For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
رقص کناں ہے زندگی ۔ جوشؔ ملیح آبادی
۱
آ، کہ حریمِ کیف میں عِطر چکاں ہے زندگی
عِطر چکان و گُل فشاں، رقص کناں ہے زندگی
۲
جام بہ کف، چمن بہ رُخ، زُلف بدوش، نَے بلب
رقصِ بہار و جلوۂ لالہ رُخاں ہے زندگی
۳
سرو و چنار کی قسم، لعلِ نگار کی قسم
جانِ بہار کی قسم، مرگِ خزاں ہے زندگی
۴
سنبل و سبزہ زار میں، آہن و چوب و خار میں
سینۂ کوہسار میں سیلِ تکاں ہے زندگی
۵
ملکۂ کشورِ زمیں، لیلیِ آسماں نشیں
جس پہ نثار سو یقیں، ہاں وہ گماں ہے زندگی
۶
شبنم و شہد و شیر میں، آب میں آب گیر میں
برف میں زمہریر میں، شعلہ بجاں ہے زندگی
۷
فرشِ مُبیں ہے زندگی، عرشِ بریں ہے زندگی
گاہ چنیں ہے زندگی، گاہ چناں ہے زندگی
۸
رقصِ شرر ہے بزم میں، کاہ ہے سیلِ رزم میں
پھر بھی مقامِ عزم میں کوہِ گراں ہے زندگی
۹
شاہِ عمل نواز کا، والیِ ملکِ راز کا
خسروِ دہر ساز کا، طبل و نشاں ہے زندگی
۱۰
قوسِ مکانِ دہر میں، قصرِ روانِ دہر میں
طاقِ دہانِ دہر میں شمع زباں ہے زندگی
۱۱
گرد و غبار مُو بہ مُو، ابرِ سیاہ رُو بہ رُو
دود و دخاں ہے چار سُو، پھر بھی عیاں ہے زندگی
۱۲
طبل ہے رزم گاہ میں، تیغ و تبر سپاہ میں
دُور سے گو نگاہ میں، کاہ و کتاں ہے زندگی
۱۳
جلوۂ کُنج و بوستاں، غازۂ روئے این و آں
تاج محل ہے یہ جہاں، شاہِ جہاں ہے زندگی
۱۴
قلزمِ آب و رنگ میں، قالبِ خشت و سنگ میں
گرد و گیاہ و گنگ میں تاب و تواں ہے زندگی
रक़्स कुनां है ज़िंदगी – जोश मलीहाबादी
१
आ, के हरीम-ए कैफ़ में अत्र चकां है ज़िंदगी
अत्र चकान ओ गुल फ़शां, रक़्स कुनां है ज़िंदगी
२
जाम ब कफ़, चमन ब रुख़, ज़ुल्फ़ ब दोश, नय ब लब
रक़्स-ए बहार ओ जल्वा-ए लाला-रुख़ां है ज़िंदगी
३
सर्व ओ चिनार की क़सम, लाल-ए निगार की क़सम
जान-ए बहार की क़सम, मर्ग-ए ख़िज़ां है ज़िंदगी
४
सुंबुल ओ सब्ज़ा-ज़ार में, आहन ओ चोब ओ ख़ार में
सीना-ए कोहसार में सैल-ए तकां है ज़िंदगी
५
मलका-ए किश्वर-ए ज़मीं, लैली-ए आस्मां नशीं
जिस पे निसार सौ यक़ीं, हां वो गुमां है ज़िंदगी
६
शब्नम ओ शहद ओ शीर में, आब में आबगीर में
बर्फ़ में ज़महरीर में, शोला बजां है ज़िंदगी
७
फ़र्श-ए मुबीं है ज़िंदगी, अर्श-ए बरीं है ज़िंदगी
गाह चुनीं है ज़िंदगी, गाह चिनां है ज़िंदगी
८
रक़्स-ए शरर है बज़्म में, काह है सैल-ए रज़्म में
फिर भी मक़ाम-ए अज़्म में, कोह-ए गरां है ज़िंदगी
९
शाह-ए अमल-नवाज़ का, वाली-ए मुल्क-ए राज़ का
ख़ुस्रव-ए दहर-साज़ का, तब्ल ओ निशां है ज़िंदगी
१०
क़ौस-ए मकान-ए दहर में, क़स्र-ए रवान-ए दहर में
ताक़-ए दहान-ए दहर में, शम’अ-ए ज़बां है ज़िंदगी
११
गर्द ओ ग़ुबार मू ब मू, अब्र-ए सियाह रू ब रू
दूद ओ दुख़ां हैं चार सू, फिर भी अयां है ज़िंदगी
१२
तब्ल है रज़्म-गाह में, तेग़ ओ तबर सिपाह में
दूर से गो निगाह में, काह ओ कतां है ज़िंदगी
१३
जल्वा-ए कुंज ओ बोस्तां, ग़ाज़ा-ए रू-ए ईन ओ आं
ताज महल है ये जहां, शाह-ए जहां है ज़िंदगी
१४
क़ुल्ज़ुम-ए आब ओ रंग में, क़ालब-ए ख़िश्त ओ संग में
गर्द ओ गियाह ओ गंग में, ताब ओ तवां है ज़िंदगी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. Here josh celebrates life because it is finite and circumscribed, but still enjoyable. In this celebration, josh defies the rather morose convention that ‘real life begins after death’. He would much rather enjoy what he has. This is a long Ghazal-numa nazm, posted in two parts for easy reading. This is part one.
