Khuubasuurat MoR

चलो इक बार फिर से, अजनबी बन जाएं हम दोनो
चलो इक बार फिर से …

न मैं तुमसे कोई उम्मीद रखूँ दिलनवाज़ी की
न तुम मेरी तरफ़ देखो गलत अंदाज़ नज़रों से
न मेरे दिल की धड़कन लड़खड़ाये मेरी बातों से
न ज़ाहिर हो तुम्हारी कश्म-कश का राज़ नज़रों से
चलो इक बार फिर से …

तुम्हें भी कोई उलझन रोकती है पेशकदमी से
मुझे भी लोग कहते हैं कि ये जलवे पराए हैं
मेरे हमराह भी रुसवाइयां हैं मेरे माज़ी की – २
तुम्हारे साथ भी गुज़री हुई रातों के साये हैं
चलो इक बार फिर से …

तार्रुफ़ रोग हो जाये तो उसको भूलना बेहतर
ताल्लुक बोझ बन जाये तो उसको तोड़ना अच्छा
वो अफ़साना जिसे अंजाम तक लाना ना हो मुमकिन – २
उसे एक खूबसूरत मोड़ देकर छोड़ना अच्छा
चलो इक बार फिर से …

chalo ik baar phir se, ajanabii ban jaae.n ham dono
chalo ik baar phir se . .

na mai.n tumase koI ummiid rakhuu.n dilanavaazii kii
na tum merii taraf dekho galat a.ndaaz nazaro.n se
na mere dil kii dha.Dakan la.Dakha.Daaye merii baato.n se
na zaahir ho tumhaarii kashm\-kash kaa raaz nazaro.n se
chalo ik baar phir se . . .

tumhe.n bhii koI ulajhan rokatii hai peshakadamii se
mujhe bhii log kahate hai.n ki ye jalave paraae hai.n
mere hamaraah bhii rusavaaiyaa.n hai.n mere maazi kii
tumhaare saath bhii guzarii huii raato.n ke saaye hai.n
chalo ik baar phir se .. .

taarruf rog ho jaaye to usako bhuulanaa behatar
taalluk bojh ban jaaye to usako to.Ranaa achchhaa
vo afasaanaa jise a.njaam tak laanaa naa ho mumakin
use ek khuubasuurat mo.R dekar chho.Ranaa achchhaa
chalo ik baar phir se . .

come, once again 
let us become strangers 
you and I

let me not expect 
any soothing blandishments
from you
nor you look towards me 
with glances 
that are not right 

let my heartbeat not
falter in my speech
nor your eyes reveal
the secrets that you keep

something stops you from 
coming forward
and i too am told these 
splendours aren’t for me

my companions are 
the failures in my past
and you too have
the shadows of spent nights
with you

acquaintance turned sick
is best forgotten
relationship turned burden
is best broken

a story that can’t be brought to its end
is best left with a beautiful bend

abhi to mai javaan huun

Hava bhi khushgavar hai, guloon pe bhi nikhar hai,
Taranume hazar hai, bahar purbahar hai.
Kahan chala hai saqiya, idhar to laut idhar to aa,
Arre ye dekhta hai kya, utha subu, subu utha.
Subu utha piyala bhar, piyala bhar ke de idhar,
Chaman ki simt kar nazar, samaan to dekh bekhabar.
Vo kali kali badaliyaan, ufaq pe ho gahi ayaan,
Vo ik hajoum-e-maikashaan, hai su-e-maikada ravaan,
Ye kya gumaan hai badgumaan, samajh na mujhako natavaan.
Khayal-e-zohd abhi kahaan,

Abhi to main javaan hoon.

Ibadaton ka zikr hai, nijat ki bhi fikr hai,
Junoon hai sawab ka, khayal hai azab ka.
Magar suno to Shaikh ji, ajib shai hain aap bhi,
Bhala shabab-o-aashiqi, alag hue bhi hain kabhi.

Haseen jalavarez hoon, adayein fitanakhez hoon,
Havayein itr bez hoon, to shauq kyoun na tez hoon.
Nigaraha-e-fitanagar, koi idhar, koi udhar,
Ubharate hoon aish par, to kya kare koi bashar,
Chalo ji qissa mukhtasar, tumhara nukta-e-nazar,
Durust hai to ho, magar,

Abhi to main javaan hoon.

Na gham kashood-o-bast ka, baland ka na past ka,
Na buud ka na hast ka, na vada-e-alast ka.
Umeed aur yaas gum, havas gum qayas gum,
Nazar se aas pas gum, hama bajuz gilas gum.

Na may mein kuchh kami rahe, meyqada se hamadami rahe,
Nishast ye jami rahe, yahi hamahami rahe.
Vo raag chhed mutariba, tarab-fiza alam-ruba,
Asar sada-e-saz ka, jigar mein aag de laga,
Har ik lab pe ho sada, na hath rok saqiya,
Pilaye ja pilaye ja, pilaye ja pilaye ja,

Abhi to main javaan hoon.

