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(Bang-e-Dra-040) Juggnu

Jugnoo
Firefly

Jugnoo Ki Roshni Hai Kashana-e-Chaman Mein
Ya Shama Jal Rahi Hai Phoolon Ki Anjuman Mein

Is the firefly aglow in the garden’s abode?
Or blazes a lamp in the throng of the flowers?

Aya Hai Asman Se Urh Kar Koi Sitara
Ya Jaan Parh Gyi Hai Mehtaab Ki Kiran Mein

Has a star fluttered down that high aloft rode?
Has a ray of the moon won some life-throbbing powers?

Ya Shab Ki Saltanat Mein Din Ka Safeer Aya
Gharbat Mein Aa Ke Chamka, Ghumnaam Tha Watan Mein

Has the envoy of day come to realms of the night?
Come humbly, a gleam to its own land unknown?

Tukma Koi Gira Hai Mehtab Ki Qaba Ka
Zarra Hai Ya Numayan Suraj Ke Pairhan Mein

Has there fallen a whorl that moon’s cloak once bedight?
From the robe of the sun has a sequin been shown?

Husn-e-Qadeem Ki Ye Poshida Ek Jhalak Thi
Le Ayi Jis Ko Qudrat Khalwat Se Anjuman

Here is hidden the sheen of Old Beauty and bright
That Nature uncovers for men of our day.

Chote Se Chand Mein Hai Zulmat Bhi Roshni Bhi
Nikla Kabhi Gehn Se, Aya Kabhi Gehn Mein

In this little moon are both darkness and light,
As eclipse may advance, or eclipse pass away.

Parwana Ek Patanga, Jugnoo Bhi Ek Patanga
Woh Roshni Ka Talib, Ye Roshni Sarapa

The moth and the firefly through air both take wing.
One seeks for light: one in light’s all arrayed:

Har Cheez Ko Jahan Mein Qudrat Ne Dilbari Di
Parwane Ko Tapish Di, Jugnoo Ko Roshani Di

On earth nature grants all some soulgladd’ning thing.
For the moth was heat, for the firefly light made.

Rangeen Nawa Banaya Murghan-e-Bezuban Ko
Gul Ko Zuban De Kar Taleem-e-Khamashi Di

On birds that were tongueless it dowered melody:
Gave a tongue to the rose but withheld from it song.

Nazara-e-Shafaq Ki Khoobi Zawal Mein Thi
Chamka Ke Iss Pari Ko Thori Si Zindagi Di

For sunset it fashioned sheer half‐light to see;
Set fairy a‐glitter but her life made not long:

Rangeen Kiya Sehar Ko Banki Dulhan Ki Soorat
Pehna Ke Laal Jorha Shabnam Ki Aar Si Di

The morning made brilliant like sweet bird of love:
Clad down in red robes—with dew’s mirror dawn plays.

Saya Diya Shajar Ko, Parwaz Di Hawa Ko
Pani Ko Di Rawani, Moujon Ko Be-Kali Di

It brought the tree shadiness, caused air to move,
Set motion to water, taught waves’ restless ways.

Ye Imtiaz Lekin Ek Baat Hai Humari
Jugnoo Ka Din Wohi Hai Jo Raat Hai Humari

Yet this is a puzzle that troubles our mind.
The day of the firefly for us is the night.

Husn-e-Azal Ki Paida Har Cheez Mein Jhalak Hai
Insan Mein Woh Sukhan Hai, Ghunche Mein Woh Chatak Hai

In everything luster of beauty we fine;
In man there is speech: opening buds smile delight.

Ye Chand Asman Ka Shayar Ka Dil Hai Goya
Waan Chandani Hai Jo Kuch, Yaan Dard Kasak Hai

This moon of the sky is as heat of the bard.
There shines the bright moon: here is anguish of pain.

Andaz-e-Guftugoo Ne Dhoke Diye Hain Warna
Naghma Hai Bu-e-Bulbul, Boo Phool Ki Chehak Hai

There must be some trick in the ways of the word:
Else the bird would be fragrance, the flower sing refrain.

Kasrat Mein Ho Gya Hai Wahdat Ka Raaz Makhfi
Jugnoo Mein Jo Chamak Hai, Woh Phool Mein Mehak Hai

The riddle of union’s in beauty rich hid.
The glitter of firefly is fragrance of flower.

Ye Ikhtilaf Phir Kyun Hangamon Ka Mehal Ho
Har Shay Mein Jabke Pinhan Khamoshi-e-Azal Ho

Then why comes perversely this discord unbid
When all things at heart hide this silence of power?

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