mojid o mufakkir – josh malihabadi – 001-010 tamaddun

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

موجد و مفکر – جوش ملیح آبادی

١

مسکرا کر جب ہوی طالع تمدّن کی سحر

جنگلوں سے شہر کی جا نب بڑھی فکرِ بشر

رسمسا ئی آرزوِ بام چونکا ذوقِ در

کِشتِ خاکِ تار میں اُ گنے لگے شمس و قمر

خوشہؑ حسن زمیں یوں نا ز سے پکنے لگا

داب کر دانتوں میں اُنگلی آ سماں تکنے لگا

٢

جب اِشاروں کو صدا بن کر نکھرنا آ گیا

اور صدا کو لفظ میں ڈھل کر اُبھرنا آ گیا

لفظ کو پھر حرف بن کر گل کترنا آ گیا

خاکِ صامت کو باِلآخر بات کرنا آ گیا

لب ہلے تو کشتیاں چلنے لگیں اعجاز کی

فکرِ اِنساں کو سواری مل گئی آ وا ز کی

٣

منتشر افراد کو مل جل کے رہنا آ گیا

آ دمی کو ایں و آ ں کی آنچ سہنا آ گیا

وقت کے دھارے کو بالترتیب بہنا آ گیا

حجلہ احساس میں پھولوں کا گہنا آ گیا

ناز سے زلفِ لطافط کی گرہ کھلنے لگی

پھول کے کانٹے پہ روحِ  گلستاں تلنے لگی

٤

سر جھکایا جہل نے پھر علم کے دربار میں

دائیرے بننے لگے جمبش ہوئی  پرکار  میں

آ ئینے کا ذوق جا گا خاطرِ زنگار میں

سبزہٗ اِرشاد مہکا گلشنِ گفتار میں

اور پھر سبزے کے تختوں میں روانی آ گئی

نوعِ اِنساں کی مسیں بھیگیں جوانی آ گئی

٥

شاہ راہِ عام ترشی، مانگ نکلی شہر کی

روشنی کی موج نے اِس مانگ میں افشاں بھری

تابِ افشاں جدولِ مقیش میں ڈھل کر بہی

زندگی کی نبضِ ذوقِ شب روی چلنے لگی

سازِ شب سے نغمہ ہائے صبح دم پیدا ہوئے

بستیاں مڑنے لگیں گلیوں میں خم پیدا ہوئے

٦

آ رزوئے خانہ آ رائی کی شمعیں جل اُٹھیں

کنُ منا کر صنعتِ نو خیز نے آنکھیں ملیں

سا دہ رُخ تعمیر نے بیو نتی قباِؑ ماؑ و تیں

سرپہ رکھ کے گنبدوں کے قمُ قمے ناچی زمیں

سنگریزے پئے بہ پئے ہمکے منارے بن گئے

کروٹیں ذرّوں نے کچھ یوں لیں کہ تارے بن گئے

٧

ہر نفس بڑھنے لگی پھر زندگی آ تش بجاں

مئے چکا ں و مشک ریز و مہر بیز و مہ فشاں

پر فشاں، جنباں جہاں، لرزاں رواں، ترساں دواں

نغمہ خواں، گریاں خراما، خوش عناں جولاں تپاں

پتھروں کو پیستی لوہے کو پگھلاتی ہوئی

کوہساروں کے دھویں میں پیچ و خم کھاتی ہوی

٨

خشک وترکوجانچتی ارض و سماں کو بھانپتی

صبح کو مکھڑا دکھاتی، شام کو منھ ڈھانپتی

دوڑتی، بڑھتی، لپکتی، دندناتی، ہانپتی

گنگناتی، گھومتی، گھرِتی، گرجتی، کانپتی

بربطِ تکرارِ تخلیقات پر گاتی ہوئی

موت کو نیچا دکھا تی ناز فرماتی ہوئی

٩

آ دمی میں رفتہ رفتہ آدمیت آ گئی

وضع میں تمکین جذ بوں میں نزاکت آ گئی

