For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
اُردو کی طرح ۔ کشن بہاری نور
۱
ہو کے بے چین میں بھاگا کیا آہو کی طرح
بس گیا تھا مرے اندر کوئی خوشبو کی طرح
۲
کوئی سایہ نہ ملا سایۂ گیسو کی طرح
سارے جیون کی تھکن اتری ہے جادو کی طرح
۳
میری آواز تجھے چھو لے بس اتنی مہلت
تیرے کوچے سے گزر جاؤں گا سادھو کی طرح
۴
وہ جو آ جائے تو کیا ہوش کا عالم ہوگا
جس کے آنے کی خبر پھیلی ہے خوشبو کی طرح
۵
زندگی پیار وفا سب کا مقدر یکساں
مسکراہٹ کی طرح ہے کبھی آنسو کی طرح
۶
ہر طرف آگ لگا آئے ہو پھر پوچھتے ہو
کیوں چلی بادِ صبا اب کے برس لُو کی طرح
۷
شاعری تیری عبادت کے سوا کچھ بھی نہیں
کر رہا ہوں میں تپَسیا کسی سادھو کی طرح
۹
ہر اَلم ساتھ رہا گردِ سفر کی مانند
ہر خوشی راہ میں مجھ کو ملی جگنو کی طرح
۱۰
زندگی ٹھوکریں کھاتی ہے بچھڑ کر تجھ سے
تیری پازیب کے ٹوٹے ہوئے گھنگھرو کی طرح
۱۱
کوئی اِشور کہے اس کو کہ خدا کوئی کہے
وہ مسلماں کی طرح ہے نہ وہ ہندو کی طرح
۱۲
اپنی ہر سانس پہ احساں لئے ہمدردوں کا
زندگی جیتا ہوں اس عہد میں اُردو کی طرح
۱۳
اب یہ اِحساس کی خوبی ہو کہ خامی ہو نورؔ
اُس کی نفرت کا دھواں بھی لگا خوشبو کی طرح
उर्दू कि तरह – किशन बेहारी नूर
१
हो के बेचैन मैं भागा किया आहू की तरह
बस गया था मेरे अंदर कोई ख़ुशबू की तरह
२
कोई साया न मिला साया-ए-गेसू की तरह
सारे जीवन की थकन उतरी है जादू की तरह
३
मेरी आवाज़ तुझे छू ले बस इतनी मोहलत
तेरे कूचे से गुज़र जाऊँगा साधू की तरह
४
वो जो आ जाए तो क्या होश का आलम होगा
जिस के आने की ख़बर फैली है ख़ुशबू की तरह
५
ज़िंदगी प्यार वफ़ा सब का मुक़द्दर यकसाँ
मुस्कुराहट की तरह है कभी आँसू की तरह
६
हर तरफ़ आग लगा आए हो फिर पूछते हो
क्यूँ चली बाद-ए-सबा अब के बरस लू की तरह
७
शाएरी तेरी इबादत के सिवा कुछ भी नहीं
कर रहा हूँ मैं तपस्या किसी साधू की तरह
८
हर अलम साथ रहा गर्द-ए-सफ़र की मानिंद
हर ख़ुशी राह में मुझ को मिली जुगनू की तरह
९
ज़िंदगी ठोकरें खाती है बिछड़ कर तुझ से
तेरी पाज़ेब के टूटे हुए घुंघरू की तरह
१०
कोई इष्वर कहे उस को के ख़ुदा कोई कहे
वो मुसलमाँ की तरह है न वो हिन्दू की तरह
११
अपनी हर साँस पे एहसाँ लिए हमदर्दों का
ज़िंदगी जीता हूँ इस अहद में उर्दू की तरह
१२
अब ये एहसास की ख़ूबी हो के ख़ामी हो नूर
उस की नफ़्रत का धुआँ भी लगा ख़ुशबू की तरह
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. kishan bihari noor (1926 – 2003), was born and grew up in lucknow. In a lot of his work he gracefully reaches across communal lines. Conventionally the poet/lover sings praises of, pines for the beloved and/or god. In this nazm, a third possibility is raised … the poet is talking about urdu as his beloved.
1
ho ke bechain1 maiN bhaaga kiya aahu2 ki tarah
bas3 gaya tha mere andar koi Khushbu ki tarah 1.restless 2.deer 3.residing in, make a home in
The prancing/running of a deer is depicted as a sign of restlessness due to passionate love. The poet/lover has been doing this because love pervades his heart like a fragrance. Fragrance cannot be seen, but can be felt, just like love. Is this love of urdu that has caused him distress.
