Post 70: SHAMSHEER E BARHENA MAANG GAZAB
शमशीर बरहना माँग गज़ब
Bahadur Shah Zafar ( born 24.10.1775- died 07.11.1862 at the age of 87 ) ,the twelfth and the last Emperor of India, nominal Commander in Chief in the first war of Independence, wrote this romantic ghazal. It is a rare example of Zafar, extolling the beauty of his lover, that covers every part of the body right from hair on the head to the foot! Obviously he must have been very passionately enamoured of his lady love!!
Long list of important words here below is proof enough of the complicated words and concepts used by Bahadur Shah Zafar.
My niece Dr. Kanika Verma, proposed that I take up this gazal for my blog. Thank you Kanika!. It is a beautiful gazal indeed.
Preeti Sagar, in 1984, sang this famous ghazal for Shyam Benegal’ film ‘Mandi’ starring Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Ila Arun , Neena Gupta, Naseeruddin Shah and others. Here Nina Gupta is performing, ‘mujra’ on this ghazal.
Preeti Sagar won two Filmfare awards for her songs ‘ Mero gaam katha parey’ from Manthan (1978) and ‘ My heart is beating from Julie (1975).
Important words:
शमशीर-ए-बरहना: unsheathed sword; गुंधावट: design of hair; क़हर-ए-ख़ुदा: calamity caused by the anger of God; भभूका : सफेद भकक very very fair; बीनी: nose; कटोरा: a shallow vessel made with an edge, a saucer;सितम: oppression , tyranny; सुराही-दार: long necked like an earthen pot for storing water सुराही; शराब-ए-सुर्ख़ी-ए-पाँ: red wine, coloured like the red of a beetle ,पान; शोख़ी: naughtiness could also mean impertinance;क़ामत: height; आरिज़: cheeks or something that is to happen; नौ-ख़ेज़: recent; कुचें: brush; ग़ुंचा: a bud; शिकम: midriff; ख़िर्मन-ए-गुल: heap or abundance of flowers, a bouquet; शाख़-ए-गुल: a branch bearing a flower, also used for a lady love; नाफ़: middle part or navel; गिर्दाब-ए-बला:calamity; सुरीं रानें : hips and thighs; साक़: calf portion between ankle and knee; बिलोरीं : Actually the word is बिल्लोरी a type of clear white stone or mineral; शम-ए-ज़िया:lamp of brightness; कफ़क: ornamented or decorated foot; महरम: raazdar, confidant; हबाब-ए-आब-ए-र वाँ: bubble of running water; धनक: rainbow; फ़ित्ने: quarrel; लगावट: the beloved talking lovingly, may also mean superficial love;
शमशीर-ए-बरहना माँग ग़ज़ब बालों की महक फिर वैसी ही
जूड़े की गुंधावट क़हर-ए-ख़ुदा बालों की महक फिर वैसी ही
The parting in her hair is amazing, appears to have been made with a bare sword and so is the perfume she uses in her hair!
The effect of her coiffured braided hair in a bun is like the tyranny of Gods, scent in her hair is the familiar one!
आँखें हैं कटोरा सी वो सितम गर्दन है सुराही-दार ग़ज़ब
और उसी में शराब-ए-सुर्ख़ी-ए-पाँ रखती है झलक फिर वैसी ही
Her saucer like eyes are so oppressive and her elegant long neck is such a miracle!
Those eyes are filled with red wine with shades of betel juice and that is how she is visible!!
हर बात में उस की गर्मी है हर नाज़ में उस के शोख़ी है
क़ामत है क़यामत चाल परी चलने में फड़क फिर वैसी ही
She has intensity, enthusiasm in every thing ,even her coquetry has a naughtiness!
What a way of walking of that tallish slender fairy has a devastating effect on poor me!!
गर रंग भभूका है और बीनी शोला-ए-सरकश है
तो बिजली सी कौंदे है परी आरिज़ की चमक फिर वैसी ही
If she is so fair as though illuminated from within and her nose is like a rebellious flame!
Then the fairy strikes like lightening and so do her shining cheeks!!
नौ-ख़ेज़ कुचें दो ग़ुंचा हैं है नर्म शिकम इक ख़िर्मन-ए-गुल
बारीक कमर जो शाख़-ए-गुल रखती है लचक फिर वैसी ही
Her breasts are like recently risen buds , her soft midriff (kamar) is like an abundance and of flowers.
Her narrow waist is like a tender branch laden with flowers that is so supple and has the same flexibility, softness !
है नाफ़ कोई गिर्दाब-ए-बला और गोल सुरीं रानें हैं सफ़ा
है साक़ बिलोरीं शम-ए-ज़िया पाँव की कफ़क फिर वैसी ही
Her navel is a vortex of calamity, and her hips and thighs are so clean and hairless!
Her calves appear to be made of a clear mineral, like a lamp of brightness and so is the ornamentation of her feet!
महरम है हबाब-ए-आब-ए-रवाँ सूरज की किरन है उस पे लिपट
जाली की कुर्ती है वो बला गोटे की धनक फिर वैसी ही
My lover is like a bubble of running water, wrapped in the rays of the Sun!
Her netted shirt is evil and rainbow on embroidered border is equally evil!!
वो गाए तो आफ़त लाए है हर ताल में लेवे जान निकाल
नाच उस का उठाए सौ फ़ित्ने घुँगरू की झनक फिर वैसी ही
When she sings she causes a commotion, every nuance of tune, takes my breath away!
Her dance raises hundreds of conflicts and sound of dancing bells has the same effect!!
हर बात पे हम से वो जो 'ज़फ़र' करता है लगावट मुद्दत से
और उस की चाहत रखते हैं हम आज तलक फिर वैसी ही
Oh Jafar, since ages, in everything, she has an attachment, affection for me!
And I reciprocate the same love and affection for her even today!!
Shakeel Ahmed Shah Mashhadi
I am impressed and intrigued with the creativity of the last Emperor of India. Hope you enjoy this gazal.
Enjoy the weekend!
01.04.2022
