For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
وصفِ زبان ۔ دُرگا سہائے سرور
۹
جوشیلے جوانوں کو لڑوانے والی
اکھاڑے میں شیروں سے بھڑ جانے والی
سواروں کے نیزوں کو چمکانے والی
شجاعت کے شعلوں کو بھڑکانے والی
جو تو بڑھ کے کڑکے سناتی ہے رن میں
دلیروں کی ہمت بڑھاتی ہے رن میں
۱۰
بندھاتی ہے تو رانڈ بیووں کی ہمت
یتیموں سے کرتی ہے اظہارِ شفقت
مریضوں کو دیتی ہے تسکین صحت
کہ ہے تیرے لب کی مُفرّح حلاوت
تیرے ہونٹ ہیں نوشداروے سادہ
مقوی ہے یا قوتیوں سے زیادہ
۱۱
کہانی سے راتوں کو تو ہے سلاتی
کہ بچوں کو تو لوریاں ہیں سناتی
کلیجے سے ماں کی طرح ہے لگاتی
کہ یوں ہولے ہولے ہے تو گاتی جاتی
اری نیند آجا، اری نیند آجا
میرے لال کو تیرے صدقے سلا جا
۱۲
کہیں شہد ہے تو کہیں قند ہے تو
مواعظ کہیں ہے،کہیں پند ہے تو
دہن میں نظربند ہرچند ہے تو
مگر وقتِ تقریر کب بند ہے تو
روانی میں ہے سیل، چلنے میں سرسر
چھلاوا ہے شوخی میں تیزی میں خنجر
۱۳
عیاں ہیں تیرے نکتہ سنجوں پہ جوہر
کہ ہے تو بشر کے فضائل کا زیور
ہر اقلیم میں ہے ترا سکۂ زر
کہ زیر نگیں ہیں تیرے ہفت کشور
چمک تیری ہر تاج و دیہیم میں ہے
نئی شاہ زادی ہر اقلیم میں ہے
۱۴
جو تو اے زباں ایشیا کی پری ہے
تو یورپ کی لیڈی شرارت بھری ہے
کہیں پہلوی ہے کہیں تو دری ہے
سخن کے حدیقے کی کبکِ دری ہے
کہیں تو ہے بھاشا کہیں فارسی تو
کہ ہے شاہدِ نطق کی آرسی تو
۱۵
ترانہ کہیں تو ہے مطرب کے لب پر
کہیں تو ہے جادو بیانوں کے لیکچر
کہیں بذلہ گو ہے کہیں پندگستر
کہ ہے طوطیِ شکرستانِ نیچر
زمانہ ہے شیدا تیرا او رنگیلی
ادا ہے رسیلی صدا ہے سریلی
۱۶
یہ رنگیں ادائی یہ رنگیں نوائی
تیرے روزمرّہ کی اف یہ صفائی
بشر کو کہاں طاقتِ لب کشائی
کہ ممکن نہیں تیری مِدحت سرائی
عجب نطق کی موہنی تو ہے مورت
ہوا ہے جنم تیرا کیا شبھ مہورت
वस्फ़-ए जबान – दुर्गा सहाय सुरूर जहानाबादी
९
जोशीले जवानों को लढवाने वाली
अखाढे में शेरों से भिढ जाने वाली
सवारौं के नेज़ौं को चमकाने वाली
शुजा’अत के शोलौं को भढकाने वाली
जो तू बढ़ के कढके सुनाती है रन में
दिलेरों की हिम्मत बढ़ाती है रन में
१०
बंधाती है तू रांड-बेवौं की हिम्मत
यतीमौं से करती है इज़्हार-ए शफ़्क़त
मरीज़ौं को देती है तस्कीन-ए सेहत
के है तेरे लब की मुफ़र्रह हलावत
तेरे होंठ हैं नोशदारू-ए सादा
मक़व्वी हैं या क़ुव्वतीयौं से ज़्यादा
११
कहानी से रातों को तू है सुलाती
के बच्चों को तू लोरियां है सुनाती
कलेजे से मां की तरह है लगाती
के यूं होले होले है तू गति जाती
अरी नींद आ जा, अरी नींद आ जा
मेरे लाल को तेरे सदक़े सुला जा
१२
कहीं शहद है तू कहीं क़ंद है तू
मवा’एज़ कहीं है कहीं बंद है तू
दहन में नज़र बंद हरचंद है तू
मगर वक़्त-ए तक़्रीर कब बंद है तू
रवानी में है सैल, चलने में सर सर
छलावा है शूख़ी में तेज़ी में ख़ंजर
१३
अयां हैं तेरे नुक्ता संजो पे जौहर
के है तू बशर के फ़ज़ाएल का ज़ेवर
हर एक़्लीम में है तेरा सिक्का-ए ज़र
के ज़ेर-ए नगीं हैं तेरे हफ़्त किश्वर
चमक तेरी हर ताज ओ देहीम में है
नई शहज़ादी हर एक़्लीम में है
१४
जो तू अए ज़बां एशिया की परी है
तो यूरोप की लेडी शरारत भरी है
कहीं पहलवी है कहीं तू दरी है
सुख़न के हदीक़े कि कुब्क-ए दरी है
कहीं तू है भाषा कहीं फ़ारसी तू
