A vagrant am I (Awara Hoon)

 A translation of the song "Awara Hoon" by Shailendra

Original (transliteration): Awara Hoon	An English lit translation: A vagrant am I
Awara hoon Awara hoon Ya gardish mein hoon aasman ka tara hoon Awara hoon Awara hoon Ya gardish mein hoon aasman ka tara hoon Awara hoon	A vagrant am I A vagrant am I Or a wand'rer am I, a star in the sky am I  A vagrant am I A vagrant am I Or a wand'rer am I, a star in the sky am I  A vagrant am I
Gharbaar nahi, sansar nahi Mujhse kisi ko pyar nahi Mujhse kisi ko pyar nahi Us paar kisi se milne ka iqraar nahi Mujhse kisi ko pyar nahi Mujhse kisi ko pyar nahi Sunsaan nagar anjaan dagar ka pyara hoon	No home have I, no family There's no one who loves me There's no one who loves me No dreams to meet someone on the oth'r side There's no one who loves me There's no one who loves me Deserted towns, empty streets love me dearly
Awara hoon Awara hoon Ya gardish mein hoon aasman ka tara hoon Awara hoon	A vagrant am I A vagrant am I Or a wand'rer am I, a star in the sky am I  A vagrant am I
Aabaad nahi, barbaad sahi Gata hoon khushi ke geet magar Gata hoon khushi ke geet magar Zakhmon se bhara seena hai mera Hansti hai magar yeh mast nazar Duniya ... duniya main tere teer ka ya taqdeer ka maara hoon	Unsettled am I, a waste am I But yet I sing songs of joy But yet I sing songs of joy Full of wounds is this heart of mine But yet there's a twinkle in my eye World ... oh world, your arrows or the Fates have killed me
Awara hoon Awara hoon Ya gardish mein hoon aasman ka tara hoon Awara hoon Awara hoon Awara hoon	A vagrant am I A vagrant am I Or a wand'rer am I, a star in the sky am I  A vagrant am I A vagrant am I A vagrant am I

We birds of the free sky (Hum panchi unmukt gagan ke)

A translation of the poem "Hum panchi unmukt gagan ke" by Shivmangal Singh "Suman".

Original (transliteration): Hum panchi unmukt gagan ke	An English lit translation: We birds of the free sky
Hum panchi unmukt gagan ke, Pinjar bandh na ga payenge Kanak-tiliyon se takrakar Pulkit pankh toot jayenge.	We birds of the free sky, In cages, we cannot sing. The gilded bars will break Each unfettered wing.
Hum bahta jal peenewale, Mar jayenge bhooke-pyaase Kahin bhali hai katuk nibori Kanak-katori ki maida se.	We who drink the flowing water Would rather die of hunger and thirst. Far better is the bitter berry Than flour in a bowl of gold-dust.
Swarn-shrinkhala ki bandhan mein Apni gati, udaan sab bhoole Bas sapnon mein dekh rahe hain Taru ke fungi par ke jhoole.	Tied in chains of gold, We've forgotten our flight, the breeze. Alas! In dreams alone we see The swings, on the twigs of trees.
Aise the armaan ki udte Neel gagan ki seema paane Lal kiran-si chonch khol Chugte tarak anar ke daane.	Our desires soared to reach Beyond the blueness of the skies. With beaks like reddish rays We chewed the starry grains of rice.
Hoti seemaheen kshitij se In pankhon ki horahori Ya toh kshitij milan ban jaata Ya tanti sanson ki dori	Against the endless horizon These wings would race with every breath. Oh, to be one with the infinite - Or embrace the stillness of death.
Need na hon, chahe tehni ka, Ashray chinn-bhinn kar dalo. Lekin pankh diye hain to Aakul udaan mein vign na dalo.	Take away my nest and bough, Destroy the shelters of my nights. But if I've been given these wings, Stop not my fervent flights.

Wild Wind (Pagla Hawa by Salil Chowdhury)

A translation of the song "Pagla Hawa" by Salil Chowdhury.

Original (transliteration): Pagla Hawa	An English lit translation: Wild Wind
Pagla hawa Ki amaro moto Tumio hariye gele Fulero bone Hajaro ronger melaye Surobhi roder khelaye Tari nahi pele Pagol hawa	O wild wind, Just like me, Are you too lost, In a flowery forest, Where a thousand colours dance, And fragrant sunbeams play, She is not to be found. O wild wind!
Bosonto jokhon Eshe deke jaye - amaray Ki jani ki ba roopay Shay ashay chupay-chupay Jodate chaye - amaray Bosonto jokhon...	When spring Comes to call - ah me! Who knows in what form She'll come - unseen, unheard, To embrace me - ah me! When spring ...
Bonay bonay tokhon - batashay Matali banshitay Ki kotha jaye bolay	In the woods, then- in the airs, In sensual notes, O what words she shares.
Ebar sango mon Hoyeche khela ghore bijoyini Jhora phulay pollobay E mala gatho tobay Poraye dao bijoyini Ebar sango mon	Now, playmate o' mine, The game's done, and you've won, With fallen flowers, Weave then the garland, Put it on me, O winner, Now, playmate o' mine.
Har mano haray - amaray Sajayo sojoni Bnadhon dao monay	My defeat I accept - ah me! Adorn me, paramour, Bind me with you.