1
aa, keh hariim1-e kaif2 meN, atr-chakaaN3 hai zindagi
atr-chakaan3 o gul-fashaaN4, raqs-kunaaN5 hai zindagi 1.sanctuary 2.happiness, pleasure 3.pefume sprinkling 6.showering rose petals 5.dancing
Come to the sanctuary of the heart to breathe the fragrance of Life
Sprinkling perfume, showering petals and dancing with joy is Life
2
jaam1 ba-kaf2, chaman-ba-ruKh3, zulf4 ba dosh5, nai6 ba lab7
raqs8-e bahaar9 o jalva10-e laala-ruKhaaN11 hai zindagi 1.cup (of wine) 2.in hand 3.garden-like face, happy 4.hair, curls 5.shoulders 6.song 7.lips 8.dance 9.spring 10.beauty 11.tulip-faced
Goblet in hand, blossoming looks, hair untied and song on lips
The dance of spring, the glowing faces of beauties is Life
3
sarv1 o chinaar2 ki qasam, laal3-e nigaar4 ki qasam
jaan-e-bahaar5 ki qasam, marg-e-KhizaaN6 hai zindagi 1.cypress 2.poplar, silvery leaves 3.ruby 4.adornment – used here to mean flowers 5.soul of spring 6.death/end of dry season i.e., beginning of rains
By the green cypress, silvery poplar, ruby red blooms, all colours
By the soul of life-giving spring, the end of the barren waste is Life
4
suNbul1 o sabza-zaar2 meN, aahan3 o chob4 o Khaar5 meN
siina6-e kohsaar7 meN, sail8-e takaaN9 hai zindagi 1.fragrant grass 2.grassland, meadow 3.steel 4.log 5.thorn 6.chest, bosom 7.hills 8.flood, overwhelming 9.movement, throbbing (heart)
In fragrant meadows, hard steel, rough logs and sharp thorns
Deep in the bosom of hills, the throbbing heart you hear is Life
5
maleka1-e kishvar2-e zamiN3, laili4-e aasmaaN-nashiiN5
jis pe nisaar6 sau yaqiiN7, haaN vo gumaaN8 hai zindagi 1.empress 2.domain, realm 3.earth 6.beloved (from laila) 5.dwellers in the sky/heavens 6.sacrificial offering 7.certainties 8.uncertainty
The empress of the earth, the beloved of heavens
Worth more than a hundred certainties is uncertain Life
6
shabnam1 o shahd2 o shiir3 meN, aab4 meN aabgiir5 meN
barf meN zamhariir6 meN, sho’la-fashaaN7 hai zindagi 1.dew drops 2.honey 3.milk 4.water 5.lake 6.extreme cold 7.flame spreading, heat/warmth, passion for life
In dew drops, honey and milk, in waters and lakes
In all things icy and cold, warming fire is Life
7
farsh-e-mubiiN1 hai zindagi, arsh-e-bariiN2 hai zindagi
gaah3 chuniiN4 hai zindagi, gaah3 chinaaN5 hai zindagi 1.clear/bright/evident earth 2.high throne, divine seat 3.sometimes 4.this 5.that i.e., this and that, ordinary things
The earth beneath our feet and the divine throne above
Sometimes this, sometimes that, and all in between is Life
8
raqs1-e sharar2 hai bazm3 meN, kaah4 hai sail5-e razm6 meN
phir bhi maqaam7-e azm8 meN, koh-e-garaaN9 hai zindagi 1.dance 2.sparks 3.gatherings, society, world 4.straw 5.flood, onslaught 6.conflict, war 7.place, occasion, time 8.determination 9.big/heavy/strong mountain
Like a dancing spark in the world, a mere straw in raging flood
But when it is determined, steady as a rock is Life
9
shaah1-e amal-navaaz2 ka, vaali3-e mulk-e-raaz4 ka
Khusrav5-e dahr-saaz6 ka, tabl7 o nishaaN8 hai zindagi 1.king, emperor 2.action favouring 3.protector, owner, conqueror 4.realm of mysteries 5.caesar, monarch 6.maker/architect/builder of the world 7.drum 8.emblem, banner
The king of the field of action, conqueror of the unknown
The drum and the banner of the architect of the world is Life
10
qaus1-e makaan2-e dahr3 meN, qasr4-e ravaan5-e dahr3 meN
taaq6-e dahaan7-e dahr3 meN, sham’a-e zabaaN8 hai zindagi 1.arch – used here to mean dome 2.place, station 3.world, earth 4.palace, building 5.flowing, changing 6.niche, alcove 7.mouth 8.tongue/sound/language
Under the sky arching over the earth that keeps changing
