rubaaiyaat-sahr-josh

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

رباعیات-سحر-جوش ملیحہ آبادی

 

ہم ایسے اہلِ نظر کو ثبوتِ حق کے لئے

اگر رسول نہ ہوتے تو صبح کافی تھی

۱
بیدار كہ ہے وقتِ ترنّم ساقی
پِھر جام میں بھر روحِ تلاطم ساقی
ٹھہرے ہوئے آنسو كے اُفق سے ہاں دیکھ
طالع  وہ ہوئی صبح تبسّم ساقی
۲
کرنوں سے چھلک رہا ہے گیتی کا ایاغ
ذرّات ہیں یا لالۂ  فردوس كے باغ
غرفوں كے یہ شیشے ہیں كہ سونے كے ڈلے
شبنم كے یہ قطرے ہیں كہ مندر كے چراغ
۳
یہ خفتہ فضا پہ خیطِ ابیض کا نکھار
دوشِ انوار پہ یہ مینا بازار
یہ صبح کی پیشواز گنگا جمنی
الوان کی بدلی سے راگوں کی پھوار
۴
کورے پِنڈوں کی نرم  پیاری صبحیں
پابندِ  حیا راج کماری صبحیں
بیاہی صبحوں سے دِل لگائے کیوں کر
جس کی محبوب ہوں کنواری صبحیں
۵
ہر صبح بہ اندازِ دِگر آتی ہے
تھالی میں لئے نئے گہر آتی ہے
ہر روز نکھرتی ہے اُفق پر لیکن
ہر بار نئی دُلہن نظر آتی ہے
۶
یہ صبح سرِ کوہ ، یہ پروا سن سن
ہر سَمت یہ کوہرے کی لرزتی چِلْمَن
یوں پھوٹ رہا ہے رنگِ وادی جیسے
ململ كے ڈُپٹّے سے ہُمکتا جوبن
۷
یہ چرخ پہ بدلیوں کی گھاتیں ساقی
یہ صبح کو راتوں کی براتیں ساقی
ہاں کاگ اُڑا كہ پر فشاں ہے سَر پر
اُڑتے خیمے دواں قِناتیں ساقی
۸
یہ وقت اور آوازِ جلالی ہے ہے
یہ لحنِ سحر کی پائمالی ہے ہے
تو نے اے بد گلو بہ ضرباتِ اذاں
انگڑائی صباء کی توڑ ڈالی ہے ہے
۹
لپٹوں كے خزانوں کو لُٹاتی آئی
سوتی ہوئی کلیوں کو جگاتی آئی
تخیئل كے دائیرے میں جھنکی پازیب
اِس طرح نسیم گنگناتی آئی

۱۰

وہ بابِ سحر کھلا، وہ دوڑی تنویر

وہ زلفِ طرب کھلی، وہ ٹوٹی زنجیر

گُل رنگ ہوا وہ خوابِ فردا کا اُفق

وہ دیکھ کرن کی طرح پھوٹی تعبیر

 

रुबाईयात-सहर-जोश मलीहाबादी

 

