Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This is beautiful and unadulterated praise for husain and highly enjoyable particularly if you accept husain as a poetic symbolism of resistance to absolute power. He also calls upon husain to shake the audience out of its slumber, out of its posture of inaction and urge them resist injustice.
48
aye karbala ke abr-e-guhar-baar¹ assalam
aye haadiyoN² ke qaafila-saalar³ assalam
aye k’aaba-e-sawad⁴ ke me’maar⁵ assalam
aye jins-e-aabru⁶ ke Kharidar assalam
aye soorma, dileyr, jiyaale tujhe salaam
aye fatima ki god ke paalay tujhe salaam 1.pearl raining cloud 2.guide 3.leader, guide 4.k’aaba and its surroundings 5.architect, builder 6.essence of dignity
O blessed cloud of karbala, my salaam. O leader of leaders, my salaam. O builder of the environs/traditions of k’aaba, my salaam. O owner of the essence of dignity, my salaam. O brave, fearless, daring, my salaams to you. O you raised in the lap of fatima, my salaams to you. ‘abr-e gubar baar’ – pearl showering cloud stands is sharp contrast to the thirst of the story of karbala.
49
aye mir-e-arz¹ o sadr-e-samaavat² assalam
aye baadshah e kishwar³-e-aayat⁴ assalam
aye mezbaan⁵-e-lashkar-e-aafaat⁶ assalam
aye naaqid⁷-e-nahuftagi⁸-e-zaat⁹ assalam
aye kaj-kulah¹⁰-e-mauris¹¹-e-kaunain¹² assalam
aye vaaris¹³-e-ibaadat¹⁴-e-saqalein¹⁵ assalam  1.leader of the (earth) world 2.leader of the skies (heavens, next world) 3.domain 4.signs, proofs (of the existence of god) 5.host (taking it upon himself) 6.army of calamities 7.critic, expert, teacher 8.hidden secrets 9.existence, personhood (of god) 10.literally – “tilted cap” – sometimes used for “rebel” and at other times for “grandeur” or “grand style” 11.one who bestows a legacy, guarantor 12.both worlds, here and hereafter 13.(inherit, take responsibility for) protector 14.prayers, faith 15.both (North and South) poles i.e.world
O leader of the world, focus of heavens, my salaam. O lord of the domain of manifestations of divinity, my salaam. You, who bore a host of calamities, my salaam. O, explicator of the secrets of god, my salaam. O, guarantor of the here and hereafter, my salaam. O, protector of the faith of the worlds, my salaam.
50
aye mus-haf-e-hayaat¹ ki tafseer² assalam
aye muddua³-e-aya-e-tat’heer⁴ assalam
aye dast-e-zuljalal⁵ ki shamshir⁶ assalam
aye mustafa⁷ ke Khwaab ki ta’abeer⁸ assalam
aye zindagi ke soz-e-nihaani⁹ salaam le
kausar¹⁰ ba dosh¹¹ tishna dahaani¹³ salaam le  1.pages of life, pages explaining the meaning/rules of life, book of life 2.explanation (in shia tradition husain is considered to have lived his life in such close accordance with the qur’aan that his life is an illustration of the meaning of the qur’aan – thus, its embodiment) 3.main goal 4.verse in the qur’aan referring to mohammed and his immediate family, used in shia tradition to acclaim that they alone are keepers of faith 5.hand of god 6.sword 7.another name of mohammed 8.fulfillment 9.hidden pain 10.river in heaven 11.carrying on shoulder 13.thirsty
O embodiment of the book of life (qur’aan), my salaam to you. You are the main purpose of the aya e tat’heer, salaam to you. O enforcer of the law of god, salaam to you. O fulfillment of the dream of mohammed, salaam to you. O hidden sorrow of life, accept my salaam. Owner of kauser, yet thirsty in karbala, accept my salaam. josh also is playing up the importance of pain/sorrow as an essential part of life … thus soz e nihaani-hidden pain, is a good thing because it reminds you of the pain of others and makes you appreciate pleasures more. The irony of having control over the river of paradise (kauser ba dosh) and being deprived of water during the battle of karbala is also played up.