Ye gasht kohasar ki, ye sair juu-e-vaar ki,
Ye bulbuloon ke chahachahe, yeh gul rukhoon ke qahqahe.
Kisi se mel ho gaya, to ranj-o-fikr kho gaya,
Kabhi jo vaqt so gaya, ye hans gaya vo ro gaya.

Ye ishq ki kahaniyan, ye ras bhari javaniyan,
Udhar se meharabaniyan, idhar se lantaraniyan.
Ye asaman ye zameen, nazaraha-e dilanasheen,
Unhein hayat aafreen, bhala main chhod doon yaheen,
Hai maut is qadar qareen, mujhe na ayega yaqeen,
Nahin nahin abhi nahin, nahin nahin abhi nahin

The air is exhilarating, flowers are in bloom
A thousand melodies, in lusty spring everywhere
Why do you go, wine giver? Return to me, come back here
What are you waiting for? Pick up the goblet, pick it up
Pick it up and fill the cup. Pass me the filled up cup
Gaze at the garden, behold the bliss, you Ignoramus
Those swirling dark clouds, appearing on the horizon
Like a mob of swaying drunks, showing taverns sully the soul
Spare me the doubts and ill-will, you think I’m feeble
Thoughts of abstinence, why so soon? I am still young!

All this talk of prayers, these worries of redemption
Obsession with heavenly rewards, warnings of hellish torments
Listen up Admonisher, you are a bit strange
Have Passion and Youth ever been separated?
When graceful youth abounds, resplendent and mischievous
And winds are fragrant, wouldn’t desires be inflamed?
Provocative lovers, some here, others there
When they arouse sensuously, what power can a preacher have?
It’s sorted then, your point of view
is right. Nevertheless, I’m as yet rather young!

I grieve not for openness or closeness, zenith or nadir
Existence – past or present, nor for promises of future creation
I have lost hope and despair, logic and presumptions
I see nothing around me, nothing except my goblet
Let there be no dearth of wine, my friendship with pub unstrained
Let the gathering live on, forever young and hectic
Sing such a melody, Lady singer, my soul surges, sorrows wane
Effect of instrumental music, sets my heart on fire
Let everyone implore, don’t stop your hand bartender
Pour more, Pour more, Pour more, Pour more.

This stroll on the mountain, this trek by a stream
Chirping nightingales, guffaws from lovely faces
Chancing upon your love, casts off grief and worries
According to their luck, some laugh, some weep
These tales of passion, these juicy youths
Some graciousness there, some boasting here
This sky, this earth, how heart-pleasing views
This praiseworthy life, how can I, renounce here
That death could be so near, I cannot believe
No no, not yet, no no, not yet.

Hope to check out and this translation soon, taken from here. Another translation: by Harish Puri.

Naya hukumnama

जावेद अख्तर 

नया हुकुमनामा

किसी का हुक्म है सारी हवाएं,
हमेशा चलने से पहले बताएं,
कि इनकी सम्त क्या है.
हवाओं को बताना ये भी होगा,
चलेंगी जब तो क्या रफ्तार होगी,
कि आंधी की इजाज़त अब नहीं है.
हमारी रेत की सब ये फसीलें,
ये कागज़ के महल जो बन रहे हैं,
हिफाज़त इनकी करना है ज़रूरी.
और आंधी है पुरानी इनकी दुश्मन,
ये सभी जानते हैं.

किसी का हुक्म है दरिया की लहरें,
ज़रा ये सरकशी कम कर लें अपनी,
हद में ठहरें.
उभरना, फिर बिखरना, और बिखरकर फिर उभरना,
गलत है उनका ये हंगामा करना.
ये सब है सिर्फ वहशत की अलामत,
बगावत की अलामत.
बगावत तो नहीं बर्दाश्त होगी,
ये वहशत तो नहीं बर्दाश्त होगी.
अगर लहरों को है दरिया में रहना,
तो उनको होगा अब चुपचाप बहना.

किसी का हुक्म है इस गुलिस्तां में,
बस अब एक रंग के ही फूल होंगे,
कुछ अफसर होंगे जो ये तय करेंगे,
गुलिस्तां किस तरह बनना है कल का.
यकीनन फूल यकरंगी तो होंगे,
मगर ये रंग होगा कितना गहरा कितना हल्का,
ये अफसर तय करेंगे.
किसी को कोई ये कैसे बताए,
गुलिस्तां में कहीं भी फूल यकरंगी नहीं होते.
कभी हो ही नहीं सकते.
कि हर एक रंग में छुपकर बहुत से रंग रहते हैं,
जिन्होंने बाग यकरंगी बनाना चाहे थे, उनको ज़रा देखो.
कि जब यकरंग में सौ रंग ज़ाहिर हो गए हैं तो,
वो अब कितने परेशां हैं, वो कितने तंग रहते हैं.

