ramaen ka ek sin
ruḳhsat huā vo baap se le kar ḳhudā kā naam
rāh-e-vafā kī manzil-e-avval huī tamām
manzūr thā jo maañ kī ziyārat kā intizām
dāman se ashk poñchh ke dil se kiyā kalām
iz.hār-e-be-kasī se sitam hogā aur bhī
dekhā hameñ udaas to ġham hogā aur bhī
dil ko sambhāltā huā āḳhir vo naunihāl
ḳhāmosh maañ ke paas gayā sūrat-e-ḳhayāl
dekhā to ek dar meñ hai baiThī vo ḳhasta-hāl
saktā sā ho gayā hai ye hai shiddat-e-malāl
tan meñ lahū kā naam nahī zard rañg hai
goyā bashar nahī koī tasvīr-e-sañg hai
kyā jaane kis ḳhayāl meñ gum thī vo be-gunāh
nūr-e-nazar ye dīda-e-hasrat se kī nigāh
jumbish huī laboñ ko bharī ek sard aah
lī gosha-ha-e-chashm se ashkoñ ne ruḳh kī raah
chehre kā rañg hālat-e-dil kholne lagā
har mū-e-tan zabāñ kī tarah bolne lagā
āḳhir asīr-e-yās kā qufl-e-dahan khulā
afsāna-e-shadā.id-e-rañj-o-mehan khulā
ik daftar-e-mazālim-e-charḳh-e-kuhan khulā
vā thā dahān-e-zaḳhm ki bāb-e-suḳhan khulā
dard-e-dil-e-ġharīb jo sarf-e-bayāñ huā
ḳhūn-e-jigar kā rañg suḳhan se ayaañ huā
ro kar kahā ḳhamosh khaḌe kyuuñ ho merī jaañ
maiñ jāntī huuñ jis liye aa.e ho tum yahāñ
sab kī ḳhushī yahī hai to sahrā ko ho ravāñ
lekin maiñ apne muñh se na hargiz kahūñgī haañ
kis tarah ban meñ ā.ankhoñ ke taare ko bhej duuñ
jogī banā ke rāj-dulāre ko bhej duuñ
duniyā kā ho gayā hai ye kaisā lahū sapīd
andhā kiye hue hai zar-o-māl kī umiid
anjām kyā ho koī nahī jāntā ye bhed
soche bashar to jism ho larzāñ misāl-e-bīd
likkhī hai kyā hayāt-e-abad in ke vāste
phailā rahe haiñ jaal ye kis din ke vāste
letī kisī faqīr ke ghar meñ agar janam
hote na merī jaan ko sāmān ye baham
Dastā na saañp ban ke mujhe shaukat-o-hasham
tum mere laal the mujhe kis saltanat se kam
maiñ ḳhush huuñ phūñk de koī is taḳht-o-tāj ko
tum hī nahī to aag lagā dūñgī raaj ko
kin kin riyāzatoñ se guzāre haiñ māh-o-sāl
dekhī tumhārī shakl jab a mere naunihāl
puurā huā jo byaah kā armān thā kamāl
aafat ye aa.ī mujh pe hue jab safed baal
chhaTtī huuñ un se jog liyā jin ke vāste
kyā sab kiyā thā maiñ ne isī din ke vāste
aise bhī nā-murād bahut ā.eñge nazar
ghar jin ke be-charāġh rahe aah umr bhar
rahtā mirā bhī naḳhl-e-tamannā jo be-samar
ye jā-e-sabr thī ki duā meñ nahī asar
lekin yahāñ to ban ke muqaddar bigaḌ gayā
phal phuul lā ke bāġh-e-tamannā ujaḌ gayā
sarzad hue the mujh se ḳhudā jaane kyā gunāh
mañjdhār meñ jo yuuñ mirī kashtī huī tabāh
aatī nazar nahī koī amn-o-amāñ kī raah
ab yaañ se kuuch ho to adam meñ mile panāh
taqsīr merī ḳhāliq-e-ālam bahal kare
āsān mujh ġharīb kī mushkil ajal kare
sun kar zabāñ se maañ kī ye fariyād-e-dard-ḳhez
us ḳhasta-jāñ ke dil pe chalī ġham kī teġh-e-tez
aalam ye thā qarīb ki āñhkeñ hoñ ashk-rez
lekin hazār zabt se rone se kī gurez
sochā yahī ki jaan se bekas guzar na jaa.e
nāshād ham ko dekh ke maañ aur mar na jaa.e
phir arz kī ye mādar-e-nāshād ke huzūr
māyūs kyuuñ haiñ aap alam kā hai kyuuñ vafūr
sadma ye shaaq ālam-e-pīrī meñ hai zarūr
lekin na dil se kījiye sabr-o-qarār duur
shāyad ḳhizāñ se shakl ayaañ ho bahār kī
kuchh maslahat isī meñ ho parvardigār kī
ye ja.al ye fareb ye sāzish ye shor-o-shar
honā jo hai sab us ke bahāne haiñ sar-ba-sar
asbāb-e-zāhirī meñ na in par karo nazar
kyā jaane kyā hai parda-e-qudrat meñ jalva-gar
ḳhaas us kī maslahat koī pahchāntā nahī
manzūr kyā use hai koī jāntā nahī
rāhat ho yā ki rañj ḳhushī ho ki intishār
vājib har ek rañg meñ hai shukr-e-kird-gār
tum hī nahī ho kushta-e-nairañg-e-rozgār
mātam-kade meñ dahr ke lākhoñ haiñ sogvār
saḳhtī sahī nahī ki uThā.ī kaḌī nahī
