sijda-e aqeedat-anand narain mulla

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

سجدۂ عقیدت ۔ پنڈت آنند نرائن مُلّا

۱

محفلِ دہر میں جتنے بھی نظام آئے ہیں

لے کے سب مژدۂ بہبودیِ عام آئے ہیں

پھر بھی ہے قافلۂ آلِ بشر دشت نورد

گو چمن بن کے ہزاروں ہی مقام آئے ہیں

۲

تشنہ اِنساں کے لئے جرعۂ شیریں کہہ کر

قطرۂ تلخ وہی جام بہ جام آئے ہیں

آہ! نادان پتنگوں کی تباہی کے لئے

کتنی ہنستی ہوئی شمعوں کے پیام آئے ہیں

۳

جلوۂِ صبحِ مسرّت کی مناتے ہوئے عید

کتنے ایّامِ سیہ بخشیِ شام آئے ہیں

اپنے سینوں میں چھپائے ہوئے زہر آبِ حیات

بزم میں کتنے کھنکتے ہوئے جام آئے ہیں

۴

کتنے طوفانِ جگر جوششِ صد موج لئے

چشم تک آئے تو کچھ قطرہِ خام آئے ہیں

زندہ باد ابلہ فریبیِ جہانِ معصوم

عقلِ کُل بن کے یہاں جہلِ تمام آئے ہیں

۵

بھیس میں خضر کے آئے ہیں سکندر کتنے

کتنے راون ہیں جو جپتے ہوئے رام آئے ہیں

آشیاں رنگ قفس لائے ہیں کتنے صیّاد

کتنے شاہیں ہیں جو طاؤس خرام آئے ہیں

۶

کتنے ظلمات کے پالے ہوئے سایے شب رنگ

بن کے اک طور سرِ منظرِ عام آئے ہیں

اونچی کرتے ہوئے ہر سانس سے لَو نفرت کی

کتنے تبلیغِ محبّت کے اِمام آئے ہیں

۷

آستینوں میں لئے خون سے تر دُشنہِ تیز

کتنے خوشبو بسے ہاتھوں کے سلام آئے ہیں

جن کی تلخی کے مقابل میں ہے حنظُل بھی نبات

آہ کتنے لبِ شیریں سے کلام آئے ہیں

۸

آنکھ اُٹھتے ہوئے ڈرتی ہے سوئے بامِ فلک

کتنے فردوسِ نشیمن تہہِ دام آئے ہیں

آہ کس دل سے یقیں آئے کسی جلوہ کا

کتنے چڑھتے ہوئے سورج لبِ بام آئے ہیں

۹

ابنِ آدم کے لئے جبر کے کتنے نئے دور

لے کے اِنساں کی مساوات کا نام آئے ہیں

خلد سازی کے اِرادوں کے حسیں نقش و نگار

زینتِ طاقِ جہنّم ہی کے کام آئے ہیں

۱۰

ہاں سمجھتا ہوں بلندی میں نہاں ہے جو نشیب

پھر بھی کھاتا ہوں میں آج اپنی تمنّا کا فریب

ایک سجدے کو شناسائے جبیں اور کروں

دل کا اِسرار ہے اک بار یقیں اور کروں

اے وطن سر پہ نیا تاج مبارک تجھ کو

یومِ آزادیِ ہند آج مبارک تجھ کو

सिज्दा-ए अक़ीदत – पंडित आनंद नरायन मुल्ला

महफ़िल-ए दहर में जितने भी निज़ाम आए हैं

ले के सब मुज़्श्दा-ए बहबूदी-ए आम आए हैं

फिर भी है क़ाफ़ेला-ए आल-ए बशर दश्त नवर्द

गो चमन बन के हज़ारों हि मक़ाम आए हैं

तिश्ना इन्सां के लिए जुर्रा-ए शीरिं कह कर

क़त्रा-ए तल्ख़ वही जाम ब जाम आए हैं

आह! नादान पतंगौं कि तबाही के लिए

कितनी हंस्ती हुई शमऔं के पयाम आए हैं

जल्वा-ए सुबह मसर्रत कि मनाते हुए ईद

कितने अय्याम-ए सियह-बख़्शी-ए शाम आए हैं

अपने सीनौं में छुपाए हुए ज़हर-आब-ए हयात

बज़्म में कितने खनक्ते हुए जाम आए हैं

कितने तूफ़ान-ए जिगर जोशिश-ए सद-मौज लिए

चश्म तक आए तो कुछ क़त्रा-ए ख़ाम आए हैं

ज़िन्दा-बाद अब्ला-फ़रेबी-ए जहान-ए मासूम

अक़्ल-ए कुल बन के यहां जहल तमाम आए हैं

भेस में ख़िज़्र के आए हैं सिकंदर कितने