किसी को ये कोई कैसे बताए,
हवाएं और लहरें कब किसी का हुक्म सुनती हैं.
हवाएं, हाकिमों की मुट्ठियों में, हथकड़ी में, कैदखानों में नहीं रुकतीं.
ये लहरें रोकी जाती हैं, तो दरिया कितना भी हो पुरसुकून, बेताब होता है.
और इस बेताबी का अगला कदम, सैलाब होता है.
किसी को कोई ये कैसे बताए.

Someone has decreed
That all the winds
Must first
Announce their direction
Before blowing

The winds must first also inform
That when they blow what would be their speed
For, storms are no longer permitted
And all these ramparts that we have built of sand
These paper palaces that have been made
It is important to protect them
The storm is their old foe
As everyone knows

Someone has decreed
That the waves in the river
Must curb their rebellion
They must stay within their limits
Their dashing and rising and dashing yet again
Only to rise
It is wrong of them to be so wilful
It is nothing but a portent of madness
An augury of rebellion

A rebellion will not be tolerated
This madness will not be accepted
If the waves want to stay in the river
They must now flow quietly

Someone has decreed
That all the flowers will henceforth be of one colour
There will be some officers who will decide
How the gardens of tomorrow will take shape

Certainly the flowers will all be of one colour
But how deep the colour or how light
Will be decided by the officers

How is one to tell them
That in no garden anywhere are all the flowers of one colour
They cannot be
For, many colours live together hiding in one colour
Look at the fate of those who have
Tried to make their garden all of one colour
See how a hundred colours have seeped into a single colour
How troubled they are
How worried they look

How is one to tell them
When have the winds and the waves ever heeded anyone’s decree
The winds do not stay
In the clenched fists of the rulers
In prisons
And in handcuffs

When these waves are stopped
The river, no matter how placid
Becomes restless
And this restlessness is a step away
From a flood

How is one to tell them…

(Translation: Rakshanda Jalil)

Harivansh Rai Bachchan: jiivan kii aapaa dhaapii meN

Amitabh Bachchan recites Harivansh Rai Bachchan

jiivan kii aapaa dhaapii meN kab waqt milaa
kuchh der kahiiN par baiTh kabhii yeh soch sakuuN,
jo kiyaa, kahaa, maanaa, usmeN kyaa buraa bhalaa.

jis din merii chetnaa jagii maine dekhaa 
maiN khaRaa huaa huuN is duniyaa ke mele meN,
har ek yahaaN par ek bhulaave meN bhuulaa,
har ek lagaa hai apnii apnii den len meN,

kuchh der rahaa huccaa-bucca, bhoNchakkaa saa —
aa gayaa kahaaN, kyaa karuuN yahaaN, jaauN kis jaah?
phir ek taraf se aayaa hii tou dhakkaa saa,
maine bhii behnaa shuru kiyaa is rele meN;

kyaa baahar kii Thelaa-pelii hii kuchh kam thii,
jo bhiitar bhii bhaavoN kaa uhaapoh machchaa,
jo kiyaa, usii ko karne kii majbuurii thii,
jo kahaa vahii man ke aNdar se ubal chalaa

jiivan kii aapaa dhaapii meN kab waqt milaa
kuchh der kahiiN par baiTh kabhii yeh soch sakuuN,
jo kiyaa, kahaa, maanaa, usmeN kyaa buraa bhalaa.

melaa jitnaa bhaRkiilaa rang rangiilaa thaa
manas ke aNdar utnii hii kamzorii thii
jitnaa zyaadaa sanchit karne kii khwaahish thii
utnii hii chhoTii apne kar kii jhorii thii

jitnaa hii birme rahne kii thii abhiilaashaa
utnaa hii rele tez dhakele jaate the
krae-vikrae to Thande dil se ho saktaa hae
ye to bhaagaa bhaagii kii chhinaa chhorii thii

ab mujh se puuchhaa jaataa hae kyaa batlaauuN
kyaa maan akinchan bikhraataa paTh par aayaa
vah kaun ratan anmol aesaa milaa mujhko
jis par apnaa man praan niichhavar kar aayaa

ye thii taqdiirii baat, mujhe gun-dosh naa do
jisko samjhaa thaa sonaa vo miTTii niklii
jisko samjhaa thaa aaNsuu vo motii niklaa

jiivan kii aapaa dhaapii meN kab waqt milaa
kuchh der kahiiN par baiTh kabhii yeh soch sakuuN
jo kiyaa, kahaa, maanaa, usme’N kyaa buraa bhalaa

ma’N jitnaa hii bhuuluuN bhaTkuuN yaa bharmaauuN
hae ek kahiiN manzil jo mujhe bulaatii hae
kitne hii mere paaNv paReN uuNche niiche
prati pal voh mere paas chalii hii aatii hae