duniyā meñ kyā kisī pe musībat paḌī nahī
His Mother's Reply
dekhe haiñ is se baḌh ke zamāne ne inqalāb
jin se ki be-gunāhoñ kī umreñ huiiñ ḳharāb
soz-e-darūñ se qalb o jigar ho ga.e kabāb
piirī miTī kisī kī kisī kā miTā shabāb
kuchh ban nahī paḌā jo nasībe bigaḌ ga.e
vo bijliyāñ girīñ ki bhare ghar ujaḌ ga.e
maañ baap muñh hī dekhte the jin kā har ghaḌī
qaa.em thiiñ jin ke dam se umīdeñ baḌī baḌī
dāman pe jin ke gard bhī uḌ kar nahī paḌī
maarī na jin ko ḳhvāb meñ bhī phuul kī chhaḌī
mahrūm jab vo gul hue rañg-e-hayāt se
un ko jalā ke ḳhaak kiyā apne haat se
kahte the log dekh ke maañ baap kā malāl
in be-kasoñ kī jaan kā bachnā hai ab muhāl
hai kibriyā kī shaan guzarte hī māh-o-sāl
ḳhud dil se dard-e-hijr kā miTtā gayā ḳhayāl
haañ kuchh dinoñ to nauha-o-mātam huā kiyā
āḳhir ko ro ke baiTh rahe aur kyā kiyā
paḌtā hai jis ġharīb pe rañj-o-mehan kā baar
kartā hai us ko sabr atā aap kirdgār
māyūs ho ke hote haiñ insāñ gunāhgār
ye jānte nahī vo hai dānā-e-rozgār
insān us kī raah meñ sābit-qadam rahe
gardan vahī hai amr-e-razā meñ jo ḳham rahe
aur aap ko to kuchh bhī nahī rañj kā maqām
ba.ad-e-safar vatan meñ ham ā.eñge shād-kām
hote haiñ baat karne meñ chaudah baras tamām
qaa.em umiid hī se hai duniyā hai jis kā naam
The speech did not move his mother
She smiled as she looked at her son
Her heart overflowed
The smile on her face was cold
Like moonlight illuminating a burning ghat
Her despair concealed till this moment, passed into her face
The sadness in her heart was reflected in her gaze
Then she spoke, 'I heard your story;
May you live a million years!
You give your mother wisdom
But the test I have to endure
Child, you don't know what it entails
Your heart knows not this pain
You know nothing of the tenderness of motherhood
I'm old; my time is near
Who knows if I will be here tomorrow
But my heart is confident, the day will come
When you will reflect
Why your poor mother cried so
The time will come when you have children
You will then remember the pleas of your unfortunate mother
You don't value my tears now
Mine is not a suffering that will
Be placated with talking
To make you sad
Is not going to lighten my heart
Go in peace, depart, I won't stop you
Shameless, I will continue to live in this world
I have raised you, I will bear the sorrow of caring'
These words of tender love pierced Ram's heart like barbs
They tore his heart and blood ebbed from his body
He who held his mother's words as dear as faith and honour
Humbly heard his mother's reproach
Reflection and thought failed him; there were no words to reply
Choking on tears, he fell at his mother's feet
Speech couldn't restrain the flood of tears
Haltingly the tortured soul began to talk
'If I have caused you anguish
I would not want to live but choose to die,
A son who is disloyal to his ailing mother
Life is torture for such an offspring
The thought of wilfullness is far from this devotee's mind
He cannot even dare to feign such conceit
If I were to live for a hundred years
I could not repay what you have given me
I would never have left my place at your feet
I am compelled by the promise made to my father
Life's pleasures lure with dreams of paradise
But I have no fondness for abundance of luxuries
Dharma is the lamp that lights the world
If I stray from its path I will blacken the family's name
I fear lest the family's honour be tainted
I respect the lap in which I was nurtured
If I don't accept exile without rancour
What face will I show to the world?
