For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مانگی دعا برسوں ۔ لالا مادھو رام جوہرؔ
۱
حرم میں مدتوں ڈھونڈا شِوالوں میں پھرا برسوں
تلاشِ یار میں بھٹکا کیا میں بارہا برسوں
۲
مہینوں ہاتھ جوڑے، کی خوشامد بارہا برسوں
اِنہیں جھگڑوں میں مجھ کو ہو گئے اے بے وفا برسوں
۳
معاذ اللہ اس آزردگی کا کیا ٹھکانہ ہے
جو پوچھا یار سے کب تک نہ بولو گے کہا برسوں
۴
غنیمت جان جو دن زندگی کے عیش میں گزریں
کسی کا بھی نہیں رہتا زمانہ ایک سا برسوں
۵
وہی خونِ شہیدِ ناز اب برباد ہوتا ہے
رہا بن کر جو تیرے ہاتھ میں رنگِ حنا برسوں
۶
ہماری بے قراری کا ذرا تم کو نہ دھیان آیا
مہینوں منتظر رکّھا دکھایا راستا برسوں
۷
زمانے میں ہمیشہ ہر مہینے چاند ہوتا ہے
ترا جلوہ نظر آتا نہیں اے مہ لقا برسوں
۸
وہیں پر لے چلی بے تابیِ دل واہ ری قسمت
پھرا کی سر پٹکتی جس جگہ میری دعا برسوں
۹
ادا ہو شکر کیوں کر بے کسی و نا امیدی کا
رہی ہیں ساتھ فرقت میں یہی دو آشنا برسوں
۱۰
نہ آیا ایک دن بھی وہ بتِ بے رحم اے جوہرؔ
اُٹھا کر ہاتھ کعبے کی طرف مانگی دعا برسوں
माँगी दुआ बरसौं – लाला माधव राम जौहर
१
हरम में मुद्दतौं ढूँडा शिवालौं में फिरा बरसौं
तलाश-ए यार में भटका किया मैं बार-हा बरसौं
२
महीनों हाथ जोढे, की ख़ुशामद बार-हा बरसौं
इन्हीं झगढौं में मुझ को हो गए अए बेवफ़ा बरसौं
३
म’आज़-अल्लाह इस आज़ुर्दगी का क्या ठिकाना है
जो पूछा यार से कब तक न बोलोगे कहा बरसौं
४
ग़नीमत जान जो दिन ज़िंदगी के ऐश में गुज़रें
किसी का भी नहीं रहता ज़माना एक सा बरसौं
५
वही ख़ून-ए शहीद-ए नाज़ अब बर्बाद होता है
रहा बन कर जो तेरे हाथ में रंग-ए हिना बरसौं
६
हमारी बे-क़रारी का ज़रा तुम को न ध्यान आया
महीनों मुंतज़िर रक्खा दिखाया रास्ता बरसौं
७
ज़माने में हमेशा हर महीने चाँद होता है
तेरा जल्वा नज़र आता नहीं अए मह-लक़ा बरसौं
८
वहीं पर ले चली बे-ताबी-ए दिल वाह-री क़िस्मत
फिरा की सर पटकती जिस जगह मेरी दुआ बरसौं
९
अदा हो शुक्र क्यूँकर बे-कसी ओ ना-उमीदी का
रही हैं साथ फ़ुर्क़त में यही दो आश्ना बरसौं
१०
न आया एक दिन भी वो बुत-ए बे-रहम अए जौहर
उठा कर हाथ काबे की तरफ़ माँगी दुआ बरसौं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. laala madhav ram jauhar (1810-1889), faruKhabad, avadh (now UP). He was munshi to the local nawaab, jahaaNdaar shaah bahaadur. I could not find any more about him.
1
haram1 meN muddatoN2 DhuuNDaa shivaaloN3 meN phiraa barsoN4
talaash5-e yaar6 meN bhaTkaa7 kiyaa maiN baar-haa8 barsoN 1.mosque, k’aaba, sanctuary 2.long time 3.shiv temple 4.many years 5.search 6.friend, beloved, god 7.wandering astray 8.again and again, many times
The poet/devotee searched for the divine spirit in mosques and in shivalaya for many years. In the search of god he wandered lost and astray again and again for many years. The implication is that he did not find god in the usual places of worship.
2
mahiinoN1 haath joRe kii Khushaamad2 baar-haa3 barsoN
inhiiN jhagRoN meN mujh ko ho gaye aye bevafaa4 barsoN 1.months 2.flatter 3.again and again 4.faithless-used for the beloved
The poet/lover folded his hands in supplication for months, flattered and gratified the beloved many times over many years. Just in these futile attempts, O faithless one, I spent many years.
3
ma’aaz-allaah1 iss aazurdagii2 kaa kyaa Thikaana3 hai
jo puuchhaa yaar4 se kab tak na bologe kahaa barsoN 1.god help me 2.grief, distress 3.place-used here to mean limit 4.friend, beloved
God help me, where is the limit to this grief and suffering. When I asked the beloved how long she will refuse to speak to me, she replied – years!
4
Ghaniimat1 jaan jo din zindagii ke aish2 meN guzreN
kisii kaa bhii nahiiN rahtaa zamaana3 ek-saa4 barsoN 1.sufficient, fortunate 2.comfort 3.times, duration 4.ek jaisaa-stable condition
Consider the duration spent in comfort to be fortunate. No one’s circumstances remain stable for a long time i.e., the days of comfort may pass soon.
5
vahii Khuun-e shahiid1-e naaz2 ab barbaad3 hotaa hai
rahaa ban kar jo tere haath meN raNg-e hinaa4 barsoN 1.martyred, killed 2.coquetry, beloved 3.devastated 4.henna
The beloved applies henna to her hands and feet but is not satisfied with the colour it gives. She supplements that with the blood of the lover. That same blood which lent colour to you hennaed hands for years is now going to waste i.e., the beloved is neglecting the lover.
6
hamaarii be-qaraarii1 kaa zaraa tum ko na dhyaan2 aayaa
mahiinoN3 muntazir4 rakkhaa dikhaayaa-raastaa5 barsoN 1.restlessness 2.consideration, thought 3.months 4.waiting 5.raasta dikhaana-show the way-dismiss, deceive
You (O beloved) did not give any thought to my restlessness. You kept me waiting for many months and kept dismissing me for years.
7
zamaane1 meN hamesha2 har mahiine3 chaand hotaa hai
teraa jalva4 nazar5 aataa nahiiN aye mah-laqaa6 barsoN 1.times, world 2.always 3.month 4.image 5.seen, visible 6.moon-faced
In this world, always, there is at least one full moon a month, but O moon-faced beloved we don’t get to see your image for years.
8
vahiiN par le chalii be-taabi1-e dil vaah-rii2 qismat
phiraa3 kii sar paTaktii jis jagah merii duaa barsoN 1.eagerness, restlessness, impatience 2.praise be to 3.going around, wandering
For years the poet/lover has been praying but his prayers at a place/stage where they merely bang there heads against the wall, unanswered. Now, praise be to his fate that it has taken his restlessness to the same condition/place.
9
adaa1 ho shukr2 kyuN-kar3 be-kasii4 o naa-umiidii5 kaa
rahii haiN saath furqat6 meN yahii do aashnaa7 barsoN 1.pay, offer 2.thanks 3.how 4.helplessness 5.hopelessness 6.separation 7.friend, familiar
Helplessness and hopelessness are personified here. How can I thank them enough, they have been my constant companions during these years of separation from the beloved.
10
na aayaa ek din bhii vo but1-e be-rahm2 aye jauhar3
uThaa kar haath k’aabe kii taraf4 maaNgii duaa barsoN 1.idol, beloved 2.unmerciful, cruel 3.pen-name 4.towards
The poet/lover, jauhar, has been raising his hands in supplication towards the k’aaba for years but that unmerciful idol/beloved has never come. Expecting the ‘idol’ to come as an answer to prayers towards the k’aaba is an interesting juxtaposition of opposites.
laala madhav ram jauhar (1810-1889), faruKhabad, avadh (now UP). He was munshi to the local nawaab, jahaaNdaar shaah bahaadur. I could not find any more about him.
1
haram1 meN muddatoN2 DhuuNDaa shivaaloN3 meN phiraa barsoN4
talaash5-e yaar6 meN bhaTkaa7 kiyaa maiN baar-haa8 barsoN
1.mosque, k’aaba, sanctuary 2.long time 3.shiv temple 4.many years 5.search 6.friend, beloved, god 7.wandering astray 8.again and again, many times
The poet/devotee searched for the divine spirit in mosques and in shivalaya for many years. In the search of god he wandered lost and astray again and again for many years. The implication is that he did not find god in the usual places of worship.
2
mahiinoN1 haath joRe kii Khushaamad2 baar-haa3 barsoN
inhiiN jhagRoN meN mujh ko ho gaye aye bevafaa4 barsoN
1.months 2.flatter 3.again and again 4.faithless-used for the beloved
The poet/lover folded his hands in supplication for months, flattered and gratified the beloved many times over many years. Just in these futile attempts, O faithless one, I spent many years.
3
ma’aaz-allaah1 iss aazurdagii2 kaa kyaa Thikaana3 hai
jo puuchhaa yaar4 se kab tak na bologe kahaa barsoN
1.god help me 2.grief, distress 3.place-used here to mean limit 4.friend, beloved
God help me, where is the limit to this grief and suffering. When I asked the beloved how long she will refuse to speak to me, she replied – years!
4
Ghaniimat1 jaan jo din zindagii ke aish2 meN guzreN
kisii kaa bhii nahiiN rahtaa zamaana3 ek-saa4 barsoN
1.sufficient, fortunate 2.comfort 3.times, duration 4.ek jaisaa-stable condition
Consider the duration spent in comfort to be fortunate. No one’s circumstances remain stable for a long time i.e., the days of comfort may pass soon.
5
vahii Khuun-e shahiid1-e naaz2 ab barbaad3 hotaa hai
rahaa ban kar jo tere haath meN raNg-e hinaa4 barsoN
1.martyred, killed 2.coquetry, beloved 3.devastated 4.henna
The beloved applies henna to her hands and feet but is not satisfied with the colour it gives. She supplements that with the blood of the lover. That same blood which lent colour to you hennaed hands for years is now going to waste i.e., the beloved is neglecting the lover.
6
hamaarii be-qaraarii1 kaa zaraa tum ko na dhyaan2 aayaa
mahiinoN3 muntazir4 rakkhaa dikhaayaa-raastaa5 barsoN
1.restlessness 2.consideration, thought 3.months 4.waiting 5.raasta dikhaana-show the way-dismiss, deceive
You (O beloved) did not give any thought to my restlessness. You kept me waiting for many months and kept dismissing me for years.
7
zamaane1 meN hamesha2 har mahiine3 chaand hotaa hai
teraa jalva4 nazar5 aataa nahiiN aye mah-laqaa6 barsoN
1.times, world 2.always 3.month 4.image 5.seen, visible 6.moon-faced
In this world, always, there is at least one full moon a month, but O moon-faced beloved we don’t get to see your image for years.
8
vahiiN par le chalii be-taabi1-e dil vaah-rii2 qismat
phiraa3 kii sar paTaktii jis jagah merii duaa barsoN
1.eagerness, restlessness, impatience 2.praise be to 3.going around, wandering
For years the poet/lover has been praying but his prayers at a place/stage where they merely bang there heads against the wall, unanswered. Now, praise be to his fate that it has taken his restlessness to the same condition/place.
9
adaa1 ho shukr2 kyuN-kar3 be-kasii4 o naa-umiidii5 kaa
rahii haiN saath furqat6 meN yahii do aashnaa7 barsoN
1.pay, offer 2.thanks 3.how 4.helplessness 5.hopelessness 6.separation 7.friend, familiar
Helplessness and hopelessness are personified here. How can I thank them enough, they have been my constant companions during these years of separation from the beloved.
10
na aayaa ek din bhii vo but1-e be-rahm2 aye jauhar3
uThaa kar haath k’aabe kii taraf4 maaNgii duaa barsoN
1.idol, beloved 2.unmerciful, cruel 3.pen-name 4.towards
The poet/lover, jauhar, has been raising his hands in supplication towards the k’aaba for years but that unmerciful idol/beloved has never come. Expecting the ‘idol’ to come as an answer to prayers towards the k’aaba is an interesting juxtaposition of opposites.