Inner Soul ("Moner Manush" by Lalon Fakir)

   A translation of  "Moner Manush" by Lalon Fakir

Original:	Transliteration: Moner Manush	An English lit translation: Inner Soul
মিলন হবে কত দিনে ও মিলন হবে কত দিনে... আমার মনের মানুষের সনে।(x2) ।	Milon hobe koto dine O milon hobe koto dine Aamaar moner manusher sone (x2) .	When shall we meet, be whole? O when shall we meet, be whole? To be at one, with my inner soul (x2).
চাতক প্রায় অহর্নিশি চেয়ে আছি কালো শশী হব বলে চরণ-দাসী ।  ও তা হয় না কপাল-গুণে, আমার মনের মানুষের সনে (২)।	Chatak pray aaharnishi Cheye aache kaalo shashi, Hobo bole charan-dasi  O ta hoye na kapal-gune , Aamaar moner manusher sone (x2) .	All night and day waits the swallow, In the moon's darkening glow, For me to be at your feet, to follow. O! Alas, I wait for Destiny's role, To be at one, with my inner soul (x2).
মেঘের বিদ্যুৎ মেঘেই যেমন লুকালে না পাই অন্বেষণ, কালারে হারায়ে তেমন  ঐ রূপ হেরি এ দর্পণে  আমার মনের মানুষের সনে (২)।	Megher bidyut meghei jemon, Lukaile na pai anveshan, Kalare haraye temon , Ei roop heri darpane . Aamaar moner manusher sone (x2) .	As we search for the hidden lightning, In dark clouds' silver lining, So too, for my hidden self, I'm pining, Searching in the mirror to be whole, To be at one, with my inner soul (x2).
যখন ওই রূপ স্মরণ হয় থাকে না লোক লজ্জার‌ও ভয়। লালন ফকির ভেবে বলে সদাই  প্রেম করে যে সেই জানে মিলন হবে কত দিনে (২)	Jokhon oi roop smoron hoye Thake na lok lajjar bhoye, Lalon Fakir bhebe bole sadai , Prem kore je shei jane, Milon hobe koto dine (x2).	O when I see you in my mind's gaze, I overcome the fear of social mores, Lalon Fakir says, now and always, He who loves thus understands the whole, To be at one, with my inner soul (x2).

Humble Appeal (Sabinay Nibedan by Shankha Ghosh)

  A translation of  "Sabinay Nibedan" by Shankha Ghosh

Original: সবিনয় নিবেদন	Transliteration: Sabinay Nibedan	An English lit translation: Humble Appeal
আমি তো আমার শপথ রেখেছি অক্ষরে অক্ষরে যারা প্রতিবাদী তাদের জীবন দিয়েছি নরক করে |	Aami je aamaar shapath rekhechi; Akkhare akkhare. Jara pratibadi tader jibon Diyechi narak kore.	I have but kept my promise, my oath; Every word, every yell. They who've dared to protest, their lives- I've made it Hell.
দাপিয়ে বেড়াবে আমাদের দল অন্যে কবে না কথা বজ্র কঠিন রাজ্যশাসনে সেটাই স্বাভাবিকতা |	Dapiye berabe aamaader dal Onyo kobe na kotha Bajrakothin rajyasashane Shetai shabhabikata.	Our gang shall rampage in the streets, Others shall conform. In an authoritarian state's rule, That is just the norm.
গুলির জন্য সমস্ত রাত সমস্ত দিন খোলা বজ্র কঠিন রাজ্যে এটাই শান্তি শৃঙ্খলা |	Gulir jonye shomosto raat Shomosto din khola Bajrakothin rajyasashane Shetai shanti o shrinkhola.	For the bullets shall fly, all night and day, They shall never, ever cease. In an authoritarian state, this  Is law and order, and peace.
যে মরে মরুক, অথবা জীবন কেটে যাক শোক করে— আমি আজ জয়ী, সবার জীবন দিয়েছি নরক করে |	Je more moruk, othoba jibon Kete jak shok kore - Aami aaj joyi, shabar jobon Diyechi narak kore.	He who dies, let him; or let him live Hearing his death knell. I am the victor, and all their lives- I've made it Hell.

Danger ( Bipod )

Danger ( Bipod )
A short story by Bibhuti Bhusan Bandopadhyay

I was working from home, writing. In the morning, someone called out: “Uncle”.

Lost in my writing, a little irritated, I said, “Who?”

An unknown girl’s voice said, “Me, Haju.”

“Haju? Who Haju?”

I stepped outside. A sixteen-seventeen-year-old girl, poorly clad, stood holding a baby in her arms. I didn’t recognize her. After several years, I’ve recently returned to my village; there are many people I don’t know. I said, “Who are you?”

In an embarrassed tone, the girl said, “My father’s name is Ramcharan Boshtam.”

Now I could place her. As a kid, I used to play cowrie-games with Ramcharan. I had heard that about five years ago, he’d left the troubles of the world for his heavenly abode. But I'd no idea about his family life. That he had such a grown-up daughter, I learnt just now.

I said, “Oh, you’re Ramcharan’ s daughter! I see you’re married. Where do your in-laws stay?”

“Kalopur”

“Well, well! This your son? How old is he?”

“About two.”

“Okay, take care, go inside.”

“I have come to you, Uncle. Do you need any domestic help?”

I said, “No, we have help, we don't need anyone else. Why, who will stay?”

“I would. You don't have to pay me, just the two meals a day.”

“Why, what about your in-laws?”

The girl didn't reply but why should I get into all this messy business. My writing was getting delayed, so I said straightaway, no, now we don't need any maid.

Then the girl went into the house; later I heard she had come to beg. Taking some rice, she went away.

I'd forgotten about the girl till suddenly one day I saw her from outside the house of Ray’s. Sitting on a stool, the girl was eating a slice of watermelon – and how desperately! The way she held that slice and bit into it, the word "desperate" was most appropriate and it came to my mind. Her clothes were tattered. The child was not with her. On a nearby stool they were a few pieces of papaya and a piece of gur. I guessed that because of today's Akshay Tritiya festival, the Ray family was doing a pooja and she had got these while having gone there to beg. Because at the feet of the girl, there was a bundle with possibly the rice that she had begged.

That day I asked someone about this girl. I heard the girl doesn't go to her in-laws because the situation is very dire, not even two meals a day are not available. Not being able to manage, the girl’s husband had left her at her father's house, without even saying when he would take her back. And here at her father’s house, the situation was quite tough. Ramcharan’ s widow worked as a maid in other people’s houses, trying to bring up two ill-mannered children with great difficulty. The girl had landed up on the mother for the last one year. How will the mother manage? So the girl has to live on her own.