mujh par vidhii kaa ahsaan bahut sii baatoN kaa
par maiN kritgyaa uskaa is par sab se zyaadaa —
nav ole barsae, dhartii shole ugle, 
anvarat samay kii chakkii chaltii jaatii  hai

ma’N khaRaa thaa jahaaN kal, us sthal par aaj nahiiN 
kal isii jagah par mujhko paanaa mushkil hae;
leN maap danD jisko ki parivartit kar detii 
chuu kar hii desh, kaal kii siimaae’N,
jag de mujh par faislaa use jaisaa bhaa’e
lekin mae to berok safar meN
jiivan ke is ek aur pahluu se hokar nikal chalaa

jiivan kii aapaa dhaapii meN kab waqt milaa
kuchh der kahiiN par baiTh kabhii yeh soch sakuuN,
jo kiyaa, kahaa, maanaa, usmeN kyaa buraa bhalaa.

 

The I-Me-Mine Of Life

When did I get time in the I-me-mine of life
to sit somewhere a while to think about
the good and bad in what I did, said, believed

The day my consciousness awoke
I found myself standing in the fair of the world
where every one is lost in delusion
where  every one is caught up in their own give and take

For a while, I was astounded, confounded, dumbfounded —
Where am I? What do I do here? Which way do I go?
But then the force of a torrent, as if, swept me away
And I, too, found myself floating with the tide

As if the tumult outside was less
That inside too emotions worked up a storm
What I did, was what needed to be done out of compulsion
What I said was what burst out of the mind

When did I get time in the I-me-mine of life
to sit somewhere a while to think about
the good and bad in what I did, said, believed

As much as the fair was glittering, gaudy and gay,
the mind had equal measures of weakness
The more I wished to gather
the more limited I found the reach of my hands

The more I longed to stay still,
equally stronger was the force of the tide
Buying and selling can be done with a cold heart
But this was snatch and grab in a stampede
 
Now I am asked — what can I say?
What pride did I come scattering on the path
What such priceless gem did I find
On which I bestowed my life, my mind?

It was a matter of fate, don’t credit or blame me
What I thought gold, turned out to be dust
What I thought was a tear, turned out to be a pearl

When did I get time in the I-me-mine of life
to sit somewhere a while to think about
the good and bad in what I did, said, believed

Much as I might forget, meander or delude myself,
there is a destination somewhere that beckons me
No matter how my feet stumble on ground high and low
I find it coming near me each and every moment

I am blessed by destiny in many ways
but I am more indebted than anything for
the incessant grinding away of the mills of time
whether the skies rain hail or the earth spews out embers

Where I stood yesterday is not the place where I stand now
Tomorrow it would be difficult to find me at the same place
Measure it if you will, but it alters with a mere touch of
the boundaries of nations and time

The world can give on me a verdict such as it likes
But in the unbroken journey,
I pass through yet another facet of life

When did I get time in the I-me-mine of life
to sit somewhere a while to think about
the good and bad in what I did, said, believed

Pathetic, literal, hurried translation by Sundeep Dougal

dil jalaane ki baat karte ho

āshiyāne kī baat karte ho
dil jalāne kī baat karte ho
saarī duniyā ke ranj-o-ġham de kar
muskurāne kī baat karte ho
ham ko apnī ḳhabar nahīñ yaaro
tum zamāne kī baat karte ho
zikr merā sunā to chaḌh ke kahā
kis divāne kī baat karte ho
hādsa thā guzar gayā hogā
kis ke jaane kī baat karte ho

you talk of shelter
you talk of hurting the heart
after giving me a world of grief and sorrow
you ask me to smile
I have no clue about myself
and you talk about the world
when she heard a mention of me
she was irked and said:
Which madman do you talk of?
It was an accident and must have passed
whose departure do you talk of?

aurat

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

qalb-e-mahoul meiN larzaaN sharar-e-jang haiN aaj
hausley waqt ke aur ziist ke yakrang haiN aaj
aabgiinoN meiN tapaaN walwale-e- sang haiN aaj
husn aur ishq ham aawaaz-o-humaahang haiN aaj
jis meiN jaltaa huuN usi aag meiN jalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

zindagii jehad meiN hai sabr ke qaabuu meiN nahiiN
nabz-e-hastii kaa lahuu kaamptii aaNsuu meiN nahii
uRne khulne meiN hai nakhat kham-e-gesu meiN nahiiN
jannat aik aur hai jo mard ke pahluu meiN nahiiN
uskii aazaad ravish par bhii machalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

goshey goshey meiN sulagtii hai chitaa tere liye
farz kaa bhes badaltii hai qazaa tere liye
qahar hai terii har narm adaa tere liye
zahar hii zahar hai duniyaa kii havaa tere liye
rut badal Daal agar phuulnaa phalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