بات میں تا ثیر آ نکھوں میں مروت آ گئی

روح فرسا اجنبیت میں اخوت آ گئی

شور ہائے غم گساری کو بھڑکنا آ گیا

دل کو اوروں کی مصیبت میں دھڑکنا آ گیا

١٠

کہکشاں جھمکی نظر چھونے لگی افلاک کو

فکر برمانے لگی اجرامِ حیرت ناک کو

اور پھر گیتی کی جانب موڑ کر اِدراک کو

آ دمی گننے لگا ضرباتِ نبضِ خاک کو

ذہن کے میزان میں تابانیاں تلنے لگیں

چادرِارض و سماں کی سلوٹیں کھلنے لگیں

मोजिद ओ मुफ़क्किर – जोश मलीहाबादी

मुस्कुरा कर जब हुई ताल’अ तमद्दुन की सहर
जंगलों से शहर की जानिब बढ़ी फ़िक्र  ए बशर
रस्मसाई आरज़ू ए बाम चौंका ज़ौक ए दर
किश्त ए ख़ाक ए तार में उगने लगे शम्स ओ क़मर
ख़ोशा ए हुस्न ए ज़मीं यूँ नाज़ से पकने लगा

दाब कर दांतों में उंगली आस्मां तकने लगा

जब इशारों को सदा बन कर निखरना आ गया
और सदा को लफ़्ज़ में ढल कर उभरना आ गया
लफ़्ज़ को फिर हर्फ़ बन कर गुल कतरना आ गया
ख़ाक ए सामत को बिलाख़िर बात करना आ गया
लब हिले तो किश्तियाँ चलने लगीं एजाज़ की

फ़िक्र ए इन्सां को सवारी मिल गई आवाज़ की

मुन्तशिर अफ़राद को मिल जुल के रहना आ गया
आदमी को ईं ओ आं की आंच सहना आ गया
वक़्त के धारे को बित्तर्तीब बहना आ गया
हुज्ला ए एहसास में फूलों का गहना आ गया
नाज़ से ज़ुल्फ़ ए लताफ़त की गिरह खुलने लगी

फूल के कांटे पे रूह ए गुलसितां तुलने लगी

सर झुकाया जहल ने फिर इल्म के दरबार में
दाएरे बन्ने लगे जुम्बिश हुई परकार में
आईने का ज़ौक जागा ख़ातिर ए ज़नगार में
सब्ज़ा ए इरशाद महका गुलशन ए गुफ़्तार में
और फिर सब्ज़े के तख़्तों में रवानी आ गई

नौ ए इन्सां की मसें भीगीं जवानी आ गई

शाहराह ए आम तर्शी मांग निकली शहर की
रौशनी की मौज ने इस मांग में अफ़्शां भरी
ताब ए अफ़्शां जद्वल ए मुक़ैश में ढल कर बही
ज़िन्दगी की नब्ज़ ए ज़ौक ए शबरवी चलने लगी
साज़ ए शब् से नग़मा हा ए सुबह दम पैदा हुए

बस्तिया मुड़ने लगीं गलियों में ख़म पैदा हुए

आरज़ू ए ख़ाना आराई की शमें जल उठीं
कुनमुना कर सन’अत ए नौ ख़ेज़ ने ऑंखें मलीं
सादा रुक़ तामीर ने ब्योंती क़बा ए मा ओ तीं
सर पे रख कर गुम्बदों के क़ुम्क़ुमे नाची ज़मीं
संग्रेज़े पै बा पै हुम्के मीनारे बन गए

करवटें ज़र्रों ने कुछ यूँ लीं के तारे बन गए

हर नफ़स बढ़ने लगी फिर ज़िन्दगी आतिश बजां
मए चकां ओ मुश्क रेज़ ओ महर बेज़ ओ माह फ़शां
पर फ़शां, जुंबा जहाँ, लर्जां रवां, तरसां दवां
नग़मा ख़्वां, गिरयां ख़रामा, ख़ुश अनां जौलां तपां
पत्थरों को पीसती लोहे को पिघलाती हुई