हम ऐसे अहल-ए नज़र को सुबूत-ए हक़ के लिए

अगर रसूल न होते तो सुबह काफ़ी थी

बेदार के है वक़्त-ए तरन्नुम साक़ि

फिर जाम में भर रूह-ए तलातुम साक़ि

ठहरे हुए आंसू के उफ़क़ से हाँ देख

ताला’ वो हुई सुबह तबस्सुम साक़ि

किरनों से छलक रहा है गेती का अयाग़

ज़ररात हैं या लाला-ए फ़िर्दौस के बाग़

ग़ुरफ़ौं के ये शीशे हैं के सोने के डले

शब्नम के ये क़तरे हैं के मंदिर के चिराग़

ये ख़फ़्ता फ़िज़ा पे ख़ैत-ए अब्यज़ का निखार

दो-शए अन्वार पे ये मीना बाज़ार

ये सुबह की पेश्वाज़ गंगा जम्नी

अलवान की बदली से रंगों की फुवार

कोरे पिन्डौं की नर्म प्यारी सूबहें

पाबंद-ए हया राज कुमारी सूबहें

ब्याही सुबहौं से दिल लगाएं क्युंकर

जिस की महबूब हों कुंवारि सूबहें

हर सुबह बा-अंदाज़-ए दिगर आती है

थाली में लिए नये गुहर आती है

हर रोज़ निखरती है उफ़क़ पर लैकिन

हर बार नई-दुल्हन नज़र आती है

ये सुबह सर-ए कोह, ये पूर्वा सन्न-सन

हर सम्त ये कोहरे की लरज़्ती चिलमन

युं फूट रहा है रंग-ए वादी जैसे

मलमल के दुपट्टे से हुमक्ता जोबन

ये चर्ख़ पे बद्लियौं की घातें साक़ि

ये सुबह को रातौं की बरातें साक़ि

हां काग उड़ा के पर फ़शां है सर पर

उड़्ते ख़ैमे दवां क़िनातें साक़ि

ये वक़्त और आवाज़-ए जलाली है है

ये लहन-ए सहर की पाएमाली है है

तू ने अए बद-गुलु ब-ज़रबात-ए अज़ां

अंगड़ाई सबा की तोड़ डाली है है

लप्टौं के ख़ज़ानों को लुटाति आई

सोती हुई कलियौं को जगाती आई

तख़ईल के दा’एरे में झन्की पाज़ेब

इस तरह नसीम गुनगुनाती आई

१०

वो बाब-ए सहर खुला, वो दौड़ी तन्वीर

वो ज़ुल्फ़-ए तरब खुली, वो टूटी ज़ंजीर

गुल रंग हुआ वो ख़्वाब-ए फ़रदा का उफ़क़

वो देख किरन कि तरह फूटी ताबीर

 

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. This selection is about the beauty of dawn. Although this is a collection of rubaaii, I begin with a very famous she’r of josh. josh was known to love early morning walks and has written many nazm/Ghazal on the beauty of dawn. See for example, albeli subah, kaliyauN ki bedaari, dua-e sahri and many more.

hum aise ahl-e-nazar1 ko suboot2-e haq3 ke liye
agar rasool na hote to subah kaafi4 thi
1.people of discriminating vision/taste 2.proof 3.truth, god 4.enough
It is implied that mohammed proved the existence of god. But for people of discriminating taste/understanding, the beauty of dawn would have been enough proof.

1
bedaar1 ke hai vaqt2-e tarannum3 saaqi
phir jaam4 meN bhar rooh5-e talaatum6 saaqi
Thahre hue aaNsu ke ufaq7 se haaN dekh
taala’8 vo hui subah tabassum9 saaqi10  
1.awake, aware 2.time of 3.song, merriment, joy 4.cup 5.spirit of 6.tumult (of joyous celebration) 7.horizon/edge 8.emerge, rise 9.smile 10.(wine) cup bearer
O, saaqi, wake up and see, it is a time of joy. Fill my cup again with spirit of joy. Over lingering tear drops, see the smiling dawn emerge. Thus, josh is using a beautiful juxtaposition of joy and sorrow with tear (dew) drops and smiling dawn.

2
kirnauN se chhalak1 raha hai geti2 ka ayaaGh3
zarraat4 haiN ya laala5-e firdaus6 ke baaGh
GhurfauN7 ke ye sheeshe haiN ke sone ke Daley
shabnam ke ye qatre haiN ke mandir ke chiraaGh
1.overflowing 2.earth, world 3.cup 4.dust 5.tulip 6.heaven 7.windows
The dawn is spreading redness on the horizon … like the earth’s cup is overflowing with rays of light. Even dust particles/rocks shine as if they are tulips of the garden of heaven. Between clouds it is as if there are colourful windows-panes of gold. Dew drops twinkle and shine like lamps of a temple.

3
ye Khafta1 fiza2 pe Khait-e-abyaz3 ka nikhaar4
dosh5-e anvaar6 pe ye meena-bazaar7
ye subah ki peshvaaz8 gaNga jumni
alvaan9 ki badli10 se raagauN ki phu’aar
1.hidden 2.ambience, surroundings 3.white line on the horizon just before dawn 4.freshness 5.shoulder/back 6.rays of light 7.display of jewels 8.stepping forward to welcome 9.colours 10.clouds
The surroundings are subtle, remain (hidden) in the background. A fresh white line emerges on the horizon. Soon, it is as if rays of light are carrying a display of colourful jewelry on their backs. Rivers flow (step forward) to welcome the dawn. The colourful clouds send down a spray of colours.