One day, the maid in our house asked me in passing, “I heard Haju said she wanted to work at your place?”

“Yes, she had - one day”

“Be careful, Babu. Don't let her come into the house. She's a thief.”

“Thief? What kind of thief?”

“Whatever she finds, she steals. The Mukherjee family didn’t keep her, she would steal whatever she’d find and eat, she stole milk and drank, she stole rice and took it away. She’s always desperate for food. Just eat and eat. They couldn’t handle her elephant’s feed; so the Mukherjee family let her go. Now, she’s on the streets.”

“Her mother doesn’t take care of her?”

“She doesn’t have enough to feed herself. She’s told her, where will I get for you? You see for yourself. So she goes door to door.”

From then, I felt pity for her. Whenever she’d come home, I’d give rice or lentils, a few pennies. A couple of times, she’d also had lunch at my house.

About a month later, I heard someone crying loudly in front of my house. So I stepped out of the house. I saw Haju crying loudly and coming towards our house. What's the matter? Apparently, Madhu Chakrabarty had beaten her up, and snatched her mug. She had gone to his house to beg, that was her crime.

I was angry. I'm a senior citizen of this village, the secretary of the People’s welfare association. I immediately sent for Madhu Chakrabarty. With a red gamchha on his shoulder, Madhu came running to my house. I asked him,“Madhu, you hit her?”

“Yes, Dada. I hit her once. I couldn't control my temper. "She's a real thief. Please listen to me. She had come to beg, from the courtyard, she was stealing handfuls of chillies from the chilly plant. Another day, she’d come begging and I saw her breaking a ripe papaya from the tree in the courtyard, that day I didn't say anything. But today I couldn’t control my temper. I gave her a tight slap, I won't tell you a lie.”

“No, that's quite wrong. Hitting a girl, what's that? Behaving like a monster. Go return to her whatever you have taken from her.”

I told Haju you shouldn't ever go begging to Madhu Chakraborty's house.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

At this time the drought began. Rice was no longer available in the markets. The daily ritual of giving alms to beggars had been stopped. One day I saw Haju with the child in her arms begging in the streets of Goalpara. Seeing me, she innocently looked at me and said, “O Uncle!” as if she had been searching for me for long to give me some good news.

With some irritation I said, “What?”

“Oh! I'll come to your house.”

“Okay, at our house today you will get prasad - understand?”

Haju was very happy. I know if she gets to eat, this girl’s very happy. Under the shade of the kanthal tree outside the house, when she sat down to eat, her plate had rice for two. That food could provide such joy, to learn that you had to see how Haju ate that day. I told my wife to give her a few extra pieces of fish, to feed her well.

One day, seeing Boshtam para’s Ritesh Bairagi, I asked him, “Your para’s Haju, she doesn't go to her in-laws. Why?”

“Her husband doesn't take her.”

“Because?”

“There are many things. She's apparently very greedy, she steals from the pan and eats, the cream can't settle on the milk, she steals it all, so they chased her away.”

“That's her only crime, nothing else?”

“This is what I heard, nothing else. They are also not good people, otherwise who’d the chase away their own bride just for eating. They’re also weird.”

For some days, I didn’t see Haju on the streets. One day, the para’s Boshtam-woman said, “Have you heard what’s happened?”

“What?”

“That Haju from our area, she's gone to Bangaon and written her name.”

I was saddened. Here, “writing your name” meant becoming a prostitute. So finally, Haju had become a fallen woman. It was not something to be very surprised about, but I felt sad because she was a girl from the village. And with this, this matter should have ended because I don't always stay in the village and even then, I don't really know what happens to everyone all the time.

The long age of the fifties slipped by. By the roadside, here and there, even now a couple of skeletons could be spotted. The desperate starving immigrants from Tripura district have left their mark on earth. In this district, the drought wasn't that terrible. Where it was, the people from there – desperate single souls came here and never returned.

It was the month of Pous. A bitter cold had set in. In the big city, a school had an annual festival. I’d gone for that. On the way back I thought I would cut through an alley to the market. I’d taken a few steps into the alley when somebody called out, “O! Uncle!”

I said, “Who?”

“Oh! Me.”

In the half darkness of the alley, I struggled to see clearly. In front of a shanty home, on the street, a girl in colourful clothes was standing, the colour of her clothes fading into the darkness, I could just see the shadowy contours of her face and her two hands.

I went closer and said, “Who?”

“What, you couldn't recognise me? I'm Haju.”

Even when she said Haju, I couldn't remember anything. I said, “Who Haju?”

She laughed, “From your village, Haju. You’ve forgotten! My father’s name is Ramcharan Bairagi. Now, I'm in this city as a courtesan.”

The tone in which she said that last word, it was as if she had reached the pinnacle of success and she was bursting with pride to be the courtesan in such a big city. Few have in their fate such good luck and honour. The people of the village, let them see and understand her amazing achievement.

Before I could say anything, she said, “Please come into my house.”

“No, I can’t come right now. Don’t have the time.”

“Why, what will you do?”

“I’ll go home.”

She insisted, “No, you have to come in. You must step into my home. Please come…”

I don’t know why, I went with her into her house. On the low footsteps, lay some straw, beyond that was a small room, in it was a low bed, the mattress covered neatly with a fresh clean white bedsheet. On the wall, a few posters of foreign cigarette ads. The lady taking a drag of a certain cigarette. On a small stool, a few bronze vessels shone in the weak light of a lamp light by cheap oil. On the floor, an old thin rug. A girl from Boshtam, after all - so a picture of Krishna hung on the wall. In a corner of the room, a pair of small tablas, a hookah, the tobacco of the hookah, and a few other things.

Haju said with pride, “See, this is my room.”

“Nice. A nice room. What’s the rent?”

“Seven and a half rupees.”

“Nice.”

