For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
bekal utsahi
تاج محل ۔ بیکل اُتساہی
نشہ و کیفِ غزل ، حُسنِ غزل ، جانِ غزل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
تیرے سہمے ہوئے ہوںٹوں کو تبسم کی لکیر
تیری اُوندھی ہوئی آنکھوں کو حیا کی چِلْمَن
تیرے سوئے ہوئے ماتھے کو شفق کی تنویر
تیری الجھی ہوئی زلفوں کو بہارِ گلشن
تیرے دہکے ہوئے عارض کو لہکتے سے کنول
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
نشہ و کیفِ غزل ، حُسنِ غزل ، جانِ غزل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
دھوپ کا راج ، چندرما کی حکومت کا غرور
بعدِ محنت کسی مزدور کی باہوں کی تھکن
جراؑتِ ضبط ، غمِ عشق ، وفاؤں کا شعور
شوکتِ حسنِ فسونکار كے ماتھے کی شکن
اشک جب ساز اُٹھا لے تو کسی راگ میں ڈھل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
نشہ و کیفِ غزل ، حُسنِ غزل ، جانِ غزل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
سبز چادر میں وہ لپٹا ہوا محنت کا جمال
بالیاں کھیت کی تھالی میں لئے لالِ یمن
آم کی بور، بھرے مدھ كے کٹوروں میں گلال
اَدھ کھلے پھولوں کو نہلاتا ہوا مُشکِ خُتن
چل اُدھر گاؤں میں احساس جہاں جائے مچل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
نشہ و کیفِ غزل ، حُسنِ غزل ، جانِ غزل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
حُسْن محشر کا لٹاتا ہوا اندازِ خرام
تیرے چرنوں کو دھلاتے ہوئے مدمست پون
رقص کرتی ہوئی آنچل کو تیرے دوج کی شام
تیری انگڑائی کو بل کھاتا ہوا نیل گگن
تیری پرچھائیں سے تعمیر کروں تاج محل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
نشہ و کیفِ غزل ، حُسنِ غزل ، جانِ غزل
آ تجھے گیت کا اندازِ ترنّم دے دوں
ताज महल – बेकल उत्साही
नशा ओ कैफ़-ए गाज़ल, हुस्न-ए गज़ल, जान-ए गज़ल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
तेरे सहमे हुए होंटों को तबस्सुम की लकीर
तेरी ऊंधी हुई आँखौं को हया की चिलमन
तेरे सोए हुए माथे को शफ़क़ की तनवीर
तेरी उलझी हुई ज़ुल्फ़ों के बहार-ए गुलशन
तेरे दहके हुए आरिज़ को लहकते से कंवल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
नशा ओ कैफ़-ए गाज़ल, हुस्न-ए गज़ल, जान-ए गज़ल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
धूप का राज, चंदरमा की हुकूमत का ग़ुरूर
बाद-ए मेहनत किसी मज़दूर की बाहौं की थकन
जर’अत-ए ज़ब्त, ग़म-ए इश्क़, वफ़ाओं का शा’ऊर
शौकत-ए हुस्न-ए फ़ुसूँकार के माथे की शिकन
अश्क जब साज़ उठा ले तो किसी राग में ढल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
नशा ओ कैफ़-ए गज़ल, हुस्न-ए गज़ल, जान-ए गज़ल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
सब्ज़ चादर में वो लिपटा हुआ मेहनत का जमाल
बालियां खेत की थाली में लिए लाल-ए यमन
आम की बौर, भरे मध के कटोरौं में गुलाल
आध खुले फूलों को नहलाता हुआ मुश्क-ए ख़ुतन
चल उधर गाऊं में एहसास जहां जाए मचल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
नशा ओ कैफ़-ए गज़ल, हुस्न-ए गज़ल, जान-ए गज़ल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
हुस्न महशर का लुटाता हुआ अंदाज़-ए ख़िराम
तेरे चरनों को धुलाते हुए मुदमस्त पवन
रक़्स करती हुई आंचल को तेरे दूज की शाम
तेरी अंगड़ाई को बल खाता हुआ नील गगन
तेरी परछाईं से ता’मीर करूं ताज महल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
नशा ओ कैफ़-ए गज़ल, हुस्न-ए गज़ल, जान-ए गज़ल
आ तुझे गीत का अंदाज़-ए तरन्नुम दे दूं
taj mahal – bekal utsahi
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. In spite of the title, this nazm/geet/Ghazal has little to do with Taj Mahal. It is extremely musical and beautiful and a lovely blend of urdu/hindi/avadhi. Bekal is granting “the music of lok geet” to Ghazal. He is singing paens to his beloved and granting her beauty … only the beloved happens to be Ghazal.
nasha1 o kaif2-e Ghazal, husn3-e Ghazal, jaan4-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz5-e tarannum6 de duN1.intoxication 2.pleasure 3.beauty 4.life/soul 5.style 6.musicality
The poet is addressing his beloved, the Ghazal, and offering to bring to her the musicality of folk songs. bekal utsahi is known to have strong liking for rural traditions. O Ghazal, you have great beauty, soul, pleasure giving intoxication. Let me bring you the musicality of folk song.