I will invite scorn from others
What will I do when people point fingers and say
The son was disrespectful, he disobeyed his father
Shamelessness is writ on his forehead.'
The innocent one's reply had an effect like magic
The mother's heart was touched to the core
The cloud of sorrow shed the blackness of anger
Her heart overflowed, she could hold back no more
Moving her feet she lifted his head to her lap
She clasped her heart's dearest close to her chest
Both were overcome with emotion, the climate changed
Tears flowed like the Ganga and Yamuna
Only the fortunate are blessed with tears of devotion
These tears are as precious as life itself
They are treasured only in the heart's kingdom
There was no such pearl in King Dasratha's crown.
aur yuuñ kahīñ bhī rañj-o-balā se mafar nahī
kyā hogā do ghaḌī meñ kisī ko ḳhabar nahī
akasr riyāz karte haiñ phūloñ pe bāġhbāñ
hai din kī dhuup raat kī shabnam unheñ girāñ
lekin jo rañg baaġh badaltā hai nā-gahāñ
vo gul hazār pardoñ meñ jaate haiñ rā.egāñ
rakhte haiñ jo aziiz unheñ apnī jaañ kī tarah
milte haiñ dast-e-yās vo barg-e-ḳhizāñ kī tarah
lekin jo phuul khilte haiñ sahrā meñ be-shumār
mauqūf kuchh riyāz pe un kī nahī bahār
dekho ye qudarat-e-chaman-ārā-e-rozgār
vo abr-o-bād o barf meñ rahte haiñ barqarār
hotā hai un pe fazl jo rabb-e-karīm kā
mauj-e-sumūm bantī hai jhoñkā nasīm kā
apnī nigāh hai karam-e-kārsāz par
sahrā chaman banegā vo hai mehrbāñ agar
jañgal ho yā pahāḌ safar ho ki ho hazar
rahtā nahī vo haal se bande ke be-ḳhabar
us kā karam sharīk agar hai to ġham nahī
dāmān-e-dasht dāman-e-mādar se kam nahī
ruKHsat hua wo bap se le kar KHuda ka nam
rah-e-wafa ki manzil-e-awwal hui tamam
manzur tha jo man ki ziyarat ka intizam
daman se ashk ponchh ke dil se kiya kalam
izhaar-e-be-kasi se sitam hoga aur bhi
dekha hamein udas to gham hoga aur bhi
dil ko sambhaalta hua aaKHir wo naunihaal
KHamosh man ke pas gaya surat-e-KHayal
dekha to ek dar mein hai baiThi wo KHasta-haal
sakta sa ho gaya hai ye hai shiddat-e-malal
tan mein lahu ka nam nahi zard rang hai
goya bashar nahi koi taswir-e-sang hai
kya jaane kis KHayal mein gum thi wo be-gunah
nur-e-nazar ye dida-e-hasrat se ki nigah
jumbish hui labon ko bhari ek sard aah
li gosha-ha-e-chashm se ashkon ne ruKH ki rah
chehre ka rang haalat-e-dil kholne laga
har mu-e-tan zaban ki tarah bolne laga
aaKHir asir-e-yas ka qufl-e-dahan khula
afsana-e-shadaid-e-ranj-o-mehan khula
ek daftar-e-mazalim-e-charKH-e-kuhan khula
wa tha dahan-e-zaKHm ki bab-e-suKHan khula
dard-e-dil-e-gharib jo sarf-e-bayan hua
KHun-e-jigar ka rang suKHan se ayan hua
ro kar kaha KHamosh khaDe kyun ho meri jaan
main jaanti hun jis liye aae ho tum yahan
sab ki KHushi yahi hai to sahra ko ho rawan
lekin main apne munh se na hargiz kahungi han
kis tarah ban mein aaankhon ke tare ko bhej dun
jogi bana ke raj-dulare ko bhej dun
duniya ka ho gaya hai ye kaisa lahu sapid
andha kiye hue hai zar-o-mal ki umid
anjam kya ho koi nahi jaanta ye bhed
soche bashar to jism ho larzan misal-e-bid
likkhi hai kya hayat-e-abad in ke waste
phaila rahe hain jal ye kis din ke waste
leti kisi faqir ke ghar mein agar janam
hote na meri jaan ko saman ye baham
Dasta na sanp ban ke mujhe shaukat-o-hasham
tum mere lal the mujhe kis saltanat se kam
main KHush hun phunk de koi is taKHt-o-taj ko