के है शाहेद-ए नुत्क़ की आर्सी तू
१५
तराना कहीं तू है मुत्रिब के लब पर
कहीं तू है जादू बयानौं का लेक्चर
कहीं बज़्ला-गो है कहीं पंद गुस्तर
के है तूती-ए शकरिस्तान-ए नेचर
जमाना है शैदा तेरा ओ रंगीली
अदा है रसीली सदा है सुरीली
१६
येह रंगीं अदाई येह रंगीं नवाई
तेरे रोज़-मर्रा की उफ़ येह सफ़ाई
बशर को कहां ताक़त-ए लब-कुशाई
के मुम्किन नहीं तेरी मदह-सराई
अजब नुत्क़ की मोहिनी तू है मूरत
हुआ जन्म तेरा क्या शुभ मुहूरत
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. durga sahay suroor (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking. Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor. He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli. This nazm, in praise of urdu is linked to ‘urdu’ on the Theme Index page.
9
joshiilay javaanoN ko laRvaane vaali
akhaaRay1 meN sheroN se bhiR jaane vaali
savaaroN2 ke naizoN3 ko chamkaanay vaali
shujaa’at4 ke sho’loN5 ko bhaRkaanay vaali
jo tu baRh ke kaRkay6 sunaati hai runn7 meN
dileroN8 ki himmat baRhaati hai runn meN 1.wrestling field, battlefield 2.riders, horsemen 3.lance, spear 4.bravery 5.flames 6.thunder (sound) 7.war, struggle 8.braves
You give courage to passionate youth. You do not hesitate to face down lions in the field. You give brilliance to the spears of riders, you fan the flames of courage. When you advance in the field and sound your thunder, you encourage braves. All of this, using imagery of ancient battles, reflects the view of urdu as a language of resistance.
10
bandhaati1 hai tu raaND-bevauN2 ki himmat
yatiimoN3 se karti hai izhaar4-e shafqat5
mariizoN6 ko deti hai taskeen7-e sehat8
keh hai teray lab ki mufarrah9 halaavat10
tairay hoNT haiN nosh-daaru11-e saada12
muqavvi13 hai ya quvvatiyoN14 se ziyada15 1.himmat baandhna is a phrase-giving courage/hope 2.widows 3.orphans 4.expression 5.love 6.sick/unwell 7.comfort, consolation 8.health 9.joyful 10.sweetness 11.antidote 12.plain, simple 13.giving strength 14.strong 15.more
You give hope to widows and express love for orphans and comfort the sick. Your sweetness is pleasurable to the lips. You are an antidote to simple lips. You make us stronger than the strong. The poet highlights the cultural identification of urdu with the deprived – widows, orphans, the sick and the weak.
11
kahaani se raatoN ko tu hai sulaati
keh bachchoN ko tu loriyaaN hai sunaati
kaleje1 se maaN ki tarah hai lagaati
keh yuN haulay-haulay2 hai tu gaati jaati
ari neend aa ja, ari neend aa ja
meray laal ko teray sadqay3 sulaa ja 1.liver/heart 2.slowly, gently 3.offering devotion
You get us to fall asleep with your stories. You sing lullabies for children, holding them to your heart like a mother. Gently you sing – get to sleep, get to sleep. You sing – I (urdu) offer you my devotion, get my loved one to sleep.