Bringing a mug of water, Haju said, “Wash your feet.”

“Why? There’s no need to wash my feet, I shall leave now.”

“You have to eat at my place, Uncle.”

Do I feel like eating here? The house of the fallen woman. I felt sick, nauseated. I said, “No, I won’t eat anything here. Don’t have the time.”

Haju didn’t even seem to hear. “No, no, I won’t allow it, I don’t wannna listen to this, please sit.”

Then, she went to the stool, picked up the cup, wiped it carefully with her anchal, showed it to me, and said, “See, I’ve bought this, I shall make tea for you in this, I learnt how to make tea.”

Not Dresden china, nothing great, just a cup. To please Haju, I said, “Nice cup, very nice.”

Excited, she started showing me the bric-a-brac in her room. A mirror, a tiny mug, a beautiful box, etc. How is this? How’s that? She has bought these. Seeing her joy and excitement, I couldn’t help praising even the most trifling items. I had thought, I shall scold her for choosing her path, and give her some sage advice, fulfilling my duty as her uncle. But seeing Haju’s joy, no such words came to my lips.

He who has not enjoyed anything, to tell him to sacrifice everything - a virtuous sage may say that, but he wouldn’t be wise. Yesterday, she was a beggar, today, by choosing this path, she’s solved her problems of hunger and clothing; yesterday, she went begging to people’s houses, and got beaten up, today, she’s sitting in her own house serving tea to visitors from her village, with her own tea-cup and saucer; she – whose father had never lived in a city, or drank tea from a cup and saucer. In her eyes, this was her life’s great success. To call it worthless, contemptible, to censure it – such words did not come to me.

I couldn’t keep my promise to myself. Haju made tea and brought it to me. And on a bronze plate, were placed sandesh and pieces of papaya. With what eagerness she placed that plate of food before me!

Really, I was feeling nauseated. Sick.

In such a place, I’ve never sat down to eat. In such a house.

But looking at Haju’s face filled with eagerness, I couldn’t leave anything on the plate. Haju was very happy, I could see from her face.

She said, “How did you like my tea, Uncle?”

The tea wasn’t good at all. Village-style tea – no smell, no taste. I said, “Where did you get the tea?”

“This market.”

“You yourself have tea?”

“Yes, twice a day. Without my morning tea, I can’t do any work, Uncle.”

I felt like laughing. That Haju.

The picture floated before my eyes. Outside the house of Ray’s, sitting on a stool, an unskinned slice of watermelon, she’s biting into it. That Haju these mornings can’t start work with her morning cuppa!

I said, “So, now, Haju, I shall leave. It’s evening. And I have a long way to go.”

I saw Haju was unwilling to let me leave so soon. She kept asking me questions, how’s that man in the village, how about that man? Then she said, “One thing, Uncle, I wanna give Ma five rupees, will you take it? But you have to give it secretly. The neighbours shouldn’t know. Whatever I can, I give Ma monthly. Last month, I sent her a sari.

“Through whom did you send it?”

“Binod the shepherd had come, I sent it secretly through him.”

“Where’s your son?”

“He’s with Ma. Thinking I’ll get him here. He’s barely getting by there, not getting enough to eat. Here, Uncle, there’s no worries of food, I’m tired of eating out. Singara, Kochuri, Nimki – lots of it. That potato curry that small shop by the tree makes, I’ve never had anything like it. The potatoes are this big – and what masala – will you wait a while? I’ll get the potato curry, just try it.”

Oh, her innocence makes me laugh. I can’t feel anger at her. I said, “No, I have to leave. And I won’t take the money, you can send it by money order. Will people pass it on or not – whether Binod has given the money to your Ma, how do you know that?”

All these days, Haju had not even had any such doubt. She said, “You’re right, Uncle, the money, the things I send through various people, Ma gets it or not, how do I know?”

“How much money have you sent so far?”

“Oh, more than twenty-thirty rupees. Do I know how to keep accounts, Uncle? Ma suffers, do I like that?”

“Through whom did you send?”

Haju shyly became quiet. I understood that some people from the village come to her.

I said, “Ok, give me the five rupees - goodbye!”

“Please come again, Uncle. I stay away from home, once in a while drop in and see me.”

When I returned to the village, I met Haju’s mother, and gave her the five rupees. I asked, “Anyone else gave you any money?”

Haju’s ma, surprised, said, “Oh no. who’d give me money?”

I could have named Binod Ghosh. But then, word would have spread. Binod would think I also go there regularly, and I have joined the band of Haju’s lovers – at this age. Why should I bother?

The House of Wine (Madhushaala)

 