51
aye zaKhm-e-qalb-e-Khair¹ ke marham² tujhe salaam
aye naasir-e-paiamber-e-aazam³ tujhe salaam
haaN aye rasool⁴-e-deen-e-moharram⁵ tujhe salaam
aye hujjat⁶ e sharaafat⁷ e aadam⁸ tujhe salaam
aye taajdar-e-mulk-e-tahammul⁹ salaam le
aye faKhr¹⁰ ke azeem¹¹ tamavvul¹² salaam le  1.wound of the heart of happiness/virtue 2.salve 3.helper of the greatest prophet 4.messenger, preacher 5.faith of moharram i.e.martyrdom 6.proof 7.nobility 8.humanity 9.patience, forebearance 10.pride, dignity 11.great 12.riches, treasure
O salve of wounded virtue, I bow to you. O, helper of the greatest prophet, I bow to you. O, messenger of the power of martyrdom, I bow to you. O, proof of human nobility, I bow to you. O, lord of the world of forebearance, accept my salaams. O, great treasure of dignity, accept my salaams.
52
aye bostaan¹ e saaya² e daamaan³-e-mustafa⁴
aye madd-o-jazr⁵-e-chasma⁶-e-aivaan⁷-e-mustafa
aye noor-e-a’en⁸-e-haidar⁹ o aye jaan-e-mustafa
aye Khush-jamal¹⁰ yusuf-e-kan’aan¹¹-e-mustafa
aye tishna¹² ibn-e-saaqi-e-kauser¹³ salaam le
aafaq¹⁴ ki zabaaN se bahattar¹⁵ salaam le  1.garden 2.shade/covering/protection 3.apron, hem of the robe, followership 4.another name of mohammmed 5.ripples in the flow 6.spring 7.hallways, domain 8.light of the eyes 9.another name of ali, the father of husain 10.beautiful 11.Joseph of the tribe of Canaan (his good looks are legendary in Biblical and Quranic stories) 12.thirst 13.son of the “saaqi of kauser” – kauser is a legendary river in heaven and shia tradition says that in heaven, ali will dispense the water of kauser, hence “saaqi” and husain is the son of (ibn e) ali. His thirst in Karbala is juxtaposed against the water of kauser 14.skies, heavens 15.seventy two – shia tradition has it that 72 of the party of husain were killed in karbala
O flourishing garden under the protection of the cloak of mustafa, O ripples of the river flowing through the domain of mustafa, O darling of ali, the beloved of mustafa. Your beauty rivals the beauty of Joseph of Canaan. Yourself thirsty, but your father slakes the thirst of the virtuous in heaven. Accept seventy two salaams from the skies.
53
aye be-panaah¹ quvvat-e-aKhlaaq² assalaam
aye Khilwati³ e daavar⁴ e itlaaq⁵ assalaam
aye haq-nigar⁶ sha’oor⁷ ke razzaq⁸ assalaam
aye ifteKhar⁹ e anfas-o-aafaq¹⁰ assalaam
aye turra¹¹ e kulah¹² e nubuvvat¹³ salaam le
aye shaah e kishwar¹⁴ e abadiyat¹⁵ salaam le  1.unlimited 2.power of courtesy/virtue 3.friend, confidant 4.lord
5.independence, standing up to (injustice) 6.eye on virtue 7.knowledge, wisdom 8.sustainer, provider 9.pride, honour 10.(life) earth and sky 11.crown, crest 12.cap 13.prophethood 14.domain 15.obedience (to the will of god)
You, of unlimited strength of character, my salaams. O, confidant of the lord of righteousness, my salaams. You giver of wisdom with an eye on virtue, my salaams. O, pride of the earth and skies, my salaams. O, crest on the cap of the prophet, accept my salaam. O, king of the domain of obedience to god’s will, accept my salaam.
