Thikaana kya-ibn-e insha

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

ٹھکانا کیا ۔ شیر محمد خاں ابنِ اِنشاؔ

۱

انشاؔ جی اٹھو اب کوچ کرو اس شہر میں جی کو لگانا کیا

وحشی کو سکوں سے کیا مطلب جوگی کا نگر میں ٹھکانا کیا

۲

اس دل کے دریدہ دامن کو دیکھو تو سہی سوچو تو سہی

جس جھولی میں سو چھید ہوئے اس جھولی کا پھیلانا کیا

۳

شب بیتی چاند بھی ڈوب چلا زنجیر پڑی دروازے میں

کیوں دیر گئے گھر آئے ہو سجنی سے کرو گے بہانا کیا

۴

پھر ہجر کی لمبی رات میاں سنجوگ کی تو یہی ایک گھڑی

جو دل میں ہے لب پر آنے دو شرمانا کیا گھبرانا کیا

۵

اُس روز جو ان کو دیکھا ہے اب خواب کا عالم لگتا ہے

اُس روز جو ان سے بات ہوئی وہ بات بھی تھی افسانا کیا

۶

اُس حسن کے سچے موتی کو ہم دیکھ سکیں پر چھو نہ سکیں

جسے دیکھ سکیں پر چھو نہ سکیں وہ دولت کیا وہ خزانا کیا

۷

اُس کو بھی جلا دُکھتے ہوئے من اک شعلہ لال بھبوکا بن

یوں آنسو بن بہہ جانا کیا یوں ماٹی میں مل جانا کیا

۸

جب شہر کے لوگ نہ رستا دیں کیوں بن میں نہ جا بسرام کرے

دیوانوں کی سی نہ بات کرے تو اور کرے دیوانا کیا

ठिकाना क्या – शेर मोहम्मद ख़ां इब्न-ए इन्शा

इंशा-जी उठो अब कूच करो इस शहर में जी को लगाना क्या

वहशी को सुकूँ से क्या मत्लब जोगी का नगर में ठिकाना क्या

इस दिल के दरीदा दामन को देखो तो सही सोचो तो सही

जिस झोली में सौ छेद हुए उस झोली का फैलाना क्या

शब बीती चाँद भी डूब चला ज़ंजीर पड़ी दरवाज़े में

क्यूँ देर गए घर आए हो सजनी से करोगे बहाना क्या

फिर हिज्र कि लम्बी रात मियाँ संजोग कि तो यही एक घड़ी

जो दिल में है लब पर आने दो शर्माना क्या घबराना क्या

उस रोज़ जो उन को देखा है अब ख़्वाब का आलम लगता है

उस रोज़ जो उन से बात हुई वो बात भी थी अफ़्साना क्या

उस हुस्न के सच्चे मोती को हम देख सकें पर छू न सकें

जिसे देख सकें पर छू न सकें वो दौलत क्या वो ख़ज़ाना क्या

उस को भी जला दुखते हुए मन एक शो’ला लाल भबूका बन

यूँ आँसू बन बह जाना क्या यूँ माटी में मिल जाना क्या

जब शहर के लोग न रस्ता दें क्यूँ बन में न जा बिसराम करे

दीवानों की सी न बात करे तो और करे दीवाना क्या

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sher mohammad KhaaN ibn-e insha (1927-1978), poet, journalist, travelogue writer. A progressive with wide ranging subjects – romance, politics, deep humanism and self deprecating humour. He was diagnosed with cancer and given a few months. This Ghazal, though not written at that time, sounds like he was anticipating his death.
1
insha-ji uTho ab kooch1 karo is shahr meN ji ko lagaana kya
vahshi2 ko sukooN3 se kya matlab jogi ka nagar meN Thikaana kya  
1.depart 2.wild/mad 3.comfort, peace of mind
Get up, O, insha, it is time to depart, what’s the use of getting attached to this world. How can a mad man be concerned with peace of mind, how can a mendicant tarry in a settlement.

2
is dil ke darida1 daaman2 ko dekho to sahi socho to sahi
jis jholi meN sau chhed hue us jholi ka phailana kya  
1.torn 2.hem of the skirt or dress held up to gather alms
Entertaining longing/desire in your heart is like holding up a torn skirt/dress to gather alms. There are hundreds of holes in it and everything will fall away. It is best not to desire/want anything.

3
shab biiti chaaNd bhi Duub chala zanjir paRi darvaze meN
kyuuN der gaye ghar aaye ho sajni se karoge bahaana kya  
The night’s past, the moon has set, the door is chained and locked. Why are you returning home so late, what excuse will you offer the beloved.