qadr ab tak terii tarriikh ne jaanii hii nahiiN
tujh meiN shole bhii haiN bas ashkfishaanii hii nahiiN
tu haqiiqat bhii hai dilchasp kahaanii hii nahiiN
terii hastii bhii hai ik chiiz javaanii hii nahiiN
apnii tarrikh kaa unvaan badalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

toRkar rasm ke but baRe qadamat se nikal
zof-e-ishrat se nikal, vaham-e-nazaakat se nikal
nafs ke khiiNche hue halq-e-azmal se nikal
yeh bhii ek qaid hii hai, qaid-e-muhabbat se nikal
raah kaa khaar hii kyaa gul bhii kuchalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

toR yeh azm-shikan dagdag-e-paNd bhii toR
terii khaatir hai jo zanjiir vah saugandh bhii toR
tauq yeh bhii zammruud kaa gulband bhii toR
toR paimana-e-mardaan-e-khirdmaNd bhii toR
banke tuufaan chhalaknaa hai ubalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe

tuu falaatuno-arastuu haii tuu zohraa parviiN
tere qabze meiN hai garduuN, terii Thokar meiN zamiiN
haaN, uThaa, jald uThaa paae-muqqadar se jabiiN
maiN bhii rukne kaa nahii waqt bhii rukne kaa nahiiN

laRkhaRaayegii kahaaN tak ki sambhalnaa hai tujhe

uTh merii jaan mere saath hii chalnaa hai tujhe


Woman

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

Today
sparks of war waver in the air
time and life have the same spirit
delicate decanters hiss with the heat of rocks
beauty and love harmonise melodiously
You too have to be ignited by the fire that burns me

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

Life is in struggle, not in the restraint of patience
The blood of pulsating life is not in trembling tears
Fragrance lies in free-flight, not in the tresses, of hair
There is another Paradise which is not by the side of men
On its free pathways too you have yet to pirouette

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

For you
burning pyres wait at every corner
death disguised as duty
your every delicate gesture, a curse
nothing but poison in the breeze
Change the season if you wish to flourish

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

History has not known your worth thus far
You have burning embers too, not merely tears
You’re reality too, not a mere amusing anecdote
Your personality is something too, not just your youth
You’ve to change the title of your history

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

Emerge out of
ancient bondage, break the idols of tradition,
the weakness of pleasure, this mirage of fragility
these self-drawn boundaries of imagined greatness
the bondage of love, for this too is a bondage
Not merely the thorns on the path but you have to trample on flowers too

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

Shatter
these resolve breaking suspicions of sermons
these vows that have become shackles
this too, this necklace of emeralds
these standards set by the wise men
You have to turn into a tempest, bubble and boil over

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

You are Aristotle’s philosophy, Venus, Pleiades
You control the sky, the earth at your feet
Yes, raise, fast, raise your forehead from the feet of fate
I too am not going to pause, nor will the time
How long would you falter, you have to be firm

Get up, my love, you have to walk with me

duusraa banwaas

raam banwaas se jab lautke ghar meiN aaye
yaad jungle bahut aayaa jo nagar meiN aaye
rakh-se diivaangii aaNgan meiN jo dekhaa hogaa
6 disumbar ko shrii raam ne sochaa hogaa
itne divaane kahaaN se mere ghar ko aaye

jagmagaate the jahaaN raam ke kadmoN ke nishaaN
pyaar kii kahkashaaN letii thii angRaaii jahaaN
moR nafrat ke usii rahguzar se aaye

dharm kyaa unkaa hai kyaa zaat hai yeh jaantaa kaun
ghar naa jaltaa tou unhe raat meiN pahchaantaa kaun
ghar jalaane ko meraa log jo ghar meiN aaye

shaakaahaarii hai mere dost tumhaaraa khanjar
tumne baabar ki taraf pheNke the saare pathar
hai mere sar kii khataa zakhm jo sar meiN aaye

paaNv saryu meiN abhii raam ne dhoye bhii naa the
ki nazar aaye vahaaN khuun ke gahre dhabe
paaNv dhoye binaa saryu ke kinaare se uThe
raajdhaani kii fizaa aayii nahii raas mujhe
6 disambar ko milaa duusraa banvaas mujhe

Second Exile

When Ram returned home from exile
He was reminded of the jungle as he entered the city
Seeing the dance of madness in his courtyard
On 6 December, Ram must have thought:
Where have so many mad men come from to my house?

Where Ram’s footsteps used to glitter
Where the milkyway of love would stretch out
The turns of hatred came on the very same pathway

Who knows about their caste or creed?
Had my house not been set afire,
Who would have recognised them at night
The people who came into my house only to burn it?