54
aye iqtedaar¹ e sabr² e faraavaN³ tujhe salaam
toofaN-shikaar⁴ kishti-e-urfaaN⁶ tujhe salaam
aye aabroo⁷ e chashma-e-haivaaN⁸ tujhe salaam
aye kirdegaar⁹ e azmat-e-insaaN¹⁰ tujhe salaam
haN aye gulu-e-maut¹¹ ke Khanjar salaam le
aye puKhtagi-e-fikr¹² e paiamber¹³ salaam le  1.authority, power 2.patience 3.overflowing 4.victim of storm 5.boat of mysticism 7.honour, dignity 8.spring/water of life, eternal life, immortality 9.creator, architect 10.greatness of man 11.Death’s throat 12.maturity (epitome) of thought/teachings 13.messenger, mohammed
O, power of unlimited patience, my salaam. You, who offer a shelter to mystics under unrelenting storms, my salaam. O, pride of immortality, my salaam. O, architect of human dignity, my salaam. O, you who slit the throat of Death, accept my salaam. O, epitome of the message of mohammed, accept my salaam. Husain’s throat was slit and head cut off (and displayed) in the battle of karbala. josh is turning tables here and portraying husain as victorious over Death … and becoming immortal because of his virtuous stand.
55
haaN marhamat¹ ho Khaatir-e-bedaar² ya husain
harf-e-Ghalat³ se jur’at-e-inkaar⁴ ya husain
taab⁵ o tavaan⁶ e aabid-e-beemar⁷ ya husain
jhankaar, zulfiqaar⁸ ki jhankaar ya husain
haaN soo⁹-e-jazba-e-harakat¹⁰ baag¹¹ moR de
haaN toR de jumood¹² ki zanjeer toR de  1.benevolence, mercy 2.awakened mind 3.word of evil 4.courage to deny 5.grandeur 6.strength, power 7.aabid, husain’s eldest son who was sick and bedridden during the battle of karbala 8.ali’s sword 9.towards 10.passion for movement/progress 11.reins 12.stationary, stagnant
Mercy, wake our minds up, O, husain. Grant us the courage to deny Evil, O, husain. Bestow on us the glory and fortitude of aabid, O, husain. Yes, swing the zulfiqaar, swing, O, husain. Turn the reins of times towards the passion for change/progress. Break this chain that binds us into inaction.
56
maula, hujoom¹ e dard e nihaani² ka vaasta³
zainab⁴ ke azm-e-sho’la-bayaani⁵ ka vaasta
asGhar⁶ ke soz⁷ e tishna-dahaani⁸ ka vaasta
akbar⁹ ki tishna-kaam¹⁰ javaani ka vaasta
haaN aaj aansuauN¹¹ se sharaare¹² nikaal de
haaN aag meN hayaat-ke-paani¹³ ko Daal de  1.swarm 2.hidden pain 3.in the name of 4.husain’s sister who was taken prisoner along with the rest of surviving family members 5.power of the fiery speech (it is said that zainab gave a speech in the court of yazid which brought the whole court down and started a rebellion) 6.husain’s infant son who was killed in the battle of karbala 7.sorrow 8.thirsty mouth/lips 9.husain’s youthful son who was killed in battle 10.thirsty throat 11.tears, it is traditional and the audience weeps during recitation of marsia relating the story of karbala, josh is referring to these tears and praying that they be changed into sparks 12.sparks 13.water of life, desire to live (to throw the desire to live into fire is to urge people to be prepared to die)
Lord, in the name of the swarm of calamities that befell you, in the name of the power of the fiery speech of zainab, in the name of the sorrow of the dry lips of asGhar, in the name of the parched throat of the youthful akbar. Yes, change these mournful tears into fiery sparks. Throw our love of life into the fire, so we may stand up for justice.