4
phir hijr1 ki lambi raat miyaN sanjog2 ki to yahi ek ghaRi
jo dil meN hai lab3 par aane do sharmana kya ghabrana kya  
1.separation 2.fortune, chance, fortune 3.lips
O fool, there will be a long night of separation after this. This is your one moment of chance/fortune. Speak/say whatever is in your heart, why be bashful, why be worried.

5
us roz jo un ko dekha hai ab Khwaab ka aalam lagta hai
us roz jo un se baat hui vo baat bhi thi afsaana1 kya  
1.fairy tale
That day when I saw her, it now seems like it was just a dream. That day whatever we talked, was it really just a fairy tale.

6
us husn ke sachche moti ko ham dekh sakeN par chhoo na sakeN
jise dekh sakeN par chhoo na sakeN vo daulat kya vo Khazaana kya  
That beauty like a genuine pearl, we can only see but not touch. Of what use is such wealth, useless such treasure.

7
us ko bhi jala dukhte hue man ik sho’la laal bhabooka ban
yuuN aaNsoo ban bah jaana kya yuuN maaTi meN mil jaana kya  
O, my aching heart, burn her too (in the heat of love), become a crimson red flame. What is the use of crying by yourselves, letting your tears flow down into the earth.

8
jab shahr ke log na rasta deN kyuN ban meN na ja bisraam1 kare
divaanoN ki si na baat kare to aur kare divaana kya
1.rest
When the people of the city don’t give you room, why not go off into the forest and rest. After all I am mad man, what else can a mad man do but rant a foolish rant.

sher mohammad KhaaN ibn-e insha (1927-1978), poet, journalist, travelogue writer.  A progressive with wide ranging subjects – romance, politics, deep humanism and self deprecating humour.  He was diagnosed with cancer and given a few months.  This Ghazal, though not written at that time, sounds like he was anticipating his death.
1
insha-ji uTho ab kooch1 karo is shahr meN ji ko lagaana kya
vahshi2 ko sukooN3 se kya matlab jogi ka nagar meN Thikaana kya

1.depart 2.wild/mad 3.comfort, peace of mind

Get up, O, insha, it is time to depart, what’s the use of getting attached to this world.  How can a mad man be concerned with peace of mind, how can a mendicant tarry in a settlement.
2
is dil ke darida1 daaman2 ko dekho to sahi socho to sahi
jis jholi meN sau chhed hue us jholi ka phailana kya

1.torn 2.hem of the skirt or dress held up to gather alms

Entertaining longing/desire in your heart is like holding up a torn skirt/dress to gather alms.  There are hundreds of holes in it and everything will fall away.  It is best not to desire/want anything.
3
shab biiti chaaNd bhi Duub chala zanjir paRi darvaze meN
kyuuN der gaye ghar aaye ho sajni se karoge bahaana kya

The night’s past, the moon has set, the door is chained and locked.  Why are you returning home so late, what excuse will you offer the beloved.
4
phir hijr1 ki lambi raat miyaN sanjog2 ki to yahi ek ghaRi
jo dil meN hai lab3 par aane do sharmana kya ghabrana kya

1.separation 2.fortune, chance, fortune 3.lips

O fool, there will be a long night of separation after this.  This is your one moment of chance/fortune.  Speak/say whatever is in your heart, why be bashful, why be worried.
5
us roz jo un ko dekha hai ab Khwaab ka aalam lagta hai
us roz jo un se baat hui vo baat bhi thi afsaana1 kya

1.fairy tale

That day when I saw her, it now seems like it was just a dream.  That day whatever we talked, was it really just a fairy tale.
6
us husn ke sachche moti ko ham dekh sakeN par chhoo na sakeN
jise dekh sakeN par chhoo na sakeN vo daulat kya vo Khazaana kya

That beauty like a genuine pearl, we can only see but not touch.  Of what use is such wealth, useless such treasure.
7
us ko bhi jala dukhte hue man ik sho’la laal bhabooka ban
yuuN aaNsoo ban bah jaana kya yuuN maaTi meN mil jaana kya

O, my aching heart, burn her too (in the heat of love), become a crimson red flame.  What is the use of crying by yourselves, letting your tears flow down into the earth.
8
jab shahr ke log na rasta deN kyuN ban meN na ja bisraam1 kare
divaanoN ki si na baat kare to aur kare divaana kya

1.rest

When the people of the city don’t give you room, why not go off into the forest and rest.  After all I am mad man, what else can a mad man do but rant a foolish rant.

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