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Recitation
Elizabeth Kurian mona
سزا رفتہ رفتہ ۔ اِلیزبت کُرین موناؔ
۱
خوشی کی ملی یہ سزا رفتہ رفتہ
تعارف غموں سے ہوا رفتہ رفتہ
۲
تھی چہرے کی رنگت تو نظروں کے آگے
چلا رنگِ دل کا پتہ رفتہ رفتہ
۳
بھلائی کئے جا یقیں رب پہ رکھ کر
وہ دیتا ہے سب کو صِلہ رفتہ رفتہ
۴
سُنی بھوکے بچے نے جب ماں کی لوری
تو رو رو کے وہ سو گیا رفتہ رفتہ
۵
ترے بِن بھی کٹ جائے گی عمر لیکن
چُھڑا اپنا دامن ذرا رفتہ رفتہ
۶
نظر جو مِلی دل ہوا راکھ جل کر
دھواں پھر اُسی سے اُٹھا رفتہ رفتہ
۷
چمن میں کِھلیں ہنستے ہنستے جو کلیاں
تو خوشبو سے مہکی فضا رفتہ رفتہ
۸
نہ گھبراؤ موناؔ پریشانیوں سے
اثر لائے گی ہر دعا رفتہ رفتہ
सज़ा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता – एलिज़बेत कुरियन मोना
१
ख़ुशी की मिली ये सज़ा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
ता’अरुफ़ ग़मों से हुआ रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
२
थी चेहरे की रंगत तो नज़रों के आगे
चला रंग-ए दिल का पता रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
३
भलाई किए जा यक़ीं रब पे रख कर
वो देता है सब को सिला रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
४
सुनी भूके बच्चे ने जब माँ की लोरी
तो रो रो के वो सो गया रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
५
तेरे बिन भी कट जाएगी उम्र लेकिन
छुड़ा अपना दामन ज़रा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
६
नज़र जो मिली दिल हुआ राख जल कर
धुआँ फिर उसी से उठा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
७
चमन में खिलीं हँसते हँसते जो कलियाँ
तो ख़ुशबू से महकी फ़ज़ा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
८
न घब्राओ मोना परेशानियों से
असर लाएगी हर दुआ रफ़्ता रफ़्ता
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. Elizabeth Kurian ‘Mona’ (1949-living) is a poet in many languages – urdu, English, hindi, and her mother tongue malayalam, with published books in each. A true blue hyderabadi, she is a late comer to urdu, but apparently good at it as well as in love with it. She learnt urdu through a correspondence course offered by jaami’a-e millia islamia, dehli. She has written four urdu books of Ghazal/nazms. She took early retirement from a management position in Reserve Bank of India and now pursues her passion in poetry.
1
Khushi ki mili ye saza rafta rafta1
ta’aruf2 GhamoN se hua rafta rafta 1.gradually 2.introduction, familiarity
The poet was happy/comfortable but was punished for this gradually over time. She became familiar with pain and sorrow. My guess is that she is describing a relationship gone bad.
2
thi chehre ki raNgat1 to nazroN2 ke aage
chala raNg-e dil ka pata rafta rafta 1.colour, character, nature 2.eyes, sight
Once again, my guess is that this is a description of a gradual discovery of the real nature of the partner/beloved in a relationship. The superficial nature (the colour of the face) was apparent (before the eyes) at first. But she gradually discovered the nature of his heart.
3
bhalaaii kiye ja yaqiN1 rab2 pe rakh kar
vo deta hai sab ko sila3 rafta rafta 1.trust 2.lord, god 3.recompense, reward
Place your trust in god and keep doing what is right/good. He gives rewards to everyone eventually.
4
suni bhooke bachche ne jab maaN ki lori
to ro ro ke vo so gaya rafta rafta When the hungry child heard the lullaby of its mother, it gradually cried itself to sleep.
5
tere bin1 bhi kaT jaayegi umr2 laikin
chhuRa apna daaman3 zara rafta rafta 1.without 2.life 3.hem of the robe, daaman chhuRana means to withdraw, to go away, break a relationship.
We are back to breaking relationships. Life may go on without you, but be careful and break any relationship gradually.
6
nazar jo mili dil hua raakh jal kar
dhuaaN phir usi se uTha rafta rafta I am not sure whose eyes met. It could be those of an indifferent lover or of a rival, which caused the heart to burn and smoke in pain.
7
chaman meN khiliN haNste haNste jo kaliyaaN
to Khushbuu se mahki1 faza2 rafta rafta 1.fragrant 2.atmosphere, surroundings, air
As the buds bloomed in the garden, fragrance spread all around gradually.
8
na ghabraao mona1 pareshaaniyoN se
asar2 laayegi har dua rafta rafta 1.pen name of the poet 2.effect, bear fruit
Do not fret about problems, O, mona. Your prayers will bear fruit over time.
Elizabeth Kurian ‘Mona’ (1949-living) is a poet in many languages – urdu, English, hindi, and her mother tongue malayalam, with published books in each. A true blue hyderabadi, she is a late comer to urdu, but apparently good at it as well as in love with it. She learnt urdu through a correspondence course offered by jaami’a-e millia islamia, dehli. She has written four urdu books of Ghazal/nazms. She took early retirement from a management position in Reserve Bank of India and now pursues her passion in poetry.
1
Khushi ki mili ye saza rafta rafta1
ta’aruf2 GhamoN se hua rafta rafta
1.gradually 2.introduction, familiarity
The poet was happy/comfortable but was punished for this gradually over time. She became familiar with pain and sorrow. My guess is that she is describing a relationship gone bad.
2
thi chehre ki raNgat1 to nazroN2 ke aage
chala raNg-e dil ka pata rafta rafta
1.colour, character, nature 2.eyes, sight
Once again, my guess is that this is a description of a gradual discovery of the real nature of the partner/beloved in a relationship. The superficial nature (the colour of the face) was apparent (before the eyes) at first. But she gradually discovered the nature of his heart.
3
bhalaaii kiye ja yaqiN1 rab2 pe rakh kar
vo deta hai sab ko sila3 rafta rafta
1.trust 2.lord, god 3.recompense, reward
Place your trust in god and keep doing what is right/good. He gives rewards to everyone eventually.
4
suni bhooke bachche ne jab maaN ki lori
to ro ro ke vo so gaya rafta rafta
When the hungry child heard the lullaby of its mother, it gradually cried itself to sleep.
5
tere bin1 bhi kaT jaayegi umr2 laikin
chhuRa apna daaman3 zara rafta rafta
1.without 2.life 3.hem of the robe, daaman chhuRana means to withdraw, to go away, break a relationship
We are back to breaking relationships. Life may go on without you, but be careful and break any relationship gradually.
6
nazar jo mili dil hua raakh jal kar
dhuaaN phir usi se uTha rafta rafta
I am not sure whose eyes met. It could be those of an indifferent lover or of a rival, which caused the heart to burn and smoke in pain.
7
chaman meN khiliN haNste haNste jo kaliyaaN
to Khushbuu se mahki1 faza2 rafta rafta
1.fragrant 2.atmosphere, surroundings, air
As the buds bloomed in the garden, fragrance spread all around gradually.
8
na ghabraao mona1 pareshaaniyoN se
asar2 laayegi har dua rafta rafta
1.pen name of the poet 2.effect, bear fruit
Do not fret about problems, O, mona. Your prayers will bear fruit over time.