कोहसारों के धुवें में पेच ओ ख़म खाती हुई

ख़ुश्क ओ तर को जांचती अर्ज़ ओ समां को भांपती
सुबह को मुखड़ा दिखाती शाम को मुंह ढान्प्ती
दौड़ती, बढ़ती, लपकती, दनदनाती, हान्प्ती
गुनगुनाती, घूमती, घिरती, गरजती, कांपती
बर्बत ए तकरार ए तख़्लीक़ात पर गति हुई

मौत को नीचा दिखाती नाज़ फ़रमाती हुई

आदमी में रफ़्ता रफ़्ता आदमियत आ गई
वज़ा’अ में तम्कीन जज़्बों में नज़ाकत आ गई
बात में तासीर आँखों में मुरव्वत आ गई
रूह फ़रसा अजनबियत में उख़व्वत आ गई
शोरहा-ए-ग़म गुसारी को भड़कना आ गया

दिल को औरों की मुसीबत में धड़कना आ गया

१०

कहकशां झुमकी नज़र छूने लगी अफ़्लाक को
फ़िक्र बर्माने लगी अजराम ए हैरत नाक को
और फिर गेती की जानिब मोड़ कर इदराक को
आदमी गिनने लगा ज़रबात ए नब्ज़ ए ख़ाक को
ज़हन के मीज़ान में ताबानियाँ तुलने लगीं

चादर ए अर्ज़ ओ समां की सिलवटें खुलने लगीं

Click here for overall comments and on any stanza for meanings and discussion.This is a highly romanticized, poetic description of the evolution of civilization and culture among early humans. It is NOT to be read as an anthropological description, otherwise it is likely to lose its beauty.

1

muskura kar jab hui taal’a1 tamaddun2 ki sahr
jangaloN se shahr ki janib baRhi fikr-e bashar3
rasmasai4 aarzu-e baam5 chauNka6 zauq-e dar7
kisht8-e Khak-e taar9 meN ugne lage shams o qamar10
Khosha11-e husn-e zamiN yuN naaz se pakne laga
daab kar daaNtoN meN uNgli12 asmaaN takne laga
1. emerge 2. civilization 3. human thinking 4. woke up (restlessness of an infant to be picked up) 5. desire of a roof 6. woke up 7. taste for a door 8. fields 9. dark dust (a metaphor for yet unexplored earth/land 10. sun and moon (a metaphor for landmarks) 11. bunch (of grapes)12. an expression for surprise and envy
As the morning of civilization/culture dawned smiling, human thought moved from the jungle towards settlement. The desire for a roof over his head awoke in man. In the (dark) unexplored fields of the earth, he found recongizable landmarks (sun and moon). The fruit of the beauty of earth began to ripen in great style, so much so that the sky began to look on with surprise

2

jab isharoN ko sada1 ban kar nikharna2 aa gaya
aur sada ko lafz3 meN Dhal4 kar ubharna5 aa gaya
lafz ko phir harf6 ban kar gul katarna7 aa gaya
Khak e samat8 ko bil-aaKhir9 baat karna aa gaya
lab hile to kishtiyaN chalne lagiN ejaz10 ki
fikr-e-insaaN ko savari mil gayi avaaz ki
1. sound 2. become fresh/clean 3. word 4. cast 5. emerge 6. alphabet/writing 7. pick flowers, make fine/subtle points 8. dumb clay=man (lore that humans were made from clay and water) 9. at last 10. miracles
As sign language blossomed into sound, and sound was cast into words and emerged as meaningful and words found expression and subtlety through writing, finally this dumb clay learnt to speak. And as he spoke, he launched ships of miraculous achievement. Human reasoning found a vehicle (expression) in speech.