The tongue giving brilliance to the language of humanity is Life
11
gard1 o Ghubaar2 muu-ba-muu3, abr-e-siyaah4 ruu-ba-ruu5
duud6 o duKhaaN7 haiN chaar suu8, phir bhi ayaaN9 hai zindagi 1.dust 2.fog 3.hair by hair i.e., all over the body 4.dark clouds 5.face to face 6.smoke 7.steam 8.directions 9.emerging, manifest
Hair matted in dust, facing the uncertainty of dark clouds
Smoke and fog all around, yet truimphantly manifest is Life
12
tabl1 hai razm-gaah2 meN, teGh3 o tabar4 sipaah5 meN
duur se go6 nigaah7 meN, kaah8 o kataaN9 hai zindagi 1.drum 2.field of war 3.sword 4.hatchet 5.army 6.even though 7.sight 8.straw 9.thin fabric, cotton
It is the drum of battle, hatchet and sword to defend
Even though from afar, fragile as straw and fibre is Life
13
jalva1-e kunj2 o bostaaN3, Ghaaza4-e ruu5-e een-o-aaN6
taj mahal hai ye jahaaN, shaah-e jahaaN hai zindagi 1.beauty, glory 2.grove, forest, glen 3.garden 4.rouge, make-up 5.face 6.this and that, ordinary
The glory of glen and garden, changing the quotidian to beauty
The world is a taj mahal, shah jahaaN, the builder is Life
14
qulzum1-e aab2 o raNg meN, qaalib3-e Khisht4 o saNg5 meN
gard6 o giyaah7 o gaNg8 meN, taab-o-tavaaN9 hai zindagi 1.ocean 2.lustre, brilliance 3.body 4.brick 5.stone, pebble 6.dust 7.dry grass 8.river gaNga 9.endurance and vigour
In the ocean of light and colour, in the heart of rocks and pebbles
In dry dust and grass, in life-giving river, youthful vigour is Life
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is known as – shaa’er-e inqelaab – poet of revolution. His nazm are fiery, passionate and full of energy. His Ghazal and rubaaii are equally good. He was a secular humanist writing sharply and irreverently against colonialism, abuse of power, injustice and orthodoxy. Typically, josh’s compositions throb and overflow with energy and ‘josh/passion’. Here josh celebrates life because it is finite and circumscribed, but still enjoyable. In this celebration, josh defies the rather morose convention that ‘real life begins after death’. He would much rather enjoy what he has. This is a long Ghazal-numa nazm, posted in two parts for easy reading. This is part one.
1
aa, keh hariim1-e kaif2 meN, atr-chakaaN3 hai zindagi
atr-chakaan3 o gul-fashaaN4, raqs-kunaaN5 hai zindagi
1.sanctuary 2.happiness, pleasure 3.pefume sprinkling 6.showering rose petals 5.dancing
Come to the sanctuary of the heart to breathe the fragrance of Life
Sprinkling perfume, showering petals and dancing with joy is Life
2
jaam1 ba-kaf2, chaman-ba-ruKh3, zulf4 ba dosh5, nai6 ba lab7
raqs8-e bahaar9 o jalva10-e laala-ruKhaaN11 hai zindagi
1.cup (of wine) 2.in hand 3.garden-like face, happy 4.hair, curls 5.shoulders 6.song 7.lips 8.dance 9.spring 10.beauty 11.tulip-faced
Goblet in hand, blossoming looks, hair untied and song on lips
The dance of spring, the glowing faces of beauties is Life
3
sarv1 o chinaar2 ki qasam, laal3-e nigaar4 ki qasam
jaan-e-bahaar5 ki qasam, marg-e-KhizaaN6 hai zindagi
1.cypress 2.poplar, silvery leaves 3.ruby 4.adornment – used here to mean flowers 5.soul of spring 6.death/end of dry season i.e., beginning of rains
By the green cypress, silvery poplar, ruby red blooms, all colours
By the soul of life-giving spring, the end of the barren waste is Life
4
suNbul1 o sabza-zaar2 meN, aahan3 o chob4 o Khaar5 meN
siina6-e kohsaar7 meN, sail8-e takaaN9 hai zindagi
1.fragrant grass 2.grassland, meadow 3.steel 4.log 5.thorn 6.chest, bosom 7.hills 8.flood, overwhelming 9.movement, throbbing (heart)
In fragrant meadows, hard steel, rough logs and sharp thorns
Deep in the bosom of hills, the throbbing heart you hear is Life