कितने रावन हैं जो जपते हुए राम आए हैं

आशियां-रंग क़फ़स लाए हैं कितने सय्याद

कितने शाहीं हैं जो ताऊस ख़राम आए हैं

कितने ज़ुल्मात के पाले हुए साए शब-रंग

बन के एक तूर सर-ए मंज़र-ए आम आए हैं

ऊंची करते हुए हर सांस से लौ नफ़्रत की

कितने तब्लीग़-ए मोहब्बत के इमाम आए हैं

आस्तीनौं में लिए ख़ून से तर दुश्ना-ए तेज़

कितने ख़ुश्बू बसे हाथौं के सलाम आए हैं

जिन कि तल्ख़ी के मुक़ाबिल में है हनज़ुल भी नबात

आह कितने लब-ए शीरीं से कलाम आए हैं

आंख उठते हुए डर्ती है सु-ए बाम-ए फ़लक

कितने फ़िर्दौस-ए नशेमन तह-ए दाम आए हैं

आह किस दिल से यक़ीं आए किसी जल्वे का

कितने चढते हुए सूरज लब-ए बाम आए हैं

इब्न-ए आदम के लिए जब्र के कितने नए दौर

ले के इन्सां कि मसावात का नाम आए हैं

ख़ुल्द-साज़ी के इरादौं के हसीं नक़्श-ओ-निगार

ज़ीनत-ए ताक़-ए जहन्नुम हि के काम आए हैं

१०

हां समझता हूं बलंदी में नेहां हैं जो नशेब

फिर भी खाता हुं मैं आज अपनी तमन्ना का फ़रेब

एक सज्दे को शनासा-ए जबीं और करूं

दिल का इस्रार है एक बार यक़ीं और करूं

अए वतन सर पे नया ताज मुबारक तुझ को

यौम-ए आज़ादि-ए हिंद आज मुबारक तुझ को

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. anand narain mulla (1901-1997) thoughtful and thoughtprovoking shaa’er. urdu lover. judge, parliamentarian and strong secularist. This nazm expresses deep scepticism of the promises made during the freedom movement and compares to promises made the many deceptive and failed movements in history. And yet, it clings on to hope that this time it might be different.
1
mahfil-e dahr1 meN jitne bhi nizaam2 aaye haiN
le ke sub muzshda3-e bahboodi-e-aam4 aaye haiN
phir bhi hai qaafila-e aal-e-bashar5 dasht-navard6
go7 chaman bun ke hazaaroN hi maqaam aaye haiN    
1.world 2.administration, rule 3.good news 4.general well-being 5.progeny of humans, humanity 6.desert-wandering 7.even though
Whenever a new rule/administration has been established, it has come bearing good news/hope of general well-being. Still the caravan of humanity is lost and wandering in the desert, even though many stages have arrived that looked like lush gardens.

2
tishna1 insaaN ke liye jurra-e-shiiriN2 kah kar
qatra-e-talKh3 vahi jaam4 ba jaam aaye haiN
aah! nadaan5 pataNgoN ki tabaahi6 ke liye
kitni haNsti hui sham’oN ke payaam7 aaye haiN   
1.thirsty 2.sweet mouthful 3.bitter drop 4.cup 5.simpleton, foolish 6.destruction 7.message
They claimed that it was a sweet mouthful, but bitter drops have been served up, cup after cup. Alas, for foolish moths, messages of how many smiling/shining lamps for their destruction.