tere sahme1 hue hoNTauN ko tabassum2 ki lakiir
teri ooNdhi3 hui aaNkhauN ko haya4 ki chilman5
tere soye hue maathe6 ko shafaq7 ki tanviir8
teri uljhi9 hui zulfauN10 ko bahaar-e gulshan11
tere dahke12 hue aariz13 ko lahakte14 se kanval
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN1.scared 2.smile 3.turned upside down, closed 4.coyness, dignity 5.veil 6,brow 7.horizon 8.brilliance 9.tangled 10.locks, hair 11.flowers of the garden 12.glowing (feverish) 13.face 14.fragrant glow
Think of the Ghazal as a damsel who has been tied up/bound by too much tradition, too many restrictions and she has lost her vigour and beauty. Let me bring a smile to your scared lips. Let me bring a covering of dignity so you can open your eyes and look out. Let me bring the brilliance/colour of the horizon to your dulled brow. Let me bring flowers of the garden for your tangled locks. Let me bring glowing fragrance to your feverish face.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
dhoop ka raaj, chandarma ki hukoomat ka Ghuroor1
baad2-e mehnat3 kisi mazdoor ki baahauN4 ki thakan5
jur’at-e zabt6, Gham-e ishq7, vafaauN ka sha’oor8
shaukat9-e husn-e fusuNkaar10 ke maathe11 ki shikan12
ashk jab saaz13 uThaa le to kisi raag meN Dhal14
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN1.pride 2.after 3.hard labour 4.arms 5.tiredness, aching 6.courage of forbearance 7.(pleasant) sorrow of love 8.wisdom of keeping faith 9.grandeur, splendour 10.beauty of the enchantress/beloved 11.brow 12.wrinkle 13.musical instrument, lute 14.cast
Let me bring you the proud sovereignty of the sun and moon, the pleasant in the arms of a worker after hard day’s work (is this calling upon the Ghazal to sing/write about workers). Let me bring you the courage of forbearance, the sorrow of love and the wisdom of keeping faith. The beloved is an enchantress and she can get angry with the lover. This anger shows up as a wrinkled brow and in traditional poetry this is a beautiful thing. Let me bring you the grandeur of the wrinkled brow of the beloved. In sorrow and in tears, one can pick up a lute and make music. O, Ghazal, it is time for you to get cast in such music.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
sabz1 chaadar meN vo lipTa hua mehnat ka jamaal2
baaliyaaN3 khet ki thaali meN liye laal-e yaman4
aam ki baur5, bhare madh6 ke kaTorauN meN gulaal7
adh-khule8 phoolauN ko nahlaata hua mushk-e Khutan9
chal udhar gaauN meN ehsaas10 jahaaN jaaye machal12
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN1.green 2.beauty, face 3.ear bobs, kernels of grain 4.rubies of yemen (considered especially valuable) 5.flower bunch 6.wine 7.red 8.half open 9.musk of Tartary (considered especially fragrant) 10.feelings 12. stirred up, restless
The beautiful face of labour shrouded in a green sheet (a beautiful description of green fields). Kernels of grain in a tray are served up as if they are rubies of yemen. The beauty of the blooms of the mango, red wine brimming in cups. Half open flowers, fragrant like the musk of Tartary. Come (Ghazal) let us go to the village where sentiments will be stirred up.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
husn mahshar1 ka luTaata2 hua andaaz-e Khiraam3
tere charnauN ko dhulaate hue madhmast4 pavan
raqs5 karti hui aaNchal ko tere duuj6 ki shaam
teri aNgRaaii ko bal-khaata7 hua neel gagan8
teri parchhaaiiN9 se ta’amiir10 karuN taj mahal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN1.havoc creating 2.munificent distribution 3.style of walking, gait 4.wine laden 5.dance 6.second night of the moon 7.curving 8.blue sky 9.shadow, image, memory, imagination 10.build
The gait of the beloved is so beautiful that it creates havoc and the sight of its beauty is like royal munificence to the crowds. The moisture laden breeze (in this case the moisture is like wine) washes her feet. duuj is supposed to be auspicious … he wants to bring that good luck to the dance of the beloved’s skirt. And the curve of the blue sky to her yawn/stretch. Either even her shadow is so beautiful, or his memories/images of her are so beautiful that he can build/write a Ghazal more beautiful than the Taj.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
taj mahal – bekal utsahi
In spite of the title, this nazm/geet/Ghazal has little to do with Taj Mahal. It is extremely musical and beautiful and a lovely blend of urdu/hindi/avadhi. Bekal is granting “the music of lok geet” to Ghazal. He is singing paens to his beloved and granting her beauty … only the beloved happens to be “Ghazal”.