4
kore1 pinDauN2 ki narm pyaari sub-heN
paaband3-e haya4 raaj kumari sub-heN
byaahi sub-hauN se dil lagaaye kyuNkar
jis ki mahboob5 hoN kuNvaari6 sub-heN
1.blank/fresh/youthful 2.bodies 3.bound by, mindful 4.bashfulness, dignity 5.beloved, favourite 6.virgin
josh uses sensuous imagery … dawn is soft like the soft bodies of youthful girls. Dawn is also mindful of its dignity and remains bashful, not revealing herself completely. The “virgin dawn” – today’s fresh morning, is the poet/lover’s favourite. In such presence, how can he remember yesterday’s dawn.

5
har subah ba-andaaz1-e digar2 aati hai
thaali meN liye naye guhar3 aati hai
har roz nikharti4 hai ufaq5 par laikin
har baar nai-dulhan nazar aati hai 
1.in a style of 2.different 3.pearls 4.freshens/blooms 5.horizon
Each dawn in different. Each morning it brings a fresh set of pearls on its platter. It blooms every day on the horizon, yet … it appears like a new bride every time.

6
ye subah sar-e-koh1, ye purva2 sunn-sun3
har samt4 ye kohre5 ki larazti6 chilman
yuN phooT raha hai raNg-e vaadi7 jaise
malmal ke dupaTTe se humakta8 joban9  
1.top of the hill 2.breeze 3.whistling 4.direction 5.mist 6.trembling, shimmering 7.valley 8.infant reaching out to be picked up 9.youth, polite/subtle words for young breasts
A light breeze whistling at the top of the hill early in the morning. All around, in every direction a sheet/curtain of shimmering dew. The colour/beauty of the valley bursts forth as if giving a hint of young breasts subtly hidden/revealed from behind a shawl.

7
ye charKh1 pe badliyauN2 ki ghaateN3 saaqi
ye subah ko raatauN ki baraateN saaqi
haaN kaag4 uRa, ke par fashaaN5 hai sar par
uRte Khaime6 davaaN7 qinaateN8 saaqi 
1.sky 2.clouds 3.playful ambush 4.cork (of the bottle of wine) 5.flying 6.tents 7.flowing/flapping 8.tent wall/curtain
josh juxtaposes a joyous, wine-drinking evening with the beauty of dawn. Clouds are blowing in the sky as if in playful ambush of each other. The morning feels like a wedding party of an evening. Such clouds/occasions (stormy blowing and flapping of tent walls) in poetic convention call for a celebration of wine drinking. Thus, the call for the saaqi to uncork a bottle of wine.

8
ye vaqt aur aavaaz-e jalaali1 hai-hai2
ye lahn3-e sahr4 ki paaemaali5 hai-hai
tu ne aye bad-gulu6 ba-zarbaat7-e azaaN
aNgRaaii saba8 ki toR Daali hai-hai
1.angry 2.haaye-haaye, alas 3.melody 4.dawn 5.trampled underfoot 6.bad throat, harsh voice/sound 7.by the blows of 8.morning breeze
It is dawn and a light, pleasant breeze has just started to blow as if it is yawning/stretching waking up from its sleep. The light blowing of the breeze is like a pleasant melody. Alas, it is trampled underfoot by the harsh sounds of the azaan, as if it is breaking the yawn/stretch of a young maiden.

9
lapTauN1 ke KhazaanauN2 ko luTaati3 aaii
soti hui kaliyauN ko jagaati aaii
taKh’eel4 ke daa’ere5 meN jhanki paazeb
is tarah naseem6 gungunaati aaii 
1.hugs 2.treasures 3.lavishly squandering 4.thought/imagination 5.circle/domain 6.fragrant breeze
Fragrant early morning breeze blows, lavishly/generously hugging all buds in its path and waking them up (making them bloom). The blooming of fresh buds/flowers is supposed to make a light sound – chiTakna as the petals unfold. In the sphere of imagination that sound is like the tinkling of ankle bells (suggestive of the beloved approaching). That is how the fragrant breeze blows in, humming a tune. In kaliyauN ki bedaari, josh writes
lapeTe muNh so rahiN theeN kaliyaN, saba ne aakar jo gudgudaya
sarak gaye haiN saroN se aaNchal, tamaam gulshan mahak raha hai