3
jalva1-e subah masarrat2 ki manaate hue eid
kitne ayyaam3-e siyah-baKhshi4-e shaam aaye haiN
apne seenoN meN chhupaaye hue zahr-aab5-e hayaat6
bazm7 meN kitne khanakte8 hue jaam9 aaye haiN    
1.manifestation, image 2.happiness 3.days, dawns 4.darkness granting 5.poison water/drink 6.life 7.gathering 8.tinkling 9.cups
Oh, how many darkness-granting days have arrived in the deceptive image of dawns of happiness celebrating eid. Hiding the poison of life in their bosom, how many tinkling cups have been served up in this gathering.

4
kitne toofaan-e jigar1 joshish2-e sad-mauj3 liye
chashm4 tak aaye to kuchh qatra-e-Khaam5 aaye haiN
zinda-baad abla-farebi6-e jahaan-e maasoom7
aql-e-kul8 ban ke yahaaN jahl9 tamaam aaye haiN    
1.liver, the seat of courage 2.passion 3.hundred waves 4.eyes 5.useless/ineffective drops 6.deception 7.innocent 8.complete/perfect wisdom 9.ignorance
How many storms of courage/daring (liver is the seat of courage) have risen with a hundred waves of passion only to the rise to the eyes as powerless/ineffective tears. Long live the deception of the innocent of the world.

5
bhes1 meN Khizr2 ke aaye haiN sikandar3 kitne
kitne raavan haiN jo japte4 hue raam aaye haiN
aashiyaaN-raNg5 qafas6 laaye haiN kitne sayyaad7
kitne shaahiN8 haiN jo taa’oos-Kharaam9 aaye haiN    
1.disguise 2.legendary old man who found the elixir of immortality 3.alexander who is thought to have promised wealth and immortality to his soldiers but died young 4.chanting 5.colour/shape of nest 6.cage 7.bird-catcher 8.hawk 9.gait of peacock
How many Alexander’s have come in the guise of Khizr, promising immortality and leading followers to their death. How many raavan’s have have come chanting the name of raam. How many bird-catchers bearing cages deceptively shaped like nests and how many hawks in the guise of harmless peacocks.

6
kitne zulmaat1 ke paale hue saaye shab-raNg2
ban ke ek tuur3 sar-e manzar-e-aam4 aaye haiN
ooNchi karte hue har saaNs se lau5 nafrat6 ki
kitne tabliGh-e-mohabbat7 ke imaam8 aaye haiN    
1.darkness 2.colour of night 3.divine light (which moosa is supposed to have seen on mount tuur) 4.public view, head of the platform/dais 5.flame 6.hatred 7.preaching love 8.clerics
How many shadows of the colour of night, nurtured by darkness have come to the head of the public forum claiming to be divine light. Feeding the fire of hatred with every breath, how many preachers of love have come with their deceptive message.

7
aastinoN1 meN liye Khoon se tar2 dushna3-e tez
kitne Khushbu basay haathoN ke salaam aaye haiN
jin ki talKhi4 ke muqaabil5 meN hai hanzul6 bhi nabaat7
aah kitne lab-e-shiriN8 se kalaam9 aaye haiN    
1.sleeves 2.dripping 3.daggers 4.bitterness 5.compared to 6.bitter fruit used in traditional medicine 7.rock candy 8.sweet lips 9.words
How many fragrant arms offering salaams/greetings but hiding in their sleeves sharp knives, dripping in blood. Oh, how many words from sweet lips, compared to whose bitterness even bitter medicine is sweet as candy.

8
aaNkh uThte hue Darti hai su1-e baam2-e falak3
kitne firdaus4-e nasheman5 tah-e-daam6 aaye haiN
aah kis dil se yaqiN aaye kisi jalve7 par
kitne chaRhte hue suraj lab-e baam2 aaye haiN   
1.towards 2.roof-line 3.skies 4.heaven 5.nests/homes 6.under the net (of deception) 7.images, pictures
The eyes are fearful of looking up at the skyline, so many hopes of heavenly homes have been caught up in the net. Alas, which picture/promise can we believe, how many rising suns have emerged from the horizon (only to go dark).

9
ibn-e-aadam1 ke liye jabr2 ke kitne naye daur3
le ke insaaN ki masaavaat4 ka naam aaye haiN
Khuld-saazi5 ke iraadoN6 ke haseeN7 naqsh-o-nigaar8
zeenat9-e taaq10-e jahannum hi ke kaam aaye haiN   
1.progeny of Adam, humanity 2.oppression 3.reigns 4.equality 5.building heaven 6.intentions, plans 7.beautiful 8.sketches and embellishments 9.decoration 10.alcove
How many new reigns of oppression for humanity that came in the name of equality/justice. Embellished plans of making heaven on earth ended up as decorations in the alcove of hell.

