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Recitation
نغمہ سرائی دے ۔ پروین شاکر
۱
یارب! مرے سکوت کو نغمہ سرائی دے
زخمِ ہنر کو حوصلۂ لب کشائی دے
۲
لہجے کو جوئے آب کی وہ نے نوائی دے
دُنیا کو حرف حرف کا بہنا سُنائی دے
۳
رگ رگ میں اُس کا لمس اُترتا دکھائی دے
جو کیفیت بھی جسم کو دے انتہائی دے
۴
شہرِ سخن سے روح کو وہ آشنائی دے
آنکھیں بھی بند رکھوں تو رستہ سجھائی دے
۵
تَخئیل ماہتاب ہو، اِظہار آئینہ
آنکھوں کو لفظ لفظ کا چہرہ دکھائی دے
۶
دل کو لہو کروں تو کوئی نقش بن سکے
تو مجھ کو کربِ ذات کی سچّی کمائی دے
۷
دُکھ کے سفر میں منزلِ نایافت کچھ نہ ہو
زخمِ جگر سے زخمِ ہنر تک رسائی دے
۸
میں عشقِ کائنات میں زنجیر ہو سکوں
مجھ کو حصارِ ذات کے شر سے رہائی دے
۹
پہروں کی تشنگی پہ بھی ثابت قدم رہوں
دشتِ بلا میں روح مجھے کربلائی دے
नग़्मा सराई दे – पर्वीन शाकर
१
यारब! मेरे सुकूत को नग़्मा सराई दे
ज़ख़्म-ए हुनर को होस्ला-ए लब कुशाई दे
२
लहजे को जू-ए आब की वो नै नवाई दे
दुनिया को हर्फ़ हर्फ़ का बहना सुनाई दे
३
रग रग में उस का लम्स उतरता दिखाई दे
जो कैफ़ियत भी जिस्म को दे इन्तहाई दे
४
शहर-ए सुख़न से रूह को वो आश्नाई दे
आंखें भी बन्द रक्खूं तो रस्ता सुझाई दे
५
तख़’ईल माहताब हो, इज़्हार आइना
आंखौं को लफ़्ज़ लफ़्ज़ का चहरा दिखाई दे
६
दिल को लहू करूं तो कोई नक़्श बन सके
तू मुझ को कर्ब-ए ज़ात की सच्ची कमाई दे
७
दुख के सफ़र में मंज़िल-ए नायाफ़्त कुछ न हो
ज़ख़्म-ए जिगर से ज़ख़्म-ए हुनर तक रसाई दे
८
मैं इश्क़-ए काएनात में ज़ंजीर हो सकूं
मुझ को हिसार-ए ज़ात के शर से रेहाई दे
९
पहरौं की तिश्नगी पे भी साबित क़दम रहूं
दश्त-ए बला में रूह मुझे करबलाई दे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. parveen shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service officer. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. An explicit expression of love by women was taboo until courageous poets like parveen shakir pioneered it. This nazm, in the style of a Ghazal is extremely sensitive and expresses the poet’s intense desire to write. It is cast as a prayer … lab pe aati hai dua ban ke tamanna meri.
1
yaarab! mere sukoot1 ko naGhma-saraaii2 de
zaKhm3-e hunar4 ko hausla5-e lab-kushaaii6 de 1.silence 2.singing 3.wound 4.talent, skill 5.courage 6.parted lips, speaking
O, my lord, grant my silence the ability to sing. Give my wounded/weak talent the courage to open its mouth to speak.
2
lahje1 ko juu2-e aab3 ki vo nai-navaaii4 de
duniya ko harf5 harf ka bahna6 sunaaii de 1.accent 2.river, stream 3.water 4.musical flute 5.word 6.flow, ripples
Grant my accent the musical sound of a flowing stream so that the world can hear its ripples in every word.
3
rug rug1 meN us ka lams2 utarta dikhaaii de
jo kaifiyat3 bhi jism4 ko de intehaaii5 de 1.every fibre of the body 2.touch 3.condition 4.body 5.extreme, intense
Let my words show that every fiber of my body is caressed by his touch. Whatever condition you grant to my body, let it be of full intensity.
4
shahr-e-suKhan1 se rooh2 ko vo aashnaaii3 de
aaNkheN bhi band rakkhuN to rasta sujhaaii4 de 1.city/realm of speech/words/verse 2.spirit 3.familiarity, intimacy 4.able to feel/find the way
Grant my spirit such intimacy with the realm of verse that even with eyes closed I be able to find my way.
