Recitation
تخلّص کا کھیل ۔ شانِ مومن ۔ مومن خاں مومن
۱
مُدّت سے نام سنتے تھے مومنؔ کا بارے آج
دیکھا بھی ہم نے اس شعرا کے امام کو
۲
مومن میں اپنے نالوں کے صدقے کہ کہتے ہیں
اُس کو بھی آج نیند نہ آئی تمام شب
۳
مومنؔ اُسی نے مجھ سے دی برتری کسی کو
جو پست فہم میرے اشعار تک نہ پہنچا
۴
مومن اِس شعلہ زبانی کی کہاں قدر مگر
منہ دُرِ آبلہ سے گرمیٔ فریاد بھرے
۵
اِنصاف کے خواہاں ہیں نہیں طالبِ زر ہم
تحسینِ سخن فہم ہے مومن صلہ اپنا
۶
وہ مشق رہی اور نہ وہ شوق ہے مومن
کیا شعر کہیں گے اگر اِلہام نہ ہوگا
۷
مومن سے اچھی ہو غزل تھا اِسلئے یہ زور شور
کیا کیا مضامین لاۓ ہم کِس کِس ہنر سے باندھ کر
۸
کیونکر نہ غم ہو خلق کو مومن کی مرگ کا
تھا سب کو اُس کی ذاتِ سراپا ہنر سے فیض
۹
مومن یہ شاعروں کا مرے آگے رنگ ہے
جوں پیشِ آفتاب ہو بے نور ہر چراغ
۱۰
مومن نہ توڑ رِشتۂ زُنّارِ برہمن
مت کر وہ بات جس سے کوئی دِل شکستہ ہو
۱۱
عبث ترقّیِ فن کی ہوس ہے مومن کو
زیادہ ہوے گا کیا اِس سے بے مثال تو ہے
۱۲
مومن تجھے تو وہب ہے مومن ہی وہ نہیں
جو معتقد نہیں تیری طبعِ سلیم کا
तख़ल्लुस का खेल – शान-ए मोमिन – मोमिन ख़ां मोमिन
१
मुद्दत से नाम सुनते थे मोमिन का बारे आज
देखा भी हम ने उस शो’अरा के इमाम को
२
मोमिन मैं अपने नालों के सदक़े के कहते हैं
उस को भी आज नींद ना आई तमाम शब
३
मोमिन उसी ने मुझ से दी बरतरी किसी को
जो पस्त फ़हम मेरे अश’आर तक ना पहुंचा
४
मोमिन इस शो’ला ज़बानी की कहां क़द्र मगर
मुहं दूर-ए आबला से गर्मी-ए फ़रियाद भरे
५
इंसाफ़ के ख़्वाहां हैं नहीं तालिब-ए ज़र हम
तहसीन-ए सुख़न-फ़हम है मोमिन सिला अपना
६
वो मश्क़ रही और ना वो शौक़ है मोमिन
क्या शेर कहेंगे अगर इल्हाम ना होगा
७
मोमिन से अच्छी हो गज़ल, था इस लिए ये ज़ोर शोर
क्या क्या मज़ामीन लाए हम, किस किस हुनर से बाँध कर
८
क्यूंकर ना ग़म हो ख़ल्क़ को मोमिन की मर्ग का
था सब को उस की ज़ात-ए सरापा-हुनर से फ़ैज़
९
मोमिन ये शा’एरों का मेरे आगे रंग है
जूं पेश-ए आफ़्ताब हो बे-नूर हर चिराग़
१०
मोमिन ना तोड़ रिश्ता-ए ज़ुन्नार-ए बरहमन
मत कर वो बात जिस से कोइ दिल शिकसता हो
११
अबस तरक़्क़ी-ए फ़न की हवस है मोमिन को
ज़ियादा होयगा क्या इस से बे-मिसाल है तू
१२
मोमिन तुझे तो वहब है मोमिन ही वो नहीं
जो मो’तक़द नहीं तेरी तब’ए सलीम का
taKhallus ka khel – shaan-e momin – momin KhaaN momin
Click here for overall comments and on any she’r for word meanings and discussion. ‘momin’ is a pious person. momin KhaaN momin makes excellent use of his name and pen-name to write with intertwined double meanings, sometimes making fun of or being sarcastic about orthodoxy, implying that the beloved is cross with a pious person, claiming to be righteous and pious because of his name and many others. The collection in this post is where momin the poet praises himself, sometimes for his supposed orthodoxy, at other times for his poetic virtuosity/ability.
1
muddat1 se naam sunte the momin ka baare2 aaj
dekha bhi hum ne us shu’ara3 ke imaam4 ko1.long time 2.but 3.poets 4.leader, also orthodox leader
For a long time now we have been hearing about momin but today we got to see that leader of poets – the poet is making a statement on behalf of the audience, praising himself.
2
momin maiN apne naalauN1 ke sadqe2 keh kahte haiN
us ko bhi aaj neend na aaii tamaam shab1.wails, cries of pain 2.used in the sense of paying homage to
The poet is proud of his wailing because they say that the beloved hearing them was not able to sleep all night long. Normally, she would not care and sleep peacefully. But his wailing has had an effect, so he takes credit.
3
momin usi ne mujh se di bartari1 kisi ko
jo past-fahm2 mere asha’ar3 tak na pahuNcha1.superiority, preference 2.lowly wisdom/understanding 3.couplets
Only people of low/poor understanding/taste in poetry give preference to other’s asha’ar over mine.
4
momin is sho’la-zabaani1 ki kahaaN qadr2 magar
muNh dur-e-aabla3 se garmi-e-faryaad4 bhare1.fiery tongue 2.value/appreciation 3.pearly blisters 4.heat/passion of appeal/complaint
momin, the poet has a fiery tongue and such “garmi-e faryaad” that because of the heat, his mouth is filled with pearly blisters. But unfortunately, there is no appreciation of his “shola zabaani”.
5
insaaf1 ke KhwaahaaN2 haiN nahiN taalib3-e zar4 hum
tahseen5-e suKhan-fahm6 hai momin sila7 apna1.justice, aapropriate recompense 2.desirous 3.demand 4.gold, wealth 5.appreciation, applause 6.one who understands/appreciates verse/poetry 7.reward, recompense
We (poets) don’t demand wealth/gold. Our reward is applause by those who understand/appreciate verse. Ghalib claimed that he did not even care for such appreciation. If you cannot understand my asha’ar, so be it, he said.
na sitaaesh ki tamanna na Sile ki parvaah
gar nahiN haiN mere asha’ar meN ma’ani na sahi
6
vo mashq1 rahi aur na vo shauq2 hai momin
kya she’r kaheNge agar ilhaam3 na hoga1.practice, exercise 2.desire, passion 3.divine inspiration just short of being a vahi-revelation
The poet no longer works hard or has the passion to write verse. How can I write any sh’er if I do not get divine inspiration. Said Ghalib (in farsi translated in urdu by shahed) …
she’r kahta hai jo Ghalib vo vahi ho na sahi
ba-Khuda tu hi bataa de agar ilhaam nahiN hai to vo kya hai
7
momin se achhee ho Ghazal, tha is liye ye zor shor1
kya kya mazaamiN2 laaye hum kis kis hunar3 se baandh kar1.enthusiasm, eagerness 2.subjects, themes 3.art, talent
There was much enthusiasm at the musha’ira because all poets wanted to outdo momin. That is why they selected and brought with them this wide range of themes clothed in such art. What is left unsaid is that they did not succeed.
8
kyuNkar1 na Gham ho Khalq2 ko momin ki marg3 ka
tha sub ko us ki zaat4-e saraapa5-hunar6 se faiz7 1.why 2.creation, humanity 3.death 4.person 5.head to toe, embodiment 6.art, talent 7.gift
momin is writing of his own death. Humanity has been receiving a gift because his (momin’s) person is an embodiment of talent. Why should they not be sorry at his death.
9
momin ye shaa’erauN ka mere aage raNg hai
juN pesh1-e aaftaab2 ho be-noor3 har chiraaGh1.before, in front of 2.sun 3.without light
Every lamp appears as if it has no light, if it is placed before the sun. That is exactly how other poets are when placed before momin.
10
momin na toR rishta1-e zunnar2-e barahman
mat kar vo baat jis se koii dil shikasta3 ho1.relationship, connection 2.hindu ceremonial thread 3.break, hurt
momin (pious man) do not cut the thread of relationship with the brahman. Do not do anything that will break hearts.
11
abas1 taraqqi2-e fun3 ki havas4 hai momin ko
ziyada hoyega kya is se be-misaal5 hai tu1.useless, unnecessary 2.improvement, increase 3.art, artistry 4.lust, greed 5.without equal, unexampled
momin has an unnecessary greed for more artistic ability. What more can he be, he is already without equal.
12
momin tujhe to vahb1 hai momin hi vo nahiN
jo mo’taqad2 nahiN teri tab’a3-e saleem4 ka1.immunity, forgiven 2.believer, convinced of 3.nature, character 4.healthy, sound, balanced
momin (poet), you have immunity (from sin) and he alone is not momin (pious) who is not convinced of your sound nature.
taKhallus ka khel – shaan-e momin – momin KhaaN momin
‘momin’ is a pious person. momin KhaaN momin makes excellent use of his name and pen-name to write with intertwined double meanings, sometimes making fun of or being sarcastic about orthodoxy, implying that the beloved is cross with a pious person, claiming to be righteous and pious because of his name and many others. The collection in this post is where momin the poet praises himself, sometimes for his supposed orthodoxy, at other times for his poetic virtuosity/ability.
