Recitation
یدِ بیضا ۔ میر انیس
پہلا اِنتخاب
خلعت پہن کے بھی نہ رذالت کی ہوُ گئی
دوسرا اِنتخاب
کچھ خارِ مغیلاں گُلِ تر ہو نہیں جاتا
قلعی سے کچھ آئینہ قمر ہو نہیں جاتا
ہر قطرۂ ناچیز گہر ہو نہیں جاتا
مَس پر جو ملمّع ہو تو زر ہونہیں جاتا
جس پاس عصاہواُسے موسیٰ نہیں کہتے
ہر ہاتھ کو عاقل یدِ بیضانہیں کہتے
यद-ए बैज़ा – मीर अनीस
1
ख़िल’अत पहन के भी न रिज़ालत की हू गई
2
कुच्छ ख़ार-ए मुग़ैलां गुल-ए तर हो नहीं जाता
क़ल’अई से कुच्छ आईना क़मर हो नहीं जाता
हर क़तरा-ए नाचीज़ गोहर हो नहीं जाता
मस पर जो मुलम्मा हो तो ज़र हो नहीं जाता
जिस पास असा हो उसे मूसा नहीं कहते
हर हाथ को आक़ील यद-ए बैज़ा नहीं कहते
yad-e baiza – mir anis
Click here for overall comments and on any passage for meanings and discussion. Consider the remarkable similarity between mir anis’ “Khil’at pahn ke bhi na rizaalat ki hoo ga’ee” and Shakespeare’s “But all hoods make not monks”, and more.
First Selection
Khil’at1 pahn ke bhi na rizaalat2 ki hoo3 ga’ee1.robes (religious or royal – usually bestowed by proclamation) 2.baseness, depravity 3.nature, characteristics
Even after being granted religious habit, they remained as depraved as before
Second Selection
kuchh Khaar1-e muGhailaaN2 gul-e tar3 ho nahiN jaata
qal’aii4 se kuchh aaiina qamar5 ho nahiN jaata
har qatra6-e naacheez7 gohar8 ho nahiN jaata
mas9 par jo mulamma10 ho to zar11 ho nahiN jaata
jis paas asaa12 ho use moosa13 nahiN kahte
har haath ko aaqil14 yed-e baiza15 nahiN kahte1.thorns 2.dry brush, acacia 3.(moist) fresh flower 4.silver paint 5.moon 6.drop (of water) 7.ordinary, lowly 8.pearl 9.copper 10.gilt, gold plating 11.gold 12.staff 13.Moses … this has reference to the Quranic/Biblical story of Moses being able to perform miracles with his staff, such as parting the waters of the sea 14.wise ones 15.white hand … this has reference to another Biblical/Quranic story that on Mt.Toor, Moses asked god for a miracle, a demonstration of his exitence/power. He was asked to put his hand inside his cloak and then pull it out. It came out marble white – hence yed-e baiza, white hand is considered a miracle.
Dry thorns cannot become fresh flowers. Silver paint does not make a moon out of mirror. Every drop does not become a pearl. Plating/glittering copper does not make it gold. Anyone who carries a staff does not become Moses. Discriminating people do not call every white hand a miracle.
yad-e baiza – mir anis
Consider the remarkable similarity between mir anis’ “Khil’at pahn ke bhi na rizaalat ki hoo ga’ee” and Shakespeare’s “But all hoods make not monks”, and more.
First Selection
Khil’at1 pahn ke bhi na rizaalat2 ki hoo3 ga’ee
1.robes (religious or royal – usually bestowed by proclamation) 2.baseness, depravity 3.nature, characteristics
Even after being granted religious habit, they remained as depraved as before
Second Selection
kuchh Khaar1-e muGhailaaN2 gul-e tar3 ho nahiN jaata
qal’aii4 se kuchh aaiina qamar5 ho nahiN jaata
har qatra6-e naacheez7 gohar8 ho nahiN jaata
mas9 par jo mulamma10 ho to zar11 ho nahiN jaata
jis paas asaa12 ho use moosa13 nahiN kahte
har haath ko aaqil14 yed-e baiza15 nahiN kahte
1.thorns 2.dry brush, acacia 3.(moist) fresh flower 4.silver paint 5.moon 6.drop (of water) 7.ordinary, lowly 8.pearl 9.copper 10.gilt, gold plating 11.gold 12.staff 13.Moses … this has reference to the Quranic/Biblical story of Moses being able to perform miracles with his staff, such as parting the waters of the sea 14.wise ones 15.white hand … this has reference to another Biblical/Quranic story that on Mt.Toor, Moses asked god for a miracle, a demonstration of his exitence/power. He was asked to put his hand inside his cloak and then pull it out. It came out marble white – hence yed-e baiza, white hand is considered a miracle.
Dry thorns cannot become fresh flowers. Silver paint does not make a moon out of mirror. Every drop does not become a pearl. Plating/glittering copper does not make it gold. Anyone who carries a staff does not become Moses. Discriminating people do not call every white hand a miracle.
Shakespeare
Henry VIII, Act III, Scene i.
Two cardinals have called upon Queen Katharine and she is suspicious of their motives/character, in spite of their religious attire. She says …
But all hoods make not monks.
Merchant of Venice, Act II, Scene vii.
The Prince of Morocco has come to woo Portia and has to choose the right casket (the one that has her picture) from three on display. He chooses the golden casket which, when opened, has a skull with a scroll stuck in the eye-hole. The scroll reads …
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
