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Recitation
رُباعیات۔پیری۔جوش ملیح آبادی
۱
موّاج ہے دل میں شادمانی اب تک
پیری کے بغل میں ہے جوانی اب تک
رُخ زرد ہے، بال نخرئی ہیں پھر بھی
تخیل کی چوڑیاں ہیں دھانی اب تک
۲
تم خاتمِ ہستی پہ نگیں تھیں اِک روز
آشوبِ دِل و فتنۂ دیں تھیں اِک روز
آواز سے اب تک یہ پتا چلتا ہے
تم کتنی خطرناک حسیں تھیں اِک روز
۳
اے وقت، اے رو سیاہ خونی حیوان
جلوؤں کے گرا دئے ہیں تو نے ایوان
زرّیں زلفوں میں بھر دئے ہیں شعلے
رنگیں باہوں کی توڑ ڈالی ہے کمان
۴
مدھم ہوتی نہ دِل ستانی اُس کی
قائم رہتی قمر فشانی اُس کی
آتا کیا حرف تجھ پہ، اگر اے معبود
ڈھلتی میرے آگے نہ جوانی اُس کی
۵
پہلے تو اُسے عطا کیا حُسن کا تاج
ایوانِ جمال کو کیا پھر تاراج
قدرت کے تراشے ہوئے بُت کو توڑا
کیا شان ہے اے آذرِ محمود مزاج
۶
آشوبِ گُل و سمن ہے معلوم نہ تھا
غارت گر و تیغ زن ہے معلوم نہ تھا
جب تک کہ نہ دیکھا تھا زوالِ جاناں
اللہ بھی بُت شکن ہے معلوم نہ تھا
۷
آنسو آنکھوں میں کِس لئے ہیں اے جان
جھوٹا ہے یہ آئینہ میری بات کو مان
میری آنکھوں میں دیکھ اپنا پرتو
تو کیوں ہے اُداس اُداس، تیرے قربان
۸
اے عمرِ رواں کی رات آہستہ گذر
اے ناظرِ کائنات آہستہ گذر
اِک شئے پہ بھی جمنے نہیں پاتی ہے نگاہ
اے قافلۂ حیات آہستہ گذر
۹
سفّاکیِ وقت سے جھگڑ لوں تو چلوں
بھاگی ہوئی سرخی کو پکڑ لوں تو چلوں
جلدی نہ کر اے دِل کہ میں اُن کی جانب
رومال سے چہرے کو رگڑ لوں تو چلوں
۱۰
اسرار کو میزان میں تولا نہ گیا
موتی تھے وہ کہ جن کو رولا نہ گیا
خود کھُل گئی عمر کی کمانی افسوس
اور عقدۂ کائنات کھولا نہ گیا
रुबाइयात-पीरी-जोश मलीहाबादी
१
मव्वाज है दिल में शादमानी अब तक
पीरी के बग़ल में है जवानी अब तक
रुख़ ज़र्द है, बाल नख़रई हैं फिर भी
तख़य्युल की चूड़ियां हैं धानी अब तक
२
तुम ख़ातेम-ए हस्ती पे नगिं थीं एक रोज़
आशोब-ए दिल ओ फ़ित्ना-ए दीं थीं एक रोज़
आवाज़ से अब तक ये पता चलता है
तुम कितनी ख़तरनाक हसीं थीं एक रोज़
३
अए वक़्त, अए रू-सियाह ख़ूनी हैवान
जल्वौं के गिरा दिए हैं तू ने ऐवान
ज़र्रीं ज़ुल्फ़ौं में भर दिए हैं शोले
रंगीं बाहौं की तोड़ डाली है कमान
४
मद्धम होती ना दिल-सतानी उस की
क़ा’एम रहती क़मर फ़शानी उस की
आता क्या तुझ पे हरफ़ अए मा’बूद
ढलती मेरे आगे ना जवानी उस की
५
पहले तो उसे अता किया हुस्न का ताज
ऐवान-ए जमाल को किया फिर ताराज
क़ुद्रत के तराशे हुए बुत को तोड़ा
क्या शान है अए आज़ार-ए महमूद मिज़ाज
६
आशोब-ए गुल ओ समन है मा’लूम ना था
ग़ारत-गर ओ तेग़-ज़न है मा’लूम ना था
जब तक के ना देखा था ज़वाल-ए जानां
अल्लाह भी बुत-शिकन है मा’लूम ना था
७
आंसू आंखौं में किस लिए हैं अए जान
झूट है ये आईना मेरी बात को मान
मेरी आंखौं में देख अपना परतौ
तू क्युं है उदास उदास, तेरे क़ुरबान
८
अए उम्र-रवां कि रात आहिस्ता गुज़र
अए नाज़िर-ए काएनात आहिस्ता गुज़र
एक शै पे भी जमने नहीं पाती है निगाह
अए काफ़िला-ए हयात, आहिस्ता गुज़र
९
सफ़्फ़ाकी-ए वक़्त से झगड़ लुं तो चलूं
भागी हुई सुर्ख़ी को पकड़ लुं तो चलूं
जल्दी ना कर अए दिल, के मैं उन की जानिब
रूमाल से चेहरे को रगड़ लुं तो चलूं
१०
अस्रार को मीज़ान में तोला न गया
मोती थे वो के जिन को रोला न गया
ख़ुद खुल गई उम्र कि कमानी अफ़्सोस
और उक़्दा-ए काएनात खोला न गया
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. In this selection he writes with wit and tongue in cheek about the approaching/already arrived old age, his own and the beloved’s.
1
mavvaaj1 hai dil meN shaadmaani2 ab tak
piiri3 ke baGhal4 meN hai javaani ab tak
ruKh zard5 hai, baal naKhraii6 haiN phir bhi
taKhayyul7 ki chooRiyaaN haiN dhaani ab tak 1.making waves 2.joy 3.old age 4.literally armpit – colloquially friends walking with arms over each other – under each other’s armpit 5.pale 6.silvery 7.thought, imagination
I may be old with a pale face and silver hair, but joy still makes waves in my heart. Youth walks shoulder to shoulder with my age. My imagination is still beautifully decorated (with colourful bangles).
2
tum Khaatim-e-hasti1 pe nagiN2 thi ek roz
aashob-e-dil3 o fitna-e-diiN4 thiiN ek roz
aavaaz se ab tak ye pata chalta hai
tum kitni Khatarnaak hasiN thiiN ek roz 1.signet ring of creation 2.jewel 3.tumult of the heart 4.mischief causing – raising forbidden thoughts
The beloved has now gotten old. But her voice still carries the tingle that tells him she was a devastating beauty once. She was like the main jewel in the signet ring of creation. Her beauty caused tumult in hearts and raised mischievous/forbidden thoughts. She was a very dangerous beauty at one time.
3
aye vaqt, aye roo-siyaah1 Khooni haivaan2
jalvauN3 ke gira diye haiN tu ne aivaan4
zarriN5 zulfauN6 meN bhar diye haiN shole
raNgiN baahauN7 ki toR Daali hai kamaan 1.black faced 2.brute 3.face/beauty 4.palace 5.golden 6.hair 7.arms
Time is like a cruel brute. It has played its tricks on the beauty of the beloved – destroyed the palace of beauty. The sliver streaks in her once golden hair look like flames. Her arms used to be like beautiful arches. Time/age has broken them.
4
maddham1 hoti na dil-sataani2 us ki
qaa’em3 rahti qamar-fashaani4 us ki
aata kya tujh pe harf5 aye maa’bood6
Dhalti7 mere aage na javaani us ki 1.pale, weak 2.belovedness – the quality of being the beloved 3.stay firm, in place 4.shining like the moon 5.‘harf aana’, an expression used to mean ‘get blame’ 6.god 7.decay, go downhill
What blame/bad name would you have gotten, O god, if you had let her desirability as a beloved not reduce, her moon-like brilliance remain bright, her youth not gone downhill before my eyes.
5
pahle to use ata1 kiya husn ka taaj
aivaan-e-jamaal2 ko kiya phir taraaj3
qudrat4 ke taraashe5 hue but6 ko toRa
kya shaan hai aye aazar7-e mahmood-mizaaj8 1.grant 2.palace of beauty 3.destroy 4.nature 5.carved, sculpted 6.idol, beloved 7.Biblical/quranic figure, father of ibrahim 8.used here to mean god of praise worthy nature
aazar, the father of ibrahim was a master sculptor and famous (in his time) as a sculptor of idols of gods and godesses. josh is referring to god as the sculptor who sculpts ‘the beloved’. First, he sculpted her and granted her the crown of beauty. Then (as she got old) he destroyed the palace of beauty and broke the idol scultped by nature. What can I say about your glory, O sculptor/aazar of praiseworthy nature.
6
aashob1-e gul-o-saman2 hai maa’loom na tha
Ghaarat-gar3 o teGh-zan4 hai maa’loom na tha
jab tak ke na dekha tha zavaal-e-janaaN5
allah bhi but-shikan6 hai maa’loom na tha 1.torture 2.rose and jasmine 3.destroyer 4.sword wielder 5.downfall of the beloved 6.idol breaker
The beloved has gotten old and lost her beauty. Until I saw the downfall of the beloved, I did not know that god was an idol breaker, destroyer (of beauty) and sword wielder (cruel). I did not know that he could torture beautiful beings like rose and jasmine.
7
aaNsu aaNkhauN meN kis liye haiN aye jaan
jhooTa hai ye aaiina meri baat ko maan
meri aaNkhauN meN dekh apna partau1
tu kyuN hai udaas udaas, tere qurbaan 1.reflection
Why these tears in the eyes, my dear. This mirror is a lier, listen to me. Look at your reflection in my eyes. Why are you so sorrowful, may your sorrow/curse visit me instead.
8
aye umr-e-ravaaN1 ki raat ahista guzar2
aye naazir3-e kaayenaat4 ahista guzar
ek shai5 pe bhi jamne6 nahiN paati hai nigaah7
aye qaafila-e-hayaat8 aahista guzar 1.flowing/fast moving life 2.pass 3.spectator 4.creation, universe 5.thing 6.dwell 7.sight 8.caravan of life
It sounds to me like a plaintive complaint that life is moving fast and we are unable to keep pace. O, fast moving life, pass a little slower. We are mere spectators, move a little slower. Our sight cannot dwell on (see clearly) even a single thing/event. O caravan of life, pass a little slower.
9
saffaki-e-vaqt1 se jhagaR luN to chaluN
bhaagi hui surKhi2 ko pakaR luN to chaluN
jaldi na kar aye dil, ke maiN un ki jaanib3
roomaal se chehre ko ragaR luN to chaluN 1.cruelty of time 2.redness (of face), youth 3.towards
My interpretation … redness vs. paleness of face is an indication of youth and rubbing the face with a handkerchief is freshening up so as to look a little better. Thus, the poet in his old age, is being called by Death and wants to tarry a bit. Let me fight with the cruelty of time before I come, let me catch my fleeting youth before I come. Don’t be so impatient, dear heart, let me look towards her and freshen up my face, before I come. This bring to mind jazbi’s fine nazm ‘maut’ also posted on this site.
10
asraar1 ko meezaan2 meN tola3 na gaya
moti the vo ke jin ko rola4 na gaya
Khud khul gaii umr ki kamaani5 afsos6
aur uqda-e-kaayenaat7 khola na gaya 1.mysteries, secrets 2.balance 3.weigh 4.select sort pearls 5.(wound up) spring (like in a watch) 6.alas 7.knot of the universe
The spring of the life/time of the poet has unwound itself and he looks back. He has not been able to weigh the mysteries of the universe in the balance of knowledge/reason. He has not been able to sort through the pearls of wisdom. The spring has unwound itself and he has not been able to untie the knot of the universe.
josh malihabadi is well known for his fiery nazm. He also wrote many romantic as well as cerebral nazm and Ghazal. His marsia are a celebration of dignified death rather than bowing to injustice even at the cost of life. He also wrote numerous rubaaii. This series is a collection of nearly 300 rubaaiyaat from various books organized by subject. In this selection he writes with wit and tongue in cheek about the approaching/already arrived old age, his own and the beloved’s.
1
mavvaaj1 hai dil meN shaadmaani2 ab tak
piiri3 ke baGhal4 meN hai javaani ab tak
ruKh zard5 hai, baal naKhraii6 haiN phir bhi
taKhayyul7 ki chooRiyaaN haiN dhaani ab tak
1.making waves 2.joy 3.old age 4.literally armpit – colloquially friends walking with arms over each other – under each other’s armpit 5.pale 6.silvery 7.thought, imagination
I may be old with a pale face and silver hair, but joy still makes waves in my heart. Youth walks shoulder to shoulder with my age. My imagination is still beautifully decorated (with colourful bangles).
2
tum Khaatim-e-hasti1 pe nagiN2 thi ek roz
aashob-e-dil3 o fitna-e-diiN4 thiiN ek roz
aavaaz se ab tak ye pata chalta hai
tum kitni Khatarnaak hasiN thiiN ek roz
1.signet ring of creation 2.jewel 3.tumult of the heart 4.mischief causing – raising forbidden thoughts
The beloved has now gotten old. But her voice still carries the tingle that tells him she was a devastating beauty once. She was like the main jewel in the signet ring of creation. Her beauty caused tumult in hearts and raised mischievous/forbidden thoughts. She was a very dangerous beauty at one time.
3
aye vaqt, aye roo-siyaah1 Khooni haivaan2
jalvauN3 ke gira diye haiN tu ne aivaan4
zarriN5 zulfauN6 meN bhar diye haiN shole
raNgiN baahauN7 ki toR Daali hai kamaan
1.black faced 2.brute 3.face/beauty 4.palace 5.golden 6.hair 7.arms
Time is like a cruel brute. It has played its tricks on the beauty of the beloved – destroyed the palace of beauty. The sliver streaks in her once golden hair look like flames. Her arms used to be like beautiful arches. Time/age has broken them.
4
maddham1 hoti na dil-sataani2 us ki
qaa’em3 rahti qamar-fashaani4 us ki
aata kya tujh pe harf5 aye maa’bood6
Dhalti7 mere aage na javaani us ki
1.pale, weak 2.belovedness – the quality of being the beloved 3.stay firm, in place 4.shining like the moon 5.‘harf aana’, an expression used to mean ‘get blame’ 6.god 7.decay, go downhill
What blame/bad name would you have gotten, O god, if you had let her desirability as a beloved not reduce, her moon-like brilliance remain bright, her youth not gone downhill before my eyes.
5
pahle to use ata1 kiya husn ka taaj
aivaan-e-jamaal2 ko kiya phir taraaj3
qudrat4 ke taraashe5 hue but6 ko toRa
kya shaan hai aye aazar7-e mahmood-mizaaj8
1.grant 2.palace of beauty 3.destroy 4.nature 5.carved, sculpted 6.idol, beloved 7.Biblical/quranic figure, father of ibrahim 8.used here to mean god of praise worthy nature
aazar, the father of ibrahim was a master sculptor and famous (in his time) as a sculptor of idols of gods and godesses. josh is referring to god as the sculptor who sculpts ‘the beloved’. First, he sculpted her and granted her the crown of beauty. Then (as she got old) he destroyed the palace of beauty and broke the idol scultped by nature. What can I say about your glory, O sculptor/aazar of praiseworthy nature.
6
aashob1-e gul-o-saman2 hai maa’loom na tha
Ghaarat-gar3 o teGh-zan4 hai maa’loom na tha
jab tak ke na dekha tha zavaal-e-janaaN5
allah bhi but-shikan6 hai maa’loom na tha
1.torture 2.rose and jasmine 3.destroyer 4.sword wielder 5.downfall of the beloved 6.idol breaker
The beloved has gotten old and lost her beauty. Until I saw the downfall of the beloved, I did not know that god was an idol breaker, destroyer (of beauty) and sword wielder (cruel). I did not know that he could torture beautiful beings like rose and jasmine.
7
aaNsu aaNkhauN meN kis liye haiN aye jaan
jhooTa hai ye aaiina meri baat ko maan
meri aaNkhauN meN dekh apna partau1
tu kyuN hai udaas udaas, tere qurbaan
1.reflection
Why these tears in the eyes, my dear. This mirror is a lier, listen to me. Look at your reflection in my eyes. Why are you so sorrowful, may your sorrow/curse visit me instead.
8
aye umr-e-ravaaN1 ki raat ahista guzar2
aye naazir3-e kaayenaat4 ahista guzar
ek shai5 pe bhi jamne6 nahiN paati hai nigaah7
aye qaafila-e-hayaat8 aahista guzar
1.flowing/fast moving life 2.pass 3.spectator 4.creation, universe 5.thing 6.dwell 7.sight 8.caravan of life
It sounds to me like a plaintive complaint that life is moving fast and we are unable to keep pace. O, fast moving life, pass a little slower. We are mere spectators, move a little slower. Our sight cannot dwell on (see clearly) even a single thing/event. O caravan of life, pass a little slower.
9
saffaki-e-vaqt1 se jhagaR luN to chaluN
bhaagi hui surKhi2 ko pakaR luN to chaluN
jaldi na kar aye dil, ke maiN un ki jaanib3
roomaal se chehre ko ragaR luN to chaluN
1.cruelty of time 2.redness (of face), youth 3.towards
My interpretation … redness vs. paleness of face is an indication of youth and rubbing the face with a handkerchief is freshening up so as to look a little better. Thus, the poet in his old age, is being called by Death and wants to tarry a bit. Let me fight with the cruelty of time before I come, let me catch my fleeting youth before I come. Don’t be so impatient, dear heart, let me look towards her and freshen up my face, before I come. This bring to mind jazbi’s fine nazm ‘maut’, also posted on this site.
10
asraar1 ko meezaan2 meN tola3 na gaya
moti the vo ke jin ko rola4 na gaya
Khud khul gaii umr ki kamaani5 afsos6
aur uqda-e-kaayenaat7 khola na gaya
1.mysteries, secrets 2.balance 3.weigh 4.select sort pearls 5.(wound up) spring (like in a watch) 6.alas 7.knot of the universe
The spring of the life/time of the poet has unwound itself and he looks back. He has not been able to weigh the mysteries of the universe in the balance of knowledge/reason. He has not been able to sort through the pearls of wisdom. The spring has unwound itself and he has not been able to untie the knot of the universe.
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