Original: Harivansh Rai Bachchan	An English literary translation
Madhushaala	The House of Wine
मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला,	Today, from the grapes of tender emotion I've distilled the wine,
प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला,	My dear, with my own hands, I'll slake this thirst of thine,
पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा,	Let me feed you first the bhog, let the world await its share,
सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला।।१।	Thus, first of all, I welcome you to my House of Wine. (1)
प्यास तुझे तो, विश्व तपाकर पूर्ण निकालूँगा हाला,	If you're thirsty, I'll boil the oceans for thy wine,
एक पाँव से साकी बनकर नाचूँगा लेकर प्याला,	As your server I'll do a pirouette with thy stein,
जीवन की मधुता तो तेरे ऊपर कब का वार चुका,	I've rained upon you already the honey of my life,
आज निछावर कर दूँगा मैं तुझ पर जग की मधुशाला।।२।	Now I shall shower thee with the pleasures of the House of Wine. (2)
प्रियतम, तू मेरी हाला है, मैं तेरा प्यासा प्याला,	My dear, you are my wine and I thy thirsty stein,
अपने को मुझमें भरकर तू बनता है पीनेवाला,	You become a drinker by filling your self in mine,
मैं तुझको छक छलका करता, मस्त मुझे पी तू होता,	I spill and splash you, high you are with me,
एक दूसरे की हम दोनों आज परस्पर मधुशाला।।३।	We together are to each other a mutual House of Wine. (3)
भावुकता अंगूर लता से खींच कल्पना की हाला,	Drawn by my imagination from emotion's tender vine,
कवि साकी बनकर आया है भरकर कविता का प्याला,	The poet here offers you many a magical line,
कभी न कण-भर खाली होगा लाख पिएँ, दो लाख पिएँ!	Which, though a million drink, drain not a bit,
पाठकगण हैं पीनेवाले, पुस्तक मेरी मधुशाला।।४।	O drink, my readers, this book my House of Wine. (4)
मधुर भावनाओं की सुमधुर नित्य बनाता हूँ हाला,	By my honeyed thoughts, sweetened, daily I distill the wine.
भरता हूँ इस मधु से अपने अंतर का प्यासा प्याला,	With this spirit I fill my soul's thirsty stein.
उठा कल्पना के हाथों से स्वयं उसे पी जाता हूँ,	Armed with my imagination I drink it myself,
अपने ही में हूँ मैं साकी, पीनेवाला, मधुशाला।।५।	Within me are the server, the sot, the House of Wine. (5)
मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवाला,	Leaving home, the drinker sets off for his moonshine.
'किस पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,	"Which path shall I take?" Confused, he looks for a sign.
अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ -	People say this path and the other, but this is what I say -
'राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला।'। ६।	"Pick a path and keep walking, you'll find the House of Wine". (6)
चलने ही चलने में कितना जीवन, हाय, बिता डाला!	Alas! I've spent in walking, so much of my life-line,
'दूर अभी है', पर, कहता है हर पथ बतलानेवाला,	"It's still distant", yet, say every guide and sign.
हिम्मत है न बढूँ आगे को साहस है न फिरुँ पीछे,	Neither the courage to go forth nor the spirit to return,
किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दूर खड़ी है मधुशाला।।७।	Leaving me at the cross-roads far stood the House of Wine. (7)
मुख से तू अविरत कहता जा मधु, मदिरा, मादक हाला,	Let the tongue ceaselessly say, Honey, Holy, Heady Wine,
हाथों में अनुभव करता जा एक ललित कल्पित प्याला,	Let the fingers feel an imagined splendid stein,
ध्यान किए जा मन में सुमधुर सुखकर, सुंदर साकी का,	Let the mind dwell upon a sweet, simple, stunning server,
और बढ़ा चल, पथिक, न तुझको दूर लगेगी मधुशाला।।८।	And step forth, pilgrim, it won't be long to the House of Wine. (8)
मदिरा पीने की अभिलाषा ही बन जाए जब हाला,	When the desire to drink deeply itself becomes the wine,
अधरों की आतुरता में ही जब आभासित हो प्याला,	When in the eagerness of the lips appears the stein,
बने ध्यान ही करते-करते जब साकी साकार, सखे,	When in meditation becomes the server surreal, sweethearts,
रहे न हाला, प्याला, साकी, तुझे मिलेगी मधुशाला।।९।	There's no wine, cup or server, you'll find the House of Wine. (9)
सुन, कलकल़ , छलछल़ मधुघट से गिरती प्यालों में हाला,	O hear! In the gurgling goblet flows the wine,
सुन, रूनझुन रूनझुन चल वितरण करती मधु साकीबाला,	O hear! Tinkling tunefully, the server serves the wine,
बस आ पहुंचे, दुर नहीं कुछ, चार कदम अब चलना है,	Just round the corner, not too far, just a few steps more,
चहक रहे, सुन, पीनेवाले, महक रही, ले, मधुशाला।।१०।	O hear! the drinkers cheer, sweet is the scent of the House of Wine. (10)
जलतरंग बजता, जब चुंबन करता प्याले को प्याला,	The jaltarang plays, when the cup kisses its concubine,
वीणा झंकृत होती, चलती जब रूनझुन साकीबाला,	The veena murmurs, when the tinkling server moves along her line,
डाँट डपट मधुविक्रेता की ध्वनित पखावज करती है,	The short shouts of the wineseller sound the drumbeats,
मधुरव से मधु की मादकता और बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।११।	With such sweet music, grows the enchantment at the House of Wine. (11)
मेहंदी रंजित मृदुल हथेली पर माणिक मधु का प्याला,	Mehendi-painted palms hold the cup with gems so fine,