2
koi saaya1 na mila saaya-e gesu2 ki tarah
saare jeevan ki thakan3 utri hai jaadu ki tarah 1.shade, shelter 2.hair 3.tiredness, stress
The beloved’s (long, curly) hair is considered not only beautiful, but also like a shade/shelter for the poet/lover. He could not find any other shelter like the shelter of the beloved’s hair. All the stress of life disappeared like magic when he got that refuge. The poet felt happy and relieved when he started composing urdu ash’aar!
3
meri aavaaz tujhe chhu le bas itni mohlat1
tere kooche2 se guzar3 jaauNga saadhu ki tarah 1.chance, permission 2.street 3.pass through
The saadhu/sufi/mendicant leads a life which strives for freedom from material attachments. His love is pure/divine/selfless. All he wants is that his voice reach the beloved (or god) and he will pass through her street (or through this world) like a saadhu. All he desires to do is compose shaa’eri without recompense (like a sadhu).
4
vo jo aa jaaye to kya hosh1 ka aalam2 hoga
jis ke aane ki Khabar phaili hai Khushbu ki tarah 1.sobriety 2.condition
News of the arrival of the beloved spreads like wildfire (in this case like fragrance) among the expectant/hopeful lovers. How can they remain sober after hearing this news? It is inevitable that they will be drunk with love. This also has sufi connotations with the beloved as a metaphor for god or in this case for urdu.
5
zindagi, pyaar, vafa1 sab ka muqaddar2 yaksaaN3
muskuraahaT ki tarah hai kabhi aaNsu ki tarah 1.faith, fulfilment of promises/expectations, hope 2.fate 3.similar
Life, love and hope all have a similar fate. Sometimes they are joyful, and sad at other times.
6
har taraf1 aag laga aaye ho phir poochhte ho
kyuN chali baad2-e saba3 ab ke baras4 lu5 ki tarah 1.direction, side 2.breeze 3.morning 4.year 5.hot wind
This is surely an observation about political/communal conditions including the status of urdu. You have set fire on every side and then wonder why the morning breeze (normally cool and fragrant) is blowing so hot.
7
shaa’eri teri ibaadat1 ke siva2 kuchh bhi nahiN
kar raha huN maiN tapasya3 kisi saadhu4 ki tarah 1.devotion/homage 2.except for 3.constant endeavour 4.devotee
Your versification is nothing except devotion/homage (to the beloved, to god or to urdu language). I keep trying constantly like a devotee.
8
har alam1 saath raha gard2-e safar3 ki maanind4
har Khushi raah5 meN mujh ko mili jugnu ki tarah 1.sorrow 2.dust 3.journey 4.like, similar to 5.pathway
The poet/lover is on a journey (of life) and the caravan inevitably raises dust as it passes. Thus sorrow is an inevitable part of the journey of life. There are moments of hope/happiness glowing/twinkling like a firefly.
9
zindagi ThokareN1 khaati hai bichhaR2 kar tujh se
teri paazeb3 ke TooTe hue ghunghru4 ki tarah 1.stumble, kicked 2.separated 3.ankle belt of bells 4.ankle bell
The poet/lover, separated from the beloved, feels like he is being kicked around, just like the bell that came loose from her ankle belt on the dance floor.
10
koi ishwar kahe us ko ke Khuda koi kahe
vo musalmaaN ki tarah hai na vo hindu ki tarah Some may call him ishwar, others may call him Khuda but he is neither Muslim nor Hindu. This could be allusion to labeling urdu as a language of muslims.
11
apni har saaNs pe ehsaaN1 liye ham-dardauN2 ka
zindagi jeeta huN is ahd3 meN urdu ki tarah 1.obligation, kindness 2. sympathizers, friends 3.age, period
The condition of urdu is this age is precarious. It draws every breath only with the help/kindness of friends/lovers. Such is the life of the poet/lover too, in this age/these times.
12
ab ye ehsaas1 ki Khoobi2 ho ke Khaami3 ho noor
us ki nafrat4 ka dhuaaN bhi laga Khushbu ki tarah 1.feeling 2.quality, ability 3.defect 4.hatred/anger
The ‘other’ hates him, but the poet/lover, noor, experiences only the fragrance of love not the smoke of the fire of anger. This may be his naivette (defect) or his ability to see goodness in everything.
kishan bihari noor (1926 – 2003), was born and grew up in lucknow. In a lot of his work he gracefully reaches across communal lines. Conventionally the poet/lover sings praises of, pines for the beloved and/or god. In this nazm, a third possibility is raised … the poet is talking about urdu as his beloved.