tum hi nahi to aag laga dungi raj ko
kin kin riyazaton se guzare hain mah-o-sal
dekhi tumhaari shakl jab a mere naunihaal
pura hua jo byah ka arman tha kamal
aafat ye aai mujh pe hue jab safed baal
chhaTti hun un se jog liya jin ke waste
kya sab kiya tha main ne isi din ke waste
aise bhi na-murad bahut aaenge nazar
ghar jin ke be-charagh rahe aah umr bhar
rahta mera bhi naKHl-e-tamanna jo be-samar
ye ja-e-sabr thi ki dua mein nahi asar
lekin yahan to ban ke muqaddar bigaD gaya
phal phul la ke bagh-e-tamanna ujaD gaya
sarzad hue the mujh se KHuda jaane kya gunah
manjdhaar mein jo yun meri kashti hui tabah
aati nazar nahi koi amn-o-aman ki rah
ab yan se kuch ho to adam mein mile panah
taqsir meri KHaliq-e-alam bahal kare
aasan mujh gharib ki mushkil ajal kare
sun kar zaban se man ki ye fariyaad-e-dard-KHez
us KHasta-jaan ke dil pe chali gham ki tegh-e-tez
aalam ye tha qarib ki aanhken hon ashk-rez
lekin hazar zabt se rone se ki gurez
socha yahi ki jaan se bekas guzar na jae
nashad hum ko dekh ke man aur mar na jae
phir arz ki ye madar-e-nashad ke huzur
mayus kyun hain aap alam ka hai kyun wafur
sadma ye shaq aalam-e-piri mein hai zarur
lekin na dil se kijiye sabr-o-qarar dur
shayad KHizan se shakl ayan ho bahaar ki
kuchh maslahat isi mein ho parwardigar ki
ye jal ye fareb ye sazish ye shor-o-shar
hona jo hai sab us ke bahane hain sar-ba-sar
asbab-e-zahiri mein na in par karo nazar
kya jaane kya hai parda-e-qudrat mein jalwa-gar
KHas us ki maslahat koi pahchanta nahi
manzur kya use hai koi jaanta nahi
rahat ho ya ki ranj KHushi ho ki intishaar
wajib har ek rang mein hai shukr-e-kird-gar
tum hi nahi ho kushta-e-nairang-e-rozgar
matam-kade mein dahr ke lakhon hain sogwar
saKHti sahi nahi ki uThai kaDi nahi
duniya mein kya kisi pe musibat paDi nahi
His Mother's Reply
dekhe hain is se baDh ke zamane ne inqalab
jin se ki be-gunahon ki umren huin KHarab
soz-e-darun se qalb o jigar ho gae kabab
piri miTi kisi ki kisi ka miTa shabab
kuchh ban nahi paDa jo nasibe bigaD gae
wo bijliyan girin ki bhare ghar ujaD gae
man bap munh hi dekhte the jin ka har ghaDi
qaem thin jin ke dam se umiden baDi baDi
daman pe jin ke gard bhi uD kar nahi paDi
mari na jin ko KHwab mein bhi phul ki chhaDi
mahrum jab wo gul hue rang-e-hayat se
un ko jala ke KHak kiya apne hat se
kahte the log dekh ke man bap ka malal
in be-kason ki jaan ka bachna hai ab muhaal
hai kibriya ki shan guzarte hi mah-o-sal
KHud dil se dard-e-hijr ka miTta gaya KHayal
han kuchh dinon to nauha-o-matam hua kiya
aaKHir ko ro ke baiTh rahe aur kya kiya
paDta hai jis gharib pe ranj-o-mehan ka bar
karta hai us ko sabr ata aap kirdgar
mayus ho ke hote hain insan gunahgar
ye jaante nahi wo hai dana-e-rozgar
insan us ki rah mein sabit-qadam rahe
gardan wahi hai amr-e-raza mein jo KHam rahe
aur aap ko to kuchh bhi nahi ranj ka maqam
baad-e-safar watan mein hum aaenge shad-kaam
hote hain baat karne mein chaudah baras tamam
qaem umid hi se hai duniya hai jis ka nam
The speech did not move his mother
She smiled as she looked at her son
Her heart overflowed
The smile on her face was cold
Like moonlight illuminating a burning ghat
Her despair concealed till this moment, passed into her face
The sadness in her heart was reflected in her gaze
Then she spoke, 'I heard your story;
May you live a million years!