3

muntashir1 afraad2 ko mil jul ke rahna aa gaya
aadmi ko een o aaN3 ki aaNch sahna aa gaya
vaqt ke dhaare ko bittartib4 bahna aa gaya
hujla5-e ehsas6 meN phooloN ka gahna aa gaya
naaz7 se zulf e latafat8 ki girah khulne lagi
phool ke kaNTe9 pe rooh-e gulsitaN10 tulne11 lagi
1. scattered, dispersed 2. individuals 3. this and that (everyday trivialities) 4. organized, in harmony 5. chamber (bridal chamber) 6. feelings 7. pride, style 8. tresses of pleasure – pleasure is personified as a damsel 9. balance 10. spirit of the garden 11. getting weighed (evaluated)
Dispersed individuals learnt to live together. Man learnt to bear the heat of daily trivialities/tasks. Time began to flow in organized, predictable currents. The bridal chamber of fine feelings was decked with flowers. Culture displayed her tresses in great style. “Latafat” from “lutf” is pleasure … but here it is cultural refinement and is personified as a damsel. Undoing the knots of tresses is an often used as a metaphor for displaying beauty and sensuous playfulness. The spirit of the garden began to be weighed on a fine balance … phool ka kaNTa … kaNTa of course is a thorn, closely associated with the flower as an antonym … gentle beauty vs sharp, hurtful point. “kaNTa” is also a balance for weighing things. Weighing is taking the measure of things. To say that the “spirit of the garden was weighed on a fine balance” is to say that it passed the test of acceptability.

4

sar jhukaya jahl1 ne phir ilm ke darbaar meN
daa’ere2 banne lage jumbish3 hui parkaar4 meN
aaiine ka zauq5 jaga Khatir6-e zangaar7 meN
sabza8-e irshad9 mahka gulshan-e guftaar10 meN
aur phir sabze ke taKhtoN11 meN ravaani12 aa gayii
nau-e insaaN13 ki maseN bhigiN14 javaani aa gayii
1. ignorance 2. circles 3. movement 4. compasses 5. desire 6. heart 7. blue stone (metaphor for mineral) 8. greenery, freshness 9. speech 10. conversation 11. fields 12. flow, waves 13. human species 14, side burns getting moist (coming of age)
Ignorance bowed its head in the court of knowledge. Geometry emerged, drawing circles with a compasses. The desire for mirror polish awakened in the heart of stone. The freshness of speech blossomed into flowing conversation (like poetry). The fields of greenery waved with joy. The human species matured and came of age.

5

shaahraah-e aam1 tarshi2 maang nikli shahr ki
raushni ki mauj ne is maang meN afshaaN3 bhari
taab4-e afshaaN jadval-e muqaysh5 meN Dhal kar bahi
zindagi ki nabz-e zauq-e shabravi6 chalne lagi
saaz7-e shab se naGhma-ha-e subah dam8 paida hue
bastiaaN muRne lagiN galiyoN meN Kham9 paida hue
1. public highway 2. got carved 3. glitter 4. brightness 5. decorated line 6. pulse of the taste for night life 7. musical instrument 8. songs of dawn 9. curves
The highway appeared as a “maang” in the hair of the Bride (the settlement is personified as a bride). Waves of lamps lit the “maang” like glitter. The brightness of glitter flowed as an adorned line. The taste for night life came alive as the throbbing pulse of life itself. The music of the night gave birth to songs of dawn. The highway branched into curving streets pulsating with life! Urbanization and night life clearly plays a large role in Josh’s view of the development of cultural refinement. The city is described as a damsel and the bright highway is a “maang” or middle parting of her hair.

6

aarzoo1-e Khana aarai2 ki shameN3 jal uTheeN
kunmuna4 kar san’at5-e nau Khez6 ne ankheN maleeN
sada ruq7 taamir8 ne byonti9 qabaa10-e maa o teeN11
sar pe rakh kar gumbadoN12 ke qumqume13 naachi zameeN
sangreze14 pae ba pae15 humke minaare ban gaye
karvaTeN zarroN16 ne kuchh yuN liN ke taare ban gaye
1. desire 2. beautify dwellings 3. evenings 4. baby sounds 5. craftsmanship 6. newly formed 7. plain 8. construction 9. weaved 10. robe 11. clay and water 12. domes 13. candelabra 14. pebbles 15. step by step16. particles
Josh having dealt with “settlement” is now describing the evolution of fine architecture. The desire to make beautiful dwellings lit up like a lamp. New born craft (of design and building) reached out like an infant rubbing its eyes. Plain structures gave way to refined robes of clay and water. The earth began to dance with joy carrying domes of candelabras. Rocks were assembled step by step into minarets. Even pebbles woke up to become stars. Clay and water, “maa o teeN” is primordial “sacred” stuff – after all man himself was made with clay and water. So plain structures acquired robes of clay and water is used to make robes for the “bride” i.e. the city. Josh celebrates the development of domed architecture and minarets. Is waking up of pebbles a subtle description of the mining of diamonds!