5
maleka1-e kishvar2-e zamiN3, laili4-e aasmaaN-nashiiN5
jis pe nisaar6 sau yaqiiN7, haaN vo gumaaN8 hai zindagi
1.empress 2.domain, realm 3.earth 6.beloved (from laila) 5.dwellers in the sky/heavens 6.sacrificial offering 7.certainties 8.uncertainty
The empress of the earth, the beloved of heavens
Worth more than a hundred certainties is uncertain Life
6
shabnam1 o shahd2 o shiir3 meN, aab4 meN aabgiir5 meN
barf meN zamhariir6 meN, sho’la-fashaaN7 hai zindagi
1.dew drops 2.honey 3.milk 4.water 5.lake 6.extreme cold 7.flame spreading, heat/warmth, passion for life
In dew drops, honey and milk, in waters and lakes
In all things icy and cold, warming fire is Life
7
farsh-e-mubiiN1 hai zindagi, arsh-e-bariiN2 hai zindagi
gaah3 chuniiN4 hai zindagi, gaah3 chinaaN5 hai zindagi
1.clear/bright/evident earth 2.high throne, divine seat 3.sometimes 4.this 5.that i.e., this and that, ordinary things
The earth beneath our feet and the divine throne above
Sometimes this, sometimes that, and all in between is Life
8
raqs1-e sharar2 hai bazm3 meN, kaah4 hai sail5-e razm6 meN
phir bhi maqaam7-e azm8 meN, koh-e-garaaN9 hai zindagi
1.dance 2.sparks 3.gatherings, society, world 4.straw 5.flood, onslaught 6.conflict, war 7.place, occasion, time 8.determination 9.big/heavy/strong mountain
Like a dancing spark in the world, a mere straw in raging flood
But when it is determined, steady as a rock is Life
9
shaah1-e amal-navaaz2 ka, vaali3-e mulk-e-raaz4 ka
Khusrav5-e dahr-saaz6 ka, tabl7 o nishaaN8 hai zindagi
1.king, emperor 2.action favouring 3.protector, owner, conqueror 4.realm of mysteries 5.caesar, monarch 6.maker/architect/builder of the world 7.drum 8.emblem, banner
The king of the field of action, conqueror of the unknown
The drum and the banner of the architect of the world is Life
10
qaus1-e makaan2-e dahr3 meN, qasr4-e ravaan5-e dahr3 meN
taaq6-e dahaan7-e dahr3 meN, sham’a-e zabaaN8 hai zindagi
1.arch – used here to mean dome 2.place, station 3.world, earth 4.palace, building 5.flowing, changing 6.niche, alcove 7.mouth 8.tongue/sound/language
Under the sky arching over the earth that keeps changing
The tongue giving brilliance to the language of humanity is Life
11
gard1 o Ghubaar2 muu-ba-muu3, abr-e-siyaah4 ruu-ba-ruu5
duud6 o duKhaaN7 haiN chaar suu8, phir bhi ayaaN9 hai zindagi
1.dust 2.fog 3.hair by hair i.e., all over the body 4.dark clouds 5.face to face 6.smoke 7.steam 8.directions 9.emerging, manifest
Hair matted in dust, facing the uncertainty of dark clouds
Smoke and fog all around, yet truimphantly manifest is Life
12
tabl1 hai razm-gaah2 meN, teGh3 o tabar4 sipaah5 meN
duur se go6 nigaah7 meN, kaah8 o kataaN9 hai zindagi
1.drum 2.field of war 3.sword 4.hatchet 5.army 6.even though 7.sight 8.straw 9.thin fabric, cotton
It is the drum of battle, hatchet and sword to defend
Even though from afar, fragile as straw and fibre is Life
13
jalva1-e kunj2 o bostaaN3, Ghaaza4-e ruu5-e een-o-aaN6
taj mahal hai ye jahaaN, shaah-e jahaaN hai zindagi
1.beauty, glory 2.grove, forest, glen 3.garden 4.rouge, make-up 5.face 6.this and that, ordinary
The glory of glen and garden, changing the quotidian to beauty
The world is a taj mahal, shah jahaaN, the builder is Life
14
qulzum1-e aab2 o raNg meN, qaalib3-e Khisht4 o saNg5 meN
gard6 o giyaah7 o gaNg8 meN, taab-o-tavaaN9 hai zindagi
1.ocean 2.lustre, brilliance 3.body 4.brick 5.stone, pebble 6.dust 7.dry grass 8.river gaNga 9.endurance and vigour
In the ocean of light and colour, in the heart of rocks and pebbles
In dry dust and grass, in life-giving river, youthful vigour is Life