Your dagger is vegetarian, my friend,
You had thrown all the stone towards Babar
It’s the fault of my head that it came in the way

Ram hadn’t yet washed his feet in the Saryu
That deep bloodstains were visible there
Without washing his feet, he got up from the bank of the Saryu
The climate of the capital doesn’t agree with me
On 6 December I have been given my second exile

makaan


aaj kii raat bahut garm havaa chaltii hai
aaj kii raat naa fuT-paath pe niiNd aaegii
sab uTho, maiN bhii uThuu.N, tum bhii uTho, tum bhii uTho
koii khiRkii isii diivaar meN khul jaaegii

ye zamiin tab bhii nigal lene pe aamaadaa thii
paaNv jab TuuTii shaaKhoN se utaare ham ne
in makaanoN ko Khabar hai na makiinoN ko Khabar
un dinoN kii jo gufaaoN meiN guzaare ham ne

haath Dhalate gaye saaNche meiN to thakate kaise
naqsh ke baad naye naqsh nikhaare ham ne
kii ye diivaar buland, aur buland, aur buland
baam-o-dar aur zaraa, aur saNvaare ham ne

aaNdhiyaaN toR liyaa kartii thii shamoN kii laveiN
jaR diye is liye bijalii ke sitaare ham ne
ban gayaa qasr to pahare pe koii baiTh gayaa
so rahe Khaak pe ham shorish-e-taamiir liye

apanii nas-nas meiN liye mehanat-e-paiham kii thakan
band aaNkhoN meiN isii qasr kii tasviir liye
din phighalataa hai isii tarah saroN par ab tak
raat aaNkhoN meiN KhaTakatii hai syaah tiir liye

aaj kii raat bahut garm havaa chaltii hai
aaj kii raat naa fuT-paath pe niiNd aaegii
sab uTho, maiN bhii uThuu.N, tum bhii uTho, tum bhii uTho
koii khiRkii isii diivaar meN khul jaaegii

 House

A very hot breeze blows tonight
Sleep will not come on the footpath, tonight
All arise, I, you, and so do you 
This wall itself will give way to a window

This earth was bent upon swallowing us up even then
When we lowered our feet from the breaking branches
Neither these houses nor the dwellers know
Of the days we spent in the caves

When the hands got cast in the mould, how could they tire
We cleaned image after new image
Made this wall strong, stronger, even more stronger
Embellished the roof and door some more

Dust-storms would snatch away the flames of candles
So we studded the stars of electricity instead
When the palace was ready, someone sat down to guard
While we slept on the dust in the din of construction

Carrying the tiredness of our relentless labour in every vein
While the image of this palace in our shut eyes remains
The day melts like this on our heads still
The night rankles the eyes with black arrows

A very hot breeze blows tonight
Sleep will not come on the footpath, tonight
All arise, I, you, and so do you
This wall itself will give way to a window

daayraa

droz baRtaa huuN jahaaN se aage
phir vahii lauT ke aa jaataa huuN
barhaa toR chukaa huuN jinko
unhii divaaroN se Takraataa huuN
roz basteN haiN kaii shahar naye
roz dhartii meiN samaa jaate haiN
zalzalo meiN thii zaraa sii garmii
vo bhii ab roz hii aa jaate haiN
jism se ruh talak ret hii ret
naa kahiiN dhuup naa saayaa naa saraab
kitne armaan haiN kis sahraa meiN
kaun rakhtaa hae mazaaroN kaa hiisaab
nabz bujhtii bhii bhaRaktii bhii hae
dil kaa maamuul hae ghabraanaa bhii
raat andhere ne andhere se kahaa
ek aadat hae jiye jaanaa bhii
qaus ik rang kii hoitii hai tuluu’a
ek hii chaal bhii paimaane kii
goshe-goshe meiN khaRii hae masjid
shakl kyaa ho gayii maikhaane kii
kaun kahtaa hae samandar huuN maiN
aur merii jeb meiN qatraa bhii nahii
khairiyat apnii likhaa kartaa huuN
ab to taqdiir meiN khatraa bhii nahiiN
apne haathoN ko paRaa kartaa huuN
kabhii quraaN, kabhii giitaa kii tarah
chaNd rekhaaoN meiN siimaaoN meiN
zindagii qaid hae siitaa kii tarah
raam kab lauTeNge, maaluum nahii
kaash raavan hii koii aa jaataa

circumference

Everyday where I start from
Is exactly where I am back again
The walls I have broken again and again
Are the ones I bang against
Everyday new cities are formed
Everyday they cave into the earth
Earthquakes had a bit of heat
But they too now come everyday
Dust, only dust, from body to soul
No sun, so shade, no mirage
What hopes survive in which desert
Who keeps count of the graves?
The pulse dies and throbs too
The heart after all is wont to worry
Darkness told darkness at night:
To go on living is a habit too
The rainbow dawns with the same colour
The goblet too does the rounds in its own circles
At every corner stands a mosque
What has happened to the tavern’s face?
Someone used to call me the ocean
And there’s not a drop in my pocket
I am fine, I narrate
Now danger too is not in my fate
I read my hands
At times like the Quran or the Gita
Life’s confined, like Sita
In a few lines, in a few boundaries
Don’t know when Rama will return
O, if only a Ravana would come!