अंगूरी अवगुंठन डाले स्वर्ण वर्ण साकीबाला,	Under the scarlet scarf the sun-burnt skin doth shine,
पाग बैंजनी, जामा नीला डाट डटे पीनेवाले,	Turbans purple, gowns blue drape the drinkers in many a hue,
इन्द्रधनुष से होड़ लगाती आज रंगीली मधुशाला।।१२।	Challenging the rainbow, are the colours at the House of Wine. (12)
हाथों में आने से पहले नाज़ दिखाएगा प्याला,	Before touching the hands, it shows its grace, the stein,
अधरों पर आने से पहले अदा दिखाएगी हाला,	Before touching the lips, it shows its style, the wine,
बहुतेरे इनकार करेगा साकी आने से पहले,	Many refusals shall the server make before accepting,
पथिक, न घबरा जाना, पहले मान करेगी मधुशाला।।१३।	O pilgrim! worry not, first it shall show its pride, the House of Wine. (13)
लाल सुरा की धार लपट सी कह न इसे देना ज्वाला,	The red wine's glittering edge, call it not the flame's outline,
फेनिल मदिरा है, मत इसको कह देना उर का छाला,	The foamy fizz, call it not the boils on the waistline,
दर्द नशा है इस मदिरा का विगत स्मृतियाँ साकी हैं,	Pain is the addiction of this wine, dead memories come to serve,
पीड़ा में आनंद जिसे हो, आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१४।	He who can find pleasure in pain, come to my House of Wine. (14)
जगती की शीतल हाला सी पथिक, नहीं मेरी हाला,	He who wants the cool worldly wine, not for him my wine,
जगती के ठंडे प्याले सा पथिक, नहीं मेरा प्याला,	He who wants the cooling cup, not for him my stein,
ज्वाल सुरा जलते प्याले में दग्ध हृदय की कविता है,	The flaming flow in the fiery cup are the words of an anguished heart,
जलने से भयभीत न जो हो, आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१५।	He who can bear the burns, come to my House of Wine. (15)
बहती हाला देखी, देखो लपट उठाती अब हाला,	See the flowing wine, see the flames of the wine,
देखो प्याला अब छूते ही होंठ जला देनेवाला,	See now at just a touch, the lips burnt by the stein,
'होंठ नहीं, सब देह दहे, पर पीने को दो बूंद मिले'	"Not just the lips, let the body burn - but please - a drop to drink",
ऐसे मधु के दीवानों को आज बुलाती मधुशाला।।१६।	Such mad lovers of wine are invited to the House of Wine. (16)
धर्मग्रन्थ सब जला चुकी है, जिसके अंतर की ज्वाला,	He who has burnt with his inner fire, all books divine,
मंदिर, मसजिद, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,	Has destroyed with his free spirit - temple, mosque and shrine,
पंडित, मोमिन, पादिरयों के फंदों को जो काट चुका,	Has cut through the snares set, by pandits, mullahs, priests,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।।१७।	Only he is, today, welcome, in my House of Wine. (17)
लालायित अधरों से जिसने, हाय, नहीं चूमी हाला,	With thirsty lips, he who has not, alas!, kissed the wine,
हर्ष-विकंपित कर से जिसने, हा, न छुआ मधु का प्याला,	With fingers trembling with ecstasy, has not, ah!, touched the stein,
हाथ पकड़ लज्जित साकी को पास नहीं जिसने खींचा,	Has not pulled the blushing maiden over to his lap,
व्यर्थ सुखा डाली जीवन की उसने मधुमय मधुशाला।।१८।	Wasted desert of life has he lived at the sweet House of Wine. (18)
बने पुजारी प्रेमी साकी, गंगाजल पावन हाला,	Let the priest be the loving server, gangajal the pure wine,
रहे फेरता अविरत गति से मधु के प्यालों की माला'	Let a garland of goblets move in an eternal lamp-line,
'और लिये जा, और पीये जा', इसी मंत्र का जाप करे'	"Take some more, drink some more", say this prayer evermore,
मैं शिव की प्रतिमा बन बैठूं, मंदिर हो यह मधुशाला।।१९।	The image of Shiva am I, let a mandir be this House of Wine. (19)
बजी न मंदिर में घड़ियाली, चढ़ी न प्रतिमा पर माला,	No bells at the temple, no garlands for the divine,
बैठा अपने भवन मुअज्ज़िन देकर मस्जिद में ताला,	At home sat the muezzin, the mosque lay in decline,
लुटे ख़जाने नरपितयों के गिरीं गढ़ों की दीवारें,	Looted were the royal treasures, the fort walls a-fallen,
रहें मुबारक पीनेवाले, खुली रहे यह मधुशाला।।२०।	Yet blessed were the drinkers, open the House of Wine. (20)
बड़े बड़े परिवार मिटें यों, एक न हो रोनेवाला,	Great houses fall to ruin, with none to mourn the bloodline,
हो जाएँ सुनसान महल वे, जहाँ थिरकतीं सुरबाला,	Desolate the palaces, where danced the chorus line,
राज्य उलट जाएँ, भूपों की भाग्य सुलक्ष्मी सो जाए,	Kingdoms o'er-thrown, the Fates ignore the kings,
जमे रहेंगे पीनेवाले, जगा करेगी मधुशाला।।२१।	Stay steady the drinkers, alive the House of Wine. (21)
सब मिट जाएँ, बना रहेगा सुन्दर साकी, यम काला,	All is lost, yet remain Death and the comely concubine,
सूखें सब रस, बने रहेंगे, किन्तु, हलाहल औ' हाला,	Life's nectar runs dry, yet remain the venom and the wine,
धूमधाम औ' चहल पहल के स्थान सभी सुनसान बनें,	Silent the spaces of splendour and fanfare,
जगा करेगा अविरत मरघट, जगा करेगी मधुशाला।।२२।	Alive the ceaseless cemetery, alive the House of Wine. (22)
बुरा सदा कहलायेगा जग में बाँका, चंचल प्याला,	The world will always call the purest nectar strychnine,
छैल छबीला, रसिया साकी, अलबेला पीनेवाला,	The sensitive server, a crass call-girl, the drinkers asinine,
पटे कहाँ से, मधुशाला औ' जग की जोड़ी ठीक नहीं,	How can they get along, wine and the world meet not,
