For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
صبح ۔ سکندر علی وجدؔ
۱
شہر اب تک سو رہا ہے نیند کی آغوش میں
وجدؔ محوِ فکر ہے اِس منظرِ خاموش میں
۲
ہلکی ہلکی چاندنی جھونکے ہوا کے کیف بار
ہورہی ہے جذب گویا ذرّے ذرّے میں بہار
۳
آسماں پر ملگجے بادل کا ٹکڑا ہے رواں
یا جھکولے کھا رہی ہے کشتیِ بے بادباں
۴
قصرِ عالی کر رہے ہیں کوہ سے سرگوشیاں
آسماں بھی سن رہا ہے جھک کے اُن کی داستاں
۵
اوس نے موتی لُٹائے ہیں زمیں پر اِس قدر
بارِ الطاف و کرم سے جھک گیا سبزے کا سر
۶
ناؤ دِن کی پار نکلی رات کے گرداب سے
مسکرا کر صبح اُٹّھی بسترِ کمخواب سے
۷
بخششِ فطرت سے قسمت جاگ اُٹّھی دید کی
سمتِ مشرق دفعتاً پھوٹی کرن خورشید کی
۸
روشنی میں لُٹ رہی ہے دولتِ نورِ سحر
آبِ زر سے دُھل رہے ہیں کہنہ سقف و بام و در
۹
ذرّہ ذرّہ فیضِ خاور سے بہشت آثار ہے
دامنِ کہسار گویا جوہری بازار ہے
۱۰
سیکڑوں اشجار دھانی چادریں اوڑھے ہوئے
صبح کی دیوی کے درشن کی سعادت پا گئے
۱۱
ڈالیوں پر طائرانِ خوش نوا کے چہچہے
زیرِ شاخِ گُل حسینوں کے رسیلے قہقہے
۱۲
موجزن ہے چار سُو عالم میں طوفانِ حیات
نشۂ عیش و طرب میں جھومتی ہے کائنات
۱۳
دل کی یہ حالت کہ سازِ نغمۂ بیتاب ہے
جنبشِ موجِ نفس جنبشِ مضراب ہے
सुबह-सिकंदर अली वज्द
१
शहर अब तक सो रहा है नींद कि आग़ोश में
वज्द महव-ए फ़िक्र है इस मंज़र-ए ख़ामोश में
२
हल्की हल्की चांदनी, झोंके हवा के कैफ़-बार
हो रही है जज़्ब गोया ज़र्रे ज़र्रे में बहार
३
आस्मां पर मल्गजे बादल का टुक्ढा है रवां
या झकोले ले रही है कश्ती-ए बे-बादबां
४
क़स्र-ए आली कर रहे हैं कोह से सरगोशियां
आस्मां भी सुन रहा है झुक के उन की दास्तां
५
ओस ने मोती लुटाए हैं ज़मीं पर इस क़दर
बार-ए अल्ताफ़ ओ करम से झुक गया सब्ज़े का सर
६
नाऊ दिन की पार निकली रात के गिर्दाब से
मुस्कुरा कर सबह उट्ठी बिस्तर-ए कमख़्वाब से
७
बख़्शिश-ए फ़ित्रत से क़िस्मत जाग उट्ठी दीद की
सम्त-ए मश्रिक़ दफ़’अतन फूटी किरन ख़ुर्शीद की
८
रौशनी में लुट रही है दौलत-ए नूर-ए सहर
आब-ए ज़र से धुल रहे हैं कोहना सक़्फ़ ओ बाम ओ दर
९
ज़र्रा ज़र्रा फ़ैज़-ए ख़ावर से बेहिश्त आसार है
दामन-ए कोहसार गोया जौहरी बाज़ार है
१०
सैकढों अश्जार धानी चादरें ओढ़े हुए
सबह की देवी के दर्शन की स’आदत पा गये
११
डालियौं पर ताएरान-ए ख़ुश-नवा के चहचहे
ज़ेर-ए शाख़-ए गुल हसीनौं के रसीले क़हक़हे
१२
मौज-ज़न है चार-सू आलम में तूफ़ान-ए हयात
नश्शा-ए ऐश ओ तरब में झूमती है का’एनात
१३
दिल की ये हालत के साज़-ए नग़्मा-ए बेताब है
जुम्बिश-ए मौज-ए नफ़स जुम्बिश-ए मिज़्राब है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful poet from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom. He qualified for the Hyderabad Civil Service and served as munsif magistrate and later as sessions judge. He got absorbed into the maharashTra state service when auraNgabad was split away from the erstwhile hyderabad state into maharashTra. He was elected to the rajya sabha and awarded padma shri. Unlike my previous impression which was based on a reading of his political compositions, I have come to realize that there is a healthy sufiyaana content in vajd’s composition. This nazm is purely descriptive of the beauty of dawn. A footnote says that he viewed dawn from a hotel on a hilltop and composed this. It is linked along with the many other beautiful nazm and Ghazal to the icon ‘jalva-e sahr’ on the Theme page.
1
shahr ab tak so raha hai niind ki aaGhosh1 meN
vajd2 mahv3-e fikr4 hai is manzar5-e Khaamosh meN 1.lap, embrace 2.pen-name of the poet 3.absorbed, fascinated 4.thought, imagination 5.scene
The city sleeps in the embrace of slumber. The poet, vajd, is fascinated with the scene of silence and deep in thought.
2
halki-halki1 chaandni, jhoNke2 hava ke kaif-baar3
ho rahi hai jazb4 goya5 zarre-zarre6 meN bahaar7
1.light, gentle 2.gusts 3.raining comfort/pleasure 4.absorb 5.as if 6.grain of sand, clay 7.spring
Gentle moonlight, gusts of breeze raining down comfort and joy. It is as if every grain of sand is absorbing the spirit of spring.
3
aasmaaN par malgaje1 baadal ka TukRa hai ravaaN2
yaa jhakole3 le rahi hai kashti4-e be-baadbaaN5 1.grey 2.flow 3.swing, sway 4.boat 5.without a sail, rudderless
A grey cloud floating in the sky, or is it a rudderless boat swaying from side to side!
4
qasr1-e aali2 kar rahe haiN koh3 se sargoshiaaN4
aasmaaN bhi sun raha hai jhuk ke un ki daastaaN5 1.palace, mansion 2.high, tall 3.hill 4.whispering 5.story
Tall mansions whisper secrets with the hill. The sky bends down to listen to their story.
5
oas1 ne moti2 luTaaye haiN zamiiN par is qadar3
baar4-e altaaf5 o karam6 se jhuk gaya sabze7 ka sar 1.dew 2.pearls 3.so many 4.weight 5.favours 6.kindnesses 7.green branches of trees
Dew has scattered so many pearls on the ground that with the weight of these favours and kindnesses the green branches of trees bow down low.
6
naau1 din ki paar nikli raat ke girdaab2 se
muskura kar sub’h uTThi bistar-e kamKhwaab3 se 1.boat 2.whirlpool 3.velvet
The day is like a boat caught up in the whirlpool of night. Finally it escapes out of the dark whirlpool. Dawn smiles and gets up out of its velvety bed.
7
baKhshish1-e fitrat2 se qismat jaag uTThi diid3 ki
samt4-e mashriq5 daf’atan6 phooTi kiran7 Khurshiid8 ki 1.grant, gift 2.nature 3.seeing, witnessing 4.direction, towards 5.east 6.suddenly 7.ray 8.sun
My luck smiled (woke up) because of this gift of nature. Suddenly from the east a ray of sunlight broke.
8
raushni1 meN luT2 rahi hai daulat3-e noor-e-sahr4
aab5-e zar6 se dhul rahe haiN kohna7 saqf8 o baam-o-dar9 1.light 2.given away, scattered 3.wealth 4.brilliance of dawn 5.water 6.golden 7.ancient 8.roofs 9.roof and door i.e., houses
In the morning light, the wealth of the brilliance of dawn is being spread and given away. Ancient palaces and houses are being washed in liquid gold.
9
zarra-zarra1 faiz2-e Khaavar3 se behisht-aasaar4 hai
daaman5-e kohsaar7 goya8 jauhari baazaar hai 1.every grain of sand 2.benevolence 3.sun 4.reflection of heaven 5.apron, valley 7.hills 8.as if
With the benevolence of the sun, every grain of sand, reflects the glory of heaven. It is as if the valley beneath the hills is jewelry bazaar.
10
saikRoN1 ashjaar2 dhaani3 chaadareN oRhe hue
sub’h ki devi ke darshan4 ki s’aadat5 paa gaye 1.thousands 2.trees 3.grey 4.sighting, glimpse 5.good fortune
It is as if thousands of trees, wearing a grey shawl, received the benefaction of the glimpse of the godess of dawn.
11
DaaliyoN1 par taa’eraan2-e Khush-navaa3 ke chahchahe4
zer5-e shaaKh-e-gul6 hasiinoN7 ke rasiile8 qahqahe9 1.branches 2.birds 3.sweet voiced 4.twittering 5.under, beneath 6.rose branch 7.beauties, damsels 8.juicy 9.laughter
On the branches birds sing their sweet songs and under the rose branch the equally juicy/sweet laughter of young maidens.
12
mauj-zan1 hai chaar-soo2 aalam3 meN toofaan-e-hayaat4
nashsha5-e aish-o-tarab6 meN jhoomti hai kaa’enaat7 1.rising wave 2.four directions 3.world 4.storm/activity of life 5.intoxication 6.comfort and pleasure 7.cosmos, universe
In all directions in the world, a rising tide of the activity of life. It is as if the whole universe is swaying, intoxicated with comfort and pleasure.
13
dil ki ye haalat1 keh saaz2-e naGhma3-e betaab4 hai
jumbish5-e mauj6-e nafas7 jumbish5-e mizraab8 hai 1.condition 2.instrument (say) sitaar 3.song 4.restless 5.movement 6.wave 7.breath 8.pluck
The pluck is worn on the finger to strike the strings of a musical instrument. Every breath is like the movement of the mizraab/pluck, making music and heart is like the musical instrument restless/eager to break out into song.
sikandar ali vajd (1914-1983) was a progressive, thoughtful poet from hyderabad, and a contemporary of maKhdoom. He qualified for the Hyderabad Civil Service and served as munsif magistrate and later as sessions judge. He got absorbed into the maharashTra state service when auraNgabad was split away from the erstwhile hyderabad state into maharashTra. He was elected to the rajya sabha and awarded padma shri. Unlike my previous impression which was based on a reading of his political compositions, I have come to realize that there is a healthy sufiyaana content in vajd’s composition. This nazm is purely descriptive of the beauty of dawn. A footnote says that he viewed dawn from a hotel on a hilltop and composed this. It is linked along with the many other beautiful nazm and Ghazal to the icon ‘jalva-e sahr’ on the Theme page.
1
shahr ab tak so raha hai niind ki aaGhosh1 meN
vajd2 mahv3-e fikr4 hai is manzar5-e Khaamosh meN
1.lap, embrace 2.pen-name of the poet 3.absorbed, fascinated 4.thought, imagination 5.scene
The city sleeps in the embrace of slumber. The poet, vajd, is fascinated with the scene of silence and deep in thought.
2
halki-halki1 chaandni, jhoNke2 hava ke kaif-baar3
ho rahi hai jazb4 goya5 zarre-zarre6 meN bahaar7
1.light, gentle 2.gusts 3.raining comfort/pleasure 4.absorb 5.as if 6.grain of sand, clay 7.spring
Gentle moonlight, gusts of breeze raining down comfort and joy. It is as if every grain of sand is absorbing the spirit of spring.
3
aasmaaN par malgaje1 baadal ka TukRa hai ravaaN2
yaa jhakole3 le rahi hai kashti4-e be-baadbaaN5
1.grey 2.flow 3.swing, sway 4.boat 5.without a sail, rudderless
A grey cloud floating in the sky, or is it a rudderless boat swaying from side to side!
4
qasr1-e aali2 kar rahe haiN koh3 se sargoshiaaN4
aasmaaN bhi sun raha hai jhuk ke un ki daastaaN5
1.palace, mansion 2.high, tall 3.hill 4.whispering 5.story
Tall mansions whisper secrets with the hill. The sky bends down to listen to their story.
5
oas1 ne moti2 luTaaye haiN zamiiN par is qadar3
baar4-e altaaf5 o karam6 se jhuk gaya sabze7 ka sar
1.dew 2.pearls 3.so many 4.weight 5.favours 6.kindnesses 7.green branches of trees
Dew has scattered so many pearls on the ground that with the weight of these favours and kindnesses the green branches of trees bow down low.
6
naau1 din ki paar nikli raat ke girdaab2 se
muskura kar sub’h uTThi bistar-e kamKhwaab3 se
1.boat 2.whirlpool 3.velvet
The day is like a boat caught up in the whirlpool of night. Finally it escapes out of the dark whirlpool. Dawn smiles and gets up out of its velvety bed.
7
baKhshish1-e fitrat2 se qismat jaag uTThi diid3 ki
samt4-e mashriq5 daf’atan6 phooTi kiran7 Khurshiid8 ki
1.grant, gift 2.nature 3.seeing, witnessing 4.direction, towards 5.east 6.suddenly 7.ray 8.sun
My luck smiled (woke up) because of this gift of nature. Suddenly from the east a ray of sunlight broke.
8
raushni1 meN luT2 rahi hai daulat3-e noor-e-sahr4
aab5-e zar6 se dhul rahe haiN kohna7 saqf8 o baam-o-dar9
1.light 2.given away, scattered 3.wealth 4.brilliance of dawn 5.water 6.golden 7.ancient 8.roofs 9.roof and door i.e., houses
In the morning light, the wealth of the brilliance of dawn is being spread and given away. Ancient palaces and houses are being washed in liquid gold.
9
zarra-zarra1 faiz2-e Khaavar3 se behisht-aasaar4 hai
daaman5-e kohsaar7 goya8 jauhari baazaar hai
1.every grain of sand 2.benevolence 3.sun 4.reflection of heaven 5.apron, valley 7.hills 8.as if
With the benevolence of the sun, every grain of sand, reflects the glory of heaven. It is as if the valley beneath the hills is jewelry bazaar.
10
saikRoN1 ashjaar2 dhaani3 chaadareN oRhe hue
sub’h ki devi ke darshan4 ki s’aadat5 paa gaye
1.thousands 2.trees 3.grey 4.sighting, glimpse 5.good fortune
It is as if thousands of trees, wearing a grey shawl, received the benefaction of the glimpse of the godess of dawn.
11
DaaliyoN1 par taa’eraan2-e Khush-navaa3 ke chahchahe4
zer5-e shaaKh-e-gul6 hasiinoN7 ke rasiile8 qahqahe9
1.branches 2.birds 3.sweet voiced 4.twittering 5.under, beneath 6.rose branch 7.beauties, damsels 8.juicy 9.laughter
On the branches birds sing their sweet songs and under the rose branch the equally juicy/sweet laughter of young maidens.
12
mauj-zan1 hai chaar-soo2 aalam3 meN toofaan-e-hayaat4
nashsha5-e aish-o-tarab6 meN jhoomti hai kaa’enaat7
1.rising wave 2.four directions 3.world 4.storm/activity of life 5.intoxication 6.comfort and pleasure 7.cosmos, universe
In all directions in the world, a rising tide of the activity of life. It is as if the whole universe is swaying, intoxicated with comfort and pleasure.
13
dil ki ye haalat1 keh saaz2-e naGhma3-e betaab4 hai
jumbish5-e mauj6-e nafas7 jumbish5-e mizraab8 hai
1.condition 2.instrument (say) sitaar 3.song 4.restless 5.movement 6.wave 7.breath 8.pluck
The pluck is worn on the finger to strike the strings of a musical instrument. Every breath is like the movement of the mizraab/pluck, making music and heart is like the musical instrument restless/eager to break out into song.