7

har nafas1 baRhne lagi phir zindagi aatish bajaaN2
mae chakaaN3 o mushk rez4 o mahr bez5 o mah fashaaN6
par fashaaN7, junba jahaaN8, larzaN ravaaN9, tarsaN davaaN10
naGhma KhwaaN11, giryaN Kharama12, Khush anaN13 jaulaaN tapaaN14
pathharoN ko peesti15 lohe ko phighlaati16 hui
kohsaaroN17 ke dhuveN18 meN pech o Kham19 khaati hui
1. each moment 2. life (soul) on fire 3. wine sprinkling 4. fragrance spreading 5. spreading 6. scattering moonlight 7. wings spread 8. pulsating/moving world 9. flowing movement 10. shimmering 11. singing 12. tearful walk 13. reins of happiness, reined to move in the right direction 14. burning with frenzy (of desire) 15. grinding stones 16. melting iron 17. mountain range 18. smoke/mist 19. twists and turns
Life (culture) began to move forward every moment, with fire in its soul showering wine, scattering musk, spreading sunlight, reflecting moon beams. Wings spread (ready to fly), pulsating (with energy), flowing with speed, glowing with achievement. Singing songs, sad and happy, reins drawn in the right direction, moving with passionate frenzy. Grinding rocks and melting steel. Emerging turning and twisting from the hazy-blue mountain mist (and flowing into valleys).

8

Khushk o tar1 ko jaaNchti arz o samaN2 ko bhaaNpti
subah ko mukhRa dikhaati shaam ko muNh DhaaNpti
dauRti, baRhti, lapakti, dandanaati, haaNpti
gungunaati, ghumti, ghirti, garajti, kaaNpti
barbat3-e takrar4 e taKhliqaat5 par gaati hui
maut ko neecha dikhaati naz farmaati6 hui
1. dry and wet 2. earth and sky 3. lute 4. struggle 5. creation 6. show its style
Constantly taking the measure of the earth and sky. Life renews itself every dawn retiring at night. Running, moving forward, leaping, thundering, gasping. Humming, turning, circling, roaring, shivering. Happy with the struggle for creation, bursting into song it overcomes death showing off its pride. Overcoming death is not the triumph of one individual, or one species, but of LIFE itself.

9

aadmi meN rafta rafta1 aadmiyat2 aa gayi
vaza’a3 meN tamkeen4 jazboN meN nazakat5 aa gayi
baat meN taseer6 aankhoN meN muravvat7 aa gayi
rooh farsa8 ajnabiyat9 meN uKhawwat10 aa gayi
shor-ha-e Gham gusaari11 ko bhaRakna aa gaya
dil ko auroN ki musibat meN dhaRakna12 aa gaya
1. step by step 2. humanity 3. posture 4. respect 5. grace 6. effectiveness 7. kind heartedness 8. spirit sapping (fatal) 9. foreignness 10. brotherliness 11. (shore also means feelings in Farsi) feelings of empathetic sorrow 12. beating (heartbeat)
Man gradually acquired humanity, respectable posture and graceful emotions, credibility of word and feelings of kindness. Spirit sapping “otherness” gave way to fellow feeling. Expressions of empathy shone like a bursting flame. The heart learnt to feel the difficulties of others.

10

kahkashaN1 jhumki nazar chhoone lagi aflaak2 ko
fikr3 barmaane4 lagi ajraam-e hairat-naak5 ko
aur phir geti6 ki jaanib moR kar idraak7 ko
aadmi gin-ne laga zarbaat8 e nabz9 e Khaak ko
zahn10 ke mizaan11 meN tabaaniyaaN12 tulne lagiN
chaadar-e arz o samaaN13 ki silvaTeN14 khulne lagiN
1. constellation 2. skies/heavens 3. thought 4. drill through 5. strange bodies (fairies, monsters, gods, planets, stars) 6. world 7. reason 8. blows/throbs 9. pulse 10. mind 11. balance 12. brilliance/appearance 13. earth and sky 14. folds
Human sight observed constellations and reached beyond the skies. Thought/reason drilled through superstitions of the supernatural. And then turning his reasoning capability towards the earth man began to take the throbbing pulse of this dust. The balance of rationality began to take the measure of appearances. The secrets of the earth and sky began to unfold as if removing a sheet/curtain. To understand the throbs of the pulse of the earth is to understand how things work on earth. Earth and sky are metaphorically described as a sheet with folds … and with reasoning the folds (mysteries) of the universe began to unfold.