जग जर्जर प्रतिदन, प्रतिक्षण, पर नित्य नवेली मधुशाला।।२३।	Daily decays the world, but nightly renews the House of Wine. (23)
बिना पिये जो मधुशाला को बुरा कहे, वह मतवाला,	He that without a single sip, doth the tavern malign,
पी लेने पर तो उसके मुँह पर पड़ जाएगा ताला,	After a taste at the House of Wine, he shall not thus opine;
दास द्रोहियों दोनों में है जीत सुरा की, प्याले की,	Among traitors and traded, shall win out the cup and wine,
विश्वविजयिनी बनकर जग में आई मेरी मधुशाला।।२४।	Truly, a cosmo-conqueror it has become, my House of Wine. (24)
हरा भरा रहता मदिरालय, जग पर पड़ जाए पाला,	A blight upon the world, yet abloom the liquor-shrine,
वहाँ मुहर्रम का तम छाए, यहाँ होलिका की ज्वाला,	There the Muharram's gloomy shadow, here Holika's fire divine,
स्वर्ग लोक से सीधी उतरी वसुधा पर, दुख क्या जाने,	Descending directly from the heavens, what grief does she know?
पढ़े मर्सिया दुनिया सारी, ईद मनाती मधुशाला।।२५।	Let the world read an elegy, there's Eid at the House of Wine. (25)
एक बरस में, एक बार ही जगती होली की ज्वाला,	Only once a year, at Holi is lit, the fire divine,
एक बार ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपों की माला,	Only once, are bets laid, and lit is the lamp-line,
दुनियावालों, किन्तु, किसी दिन आ मदिरालय में देखो,	But O, all ye people, come some day, to the tavern,
दिन को होली, रात दिवाली, रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला।।२६।	Holi by day, Diwali by night, celebrates the House of Wine. (26)
नहीं जानता कौन, मनुज आया बनकर पीनेवाला,	Who doesn't know, we've been drinking from life's starting line,
कौन अपिरिचत उस साकी से, जिसने दूध पिला पाला,	Who knows not the maiden whose milk was his life-line,
जीवन पाकर मानव पीकर मस्त रहे, इस कारण ही,	That man from birth shall be drunk with joy,
जग में आकर सबसे पहले पाई उसने मधुशाला।।२७।	So blessed was he from arrival - with the House of Wine. (27)
बनी रहें अंगूर लताएँ जिनसे मिलती है हाला,	O remain the grapevine from which we distil the wine,
बनी रहे वह मिटटी जिससे बनता है मधु का प्याला,	O remain the clay from which the Potter makes the stein,
बनी रहे वह मदिर पिपासा तृप्त न जो होना जाने,	O remain the ale-thirst which knows not to be satiated,
बनें रहें ये पीने वाले, बनी रहे यह मधुशाला।।२८।	O remain these drinkers, O remain this House of Wine. (28)
सकुशल समझो मुझको, सकुशल रहती यदि साकीबाला,	Assume I'm fine, and if the maiden too were fine,
मंगल और अमंगल समझे मस्ती में क्या मतवाला,	What will the drinker care for benign and malign,
मित्रों, मेरी क्षेम न पूछो आकर, पर मधुशाला की,	Friends, ask not of my welfare, but that of the tavern,
कहा करो 'जय राम' न मिलकर, कहा करो 'जय मधुशाला'।।२९।	Say not "God bless" or "Amen", but say "Bless the House of Wine". (29)
सूर्य बने मधु का विक्रेता, सिंधु बने घट, जल, हाला,	Let the sun be the seller of wine, the river the jug, water, wine,
बादल बन-बन आए साकी, भूमि बने मधु का प्याला,	The whirlwind clouds be the server, the earth the stein,
झड़ी लगाकर बरसे मदिरा रिमझिम, रिमझिम, रिमझिम कर,	In a deluge, the wine pours and roars, pours and roars,
बेलि, विटप, तृण बन मैं पीऊँ, वर्षा ऋतु हो मधुशाला।।३०।	As a creeper, shrub and fern, I drink, monsoon be the House of Wine. (30)
तारक मणियों से सज्जित नभ बन जाए मधु का प्याला,	The bejewelled starry sky be the cup of grand design,
सीधा करके भर दी जाए उसमें सागरजल हाला,	Straightened, let it be filled with the ocean's nectar-wine,
मज्ञल्तऌा समीरण साकी बनकर अधरों पर छलका जाए,	Which the dancing breeze serves and spills on the lips,
फैले हों जो सागर तट से विश्व बने यह मधुशाला।।३१।	Of those on the coast-line, the world be the House of Wine. (31)
अधरों पर हो कोई भी रस जिह्वा पर लगती हाला,	Whatever be on my lips it tastes of wine,
भाजन हो कोई हाथों में लगता रक्खा है प्याला,	Whatever be in my hands it feels like a stein,
हर सूरत साकी की सूरत में परिवर्तित हो जाती,	Every face I see becomes the maiden's face,
आँखों के आगे हो कुछ भी, आँखों में है मधुशाला।।३२।	Whatever be before me, it seems to be the House of Wine. (32)
पौधे आज बने हैं साकी ले ले फूलों का प्याला,	With a garland of flowers stands the maiden-vine,
भरी हुई है जिसके अंदर परिमल-मधु-सुरिभत हाला,	The flowery cups filled with sweet-scented wine,
माँग माँगकर भ्रमरों के दल रस की मदिरा पीते हैं,	The swarms of bees beg-begged to drink the nectar honey,
झूम झपक मद-झंपित होते, उपवन क्या है मधुशाला!।३३।	Drowsy in a drunken dream, a garden is the House of Wine. (33)
प्रति रसाल तरू साकी सा है, प्रति मंजरिका है प्याला,	Let every juicy fruit tree as server be, every bud a stein,
छलक रही है जिसके बाहर मादक सौरभ की हाला,	Overflowing out of which is the maddening scent of wine,
छक जिसको मतवाली कोयल कूक रही डाली डाली	For which the drunken koel calls out so desp'rately,
हर मधुऋतु में अमराई में जग उठती है मधुशाला।।३४।	In every spring, in every orchard, springs up the House of Wine. (34)
मंद झकोरों के प्यालों में मधुऋतु सौरभ की हाला	In the cups of languid puffs is the spring-scented wine,
भर भरकर है अनिल पिलाता बनकर मधु-मद-मतवाला,	Which the breeze fills, refills and serves, becoming a seller of wine,
