rubaaiyaat-sarkashi-josh

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

رُباعیات۔سرکشی۔جوش ملیح آبادی

۱

خود کو گُم کردہ راہ کر کے چھوڑا

ہوّا کو بھی تباہ کر کے چھوڑا

کیا کیا نہ کئے خدا نے جنّت میں جتن

آدم نے مگر گناہ کر کے چھوڑا

۲

مہتاب کی ضو سے گلستان ہے شیریں

پہلو میں مچل رہا ہے اِک زہرہ جبیں

کُرسی سے بُراق لے کے آیا ہے یہ کون

کہہ دو کہ پلٹ جائے مُجھے وقت نہیں

۳

آوارہ کو آسودۂ منزل کر دو

نادان کو داناؤں میں شامل کر دو

در پہ آیا ہے وہی لے کر جبریل

خدّام، خود اُس پر وہی نازل کر دو

۴

اِک کاوِشِ بزدلانا ہے نذر و نیاز

اِک گرمئِ عاجزانہ ہے سوز و گداز

جو خوف کے دُرّے سے ہوا ہے پیدا

مُلّا کہتا ہے اُس تشنّج کو نماز

۵

گو لعل کی یہ رات ہے پکھراج کی رات

کچھ میرے لئے فخر نہیں آج کی رات

مجھ سے مِلنے کو جب زمیں پر آیا

حاصل ہوئی اللہ کو معراج کی رات

۶

آندھی جاگی ہے شاخسارو ہشیار

ذرّات ہمک رہے ہیں، تارو ہشیار

اک زلزلۂ وہم شکن راہ میں ہے

ائے دیر و کلیسا کے مِنارو ہشیار

۷

تسخیرِ ماہ و مہر نہیں کارِ بلند

یہ کھیل ہے اِنسان کی طِفلی کو پسند

اب قصرِ صفات کو گرا کر یارو

پھینکو ایوانِ ذاتِ مطلق پہ کمند

۸

ہر شخص کو دعویٰ ہے کہ ہوں لا ثانی

اب تک نہ میری قدر کسی نے جانی

دیکھا جو گھڑا تو جل کے چھلنی نے کہا

اندھوں نے بھرا نہ ہم میں پانی

۹

ہوتا ہے انائے خام کِس درجہ شدید

خود کو گردانتا ہے ہر اِک فرد فرید

شائد یہ سمجھ رہا ہے مُرغِ صحری

میرے لئے سے اُبھر رہا ہے خورشید

۱۰

پستی جو قریب آئے اُبھر جا ائے جوش

دِل ہے تو بگڑنے میں سنور جا ائے جوش

کونین تیری راہ میں حائل ہے اگر

کونین کو ٹھکرا کے گُذر جا ائے جوش

 