You give your mother wisdom
But the test I have to endure
Child, you don't know what it entails
Your heart knows not this pain
You know nothing of the tenderness of motherhood
I'm old; my time is near
Who knows if I will be here tomorrow
But my heart is confident, the day will come
When you will reflect
Why your poor mother cried so
The time will come when you have children
You will then remember the pleas of your unfortunate mother
You don't value my tears now
Mine is not a suffering that will
Be placated with talking
To make you sad
Is not going to lighten my heart
Go in peace, depart, I won't stop you
Shameless, I will continue to live in this world
I have raised you, I will bear the sorrow of caring'
These words of tender love pierced Ram's heart like barbs
They tore his heart and blood ebbed from his body
He who held his mother's words as dear as faith and honour
Humbly heard his mother's reproach
Reflection and thought failed him; there were no words to reply
Choking on tears, he fell at his mother's feet
Speech couldn't restrain the flood of tears
Haltingly the tortured soul began to talk
'If I have caused you anguish
I would not want to live but choose to die,
A son who is disloyal to his ailing mother
Life is torture for such an offspring
The thought of wilfullness is far from this devotee's mind
He cannot even dare to feign such conceit
If I were to live for a hundred years
I could not repay what you have given me
I would never have left my place at your feet
I am compelled by the promise made to my father
Life's pleasures lure with dreams of paradise
But I have no fondness for abundance of luxuries
Dharma is the lamp that lights the world
If I stray from its path I will blacken the family's name
I fear lest the family's honour be tainted
I respect the lap in which I was nurtured
If I don't accept exile without rancour
What face will I show to the world?
I will invite scorn from others
What will I do when people point fingers and say
The son was disrespectful, he disobeyed his father
Shamelessness is writ on his forehead.'
The innocent one's reply had an effect like magic
The mother's heart was touched to the core
The cloud of sorrow shed the blackness of anger
Her heart overflowed, she could hold back no more
Moving her feet she lifted his head to her lap
She clasped her heart's dearest close to her chest
Both were overcome with emotion, the climate changed
Tears flowed like the Ganga and Yamuna
Only the fortunate are blessed with tears of devotion
These tears are as precious as life itself
They are treasured only in the heart's kingdom
There was no such pearl in King Dasratha's crown.
aur yun kahin bhi ranj-o-bala se mafar nahi
kya hoga do ghaDi mein kisi ko KHabar nahi
akasr riyaz karte hain phulon pe baghban
hai din ki dhup raat ki shabnam unhen giran
lekin jo rang bagh badalta hai na-gahan
wo gul hazar pardon mein jate hain raegan
rakhte hain jo aziz unhen apni jaan ki tarah
milte hain dast-e-yas wo barg-e-KHizan ki tarah
lekin jo phul khilte hain sahra mein be-shumar
mauquf kuchh riyaz pe un ki nahi bahaar
dekho ye qudarat-e-chaman-ara-e-rozgar
wo abr-o-baad o barf mein rahte hain barqarar
hota hai un pe fazl jo rabb-e-karim ka
mauj-e-sumum banti hai jhonka nasim ka
apni nigah hai karam-e-karsaz par
sahra chaman banega wo hai mehrban agar
jangal ho ya pahaD safar ho ki ho hazar
rahta nahi wo haal se bande ke be-KHabar
us ka karam sharik agar hai to gham nahi
daman-e-dasht daman-e-madar se kam nahi
- Book : intekhab-e-chakbast (Pg. 36)
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