12
kahiiN shah’d1 hai tu kahiiN qand2 hai tu
mavaa’ez3 kahiiN hai, kahiiN pand4 hai tu
dahan5 meN nazar-band6 harchand7 hai tu
magar vaqt-e taqreer8 kab band hai tu
ravaani9 meN hai saeyl10, chalne meN sar-sar11
chhalaava hai shooKhi meN tezi12 meN Khanjar13 1.honey 2.sweet 3.sermon 4.admonition 5.mouth 6.imprisoned, hidden 7.even though 8.speaking 9.flow 10.flood 11.wind, storm 12.sharpness 13.dagger
Here you are honey and there you are sweetness, here a sermon and there an admonishment. Even though you are hidden in the mouth, at the time of speaking, who can stop you. You flow like a flood, blow like a storm. You are playful in your mischief, sharp as a dagger. Such are the qualities of urdu language.
13
ayaaN1 haiN teray nukta-sanjoN2 peh jauhar3
keh hai tu bashar4 ke fazaa’el5 ka zevar6
har iqleem7 meN hai tera sikka8-e zar9
ke zer-e-nagiiN10 haiN teray haft-kishvar11
chamak teri har taaj o de’heem12 meN hai
na’ii shaahzaadi har iqleem7 meN hai 1.revealed, manifest 2.those who discern fine/subtle points 3.jewels 4.human 5.praises 6.jewels 7.domain, field 8.coin 9.gold 10.under the ring-stone 11.seven domains, seven skies 12.crown
Those who understand your subtleties have a wealth of jewels revealed to them. You are the best praise of humanity i.e., humanity is praiseworthy because it knows urdu language. In every field your gold coin is the accepted currency for the seven skies are under your control. Royal decrees were considered authentic when they bore the stamp etched on the ring that emperor wore on his finger. Thus, all orders were under his ‘zer-e nagiiN’. It is your light that sparkles in every crown. You are the new princess of every domain.
14
jo tu aye zabaaN asia ki pari hai
tu yorop ki laDy shararat bhari hai
kahiiN pahlavi1 hai kahiiN tu dari2 hai
suKhan3 ke hadeeqe4 ki kab’k-e-dari5 hai
kahiiN tu hai bhaasha kahiiN faarsi tu
keh hai shaahid6-e nutq7 ki aarsee8 tu 1.ancient faarsi 2.central asian variation of faarsi 3.speech, words 4.orchard 5.beautiful species of partridge 6.beloved 7.power of speech 8.mirror worn in finger ring
If you are a fairy in Asia, you are a mischievous lady in Europe. This probably refers to European women (notably Queen Victoria) who had a fondness for urdu language. Here you are like pahlavi and there like dari. You are the beautiful bird of the orchard of speech. Sometimes you are bhaasha, at other times you are faarsi. This probably implies that urdu is a mixture of many languages. Women of style used to wear a ring that had mirror embedded in it. They would look at themselves at critical times touch up their looks. Thus, urdu is that mirror worn on the ring of the power of speech (depicted as the beloved).
15
taraanah kahiiN tu hai mutrib1 ke lab2 par
kahiiN tu hai jaadu bayaanoN3 ke lekchar
kahiiN bazla-go4 hai kahiiN pand-gustar5
keh hai tooti6-e shakaristaan7-e naychar
zamaana hai shaida8 tera o raNgiili9
adaa10 hai raseeli sada11 hai suriili12 1.singer 2.lips 3.speaker 4.witticism 5.admonishment 6.parrot, parakeet 7.sweet country 8.admirer 9.colourful, beautiful 10.style 11.sound 12.melodious
Sometimes you are a song on the lips of a singer and at other times you are in the lecture of enchanting speakers. Here you show witticism and there admonishment for you are the sound of the parakeet of the sweetness of nature. O raNgiili, the whole world is your admirer for your style is colourful and your speech melodious.