5
taKh’eel1 maahtaab2 ho, izhaar3 aaina4
aaNkhoN ko lafz lafz5 ka chehra6 dikhaaii de 1.thought, imagination 2.full moon 3.expression 4.mirror, image 5.every word 6.face
Grant that my imagination be beautiful and bright like the full moon and my expression truly reflect its image so that those who read can see the face/meaning in every word.
6
dil ko lahu1 karuN to koii naqsh2 ban sake
tu mujh ko karb3-e zaat4 ki sachchi kamaaii5 de 1.blood 2.sketch, image 3.pain 4.person, self 5.earning
Legitimate earning/recompense for the poet comes only when she can fully feel the pain/emotion of others or of herself. Grant that I may be able to draw a sketch from the blood of my heart and make a legitimate/well deserved earning (of recognition).
7
dukh1 ke safar2 meN manzil3-e naayaaft4 kuchh na ho
zaKhm5-e jigar6 se zaKhm5-e hunar7 tak rasaaii8 de 1.pain/love 2.journey 3.goal 4.unobtainable 5.wound 6.liver/heart 7.talent 8.reach/access
Let there not be any goal that cannot be reached in the journey of love. Grant the wound of my heart (disappointment at not being able to reach the goal) access to the wound of talent (so that IT becomes the goal that I achieve).
8
maiN ishq1-e kaayenaat2 meN zanjiir3 ho sakuN
mujh ko hisaar4-e yaar5 ke shar6 se rehaaii7 de 1.love 2.universe 3.chain 4.boundary 5.beloved 6.mischief 7.release, freedom
Grant me freedom from the mischief of a narrow love of self and beloved so that I may be chained by the love of the universe/creation. It might also be interpreted as her desire to be the chain that binds the whole universe in the chain of love.
9
pahroN1 ki tishnagi2 pe bhi saabit-qadam3 rahuN
dasht4-e bala5 meN rooh6 mujhe karbalaaii7 de 1.long periods 2.thirst 3.steadfast, firm 4.wilderness 5.calamity, curse 6.spirit 7.of/like karbala
This has reference to the story of karbala where husain, his family and small band of followers remained steadfast in their purpose in spite of their intense thirst when access to water was cut off. In the poet’s case “thirst” may be the result of denial of recognition or even suppression by the powerful upon speaking the truth. Grant me the spirit of steadfast determination like that of the martyrs of karbala that I may stay the course in the face of long denial/suppression.
parveen shakir (1952-1994), English literature and linguistics, correspondent, educator, Pakistan Civil Service officer. Prolific writer bringing new thought and new forthright, feminist style to urdu shaa’eri. An explicit expression of love by women was taboo until courageous poets like parveen shakir pioneered it. This nazm, in the style of a Ghazal is extremely sensitive and expresses the poet’s intense desire to write. It is cast as a prayer … lab pe aati hai dua ban ke tamanna meri.
1
yaarab! mere sukoot1 ko naGhma-saraaii2 de
zaKhm3-e hunar4 ko hausla5-e lab-kushaaii6 de
1.silence 2.singing 3.wound 4.talent, skill 5.courage 6.parted lips, speaking
O, my lord, grant my silence the ability to sing. Give my wounded/weak talent the courage to open its mouth to speak.
2
lahje1 ko juu2-e aab3 ki vo nai-navaaii4 de
duniya ko harf5 harf ka bahna6 sunaaii de
1.accent 2.river, stream 3.water 4.musical flute 5.word 6.flow, ripples
Grant my accent the musical sound of a flowing stream so that the world can hear its ripples in every word.
3
rug rug1 meN us ka lams2 utarta dikhaaii de
jo kaifiyat3 bhi jism4 ko de intehaaii5 de
1.every fibre of the body 2.touch 3.condition 4.body 5.extreme, intense
Let my words show that every fiber of my body is caressed by his touch. Whatever condition you grant to my body, let it be of full intensity.
4
shahr-e-suKhan1 se rooh2 ko vo aashnaaii3 de
aaNkheN bhi band rakkhuN to rasta sujhaaii4 de
1.city/realm of speech/words/verse 2.spirit 3.familiarity, intimacy 4.able to feel/find the way
Grant my spirit such intimacy with the realm of verse that even with eyes closed I be able to find my way.