1
ho ke bechain1 maiN bhaaga kiya aahu2 ki tarah
bas3 gaya tha mere andar koi Khushbu ki tarah
1.restless 2.deer 3.residing in, make a home in
The prancing/running of a deer is depicted as a sign of restlessness/madness due to passionate love. The poet/lover has been doing this because love pervades his heart like a fragrance. Fragrance cannot be seen, but can be felt, just like love. Is this love of urdu that has caused him distress.
2
koi saaya1 na mila saaya-e gesu2 ki tarah
saare jeevan ki thakan3 utri hai jaadu ki tarah
1.shade, shelter 2.hair 3.tiredness, stress
The beloved’s (long, curly) hair is considered not only beautiful, but also like a shade/shelter for the poet/lover. He could not find any other shelter like the shelter of the beloved’s hair. All the stress of life disappeared like magic when he got that refuge. The poet felt happy and relieved when he started composing urdu ash’aar!
3
meri aavaaz tujhe chhu le bas itni mohlat1
tere kooche2 se guzar3 jaauNga saadhu ki tarah
1.chance, permission 2.street 3.pass through
The saadhu/sufi/mendicant leads a life which strives for freedom from material attachments. His love is pure/divine/selfless. All he wants is that his voice reach the beloved (or god) and he will pass through her street (or through this world) like a saadhu. Grant my voice/suKhan your beauty O, my beloved urdu. All he desires to do is compose shaa’eri without recompense (like a sadhu).
4
vo jo aa jaaye to kya hosh1 ka aalam2 hoga
jis ke aane ki Khabar phaili hai Khushbu ki tarah
1.sobriety 2.condition
News of the arrival of the beloved spreads like wildfire (in this case like fragrance) among the expectant/hopeful lovers. How can they remain sober after hearing this news? It is inevitable that they will be drunk with love. This also has sufi connotations with the beloved as a metaphor for god or in this case for urdu.
5
zindagi, pyaar, vafa1 sab ka muqaddar2 yaksaaN3
muskuraahaT ki tarah hai kabhi aaNsu ki tarah
1.faith, fulfilment of promises/expectations, hope 2.fate 3.similar
Life, love and hope all have a similar fate. Sometimes they are joyful, and sad at other times.
6
har taraf1 aag laga aaye ho phir poochhte ho
kyuN chali baad2-e saba3 ab ke baras4 lu5 ki tarah
1.direction, side 2.breeze 3.morning 4.year 5.hot wind
This is surely an observation about political/communal conditions including the status of urdu. You have set fire on every side and then wonder why the morning breeze (normally cool and fragrant) is blowing so hot.
7
shaa’eri teri ibaadat1 ke siva2 kuchh bhi nahiN
kar raha huN maiN tapasya3 kisi saadhu4 ki tarah
1.devotion/homage 2.except for 3.constant endeavour 4.devotee
Your versification is nothing except devotion/homage (to the beloved, to god or to urdu language). I keep trying constantly like a devotee.
8
har alam1 saath raha gard2-e safar3 ki maanind4
har Khushi raah5 meN mujh ko mili jugnu ki tarah
1.sorrow 2.dust 3.journey 4.like, similar to 5.pathway
The poet/lover is on a journey (of life) and the caravan inevitably raises dust as it passes. Thus sorrow is an inevitable part of the journey of life. There are moments of hope/happiness glowing/twinkling like a firefly.
9
zindagi ThokareN1 khaati hai bichhaR2 kar tujh se
teri paazeb3 ke TooTe hue ghunghru4 ki tarah
1.stumble, kicked 2.separated 3.ankle belt of bells 4.ankle bell
The poet/lover, separated from the beloved, feels like he is being kicked around, just like the bell that came loose from her ankle belt on the dance floor.
10
koi ishwar kahe us ko ke Khuda koi kahe
vo musalmaaN ki tarah hai na vo hindu ki tarah
Some may call him ishwar, others may call him Khuda but he is neither muslim nor hindu. This could be allusion to labeling urdu as a language of muslims.
11
apni har saaNs pe ehsaaN1 liye ham-dardauN2 ka
zindagi jeeta huN is ahd3 meN urdu ki tarah
1.obligation, kindness 2. sympathizers, friends 3.age, period
The condition of urdu is this age is precarious. It draws every breath only with the help/kindness of friends/lovers. Such is the life of the poet/lover too, in this age/these times.
12
ab ye ehsaas1 ki Khoobi2 ho ke Khaami3 ho noor
us ki nafrat4 ka dhuaaN bhi laga Khushbu ki tarah
1.feeling 2.quality, ability 3.defect 4.hatred/anger
The ‘other’ hates him, but the poet/lover, noor, experiences only the fragrance of love not the smoke of the fire of anger. This may be his naivette (defect) or his ability to see goodness in everything.
Key Search Words:
