ALLAMA IQBAL GAISU -E TABDAR

 

ALLAMA IQBAL GAISU -E TABDAR

गेसू-ए-ताबदार को और भी ताबदार कर

अल्लामा इक़बाल

 

LISTEN TO THE YOUTUBE

 

https://youtu.be/3Xmv2oC31Cg

 

बाल-ए-जिब्रील

 

1      गेसू-ए-ताबदार को और भी ताबदार कर

होश ओ ख़िरद शिकार कर क़ल्ब ओ नज़र शिकार कर

 

2      इश्क़ भी हो हिजाब में हुस्न भी हो हिजाब में

या तो ख़ुद आश्कार हो या मुझे आश्कार कर

 

3      तू है मुहीत-ए-बे-कराँ मैं हूँ ज़रा सी आबजू

या मुझे हम-कनार कर या मुझे बे-कनार कर

 

4      मैं हूँ सदफ़ तो तेरे हाथ मेरे गुहर की आबरू

मैं हूँ ख़ज़फ़ तो तू मुझे गौहर-ए-शाहवार कर

 

5      नग़्मा-ए-नौ-बहार अगर मेरे नसीब में न हो

उस दम-ए-नीम-सोज़ को ताइरक-ए-बहार कर

 

6      बाग़-ए-बहिश्त से मुझे हुक्म-ए-सफ़र दिया था क्यूँ

 

कार-ए-जहाँ दराज़ है अब मिरा इंतिज़ार कर

 

7      रोज़-ए-हिसाब जब मिरा पेश हो दफ़्तर-ए-अमल

आप भी शर्मसार हो मुझ को भी शर्मसार

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MEANINGS AS UNDERSTOOD

 

1        गेसू-ए-ताबदार को और भी ताबदार कर

 

होश ओ ख़िरद शिकार कर क़ल्ब ओ नज़र शिकार कर

 

Iqbal offers a vivid picture of the beauty of the human soul. He has imagined it to be the "shining or captivating tresses" of a beautiful woman obscured by karmic impurities. He urges all individuals to enhance the radiance and allure of their souls through the pursuit of love and devotion to God. This transformative process unfolds when one elevates the understanding and awareness of the mind, curbing and nipping the wayward tendencies at their inception (होश ओ ख़िरद शिकार कर क़ल्ब ओ नज़र शिकार कर) and steering clear of infatuations with the fleeting wealth and attachment of this worldly existence.

 

2        इश्क़ भी हो हिजाब में हुस्न भी हो हिजाब में

 

या तो ख़ुद आश्कार हो या मुझे आश्कार कर

 

Ishq signifies the obliteration of the self, contrasting with love and Mohabbat, which retain a sense of duality, seeking tangible connections, passion, and a yearning for mental or physical togetherness. Since the Divine remains unseen (हिजाब), and His beauty remains invisible (हिजाब), ignite the unperceived fervour or fire of Ishq within yourself. This silent flame, invisible to the external eye, catalyzes self-realization. In doing so, the Lord is kind to unveil Himself to human beings.

 

 

3        तू है मुहीत-ए-बे-कराँ मैं हूँ ज़रा सी आबजू

 

या मुझे हम-कनार कर या मुझे बे-कनार कर

 

This verse refers to the macrocosm as God and the microcosm as the soul. The Lord is a shoreless expanse of the vast ocean (मुहीत-ए-बे-कराँ), while the soul is a minuscule rivulet (आबजू). The analogy emphasizes the limited awareness of the soul, akin to a small stream unaware of its integral connection to the vast ocean surrounding it.

 

In essence, Iqbal prays oh Lord, You are the boundless expanse, and I am a mere creek. Grant me the awareness that my soul is within You and that there is an inseparable oneness between the soul and God. Like the sun and its rays eternally intertwined, the duality of the mind creates division. He prays for the blessing of the highest consciousness, a state where the soul recognizes its unity with the Divine.

 

4        मैं हूँ सदफ़ तो तेरे हाथ मेरे गुहर की आबरू

 

मैं हूँ ख़ज़फ़ तो तू मुझे गौहर-ए-शाहवार कर

 

I, a humble human being, am akin to the shell of a broken pearl, filled with sins and transgressions. Like a precious gem, you have the power to preserve my honour. With your benevolence, transform me from a mere stone into a jewel.

Iqbal speaks of the profound weight of karmic imperfections that burden the soul. Without divine grace, individuals may endure ceaseless cycles of reincarnation across various physical forms, as depicted in Hindu mythology's cycle of 8,400,000 species or the cycle of 84. Salvation, Mukti, or Nijat from the confinement within the prisons of different bodies remains elusive without this divine intervention, perpetuating the duality between the Lord and beings."

 

5        नग़्मा-ए-नौ-बहार अगर मेरे नसीब में न हो

 

उस दम-ए-नीम-सोज़ को ताइरक-ए-बहार कर

 

It is a beautiful expression of longing and a plea for divine intervention. Iqbal desires the exquisite melody of the "Naghma-e-Nau-Bahar" (song of the new spring), suggesting a symbolic season of happiness and divine bliss. However, if fate has not granted the poet this joy, he implores the Divine to release him from the struggles and sorrows of life, much like a caged bird seeking liberation.

The mention of "Dum-e-Neem-Soz" (subtle breath) and "Tairak-e-Bahar" (bird of spring) adds to the poetic imagery, emphasizing the delicacy of the request for divine intervention and the hope for a renewed and joyous existence.

6        बाग़-ए-बहिश्त से मुझे हुक्म-ए-सफ़र दिया था क्यूँ

 

कार-ए-जहाँ दराज़ है अब मिरा इंतिज़ार कर

 

Iqbal diverts his conversation with God in this verse to a new dimension. All five verses above are of Ishq, longing, submission, salvation, self and God's realization. In this two-liner, the sentiments are loving and curious in question-and-answer format.

 

A childish soul politely asks the Holy Father—why it was ordained from the Royal Transcendental Garden for traversing the cosmic creation.

 

"Why was I, from the Garden of Eternity, bestowed the command to embark on this journey?

Now, my chariot of existence traverses the vast expanse; I await Your divine presence because my anticipation of returning to You is of no avail."

Oh, Almighty, I find myself trapped in the intricate web of karma—actions, reactions, desires, responsibilities, and attachments. How can I realize Your Divine Truth (return to Maqam-e-Haq) while entangled in these vast diversions and worldly affairs? The crux lies in the bestowal of Your grace, facilitating the experience of Oneness with You—Tauheed."

 

7        रोज़-ए-हिसाब जब मिरा पेश हो दफ़्तर-ए-अमल

 

आप भी शर्मसार हो मुझ को भी शर्मसार

 

 

Oh Lord, on the day of reckoning, known as Roza-Mashar, my actions as per the Karmic ledger will be scrutinized. The jury will decide whether I will be blessed with the realization of Your divine presence or be sent back into the cycle of reincarnation, the cosmic wheel of 84.

I earnestly pray that You do not dishonour me with shame by casting me out of the eternal Garden. If, perchance, I am subjected to the cyclic wheel of rebirth, Lord, You, too, will bear responsibility and embarrassment  for not gracing me with Your forgiveness."

THE ESSENCE

 

      I.         Enhancement of the Soul's Radiance: Iqbal emphasizes the beauty of the human soul, encouraging individuals to purify their hearts and minds through love and devotion to God. The transformative process involves elevating understanding, curbing wayward tendencies, and avoiding attachment to worldly wealth.

    II.         Ishq as Self-Obliteration: Ishq, as portrayed by Iqbal, involves the obliteration of the self, contrasting with love and Mohabbat. When the Divine remains hidden, igniting the unseen fire of Ishq within oneself leads to self-realization, compelling the Lord to unveil Himself to humanity.

   III.         Seeking Awareness of Oneness: Iqbal's prayer acknowledges the vastness of God and the limited awareness of the soul. He seeks awareness that the soul is within God, emphasizing the inseparable Oneness between the soul and the Divine, akin to the eternal connection between the sun and its rays.

  IV.         Divine Transformation of the Soul: Iqbal acknowledges human imperfections and sins, likening himself to a broken pearl. He implores the Divine to transform him into a precious gem, highlighting the need for divine grace to escape the cycle of reincarnation and attain salvation.

    V.         Longing for Divine Bliss: Iqbal desires divine intervention, longing for the joyous melody of a new spring. If fate denies this happiness, he implores the Divine to release him from life's struggles, using the poetic imagery of a caged bird seeking liberation.

  VI.         Questioning Life's Journey: In a two-liner, Iqbal questions the purpose of life's journey ordained from the Royal Transcendental Garden. The soul, entangled in karma and worldly affairs, awaits divine presence, highlighting the need for divine grace to realise Oneness.

VII.         Prayer for Divine Forgiveness: Iqbal anticipates the day of reckoning, where actions will be scrutinized. He earnestly prays for divine forgiveness, expressing a desire not to be cast out of the eternal Garden. If subjected to the cycle of rebirth, he calls upon the Lord to bear responsibility for not granting forgiveness.