5
taKh’eel1 maahtaab2 ho, izhaar3 aaina4
aaNkhoN ko lafz lafz5 ka chehra6 dikhaaii de
1.thought, imagination 2.full moon 3.expression 4.mirror, image 5.every word 6.face
Grant that my imagination be beautiful and bright like the full moon and my expression truly reflect its image so that those who read can see the face/meaning in every word.
6
dil ko lahu1 karuN to koii naqsh2 ban sake
tu mujh ko karb3-e zaat4 ki sachchi kamaaii5 de
1.blood 2.sketch, image 3.pain 4.person, self 5.earning
Legitimate earning/recompense for the poet comes only when she can fully feel the pain/emotion of others or of herself. Grant that I may be able to draw a sketch from the blood of my heart and make a legitimate/well deserved earning (of recognition).
7
dukh1 ke safar2 meN manzil3-e naayaaft4 kuchh na ho
zaKhm5-e jigar6 se zaKhm5-e hunar7 tak rasaaii8 de
1.pain/love 2.journey 3.goal 4.unobtainable 5.wound 6.liver/heart 7.talent 8.reach/access
Let there not be any goal that cannot be reached in the journey of love. Grant the wound of my heart (disappointment at not being able to reach the goal) access to the wound of talent (so that IT becomes the goal that I achieve).
8
maiN ishq1-e kaayenaat2 meN zanjiir3 ho sakuN
mujh ko hisaar4-e yaar5 ke shar6 se rehaaii7 de
1.love 2.universe 3.chain 4.boundary 5.beloved 6.mischief 7.release, freedom
Grant me freedom from the mischief of a narrow love of self and beloved so that I may be chained by the love of the universe/creation. It might also be interpreted as her desire to be the chain that binds the whole universe in the chain of love.
9
pahroN1 ki tishnagi2 pe bhi saabit-qadam3 rahuN
dasht4-e bala5 meN rooh6 mujhe karbalaaii7 de
1.long periods 2.thirst 3.steadfast, firm 4.wilderness 5.calamity, curse 6.spirit 7.of/like karbala
This has reference to the story of karbala where husain, his family and small band of followers remained steadfast in their purpose in spite of their intense thirst when access to water was cut off. In the poet’s case “thirst” may be the result of denial of recognition or even suppression by the powerful upon speaking the truth. Grant me the spirit of steadfast determination like that of the martyrs of karbala that I may stay the course in the face of long denial/suppression.
This a wonderful rendition of Sufi type of emotions. I have been reading a lot of her illustrious work, and the imagery in her words is captivating.
Thank you Shahed.
Zakiah.
This a wonderful rendition of Sufi type of emotions. I have been reading a lot of her illustrious work, and the imagery in her words is captivating.
Thank you Shahed.
Zakiah.
My profuse apologies. I missed seeing your comment and question for six months.
In the last she’r, she uses the steadfast resolve of the fighters of karbala as an example of the kind of resolve she herself wants in facing her thirst to create beautiful verse. This thirst is similar to being thirsty in a desert. She is ‘dasht-e balaa’ and constantly feels (thirsty) that urge to compose. She wants a karbalaaii rooh/spirit/resolve.
My thoughts and Dua for Parveen Shakir:
Mashallah. This lady was a wonderful woman – Inshallah she is residing in the best of places in Jannah – sad she went through a tragic married life. Inshallah she was provided by all that she requested for life on earth after her divorce and May Allah grant her last request made through this poetry.
In my view she reached a very high level in the realm of Islamic mystic thoughts. If she said “Bismillah” she knew the meaning above and beyond what people believe the meaning as “I begin in the name of Allah”. I am sure she pondered for months on the letter “Bae” and the Nukta underneath….Within that Nukta she saw the splendor of Allah…..Allah give her the best of place in Jannah.
The last misrah “Dasth Bala Mai Ruh Mujhae Karbalae Daei.” …..Is a puzzle only she can decipher it. Question ? I would have raised ” Is she requesting for this earthly life and/or after life.” I would love to hear your view.
Mir Anees Wrote a beautiful – I guess you call it a Rubai.
Is my favorite & my Dua.
Ruh hu dakel meri Jannath Shudah mai mill ker.
Paak hu Khakh meri Khakh Shifa mai mill ker.
Remember me and my family in your prayers.
Regards
Syed Suleman Ali