10
haaN samajhta huN balandi1 meN nehaaN2 haiN jo nasheb3
phir bhi khaata huN maiN aaj apni tamanna4 ka fareb5
ek sajde6 ko shanaasa7-e jabiN8 aur karuN
dil ka israar9 hai ek baar yaqiN10 aur karuN
aye vatan sar pe naya taaj mubarak ho tujhe
yaum11-e aazaadi-e hind aaj mubarak ho tujhe     
1.heights 2.hidden 3.downhill slopes 4.yearning 5.deception 6.prostration, obeisance 7.familiar with 8.forehead 9.insistence 10.believe, trust 11.day of
Yes, I know that there are treacherous slopes hidden among the heights, but still I choose to be deceived by my yearning. I choose to make my forehead familiar with yet another prostration. The heart insists that I trust/hope one more time. O, homeland, felicitations on the new crown on your head, felicitations on the day of freedom.

anand narain mulla (1901-1997) thoughtful and thoughtprovoking shaa’er.  urdu lover.  judge, parliamentarian and strong secularist.  This nazm expresses deep scepticism of the promises made during the freedom movement and compares to promises made the many deceptive and failed movements in history.  And yet, it clings on to hope that this time it might be different.
1
mahfil-e dahr1 meN jitne bhi nizaam2 aaye haiN
le ke sub muzshda3-e bahboodi-e-aam4 aaye haiN
phir bhi hai qaafila-e aal-e-bashar5 dasht-navard6
go7 chaman bun ke hazaaroN hi maqaam aaye haiN

1.world 2.administration, rule 3.good news 4.general well-being 5.progeny of humans, humanity 6.desert-wandering 7.even though

Whenever a new rule/administration has been established, it has come bearing good news/hope of general well-being.  Still the caravan of humanity is lost and wandering in the desert, even though many stages have arrived that looked like lush gardens.
2
tishna1 insaaN ke liye jurra-e-shiiriN2 kah kar
qatra-e-talKh3 vahi jaam4 ba jaam aaye haiN
aah! nadaan5 pataNgoN ki tabaahi6 ke liye
kitni haNsti hui sham’oN ke payaam7 aaye haiN

1.thirsty 2.sweet mouthful 3.bitter drop 4.cup 5.simpleton, foolish 6.destruction 7.message

They claimed that it was a sweet mouthful, but bitter drops have been served up, cup after cup.  Alas, for foolish moths, messages of how many smiling/shining lamps for their destruction.
3
jalva1-e subah masarrat2 ki manaate hue eid
kitne ayyaam3-e siyah-baKhshi4-e shaam aaye haiN
apne seenoN meN chhupaaye hue zahr-aab5-e hayaat6
bazm7 meN kitne khanakte8 hue jaam9 aaye haiN

1.manifestation, image 2.happiness 3.days, dawns 4.darkness granting 5.poison water/drink 6.life 7.gathering 8.tinkling 9.cups

Oh, how many darkness-granting days have arrived in the deceptive image of dawns of happiness celebrating eid.  Hiding the poison of life in their bosom, how many tinkling cups have been served up in this gathering.
4
kitne toofaan-e jigar1 joshish2-e sad-mauj3 liye
chashm4 tak aaye to kuchh qatra-e-Khaam5 aaye haiN
zinda-baad abla-farebi6-e jahaan-e maasoom7
aql-e-kul8 ban ke yahaaN jahl9 tamaam aaye haiN

1.liver, the seat of courage 2.passion 3.hundred waves 4.eyes 5.useless/ineffective drops 6.deception 7.innocent 8.complete/perfect wisdom 9.ignorance

How many storms of courage/daring (liver is the seat of courage) have risen with a hundred waves of passion only to the rise to the eyes as powerless/ineffective tears.  Long live the deception of the innocent of the world.
5
bhes1 meN Khizr2 ke aaye haiN sikandar3 kitne
kitne raavan haiN jo japte4 hue raam aaye haiN
aashiyaaN-raNg5 qafas6 laaye haiN kitne sayyaad7
kitne shaahiN8 haiN jo taa’oos-Kharaam9 aaye haiN