रुबाईयात-सरकशी-जोश मलीहाबादी

ख़ुद को गुम-करदा राह कर के छोड़ा

हव्वा को भी तबाह कर के छोड़ा

क्या क्या न किये ख़ुदा ने जन्नत में जतन

आदम ने मगर गुनाह कर के छोड़ा

महताब कि ज़ौ से गुलिस्तान है शीरीं

पहलू में मचल रहा है एक ज़ोहरा जबीं

कुर्सी से बुराक़ ले के आया है ये कौन

कह दो के पलट जाए मुझे वक़्त नहीं

आवारा को आसूदा-ए मंज़िल कर दो

नादान को दानाओं में शामिल कर दो

दर पे आया है वही ले कर जिब्रील

ख़ुद्दाम, ख़ुद उस पर वही नाज़िल कर दो

एक काविश-ए बुज़्दिलाना है नज़्र ओ नियाज़

एक गरमी-ए आजेज़ाना है सोज़ ओ गुदाज़

जो ख़ौफ़ के दुर्रे से हुआ है पैदा

मुल्ला कहता है उस तशन्नुज को नमाज़

गो लाल कि ये रात है, पुखराज कि रात

कुछ मेरे लिए फ़ख़्र नहीं आज कि रात

मुझ से मिलने को जब ज़मीं पर आया

हासिल हुई अल्लाह को मे’राज कि रात

आंधी जागी है शाख़्सारो होशियार

ज़र्रात हुमक रहे हैं, तारो होशियार

एक ज़ल्ज़ला-ए वहम शिकन राह में है

अए दैर ओ कलीसा के मीनारो होशियार

तास्ख़ीर-माह ओ महर नहीं कार-ए बलन्द

ये खेल है इन्सान कि तिफ़्ली को पसन्द

अब क़स्र-ए सिफ़ात को गिरा कर यारो

फैंको ऐवान-ए ज़ात-ए मुत्लक़ पे कमन्द

हर शख़्स को दावा है के हूं ला-सानी

अब तक न मेरी क़द्र किसी ने जानी

देखा जो घड़ा तो जल के छलनी ने कहा

अंधौं ने भरा न हम में पानी

होता है अना-ए ख़ाम किस दरजा शदीद

ख़ुद को गर्दान्ता है हर एक फ़र्द फ़रीद

शाएद ये समझ रहा है मुर्ग़-ए सहरी

मेरी लै से उभर रहा है ख़ुरशीद

१०

पस्ती जो क़रीब आए उभर जा अए जोश

दिल है तो बिगड़ने में संवर जा अए जोश

कुनैन तेरी राह में हाएल है अगर

कुनैन को ठुकरा के गुज़र जा अए जोश

 

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 one of several in which josh displays rebelliousness against established traditions.
1
Khud ko gum-karda1 raah2 kar ke chhoRa
havva3 ko bhi tabaah4 kar ke chhoRa
kya kya na kiye Khuda ne jannat meN jatan
aadam5 ne magar gunaah kar ke chhoRa
1.lost 2.pathway (of righteousness) 3.Eve 4.destroy 5.Adam
Adam committed a transgression in heaven and as a result god turned him and Eve out of there and sent them down to earth. God gave ample warning about not eating the forbidden fruit/grain but it did not help. Adam committed a sin anyway, implying that no matter what the religious establishment does, humans are going to be tempted.

2
mahtaab1 ki zau2 se gulistaan3 hai shiriN4
pahlu5 meN machal raha hai ek zohra-jabiN6
kursi7 se buraaq8 le ke aaya hai ye kaun
kah do ke palaT jaaye mujhe vaqt nahiN
1.full moon 2.brilliance 3.garden 4.sweet, pleasant 5.beside, in company 6.shining brow, beautiful 7.seat, throne (of god) 8.fabled, winged horse on which mohammed is reported to have ascended heaven during “me’raaj”
Much more than the literal interpretation of these words, the poet means to imply that he does not believe in fancy stories and makes this statement in a rather irreverant way. It is a marvel that such writing/recitation did not meet with a fatwa. The garden is pleasant in the brilliance of the full moon and the beloved is by my side. Who is this that has arrived from seventh heaven riding a winged horse. Ask him to leave, I am busy now.

3
aavara1 ko aasuda-e-manzil2 kar do
nadaan3 ko daanaauN4 meN shaamil5 kar do
dar6 pe aaya hai vahi7 le kar jibreel8
Khuddaam9, Khud us par vahi naazil10 kar do
1.wanderer, lost 2.comfortable at the destination 3.ignorant 4.wise 5.include, add to 6.door 7.revelation 8.Gabriel, angel 9.servant, attendant 10.bestow
josh implies that “sending of vahi/revelation” is purely a man-made concept. Gabriel on a mission to bring vahi from god to man, is the “avaara”, wandering, lost traveler who is to be guided to the comfort of his destination. Teach/tell him (Gabriel) so he may be included among the wise. Gabriel has come to my door bearing a revelation (from god). O attendant, bestow a revelation upon him (on my behalf).