57
haaN aye husain, barq savaar¹ o ajal-figaar²
sultan-e-koh³, taKht shikan⁴, qaahiri shikaar⁵
kausar nigaah⁶, qasr shikan⁷, saltanat fishaar⁸
arsh ifteKhar⁹, farsh faroGh¹⁰, ambia viqaar¹¹
aye aaftab¹² tuhfa¹³ e shabnam¹⁴ qubool¹⁵ kar
haaN sijda¹⁶ e jabin¹⁷ e do aalam¹⁸ qubool kar  1.lightning riding 2.death defying 3.grand (like a mountain) king 4.destroyer of thrones 5.victim of oppression 6.eye/looks of Kauser (legendary river in heaven), one who gives water to the thirsty 7.palace destroyer 8.overpowering monarchy 9.pride of the heavens 10.uplifter of the lowly (floor) 11.dignity of the prophets 12.sun 13.gift, offering, homage 14.dew (here Husain is referred to as the sun – powerful, and the poet is referred to as the dew – humble and powerless before the sun) 15.accept 16.obeisance 17.forehead 18.both worlds, heaven and earth
O, husain, defier of Death riding lightning bolts. Grand king and yet the destroyer of the royal throne, victim of oppression. Slaker of thirst, destroyer of palaces, victor over monarchy. Pride of heavens, uplifter of the lowly, dignity of the prophets. O great one, accept this lowly homage. Accept the obeisance of heaven and earth.
58
aye zulfiqar¹ e hyder-e-karraar² assalaam
aye janasheen³ e ahmed-e-muKhtaar⁴ assalaam
aye be-niyaaz⁵ e indak-o-besiyaar⁶ assalaam
aye mahvar⁷ e savaabit-o-sayyaar⁸ assalaam
aye be-misaal⁹ puKhtagi¹⁰ e himmat¹¹ assalaam
aye aadmi ke naaz¹² e uloohiyat¹³ assalaam  1.name of the sword of ali 2.one among several names of ali (literally – repeatedly attacking lion) 3.successor, inheritor 4.another name of mohammed 5.oblivious, not caring for 6.scarcity and plenty, materialism 7.axis 8.stars and planets, skies, heavens 9.without example, unequaled 10.maturity, epitome 11.courage 12.pride 13.divinity
O, zulifqaar of ali, my salaam. O, inheritor of the message of mohammed, my salaam. O, unconcerned with materialism, my salaam. O, axis of the universe, my salaam. O, unexampled epitome of courage, my salaam. O, pride of divinity, my salaam.
59
aye vajah¹ ifteKhaar² e abb-o-jad³ salaam le
aye kaarsaaz⁴ e abyaz-o-asvad⁵ salaam le
aye zi-hayaat⁶ e mimbar⁷ o m’aabid⁸ salaam le
aye a’arif⁹ e zamir¹⁰ e mohammed salaam le
namoos¹¹ e ambia¹² ke nigahbaan¹³ assalaam
aye rahl¹⁴ e kayenaat¹⁵ ke qura’an assalaam  1.reason 2.pride 3.forebears 4.maker 5.black and white (clearly explaining the difference between truth and falsehood) 6.living 7.pulpit (preacher) 8.place of worship 9.mystic, expert 10.conscience, teachings 11.respect, dignity 12.prophets 13.protector 14.(rehaal) a criss-cross bookstand usually used to keep the qur’aan 15.creation
You are the reason of the pride of forebears, my salaams to you. You separate truth from falsehood, my salaams to you. You are a living pulpit, a place of worship, my salaams to you. You are enlightened with the teachings of mohammed, my salaams to you. You are the keeper of the dignity of prophets, my salaams to you. You the qura’an of creation (the epitome of creation) on the “rehaal” (a place of dignity/honour), my salaams to you.