10
vo baab-e-sahr1 khula, vo dauRi tanveer2
vo zulf-e-tarab3 khuli, vo TooTi zanjeer
gul raNg hua vo Khwaab-e-farda4 ka ufaq5
vo dekh kiran ki tarah phooTi t’aabeer6  
1.door of dawn 2.rays of light 3.hair of happiness/pleasure 4.dream/vision of the future 5.horizon 6.intrepretation, realization (of a dream)
The door of dawn opens, and rays of light run forth. Happiness (personified as a damsel) has let down her hair, shackles are broken. The horizon of the vision of tomorrow is red like a rose. Look over there, rays of light break through, like the realization of a dream.

rubaaiyaat-sahr-josh malihabadi

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.  This selection is about the beauty of dawn.  Although this is a collection of rubaaii, I begin with a very famous she’r of josh.  josh was known to love early morning walks and has written many nazm/Ghazal on the beauty of dawn.  See for example, albeli subah, kaliyauN ki bedaari, dua-e sahri and many more.

hum aise ahl-e-nazar1 ko suboot2-e haq3 ke liye
agar rasool na hote to subah kaafi4 thi

1.people of discriminating vision/taste 2.proof 3.truth, god 4.enough

It is implied that mohammed proved the existence of god.  But for people of discriminating taste/understanding, the beauty of dawn would have been enough proof.
1
bedaar1 ke hai vaqt2-e tarannum3 saaqi
phir jaam4 meN bhar rooh5-e talaatum6 saaqi
Thahre hue aaNsu ke ufaq7 se haaN dekh
taala’8 vo hui subah tabassum9 saaqi10

1.awake, aware 2.time of 3.song, merriment, joy 4.cup 5.spirit of 6.tumult (of joyous celebration) 7.horizon/edge 8.emerge, rise 9.smile 10.(wine) cup bearer

O, saaqi, wake up and see, it is a time of joy.  Fill my cup again with spirit of joy.  Over lingering tear drops, see the smiling dawn emerge.  Thus, josh is using a beautiful juxtaposition of joy and sorrow with tear (dew) drops and smiling dawn.
2
kirnauN se chhalak1 raha hai geti2 ka ayaaGh3
zarraat4 haiN ya laala5-e firdaus6 ke baaGh
GhurfauN7 ke ye sheeshe haiN ke sone ke Daley
shabnam ke ye qatre haiN ke mandir ke chiraaGh

1.overflowing 2.earth, world 3.cup 4.dust 5.tulip 6.heaven 7.windows

The dawn is spreading redness on the horizon … like the earth’s cup is overflowing with rays of light.  Even dust particles/rocks shine as if they are tulips of the garden of heaven.  Between clouds it is as if there are colourful windows-panes of gold.  Dew drops twinkle and shine like lamps of a temple.
3
ye Khafta1 fiza2 pe Khait-e-abyaz3 ka nikhaar4
dosh5-e anvaar6 pe ye meena-bazaar7
ye subah ki peshvaaz8 gaNga jumni
alvaan9 ki badli10 se raagauN ki phu’aar

1.hidden 2.ambience, surroundings 3.white line on the horizon just before dawn 4.freshness 5.shoulder/back 6.rays of light 7.display of jewels 8.stepping forward to welcome 9.colours 10.clouds

The surroundings are subtle, remain (hidden) in the background.  A fresh white line emerges on the horizon.  Soon, it is as if rays of light are carrying a display of colourful jewelry on their backs.  Rivers flow (step forward) to welcome the dawn.  The colourful clouds send down a spray of colours.
4
kore1 pinDauN2 ki narm pyaari sub-heN
paaband3-e haya4 raaj kumari sub-heN
byaahi sub-hauN se dil lagaaye kyuNkar
jis ki mahboob5 hoN kuNvaari6 sub-heN

1.blank/fresh/youthful 2.bodies 3.bound by, mindful 4.bashfulness, dignity 5.beloved, favourite 6.virgin

josh uses sensuous imagery … dawn is soft like the soft bodies of youthful girls.  Dawn is also mindful of its dignity and remains bashful, not revealing herself completely.  The “virgin dawn” – today’s fresh morning, is the poet/lover’s favourite.  In such presence, how can he remember yesterday’s dawn.
5
har subah ba-andaaz1-e digar2 aati hai
thaali meN liye naye guhar3 aati hai
har roz nikharti4 hai ufaq5 par laikin
har baar nai-dulhan nazar aati hai