4
ek kaavish1-e buzdilaana2 hai nazr3 o niyaaz4
ek garmi5-e a’ajizaana6 hai soz-o-gudaaz7
jo Khauf8 ke durre9 se hua hai paida10
mulla kahta hai us tashannuj11 ko namaaz
1.trying, attempting 2.cowardly, fearful 3.prayer offering 4.ritual offering 5.enthusiasm for 6.humility, supplication 7.pain and pleasure 8.fear 9.whip 10.born, created 11.stiff awkward movement, epileptic seizures
Ritual prayer offerings are nothing but an attempt (at trying to get relief) out of fear. All the crying and/or celebrating is but humble supplication. That which the mulla calls prayer/namaaz is nothing but meaningless movements born out of fear.

5
go la’al1 ki ye raat hai, pukhraj2 ki raat
kuchh mere liye faKhr3 nahiN aaj ki raat
mujh se milne ko jab zamiN par aaya
haasil4 hui allah ko me’raaj5 ki raat
1.ruby 2.topaz 3.pride 4.obtain 5.ascension (to heaven)
me’raaj is usually used to refer to the story of mohammed’s ascension to heaven – shab-e me’raaj is the night of ascension. Here josh means to express (irreverently) the primacy of man over god, humanity over spirituality and turns tables on me’raaj. This night (equivalent to shab-e me’raaj) may be like rubies and topaz (highly sought after), but it is no special source of pride/joy for me. It is allah who has come to earth and obtained the status of “ascension”-me’raaj.

6
aandhi jaagi hai, shaaKhsaaro1 hoshiyaar
zarraat2 humak3 rahe haiN, taaro hoshiyaar
ek zalzala4-e vahm-shikan5 raah meN hai
aye dayr6 o kaleesa7 ke minaaro hoshiyaar
1.perches on branches of trees 2.dust particles 3.reach/jump up 4.quaking, shaking 5.superstition breaking 6.temple 7.church
josh was not quite a socialist or communist but was sympathetic to social justice and welcomed it. Here he is warning those sitting comfortably that a storm is coming and will blow them off their comfortable perches. Even lowly particles of dust have woken up and are rising, to rival the brilliance and heights of stars. A superstition-shaking earthquake is underway and will topple the towers/minarets of mosque and temple.

7
tasKheer1-e maah2 o mahr3 nahiN kaar-e-baland4
ye khel hai insaan ki tifli5 ko pasand
ab qasr6-e sifaat7 ko gira kar yaaro
phaiNko aivaan8-e zaat-e-mutlaq9 pe kamand10 
1.conquest 2.moon 3.sun 4.high/exalted/difficult task 5.childlike 6.castle/fort 7.attributes (of god) 8.palace of 9.absolute/perfect being 10.noose
josh is bent upon overcoming what he considers superstitious beliefs in god. It is not a difficult task to conquer the moon and sun. It is but a game that children like. You should aim at destroying the castle/fort of the (concept of) attributes of god. Having broken it, you should throw a noose around the very concept of the existence of the absolute/perfect being. I think that this interpretation is consistent with the first two misra. Alternatively, by “throwing a noose” josh could mean not negate but fully understand/capture the concept of god, as in iqbal …
jibreel to adnaa sa, hai sayd-e junuuN mera
yazdaaN tah-e daam aae, aye himmat-e mardaana

8
har shaKhs1 ko d’aava2 hai ke huN la-saani3
ab tak na meri qadr4 kisi ne jaani
dekha jo ghaRa to jal ke chhalni ne kaha
andhauN ne bhara na hum meN paani
1.person 2.claim 3.without a second, unique 4.value
Every person claims that he/she is unique. No one has yet realized my real worth. When the sieve saw the pot, it said, ‘they are blind (they don’t know my capabilities), so they have not filled me with water’.

9
hota hai anaa1-e Khaam2 kis darja3 shadeed4
Khud ko gardaanta5 hai ek fard6 fareed7
shaayed8 ye samajh raha hai murGh-e-sahri9
meri lai10 se ubhar raha hai Khursheed12  
1.ego 2.mistaken 3.how much 4.strong 5.keep repeating 6.individual 7.unique, peerless 8.perhaps 9.rooster at dawn 10.song 12.sun
Oh, how strongly held is mistaken ego. Everyone keeps saying that they are unique. Perhaps the rooster at dawn also thinks that the sun comes up because of his crowing/cackling.

10
pasti1 jo qareeb2 aaye ubhar3 jaa aye josh
dil4 hai to bigaRne meN saNvar jaa aye josh
kaunain5 teri raah6 meN haa’el7 haiN agar
kaunain ko Thukra ke guzar jaa aye josh
1.degradation, inferiority, defeat 2.near 3.rise 4.used in the sense of courage 5.both worlds, here and hereafter, material and spiritual 6.path towards the goal 7.obstruct
If you are faced with defeat, rise up O, josh. If you have the courage, arrange/embellish all disarray that you face. If both worlds, spiritual and material, stand in your way, then spurn them both, O, josh.

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 one of several in which josh displays rebelliousness against established traditions.
1
Khud ko gum-karda1 raah2 kar ke chhoRa
havva3 ko bhi tabaah4 kar ke chhoRa
kya kya na kiye Khuda ne jannat meN jatan
aadam5 ne magar gunaah kar ke chhoRa

1.lost 2.pathway (of righteousness) 3.Eve 4.destroy 5.Adam

Adam committed a transgression in heaven and as a result god turned him and Eve out of there and sent them down to earth.  God gave ample warning about not eating the forbidden fruit/grain but it did not help.  Adam committed a sin anyway, implying that no matter what the religious establishment does, humans are going to be tempted.
2
mahtaab1 ki zau2 se gulistaan3 hai shiriN4
pahlu5 meN machal raha hai ek zohra-jabiN6
kursi7 se buraaq8 le ke aaya hai ye kaun
kah do ke palaT jaaye mujhe vaqt nahiN

1.full moon 2.brilliance 3.garden 4.sweet, pleasant 5.beside, in company 6.shining brow, beautiful 7.seat, throne (of god) 8.fabled, winged horse on which mohammed is reported to have ascended heaven during “me’raaj”

Much more than the literal interpretation of these words, the poet means to imply that he does not believe in fancy stories and makes this statement in a rather irreverant way.  It is a marvel that such writing/recitation did not meet with a fatwa.  The garden is pleasant in the brilliance of the full moon and the beloved is by my side.  Who is this that has arrived from seventh heaven riding a winged horse.  Ask him to leave, I am busy now.
3
aavara1 ko aasuda-e-manzil2 kar do
nadaan3 ko daanaauN4 meN shaamil5 kar do
dar6 pe aaya hai vahi7 le kar jibreel8
Khuddaam9, Khud us par vahi naazil10 kar do

1.wanderer, lost 2.comfortable at the destination 3.ignorant 4.wise 5.include, add to 6.door 7.revelation 8.Gabriel, angel 9.servant, attendant 10.bestow

josh implies that “sending of vahi/revelation” is purely a man-made concept.  Gabriel on a mission to bring vahi from god to man, is the “avaara”, wandering, lost traveler who is to be guided to the comfort of his destination.  Teach/tell him (Gabriel) so he may be included among the wise.  Gabriel has come to my door bearing a revelation (from god).  O attendant, bestow a revelation upon him (on my behalf).
4
ek kaavish1-e buzdilaana2 hai nazr3 o niyaaz4
ek garmi5-e a’ajizaana6 hai soz-o-gudaaz7
jo Khauf8 ke durre9 se hua hai paida10
mulla kahta hai us tashannuj11 ko namaaz

1.trying, attempting 2.cowardly, fearful 3.prayer offering 4.ritual offering 5.enthusiasm for 6.humility, supplication 7.pain and pleasure 8.fear 9.whip 10.born, created 11.stiff awkward movement, epileptic seizures

Ritual prayer offerings are nothing but an attempt (at trying to get relief) out of fear.  All the crying and/or celebrating is but humble supplication.  That which the mulla calls prayer/namaaz is nothing but meaningless movements born out of fear.
5
go la’al1 ki ye raat hai, pukhraj2 ki raat
kuchh mere liye faKhr3 nahiN aaj ki raat
mujh se milne ko jab zamiN par aaya
haasil4 hui allah ko me’raaj5 ki raat

1.ruby 2.topaz 3.pride 4.obtain 5.ascension (to heaven)

me’raaj is usually used to refer to the story of mohammed’s ascension to heaven – shab-e me’raaj is the night of ascension.  Here josh means to express (irreverently) the primacy of man over god, humanity over spirituality and turns tables on me’raaj.  This night (equivalent to shab-e me’raaj) may be like rubies and topaz (highly sought after), but it is no special source of pride/joy for me.  It is allah who has come to earth and obtained the status of “ascension”-me’raaj.
6
aandhi jaagi hai, shaaKhsaaro1 hoshiyaar
zarraat2 humak3 rahe haiN, taaro hoshiyaar
ek zalzala4-e vahm-shikan5 raah meN hai
aye dayr6 o kaleesa7 ke minaaro hoshiyaar

1.perches on branches of trees 2.dust particles 3.reach/jump up 4.quaking, shaking 5.superstition breaking 6.temple 7.church

josh was not quite a socialist or communist but was sympathetic to social justice and welcomed it.  Here he is warning those sitting comfortably that a storm is coming and will blow them off their comfortable perches.  Even lowly particles of dust have woken up and are rising, to rival the brilliance and heights of stars.  A superstition-shaking earthquake is underway and will topple the towers/minarets of mosque and temple.
7
tasKheer1-e maah2 o mahr3 nahiN kaar-e-baland4
ye khel hai insaan ki tifli5 ko pasand
ab qasr6-e sifaat7 ko gira kar yaaro
phaiNko aivaan8-e zaat-e-mutlaq9 pe kamand10

1.conquest 2.moon 3.sun 4.high/exalted/difficult task 5.childlike 6.castle/fort 7.attributes (of god) 8.palace of 9.absolute/perfect being 10.noose

josh is bent upon overcoming what he considers superstitious beliefs in god.  It is not a difficult task to conquer the moon and sun.  It is but a game that children like.  You should aim at destroying the castle/fort of the (concept of) attributes of god.  Having broken it, you should throw a noose around the very concept of the existence of the absolute/perfect being.  I think that this interpretation is consistent with the first two misra.  Alternatively, by “throwing a noose” josh could mean not negate but fully understand/capture the concept of god, as in iqbal …
jibreel to adnaa sa, hai sayd-e junuuN mera
yazdaaN tah-e daam aae, aye himmat-e mardaana
8
har shaKhs1 ko d’aava2 hai ke huN la-saani3
ab tak na meri qadr4 kisi ne jaani
dekha jo ghaRa to jal ke chhalni ne kaha
andhauN ne bhara na hum meN paani

1.person 2.claim 3.without a second, unique 4.value

Every person claims that he/she is unique.  No one has yet realized my real worth.  When the sieve saw the pot, it said, ‘they are blind (they don’t know my capabilities), so they have not filled me with water’.
9
hota hai anaa1-e Khaam2 kis darja3 shadeed4
Khud ko gardaanta5 hai ek fard6 fareed7
shaayed8 ye samajh raha hai murGh-e-sahri9
meri lai10 se ubhar raha hai Khursheed12

1.ego 2.mistaken 3.how much 4.strong 5.keep repeating 6.individual 7.unique, peerless 8.perhaps 9.rooster at dawn 10.song 12.sun

Oh, how strongly held is mistaken ego.  Everyone keeps saying that they are unique.  Perhaps the rooster at dawn also thinks that the sun comes up because of his crowing/cackling.
10
pasti1 jo qareeb2 aaye ubhar3 jaa aye josh
dil4 hai to bigaRne meN saNvar jaa aye josh
kaunain5 teri raah6 meN haa’el7 haiN agar
kaunain ko Thukra ke guzar jaa aye josh

1.degradation, inferiority, defeat 2.near 3.rise 4.used in the sense of courage 5.both worlds, here and hereafter, material and spiritual 6.path towards the goal 7.obstruct

If you are faced with defeat, rise up O, josh.  If you have the courage, arrange/embellish all disarray that you face.  If both worlds, spiritual and material, stand in your way, then spurn them both, O, josh.

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