16
yeh raNgiiN adaaii1 yeh raNgiiN navaaii2
teray rozmarrah3 ki uff yeh safaaii4
bashar5 ko kahaaN taaqat6-e lab-kushaaii7
keh mumkin8 nahiN taeri mid’hat-saraaii9
ajab10 nutq11 ki mohini12 tu hai moorat13
hua hai janam14 tera kya shubh-mahoorat15 1.style 2.sound 3.daily 4.clarity 5.human 6.power 7.opening mouth/lips 8.possible 9.speaking praises 10.unusual, rare 11.power of speech 12.beloved 13.idol, statue 14.birth 15.auspicious time
Your colourful style and beautiful sound is the reason for the clarity/purity of your every day use. How can humans have the power to open their mouth in praise of you. You are a unique idol of the beloved of the power of speech. What an auspicious time it was, when you were born.
durga sahay suroor (1873-1910) died young, probably because of excessive drinking. Tellingly, his books are named Khum-kada-e suroor, paimaana-e suroor, and Khum-Khaana-e suroor. He wrote about hindu religious themes also and moved easily and rhythmically between chaste urdu/farsi and hindi/khaRi boli. This nazm, in praise of urdu is linked to ‘urdu’ on the Theme Index page.
9
joshiilay javaanoN ko laRvaane vaali
akhaaRay1 meN sheroN se bhiR jaane vaali
savaaroN2 ke naizoN3 ko chamkaanay vaali
shujaa’at4 ke sho’loN5 ko bhaRkaanay vaali
jo tu baRh ke kaRkay6 sunaati hai runn7 meN
dileroN8 ki himmat baRhaati hai runn meN
1.wrestling field, battlefield 2.riders, horsemen 3.lance, spear 4.bravery 5.flames 6.thunder (sound) 7.war, struggle 8.braves
You give courage to passionate youth. You do not hesitate to face down lions in the field. You give brilliance to the spears of riders, you fan the flames of courage. When you advance in the field and sound your thunder, you encourage braves. All of this, using imagery of ancient battles, reflects the view of urdu as a language of resistance.
10
bandhaati1 hai tu raaND-bevauN2 ki himmat
yatiimoN3 se karti hai izhaar4-e shafqat5
mariizoN6 ko deti hai taskeen7-e sehat8
keh hai teray lab ki mufarrah9 halaavat10
tairay hoNT haiN nosh-daaru11-e saada12
muqavvi13 hai ya quvvatiyoN14 se ziyada15
1.himmat baandhna is a phrase-giving courage/hope 2.widows 3.orphans 4.expression 5.love 6.sick/unwell 7.comfort, consolation 8.health 9.joyful 10.sweetness 11.antidote 12.plain, simple 13.giving strength 14.strong 15.more
You give hope to widows and express love for orphans and comfort the sick. Your sweetness is pleasurable to the lips. You are an antidote to simple lips. You make us stronger than the strong. The poet highlights the cultural identification of urdu with the deprived – widows, orphans, the sick and the weak.
11
kahaani se raatoN ko tu hai sulaati
keh bachchoN ko tu loriyaaN hai sunaati
kaleje1 se maaN ki tarah hai lagaati
keh yuN haulay-haulay2 hai tu gaati jaati
ari neend aa ja, ari neend aa ja
meray laal ko teray sadqay3 sulaa ja
1.liver/heart 2.slowly, gently 3.offering devotion
You get us to fall asleep with your stories. You sing lullabies for children, holding them to your heart like a mother. Gently you sing – get to sleep, get to sleep. You sing – I (urdu) offer you my devotion, get my loved one to sleep.
12
kahiiN shah’d1 hai tu kahiiN qand2 hai tu
mavaa’ez3 kahiiN hai, kahiiN pand4 hai tu
dahan5 meN nazar-band6 harchand7 hai tu
magar vaqt-e taqreer8 kab band hai tu
ravaani9 meN hai saeyl10, chalne meN sar-sar11
chhalaava hai shooKhi meN tezi12 meN Khanjar13
1.honey 2.sweet 3.sermon 4.admonition 5.mouth 6.imprisoned, hidden 7.even though 8.speaking 9.flow 10.flood 11.wind, storm 12.sharpness 13.dagger
Here you are honey and there you are sweetness, here a sermon and there an admonishment. Even though you are hidden in the mouth, at the time of speaking, who can stop you. You flow like a flood, blow like a storm. You are playful in your mischief, sharp as a dagger. Such are the qualities of urdu language.