1.disguise 2.legendary old man who found the elixir of immortality 3.alexander who is thought to have promised wealth and immortality to his soldiers but died young 4.chanting 5.colour/shape of nest 6.cage 7.bird-catcher 8.hawk 9.gait of peacock

How many Alexander’s have come in the guise of Khizr, promising immortality and leading followers to their death.  How many raavan’s have have come chanting the name of raam.  How many bird-catchers bearing cages deceptively shaped like nests and how many hawks in the guise of harmless peacocks.
6
kitne zulmaat1 ke paale hue saaye shab-raNg2
ban ke ek tuur3 sar-e manzar-e-aam4 aaye haiN
ooNchi karte hue har saaNs se lau5 nafrat6 ki
kitne tabliGh-e-mohabbat7 ke imaam8 aaye haiN

1.darkness 2.colour of night 3.divine light (which moosa is supposed to have seen on mount tuur) 4.public view, head of the platform/dais 5.flame 6.hatred 7.preaching love 8.clerics

How many shadows of the colour of night, nurtured by darkness have come to the head of the public forum claiming to be divine light.  Feeding the fire of hatred with every breath, how many preachers of love have come with their deceptive message.
7
aastinoN1 meN liye Khoon se tar2 dushna3-e tez
kitne Khushbu basay haathoN ke salaam aaye haiN
jin ki talKhi4 ke muqaabil5 meN hai hanzul6 bhi nabaat7
aah kitne lab-e-shiriN8 se kalaam9 aaye haiN

1.sleeves 2.dripping 3.daggers 4.bitterness 5.compared to 6.bitter fruit used in traditional medicine 7.rock candy 8.sweet lips 9.words

How many fragrant arms offering salaams/greetings but hiding in their sleeves sharp knives, dripping in blood.  Oh, how many words from sweet lips, compared to whose bitterness even bitter medicine is sweet as candy.
8
aaNkh uThte hue Darti hai su1-e baam2-e falak3
kitne firdaus4-e nasheman5 tah-e-daam6 aaye haiN
aah kis dil se yaqiN aaye kisi jalve7 par
kitne chaRhte hue suraj lab-e baam2 aaye haiN

1.towards 2.roof-line 3.skies 4.heaven 5.nests/homes 6.under the net (of deception) 7.images, pictures

The eyes are fearful of looking up at the skyline, so many hopes of heavenly homes have been caught up in the net.  Alas, which picture/promise can we believe, how many rising suns have emerged from the horizon (only to go dark).
9
ibn-e-aadam1 ke liye jabr2 ke kitne naye daur3
le ke insaaN ki masaavaat4 ka naam aaye haiN
Khuld-saazi5 ke iraadoN6 ke haseeN7 naqsh-o-nigaar8
zeenat9-e taaq10-e jahannum hi ke kaam aaye haiN

1.progeny of Adam, humanity 2.oppression 3.reigns 4.equality 5.building heaven 6.intentions, plans 7.beautiful 8.sketches and embellishments 9.decoration 10.alcove

How many new reigns of oppression for humanity that came in the name of equality/justice.  Embellished plans of making heaven on earth ended up as decorations in the alcove of hell.
10
haaN samajhta huN balandi1 meN nehaaN2 haiN jo nasheb3
phir bhi khaata huN maiN aaj apni tamanna4 ka fareb5
ek sajde6 ko shanaasa7-e jabiN8 aur karuN
dil ka israar9 hai ek baar yaqiN10 aur karuN
aye vatan sar pe naya taaj mubarak ho tujhe
yaum11-e aazaadi-e hind aaj mubarak ho tujhe

1.heights 2.hidden 3.downhill slopes 4.yearning 5.deception 6.prostration, obeisance 7.familiar with 8.forehead 9.insistence 10.believe, trust 11.day of

Yes, I know that there are treacherous slopes hidden among the heights, but still I choose to be deceived by my yearning.  I choose to make my forehead familiar with yet another prostration.  The heart insists that I trust/hope one more time.  O, homeland, felicitations on the new crown on your head, felicitations on the day of freedom.

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