 

mojid o mufakkir – josh malihabadi

This is a highly romanticized, poetic description of the evolution of civilization and culture among early humans.  It is NOT to be read as an anthropological description, otherwise it is likely to lose its beauty.

1

muskura kar jab hui taal’a1 tamaddun2 ki sahr
jangaloN se shahr ki janib baRhi fikr-e bashar3
rasmasai4 aarzu-e baam5 chauNka6 zauq-e dar7
kisht8-e Khak-e taar9 meN ugne lage shams o qamar10
Khosha11-e husn-e zamiN yuN naaz se pakne laga
daab kar daaNtoN meN uNgli12 asmaaN takne laga

1. emerge 2. civilization 3. human thinking 4. woke up (restlessness of an infant to be picked up) 5. desire of a roof 6. woke up 7. taste for a door 8. fields 9. dark dust (a metaphor for yet unexplored earth/land 10. sun and moon (a metaphor for landmarks) 11. bunch (of grapes)12.  an expression for surprise and envy
As the morning of civilization/culture dawned smiling, human thought moved from the jungle towards settlement.  The desire for a roof over his head awoke in man.  In the (dark) unexplored fields of the earth, he found recongizable landmarks (sun and moon).  The fruit of the beauty of earth began to ripen in great style, so much so that the sky began to look on with surprise

2

jab isharoN ko sada1 ban kar nikharna2 aa gaya
aur sada ko lafz3 meN Dhal4 kar ubharna5 aa gaya
lafz ko phir harf6 ban kar gul katarna7 aa gaya
Khak e samat8 ko bil-aaKhir9 baat karna aa gaya
lab hile to kishtiyaN chalne lagiN ejaz10 ki
fikr-e-insaaN ko savari mil gayi avaaz ki

1. sound 2. become fresh/clean 3. word 4. cast 5. emerge 6. alphabet/writing 7. pick flowers, make fine/subtle points 8. dumb clay=man (lore that humans were made from clay and water) 9. at last 10. miracles
As sign language blossomed into sound, and sound was cast into words and emerged as meaningful and words found expression and subtlety through writing, finally this dumb clay learnt to speak.  And as he spoke, he launched ships of miraculous achievement.  Human reasoning found a vehicle (expression) in speech.

3

muntashir1 afraad2 ko mil jul ke rahna aa gaya
aadmi ko een o aaN3 ki aaNch sahna aa gaya
vaqt ke dhaare ko bittartib4 bahna aa gaya
hujla5-e ehsas6 meN phooloN ka gahna aa gaya
naaz7 se zulf e latafat8 ki girah khulne lagi
phool ke kaNTe9 pe rooh-e gulsitaN10 tulne11 lagi

1. scattered, dispersed 2. individuals 3.  this and that (everyday trivialities) 4. organized, in harmony 5. chamber (bridal chamber) 6. feelings 7. pride, style 8. tresses of pleasure – pleasure is personified as a damsel 9. balance 10. spirit of the garden 11. getting weighed (evaluated)
Dispersed individuals learnt to live together.  Man learnt to bear the heat of daily trivialities/tasks.  Time began to flow in organized, predictable currents.  The bridal chamber of fine feelings was decked with flowers.  Culture displayed her tresses in great style.  “Latafat” from “lutf” is pleasure … but here it is cultural refinement and is personified as a damsel.  Undoing the knots of tresses is an often used as a metaphor for displaying beauty and sensuous playfulness.  The spirit of the garden began to be weighed on a fine balance … phool ka kaNTa … kaNTa of course is a thorn, closely associated with the flower as an antonym … gentle beauty vs sharp, hurtful point.  “kaNTa” is also a balance for weighing things.  Weighing is taking the measure of things.  To say that the “spirit of the garden was weighed on a fine balance” is to say that it passed the test of acceptability.

4

sar jhukaya jahl1 ne phir ilm ke darbaar meN
daa’ere2 banne lage jumbish3 hui parkaar4 meN
aaiine ka zauq5 jaga Khatir6-e zangaar7 meN
sabza8-e irshad9 mahka gulshan-e guftaar10 meN
aur phir sabze ke taKhtoN11 meN ravaani12 aa gayii
nau-e insaaN13 ki maseN bhigiN14 javaani aa gayii

1. ignorance 2. circles 3.  movement 4. compasses 5. desire 6. heart 7. blue stone (metaphor for mineral) 8. greenery, freshness 9. speech 10. conversation 11. fields 12. flow, waves 13. human species 14, side burns getting moist (coming of age)
Ignorance bowed its head in the court of knowledge.  Geometry emerged, drawing circles with a compasses.  The desire for mirror polish awakened in the heart of stone.  The freshness of speech blossomed into flowing conversation (like poetry).  The fields of greenery waved with joy.  The human species matured and came of age.

5

shaahraah-e aam1 tarshi2 maang nikli shahr ki
raushni ki mauj ne is maang meN afshaaN3 bhari
taab4-e afshaaN jadval-e muqaysh5 meN Dhal kar bahi
zindagi ki nabz-e zauq-e shabravi6 chalne lagi
saaz7-e shab se naGhma-ha-e subah dam8 paida hue
bastiaaN muRne lagiN galiyoN meN Kham9 paida hue

1. public highway 2. got carved 3. glitter 4. brightness 5. decorated line 6. pulse of the taste for night life 7. musical instrument 8. songs of dawn 9. curves
The highway appeared as a “maang” in the hair of the Bride (the settlement is personified as a bride).  Waves of lamps lit the “maang” like glitter.  The brightness of glitter flowed as an adorned line.  The taste for night life came alive as the throbbing pulse of life itself.  The music of the night gave birth to songs of dawn.  The highway branched into curving streets pulsating with life!  Urbanization and night life clearly plays a large role in Josh’s view of the development of cultural refinement.  The city is described as a damsel and the bright highway is a “maang” or middle parting of her hair.

6

aarzoo1-e Khana aarai2 ki shameN3 jal uTheeN
kunmuna4 kar san’at5-e nau Khez6 ne ankheN maleeN
sada ruq7 taamir8 ne byonti9 qabaa10-e maa o teeN11
sar pe rakh kar gumbadoN12 ke qumqume13 naachi zameeN
sangreze14 pae ba pae15 humke minaare ban gaye
karvaTeN zarroN16 ne kuchh yuN liN ke taare ban gaye

1. desire 2. beautify dwellings 3. evenings 4. baby sounds 5. craftsmanship 6. newly formed 7. plain 8. construction 9. weaved 10. robe 11. clay and water 12. domes 13. candelabra 14. pebbles 15. step by step16. particles
Josh having dealt with “settlement” is now describing the evolution of fine architecture.  The desire to make beautiful dwellings lit up like a lamp.  New born craft (of design and building) reached out like an infant rubbing its eyes.  Plain structures gave way to refined robes of clay and water.  The earth began to dance with joy carrying domes of candelabras.  Rocks were assembled step by step into minarets.  Even pebbles woke up to become stars.  Clay and water, “maa o teeN” is primordial “sacred” stuff – after all man himself was made with clay and water.  So plain structures acquired robes of clay and water is used to make robes for the “bride” i.e. the city.  Josh celebrates the development of domed architecture and minarets.  Is waking up of pebbles a subtle description of the mining of diamonds!