13
ayaaN1 haiN teray nukta-sanjoN2 peh jauhar3
keh hai tu bashar4 ke fazaa’el5 ka zevar6
har iqleem7 meN hai tera sikka8-e zar9
ke zer-e-nagiiN10 haiN teray haft-kishvar11
chamak teri har taaj o de’heem12 meN hai
na’ii shaahzaadi har iqleem7 meN hai
1.revealed, manifest 2.those who discern fine/subtle points 3.jewels 4.human 5.praises 6.jewels 7.domain, field 8.coin 9.gold 10.under the ring-stone 11.seven domains, seven skies 12.crown
Those who understand your subtleties have a wealth of jewels revealed to them. You are the best praise of humanity i.e., humanity is praiseworthy because it knows urdu language. In every field your gold coin is the accepted currency for the seven skies are under your control. Royal decrees were considered authentic when they bore the stamp etched on the ring that emperor wore on his finger. Thus, all orders were under his ‘zer-e nagiiN’. It is your light that sparkles in every crown. You are the new princess of every domain.
14
jo tu aye zabaaN asia ki pari hai
tu yorop ki laDy shararat bhari hai
kahiiN pahlavi1 hai kahiiN tu dari2 hai
suKhan3 ke hadeeqe4 ki kab’k-e-dari5 hai
kahiiN tu hai bhaasha kahiiN faarsi tu
keh hai shaahid6-e nutq7 ki aarsee8 tu
1.ancient faarsi 2.central asian variation of faarsi 3.speech, words 4.orchard 5.beautiful species of partridge 6.beloved 7.power of speech 8.mirror worn in finger ring
If you are a fairy in Asia, you are a mischievous lady in Europe. This probably refers to European women (notably Queen Victoria) who had a fondness for urdu language. Here you are like pahlavi and there like dari. You are the beautiful bird of the orchard of speech. Sometimes you are bhaasha, at other times you are faarsi. This probably implies that urdu is a mixture of many languages. Women of style used to wear a ring that had mirror embedded in it. They would look at themselves at critical times touch up their looks. Thus, urdu is that mirror worn on the ring of the power of speech (depicted as the beloved).
15
taraanah kahiiN tu hai mutrib1 ke lab2 par
kahiiN tu hai jaadu bayaanoN3 ke lekchar
kahiiN bazla-go4 hai kahiiN pand-gustar5
keh hai tooti6-e shakaristaan7-e naychar
zamaana hai shaida8 tera o raNgiili9
adaa10 hai raseeli sada11 hai suriili12
1.singer 2.lips 3.speaker 4.witticism 5.admonishment 6.parrot, parakeet 7.sweet country 8.admirer 9.colourful, beautiful 10.style 11.sound 12.melodious
Sometimes you are a song on the lips of a singer and at other times you are in the lecture of enchanting speakers. Here you show witticism and there admonishment for you are the sound of the parakeet of the sweetness of nature. O raNgiili, the whole world is your admirer for your style is colourful and your speech melodious.
16
yeh raNgiiN adaaii1 yeh raNgiiN navaaii2
teray rozmarrah3 ki uff yeh safaaii4
bashar5 ko kahaaN taaqat6-e lab-kushaaii7
keh mumkin8 nahiN taeri mid’hat-saraaii9
ajab10 nutq11 ki mohini12 tu hai moorat13
hua hai janam14 tera kya shubh-mahoorat15
1.style 2.sound 3.daily 4.clarity 5.human 6.power 7.opening mouth/lips 8.possible 9.speaking praises 10.unusual, rare 11.power of speech 12.beloved 13.idol, statue 14.birth 15.auspicious time
Your colourful style and beautiful sound is the reason for the clarity/purity of your every day use. How can humans have the power to open their mouth in praise of you. You are a unique idol of the beloved of the power of speech. What an auspicious time it was, when you were born.
