naari⁴
sub mil mil baari baari
chhalkiN⁵ panghaT⁶ pe gaagariyaaN⁷
arjan ne dhanak⁸ lachkaaii 1.chirp, sing 2.stagger, get drunk (with joy?) 3.men 4.women 5.spilled over 6.river bank 7.pots 8.rainbow
The sun coming up causes a rainbow which is likened to arjun’s bow (arjun being the warrior under the tutelage of krishn in war of kurukshetr/mahabharat). Men and women sing and dance and greet each other by turns while water pots are the river bank spill.
6
ye kin ne bajaaii muralia
hirdai meN badri chhaaii Who is it that plays the flute. Our hearts fill with joy.