For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
anoop jaloTa
mukesh
زمانے کے لیے ہیں ۔ جاں نثار اخترؔ
۱
اشعار مرے یوں تو زمانے کے لیے ہیں
کچھ شعر فقط ان کو سنانے کے لیے ہیں
۲
اب یہ بھی نہیں ٹھیک کہ ہر درد مٹا دیں
کچھ درد کلیجے سے لگانے کے لیے ہیں
۳
سوچو تو بڑی چیز ہے تہذیب بدن کی
ورنہ یہ فقط آگ بجھانے کے لیے ہیں
۴
آنکھوں میں جو بھر لو گے تو کانٹوں سے چبھیں گے
یہ خواب تو پلکوں پہ سجانے کے لیے ہیں
۵
دیکھوں ترے ہاتھوں کو تو لگتا ہے ترے ہاتھ
مندر میں فقط دیپ جلانے کے لیے ہیں
۶
یہ علم کا سودا یہ رسالے یہ کتابیں
اک شخص کی یادوں کو بھلانے کے لیے ہیں
ज़माने के लिए हैं – जां निसार अख़्तर
१
अशआ’र मेरे यूँ तो ज़माने के लिए हैं
कुछ शेर फ़क़त उन को सुनाने के लिए हैं
२
अब ये भी नहीं ठीक कि हर दर्द मिटा दें
कुछ दर्द कलेजे से लगाने के लिए हैं
३
सोचो तो बड़ी चीज़ है तहज़ीब बदन की
वर्ना ये फ़क़त आग बुझाने के लिए हैं
४
आँखों में जो भर लोगे तो काँटों से चुभेंगे
ये ख़्वाब तो पलकों पे सजाने के लिए हैं
५
देखूँ तेरे हाथों को तो लगता है तेरे हाथ
मंदिर में फ़क़त दीप जलाने के लिए हैं
६
ये इल्म का सौदा ये रिसाले ये किताबें
एक शख़्स की यादों को भुलाने के लिए हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. syed jaaN nisaar husain razvi, aKhtar (1914-1976) romantic, progressive and revolutionary. Worked in academics and in cinema. Both his father (muztar Khairabadi) and his son (javed aKhtar) are noted poets. This appears to be far more romantic and conventional than I expected from a progressive poet. There are many others that are much more energetic and forward looking.
1
ash’aar mere yuN to zamaane ke liye haiN
kuchh she’r faqat1 un ko sunaane ke liye haiN 1.only
While the couplets/verse of the poet are normally meant for the whole world, there are some special ash’aar which are reserved for the beloved.
2
ab ye bhi nahiN Thiik ki har dard miTaa deN
kuchh dard kaleje1 se lagaane ke liye haiN 1.liver/seat of fortitude in urdu poetic convention
Pain and sorrow is to be valued and treasured. It is not right that we remove all pain. There are some (the pain of love) that should be treasured and kept close to the heart.
3
socho to baRi chiiz hai tahzib1 badan ki
varna2 ye faqat3 aag bujhaane ke liye haiN 1.culture, adornment 2.otherwise, but 3.only
If you think through, culture/civilization is a big deal. But, the demands of the body remain the same … whether he means sustenance or carnal desires of both is left for us to decide.
4
aaNkhoN meN jo bhar loge to kaaNToN se chubheNge
ye Khwaab to palkoN pe sajaane ke liye haiN Sorrows (disappointments in the beloved’s response) are like thorns. If you keep them locked up inside the eyes, they will prick and hurt. These dreams should adorn the eyelids i.e. if they appear as tears they are adornment as well as relieve pain.
5
dekhuN tere haathoN ko to lagta hai tere haath
mandir meN faqat diip jalaane ke liye haiN This appears to be a straightforward, rather conventional and confining description of the beloved’s beauty. Her hands as so delicate that they are meant only for tasks like lighting lamps in the temple.
6
ye ilm ka sauda1 ye risaale2 ye kitaabeN
ek shaKhs ki yaadoN ko bhulaane ke liye haiN 1.trade, effort 2.magazines
The poet/lover thinks that all his reading – books, magazine and effort to read/learn are merely to forget/erase memories of the beloved.
syed jaaN nisaar husain razvi, aKhtar (1914-1976) romantic, progressive and revolutionary. Worked in academics and in cinema. Both his father (muztar Khairabadi) and his son (javed aKhtar) are noted poets. This appears to be far more romantic and conventional than I expected from a progressive poet. There are many others that are much more energetic and forward looking.
1
ash’aar mere yuN to zamaane ke liye haiN
kuchh she’r faqat1 un ko sunaane ke liye haiN
1.only
While the couplets/verse of the poet are normally meant for the whole world, there are some special ash’aar which are reserved for the beloved.
2
ab ye bhi nahiN Thiik ki har dard miTaa deN
kuchh dard kaleje1 se lagaane ke liye haiN
1.liver/seat of fortitude in urdu poetic convention
Pain and sorrow is to be valued and treasured. It is not right that we remove all pain. There are some (the pain of love) that should be treasured and kept close to the heart.
3
socho to baRi chiiz hai tahzib1 badan ki
varna2 ye faqat3 aag bujhaane ke liye haiN
1.culture, adornment 2.otherwise, but 3.only
If you think through, culture/civilization is a big deal. But, the demands of the body remain the same … whether he means sustenance or carnal desires of both is left for us to decide.
4
aaNkhoN meN jo bhar loge to kaaNToN se chubheNge
ye Khwaab to palkoN pe sajaane ke liye haiN
Sorrows (disappointments in the beloved’s response) are like thorns. If you keep them locked up inside the eyes, they will prick and hurt. These dreams should adorn the eyelids i.e. if they appear as tears they are adornment as well as relieve pain.
5
dekhuN tere haathoN ko to lagta hai tere haath
mandir meN faqat diip jalaane ke liye haiN
This appears to be a straightforward, rather conventional and confining description of the beloved’s beauty. Her hands as so delicate that they are meant only for tasks like lighting lamps in the temple.
6
ye ilm ka sauda1 ye risaale2 ye kitaabeN
ek shaKhs ki yaadoN ko bhulaane ke liye haiN
1.trade, effort 2.magazines
The poet/lover thinks that all his reading – books, magazine and effort to read/learn are merely to forget/erase memories of the beloved.
Key Search Words:
If I may offer an outsider’s perspective on Urdu poetry — see, I am both inside and outside the ethos, being an Indian American: Rather than fit disparate thoughts together within a qafia structure, why couldn’t the poet have stayed focused on one or two major thoughts? The scattershot style just leaves me unsatisfied. I want a few layers of the onion peeled, so the underlying assumptions contained in the thought could be seen and understood. That each layer of meaning within a thought could lead to or point to other layers. The labyrinth, if followed, leads to a very tiny insight.
To be poetic about it, maybe each sub-cluster of a thought is represented by a petal of the rose. If the arrangement is right, the fragrance will transport you to another level of experience, almost sensory.