1
muddat1 se naam sunte the momin ka baare2 aaj
dekha bhi hum ne us shu’ara3 ke imaam4 ko
1.long time 2.but 3.poets 4.leader, also orthodox leader
For a long time now we have been hearing about momin but today we got to see that leader of poets – the poet is making a statement on behalf of the audience, praising himself.
2
momin maiN apne naalauN1 ke sadqe2 keh kahte haiN
us ko bhi aaj neend na aaii tamaam shab
1.wails, cries of pain 2.used in the sense of paying homage to
The poet is proud of his wailing because they say that the beloved hearing them was not able to sleep all night long. Normally, she would not care and sleep peacefully. But his wailing has had an effect, so he takes credit.
3
momin usi ne mujh se di bartari1 kisi ko
jo past-fahm2 mere asha’ar3 tak na pahuNcha
1.superiority, preference 2.lowly wisdom/understanding 3.couplets
Only people of low/poor understanding/taste in poetry give preference to other’s asha’ar over mine.
4
momin is sho’la-zabaani1 ki kahaaN qadr2 magar
muNh dur-e-aabla3 se garmi-e-faryaad4 bhare
1.fiery tongue 2.value/appreciation 3.pearly blisters 4.heat/passion of appeal/complaint
momin, the poet has a fiery tongue and such “garmi-e faryaad” that because of the heat, his mouth is filled with pearly blisters. But unfortunately, there is no appreciation of his “shola zabaani”.
5
insaaf1 ke KhwaahaaN2 haiN nahiN taalib3-e zar4 hum
tahseen5-e suKhan-fahm6 hai momin Sila7 apna
1.justice, aapropriate recompense 2.desirous 3.demand 4.gold, wealth 5.appreciation, applause 6.one who understands/appreciates verse/poetry 7.reward, recompense
We (poets) don’t demand wealth/gold. Our reward is applause by those who understand/appreciate verse. Ghalib claimed that he did not even care for such appreciation. If you cannot understand my asha’ar, so be it, he said.
na sitaaesh ki tamanna na Sile ki parvaah
gar nahiN haiN mere asha’ar meN ma’ani na sahi
6
vo mashq1 rahi aur na vo shauq2 hai momin
kya she’r kaheNge agar ilhaam3 na hoga
1.practice, exercise 2.desire, passion 3.divine inspiration just short of being a vahi-revelation
The poet no longer works hard or has the passion to write verse. How can I write any sh’er if I do not get divine inspiration. Said Ghalib (in farsi translated in urdu by shahed) …
she’r kahta hai jo Ghalib vo vahi ho na sahi
ba-Khuda tu hi bataa de agar ilhaam nahiN hai to vo kya hai
7
momin se achhee ho Ghazal, tha is liye ye zor shor1
kya kya mazaamiN2 laaye hum kis kis hunar3 se baandh kar
1.enthusiasm, eagerness 2.subjects, themes 3.art, talent
There was much enthusiasm at the musha’ira because all poets wanted to outdo momin. That is why they selected and brought with them this wide range of themes clothed in such art. What is left unsaid is that they did not succeed.
8
kyuNkar1 na Gham ho Khalq2 ko momin ki marg3 ka
tha sub ko us ki zaat4-e saraapa5-hunar6 se faiz7
1.why 2.creation, humanity 3.death 4.person 5.head to toe, embodiment 6.art, talent 7.gift
momin is writing of his own death. Humanity has been receiving a gift because his (momin’s) person is an embodiment of talent. Why should they not be sorry at his death.
9
momin ye shaa’erauN ka mere aage raNg hai
juN pesh1-e aaftaab2 ho be-noor3 har chiraaGh
1.before, in front of 2.sun 3.without light
Every lamp appears as if it has no light, if it is placed before the sun. That is exactly how other poets are when placed before momin.
10
momin na toR rishta1-e zunnar2-e barahman
mat kar vo baat jis se koii dil shikasta3 ho
1.relationship, connection 2.hindu ceremonial thread 3.break, hurt
momin (pious man) do not cut the thread of relationship with the brahman. Do not do anything that will break hearts.
11
abas1 taraqqi2-e fun3 ki havas4 hai momin ko
ziyada hoyega kya is se be-misaal5 hai tu
1.useless, unnecessary 2.improvement, increase 3.art, artistry 4.lust, greed 5.without equal, unexampled
momin has an unnecessary greed for more artistic ability. What more can he be, he is already without equal.
12
momin tujhe to vahb1 hai momin hi vo nahiN
jo mo’taqad2 nahiN teri tab’a3-e saleem4 ka
1.immunity, forgiven 2.believer, convinced of 3.nature, character 4.healthy, sound, balanced
momin (poet), you have immunity (from sin) and he alone is not momin (pious) who is not convinced of your sound nature.
Key Search Words: poet’s pride excellence self-aggrandizement