zindagii

aaj andheraa meri nas nas meiN utar jaayegaa
aaNkheN bujh jaayeNgii, bujh jaayeNge ahsaas-o-shauur
aur ye sadiyoiN se jaltaa-saa sulagtaa-saa vajuud
isse pahle ki sahar maathe pe shabnam chhiRke
isse pahle ki merii beTii ke vah phuul se haath
garm rukhsaar ko ThanDak bakhsheN
isse pahle ke beTe kaa mazbuut badan
tan-e mafluuj meiN shaktii bhar de
isse pahle ki meii biiwii ke hoNt
mere hoNtoN kii tapish pii jaayeN
raakh ho jaayegaa jalte-jalte
aur phir raakh bhikhar jaayegii
zindagii kahne ko be-maayaaN sahii
gham kaa sarmaayaa sahii
maine iske liye kyaa-kyaa naa kiyaa
kabhii aasaanii se ik saaNs bhii yamraaj ko apnaa naa diyaa

aaj se pahle bahut pahle
isii aaNgan meiN
dhuup bhare daaman meiN
maeiN khaRaa thaa, mere talvoN se dhuuaaN uThtaa thaa
ek benaam saa berang saa khauf
kachche ahsaas pe chhayaa thaa ki jal jaauuNgaa
maeiN pighal jaauuNgaa
aur pighalkar meraa kamzor-saa “maeiN”
katraa-katraa tere maathe se Tapak jaayegaa
ro rahaa thaa ashkoN ke bagaer
chiikhtaa thaa magar aavaaz naa thii
maut lahraatii thii sau shakloN meiN
maene har shakl ko ghabraa ke khudaa maan liyaa
kaaT ke rakh diye saNdal ke purasraar darakht
aur pathar se niikaalaa sholaa
aur roshan kiyaa apne se baRaa ek alaav
jaanvar zibah kiye itne ki khuuN kii lahreN
paaNv se uThke kamar tak aayiiN
aur kamar se mere sar tak aayiiN

somras maene piyaa
raat-din raks kiyaa
naachte-naachte talve mere khuuN dene lage
mere aazaa kii thakan
ban gayii kaaNpte hotoN pe bhajan
haDDiyaaN merii chatkhane lagii iiNdhan kii tarah
mantr hoNtoN se Tapakne lage raugan kii tarah
“agnii maataa merii agnii maataa
suukhii lakRii ke ye bhaarii kunde
jo terii bheNt ko le aayaa huuN
unko svikkar kar aur aise dhadhak
ki machalte shole
khiiNch leN josh meiN
suraj kii sunharii julfeiN
aag meiN aag mile;
jo amar kar de mujhe
aesaa koii raag mile”
agnii maaN se bhii naa jiine kii sanad jab payii
zindagii ke naye imkaaN ne lii aNgRaaii
aur kaanoN meiN kahiiN duur se aawaaz aayii
budham sharnam gachchhaamii
dhamam sharnam gachchhaamii
sangham sharnam gachchhaamii
chaar abruu kaa safaayaa karke
besil’e vastr se dhaaNpaa ye badan
ponchh ke patnii ke maathe se damaktii biNdiyaaN
sot’e bachchoN ko binaa pyaar kiye
chal paRaa haath meiN kashkol liye

chahtaa thaa kahiiN bhiikshaa hii meiN jiivan mil jaaye
jo kabhii baNd naa ho, dil ko voh dhaRkan mil jaaye
mujhko bhiikshaa meiN magar zahar milaa
hoNt tharraane lage jaese kare koii gilaa
jhuk ke suulii se usii waqt kisii ne yeh kahaa
tere ek gaal pe jis pal koii thapaR maare
duusraa gaal bhii aage kar de
terii duniyaa meiN bahut hinsaa hae
iske siine meiN ahiiNsaaa bhar de
ki yeh jiine kaa tariqaa bhii hai, aNdaaz bhii hae
terii aawaaz bhii hae, merii aawaaz bhii hae
maeN uThaa jisko ahiNsaa kaa sabaq sikhlaane
mujhko laTkaa diyaa suulii pe usii duniyaa ne
aa rahaa thaa maeN kuuNchoN se Thokar khaakar
ek aawaaz ne rokaa mujhko
kisii miinaar se niiche aakar
allah-ho akbar, allah-ho akbar
huaa dil ko yeh gumaaN
ki yeh purjosh azaaN
maut se degii amaaN
phir tou pahuNchaa mae jahaaN
maene dohraayaa kuchh aese ye azaaN
guuNj uThaa saaraa jahaaN
allah-ho akbar, allah-ho akbar
usii aawaaz meiN ik aur bhii guuNjaa elaan
qull’e min alehaa faan
ek taraf dhal gayaa khurshiid-e-jahaaNtaab kaa sar
huaa faalij kaa asar
phat gayii nas koii, shiryaanoN meiN khuuN jam saa gayaa
ho gayaa zakhmii diimaag
aesaa lagtaa thaa ki bujh jaayegaa jaltaa hae jo sadiyoN se chiiraag
aaj andheraa meri nas nas meiN utar jaayegaa

yeh samandar jo baRii der se tuufaanii thaa
aesaa taRpaa ki mere kamre ke aNdar aayaa
aate-aate veh mere vaaste amrit laayaa
aur lahraa ke kahaa
shiv ne yeh bhijvaayaa hae, lo piyo aur jiyo
aaj shiv ilm hae, amrit hae amal
ab veh aasaaN hae dushvaar thaa kal
raat jo maut kaa paighaam liye aaii thii
biiwii bachchoN ne mere
usko khiRkii se par’e pheNk diiyaa
aur jo veh jahar kaa ik jaam liye aaii thii
usne veh khud hii piyaa
subah utrii jo samandar meiN nahaane ke liye
raat kii laash miilii paanii meiN

Life

Today darkness will descend into my pores.
Eyes will burn out, sense and sensibility will die
So will this existence, smouldering for centuries.
Before this that dawn sprinkles dew on my forehead
Before this that my daughter’s flower-like hands
Bring cool relief to my fevered cheeks
Before this that my son’s strong body
Fills strength into my paralysed body
Before this that my wife’s lips
Drink up the heat of my lips
It will burn to ashes
And then the ashes will scatter
Life might be said to be nothing
And it might as well be nothing but suffering
But what all did I do for it!
Never easily gave even one breath of mine to death

Before today, long ago
In this very courtyard
Sun-skirted
I stood, smoke spiralling out of my soles
A nameless, formless fear
Spread over my raw feelings that I would burn
I would melt
And melted, my weak sense of self
Would drip-drop down from my forehead
I was crying but without tears
Screamed, but there was no voice
Death undulated with a hundred faces
Frightened, I accepted each face as God
Chopped off the mysterious Sandalwood trees
And pulled out a flame from the stones
And lit up a fire larger than myself
Sacrificed so many animals that waves of blood
Rose from the feet to the waist
And from the waist to my head

I drank ambrosia
Danced night and day
Dancing, my soles spewed out blood
The tiredness of my limbs
Became a prayer on trembling lips
My bones crackled like burning wood
Mantras slipped oil-like out of my lips:
“Fire-mother, my fire-mother
These heavy blocks of dried wood
That I have brought as an offering for you
Please accept these and blaze such
That wayward flames
In arduous excitement, pull in
The Sun’s golden tresses
Fire meeting with fire;
That which makes me immortal
Such passion may I find”
When I did not find such a grant of life from the fire-mother either
A new possibility of life stretched out
And from somewhere in the distance came a voice to the ears
“I go for refuge to Buddha,
I go for refuge to the Wheel of Law,
I go for refuge to the Sangha”

Shaving off eyebrows
Covering this body with unstitched clothes
Wiping off the shining bindiya from the forehead of wife
Without giving love to my sleeping children
Started out with a begging bowl in my hands
Wished somewhere to find life in begging itself
And, for the heart, a beat that would never stop
But as alms, I got poison
Lips trembled, as if someone making a complaint
At that very moment, someone, bending down from the gallows, said:
The moment someone slaps you on one cheek
Turn the other cheek, too
There is too much violence in your world
Fill up his heart with non-violence
That this too is a way of life, a manner too
It is your voice too, as well as mine
Those to whom I got up to teach the lesson of non-violence to
Were the ones who hung me on the stake
I was returning, kicked around from many lanes
When a voice stopped me
Descended down from a minaret:
God is the greatest! God is the greatest!
The heart felt this notion
That this resounding call
Will protect from death
After that wherever I reached
I repeated this call somewhat thus
That the whole world resounded:
God is the greatest! God is the greatest!
In this call itself, one more announcement echoed
‘Everything must perish’
On one side set the Sun that warms the world
Paralysis had its effect
A vein burst, blood, as if, froze in the arteries
The mind got wounded
It seemed as if the lamp lit since centuries, would burn out
Today darkness will descend into my pores.

This ocean that was stormy for long
Turned so agitatedly that it came into my room
While coming, it brought me ambrosia
And it swayed and said
Shiva has sent this, take this, drink and live
Today Shiva is knowledge, immortality is safety
Now it is easy that which was difficult yesterday
Night that had brought the message of death
My wife and kids
Flung it away out of the window
And the cup of poison it had brought
That it drank itself
In the morning when it descended into the ocean to bathe
The corpse of the night was found in the water.