1.in a style of 2.different 3.pearls 4.freshens/blooms 5.horizon

Each dawn in different.  Each morning it brings a fresh set of pearls on its platter.  It blooms every day on the horizon, yet … it appears like a new bride every time.
6
ye subah sar-e-koh1, ye purva2 sunn-sun3
har samt4 ye kohre5 ki larazti6 chilman
yuN phooT raha hai raNg-e vaadi7 jaise
malmal ke dupaTTe se humakta8 joban9

1.top of the hill 2.breeze 3.whistling 4.direction 5.mist 6.trembling, shimmering 7.valley 8.infant reaching out to be picked up 9.youth, polite/subtle words for young breasts

A light breeze whistling at the top of the hill early in the morning.  All around, in every direction a sheet/curtain of shimmering dew.  The colour/beauty of the valley bursts forth as if giving a hint of young breasts subtly hidden/revealed from behind a shawl.
7
ye charKh1 pe badliyauN2 ki ghaateN3 saaqi
ye subah ko raatauN ki baraateN saaqi
haaN kaag4 uRa, ke par fashaaN5 hai sar par
uRte Khaime6 davaaN7 qinaateN8 saaqi

1.sky 2.clouds 3.playful ambush 4.cork (of the bottle of wine) 5.flying 6.tents 7.flowing/flapping 8.tent wall/curtain

josh juxtaposes a joyous, wine-drinking evening with the beauty of dawn.  Clouds are blowing in the sky as if in playful ambush of each other.  The morning feels like a wedding party of an evening.  Such clouds/occasions (stormy blowing and flapping of tent walls) in poetic convention call for a celebration of wine drinking.  Thus, the call for the saaqi to uncork a bottle of wine.
8
ye vaqt aur aavaaz-e jalaali1 hai-hai2
ye lahn3-e sahr4 ki paaemaali5 hai-hai
tu ne aye bad-gulu6 ba-zarbaat7-e azaaN
aNgRaaii saba8 ki toR Daali hai-hai

1.angry 2.haaye-haaye, alas 3.melody 4.dawn 5.trampled underfoot 6.bad throat, harsh voice/sound 7.by the blows of 8.morning breeze

It is dawn and a light, pleasant breeze has just started to blow as if it is yawning/stretching waking up from its sleep.  The light blowing of the breeze is like a pleasant melody.  Alas, it is trampled underfoot by the harsh sounds of the azaan, as if it is breaking the yawn/stretch of a young maiden.
9
lapTauN1 ke KhazaanauN2 ko luTaati3 aaii
soti hui kaliyauN ko jagaati aaii
taKh’eel4 ke daa’ere5 meN jhanki paazeb
is tarah naseem6 gungunaati aaii

1.hugs 2.treasures 3.lavishly squandering 4.thought/imagination 5.circle/domain 6.fragrant breeze

Fragrant early morning breeze blows, lavishly/generously hugging all buds in its path and waking them up (making them bloom).  The blooming of fresh buds/flowers is supposed to make a light sound – chiTakna as the petals unfold.  In the sphere of imagination that sound is like the tinkling of ankle bells (suggestive of the beloved approaching).  That is how the fragrant breeze blows in, humming a tune.  In kaliyauN ki bedaari, josh writes

lapeTe muNh so rahiN theeN kaliyaN, saba ne aakar jo gudgudaya
sarak gaye haiN saroN se aaNchal, tamaam gulshan mahak raha hai
10
vo baab-e-sahr1 khula, vo dauRi tanveer2
vo zulf-e-tarab3 khuli, vo TooTi zanjeer
gul raNg hua vo Khwaab-e-farda4 ka ufaq5
vo dekh kiran ki tarah phooTi t’aabeer6

1.door of dawn 2.rays of light 3.hair of happiness/pleasure 4.dream/vision of the future 5.horizon 6.intrepretation, realization (of a dream)

The door of dawn opens, and rays of light run forth.  Happiness (personified as a damsel) has let down her hair, shackles are broken.  The horizon of the vision of tomorrow is red like a rose.  Look over there, rays of light break through, like the realization of a dream.

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