nasha1 o kaif2-e Ghazal, husn3-e Ghazal, jaan4-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz5-e tarannum6 de duN
1.intoxication 2.pleasure 3.beauty 4.life/soul 5.style 6.musicality
The poet is addressing his beloved, the Ghazal, and offering to bring to her the musicality of folk songs. bekal utsahi is known to have strong liking for rural traditions. O Ghazal, you have great beauty, soul, pleasure giving intoxication. Let me bring you the musicality of folk song.
tere sahme1 hue hoNTauN ko tabassum2 ki lakiir
teri ooNdhi3 hui aaNkhauN ko haya4 ki chilman5
tere soye hue maathe6 ko shafaq7 ki tanviir8
teri uljhi9 hui zulfauN10 ko bahaar-e gulshan11
tere dahke12 hue aariz13 ko lahakte14 se kanval
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
1.scared 2.smile 3.turned upside down, closed 4.coyness, dignity 5.veil 6,brow 7.horizon 8.brilliance 9.tangled 10.locks, hair 11.flowers of the garden 12.glowing (feverish) 13.face 14.fragrant glow
Think of the Ghazal as a damsel who has been tied up/bound by too much tradition, too many restrictions and she has lost her vigour and beauty. Let me bring a smile to your scared lips. Let me bring a covering of dignity so you can open your eyes and look out. Let me bring the brilliance/colour of the horizon to your dulled brow. Let me bring flowers of the garden for your tangled locks. Let me bring glowing fragrance to your feverish face.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
dhoop ka raaj, chandarma ki hukoomat ka Ghuroor1
baad2-e mehnat3 kisi mazdoor ki baahauN4 ki thakan5
jur’at-e zabt6, Gham-e ishq7, vafaauN ka sha’oor8
shaukat9-e husn-e fusuNkaar10 ke maathe11 ki shikan12
ashk jab saaz13 uThaa le to kisi raag meN Dhal14
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
1.pride 2.after 3.hard labour 4.arms 5.tiredness, aching 6.courage of forbearance 7.(pleasant) sorrow of love 8.wisdom of keeping faith 9.grandeur, splendour 10.beauty of the enchantress/beloved 11.brow 12.wrinkle 13.musical instrument, lute 14.cast
Let me bring you the proud sovereignty of the sun and moon, the pleasant in the arms of a worker after hard day’s work (is this calling upon the Ghazal to sing/write about workers). Let me bring you the courage of forbearance, the sorrow of love and the wisdom of keeping faith. The beloved is an enchantress and she can get angry with the lover. This anger shows up as a wrinkled brow and in traditional poetry this is a beautiful thing. Let me bring you the grandeur of the wrinkled brow of the beloved. In sorrow and in tears, one can pick up a lute and make music. O, Ghazal, it is time for you to get cast in such music.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
sabz1 chaadar meN vo lipTa hua mehnat ka jamaal2
baaliyaaN3 khet ki thaali meN liye laal-e yaman4
aam ki baur5, bhare madh6 ke kaTorauN meN gulaal7
adh-khule8 phoolauN ko nahlaata hua mushk-e Khutan9
chal udhar gaauN meN ehsaas10 jahaaN jaaye machal12
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
1.green 2.beauty, face 3.ear bobs, kernels of grain 4.rubies of yemen (considered especially valuable) 5.flower bunch 6.wine 7.red 8.half open 9.musk of Tartary (considered especially fragrant) 10.feelings 12. stirred up, restless
The beautiful face of labour shrouded in a green sheet (a beautiful description of green fields). Kernels of grain in a tray are served up as if they are rubies of yemen. The beauty of the blooms of the mango, red wine brimming in cups. Half open flowers, fragrant like the musk of Tartary. Come (Ghazal) let us go to the village where sentiments will be stirred up.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
husn mahshar1 ka luTaata2 hua andaaz-e Khiraam3
tere charnauN ko dhulaate hue madhmast4 pavan
raqs5 karti hui aaNchal ko tere duuj6 ki shaam
teri aNgRaaii ko bal-khaata7 hua neel gagan8
teri parchhaaiiN9 se ta’amiir10 karuN taj mahal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
1.havoc creating 2.munificent distribution 3.style of walking, gait 4.wine laden 5.dance 6.second night of the moon 7.curving 8.blue sky 9.shadow, image, memory, imagination 10.build
The gait of the beloved is so beautiful that it creates havoc and the sight of its beauty is like royal munificence to the crowds. The moisture laden breeze (in this case the moisture is like wine) washes her feet. duuj is supposed to be auspicious … he wants to bring that good luck to the dance of the beloved’s skirt. And the curve of the blue sky to her yawn/stretch. Either even her shadow is so beautiful, or his memories/images of her are so beautiful that he can build/write a Ghazal more beautiful than the Taj.
nasha o kaif-e Ghazal, husn-e Ghazal, jaan-e Ghazal
aa tujhe geet ka andaaz-e tarannum de duN