7

har nafas1 baRhne lagi phir zindagi aatish bajaaN2
mae chakaaN3 o mushk rez4 o mahr bez5 o mah fashaaN6
par fashaaN7, junba jahaaN8, larzaN ravaaN9, tarsaN davaaN10
naGhma KhwaaN11, giryaN Kharama12, Khush anaN13 jaulaaN tapaaN14
pathharoN ko peesti15 lohe ko phighlaati16 hui
kohsaaroN17 ke dhuveN18 meN pech o Kham19 khaati hui

1. each moment 2.  life (soul) on fire 3. wine sprinkling 4. fragrance spreading 5. spreading 6.  scattering moonlight 7. wings spread 8. pulsating/moving world 9. flowing movement 10. shimmering 11. singing 12. tearful walk 13. reins of happiness, reined to move in the right direction 14.  burning with frenzy (of desire) 15. grinding stones 16. melting iron 17.  mountain range 18. smoke/mist 19. twists and turns
Life (culture) began to move forward every moment, with fire in its soul showering wine, scattering musk, spreading sunlight, reflecting moon beams.  Wings spread (ready to fly), pulsating (with energy), flowing with speed, glowing with achievement.  Singing songs, sad and happy, reins drawn in the right direction, moving with passionate frenzy.  Grinding rocks and melting steel.  Emerging turning and twisting from the hazy-blue mountain mist (and flowing into valleys).

8

Khushk o tar1 ko jaaNchti arz o samaN2 ko bhaaNpti
subah ko mukhRa dikhaati shaam ko muNh DhaaNpti
dauRti, baRhti, lapakti, dandanaati, haaNpti
gungunaati, ghumti, ghirti, garajti, kaaNpti
barbat3-e takrar4 e taKhliqaat5 par gaati hui
maut ko neecha dikhaati naz farmaati6 hui

1. dry and wet 2. earth and sky 3. lute 4. struggle 5. creation 6. show its style
Constantly taking the measure of the earth and sky.  Life renews itself every dawn retiring at night.  Running, moving forward, leaping, thundering, gasping.  Humming, turning, circling, roaring, shivering.  Happy with  the struggle for creation, bursting into song it overcomes death showing off its pride.  Overcoming death is not the triumph of one individual, or one species, but of LIFE itself.

9

aadmi meN rafta rafta1 aadmiyat2 aa gayi
vaza’a3 meN tamkeen4 jazboN meN nazakat5 aa gayi
baat meN taseer6 aankhoN meN muravvat7 aa gayi
rooh farsa8 ajnabiyat9 meN uKhawwat10 aa gayi
shor-ha-e Gham gusaari11 ko bhaRakna aa gaya
dil ko auroN ki musibat meN dhaRakna12 aa gaya

1. step by step 2. humanity 3. posture 4. respect 5. grace 6. effectiveness 7. kind heartedness 8. spirit sapping (fatal) 9. foreignness 10. brotherliness 11. (shore also means feelings in Farsi) feelings of empathetic sorrow 12. beating (heartbeat)
Man gradually acquired humanity, respectable posture and graceful emotions, credibility of word and feelings of kindness.  Spirit sapping “otherness” gave way to fellow feeling.  Expressions of empathy shone like a bursting flame.  The heart learnt to feel the difficulties of others.

10

kahkashaN1 jhumki nazar chhoone lagi aflaak2 ko
fikr3 barmaane4 lagi ajraam-e hairat-naak5 ko
aur phir geti6 ki jaanib moR kar idraak7 ko
aadmi gin-ne laga zarbaat8 e nabz9 e Khaak ko
zahn10 ke mizaan11 meN tabaaniyaaN12 tulne lagiN
chaadar-e arz o samaaN13 ki silvaTeN14 khulne lagiN

1. constellation 2. skies/heavens 3. thought 4. drill through 5. strange bodies (fairies, monsters, gods, planets, stars) 6. world 7. reason 8. blows/throbs 9. pulse 10. mind 11. balance 12.  brilliance/appearance 13. earth and sky 14. folds
Human sight observed constellations and reached beyond the skies.  Thought/reason drilled through superstitions of the supernatural.  And then turning his reasoning capability towards the earth man began to take the throbbing pulse of this dust.  The balance of rationality began to take the measure of appearances.  The secrets of the earth and sky began to unfold as if removing a sheet/curtain. To understand the throbs of the pulse of the earth is to understand how things work on earth.  Earth and sky are metaphorically described as a sheet with folds … and with reasoning the folds (mysteries) of the universe began to unfold.