हरे हरे नव पल्लव, तरूगण, नूतन डालें, वल्लरियाँ,	New new green shrub and fern, new shoots and vines,
छक छक, झुक झुक झूम रही हैं, मधुबन में है मधुशाला।।३५।	Sip, sip, drowse the day away, in the garden is the House of Wine. (35)
साकी बन आती है प्रातः जब अरुणा ऊषा बाला,	When Aruna and Usha daily become the server divine,
तारक-मणि-मंडित चादर दे मोल धरा लेती हाला,	Selling her star-studded spread, the Earth buys the wine,
अगणित कर-किरणों से जिसको पी, खग पागल हो गाते,	Sipping the infinite streams of sunlight, the birds wildly cry,
प्रति प्रभात में पूर्ण प्रकृति में मुखिरत होती मधुशाला।।३६।	At every dawn, Nature's voice finds an echo in the House of Wine. (36)
उतर नशा जब उसका जाता, आती है संध्या बाला,	When the wine-spell fades away, comes Sandhya the divine,
बड़ी पुरानी, बड़ी नशीली नित्य ढला जाती हाला,	Daily she pours her powerful, potent, vintage wine,
जीवन के संताप शोक सब इसको पीकर मिट जाते	All of life's intense agony drowned with a single sip,
सुरा-सुप्त होते मद-लोभी जागृत रहती मधुशाला।।३७।	Drink-drowsy are the wine-greedy, alive the House of Wine. (37)
अंधकार है मधुविक्रेता, सुन्दर साकी शशिबाला	Darkness be the wineseller, the server the Moon divine,
किरण किरण में जो छलकाती जाम जुम्हाई का हाला,	In each beam sloshes the goblet, filled with yawning wine,
पीकर जिसको चेतनता खो लेने लगते हैं झपकी	With each sip, consciousness fades, and drowsiness nears,
तारकदल से पीनेवाले, रात नहीं है, मधुशाला।।३८।	Drinkers from the starset, the night is young at the House of Wine. (38)
किसी ओर मैं आँखें फेरूँ, दिखलाई देती हाला	Whichever way I turn my eyes, I see the wine,
किसी ओर मैं आँखें फेरूँ, दिखलाई देता प्याला,	Whichever way I turn my eyes, I see the stein,
किसी ओर मैं देखूं, मुझको दिखलाई देता साकी	Whichever way I look, I see the serving maiden,
किसी ओर देखूं, दिखलाई पड़ती मुझको मधुशाला।।३९।	Wherever I turn, all I see is the House of Wine. (39)
साकी बन मुरली आई साथ लिए कर में प्याला,	Comes the server as Krishna playing with the stein,
जिनमें वह छलकाती लाई अधर-सुधा-रस की हाला,	In which sloshes the delicious nectar-wine,
योगिराज कर संगत उसकी नटवर नागर कहलाए,	The troupe of monks come together in a Krishna commune,
देखो कैसों-कैसों को है नाच नचाती मधुशाला।।४०।	Look, look! Who all dance to the tunes of the House of Wine. (40)
वादक बन मधु का विक्रेता लाया सुर-सुमधुर-हाला,	Appears the player as the seller with the sweet music o' wine,
रागिनियाँ बन साकी आई भरकर तारों का प्याला,	Appears the melody as the server with the seven-stringed stein,
विक्रेता के संकेतों पर दौड़ लयों, आलापों में,	On the seller's signals, start the tunes of the prelude,
पान कराती श्रोतागण को, झंकृत वीणा मधुशाला।।४१।	Let the listeners drink, O murmuring veena, the House of Wine. (41)
चित्रकार बन साकी आता लेकर तूली का प्याला,	Comes the artist as the server with the brush-tipped stein,
जिसमें भरकर पान कराता वह बहु रस-रंगी हाला,	In which is filled the multi-coloured wine,
मन के चित्र जिसे पी-पीकर रंग-बिरंगे हो जाते,	Drinking which, the mind's images become psychedelic,
चित्रपटी पर नाच रही है एक मनोहर मधुशाला।।४२।	On the canvas dances a lovely House of Wine. (42)
घन श्यामल अंगूर लता से खिंच खिंच यह आती हाला,	From the deep dark grapevine comes this wine,
अरूण-कमल-कोमल कलियों की प्याली, फूलों का प्याला,	Dawn, open the gentle buds of the lotus and eglantine,
लोल हिलोरें साकी बन बन माणिक मधु से भर जातीं,	The dancing waves as server fill the heavenly honey,
हंस मज्ञल्तऌा होते पी पीकर मानसरोवर मधुशाला।।४३।	Deliriously the swans drink at the lake, the House of Wine. (43)
हिम श्रेणी अंगूर लता-सी फैली, हिम जल है हाला,	The icy range spread out like a grapevine, icy waters the wine,
चंचल नदियाँ साकी बनकर, भरकर लहरों का प्याला,	The rapid rivers as the server, fill the waves as the stein,
कोमल कूर-करों में अपने छलकाती निशिदिन चलतीं,	In the gentle streams she drifts night and day,
पीकर खेत खड़े लहराते, भारत पावन मधुशाला।।४४।	Full with drink, the pastures wave, Bharat is the purest House of Wine. (44)
धीर सुतों के हृदय रक्त की आज बना रक्तिम हाला,	Today, from the heart-blood of the resolute, is made the blood-red wine,
वीर सुतों के वर शीशों का हाथों में लेकर प्याला,	Holding in her hands, the gift of the brave - the stein,
अति उदार दानी साकी है आज बनी भारतमाता,	The selfless giver, the server, Mother India,
स्वतंत्रता है तृषित कालिका बलिवेदी है मधुशाला।।४५।	Freedom is the thirsty goddess, the altar the House of Wine. (45)
दुतकारा मस्जिद ने मुझको कहकर है पीनेवाला,	The masjid abused me, as the man with the moonshine,
ठुकराया ठाकुरद्वारे ने देख हथेली पर प्याला,	The temple threw me out, seeing the goblet of wine,
कहाँ ठिकाना मिलता जग में भला अभागे काफिर को?	O where in the world could this poor infidel go?
शरणस्थल बनकर न मुझे यदि अपना लेती मधुशाला।।४६।	Sheltered and adopted had I not been by the House of Wine. (46)
पथिक बना मैं घूम रहा हूँ, सभी जगह मिलती हाला,	As a pilgirm, I wander the world, everywhere I find the wine,
सभी जगह मिल जाता साकी, सभी जगह मिलता प्याला,	Everywhere I find the server, everywhere the stein,
मुझे ठहरने का, हे मित्रों, कष्ट नहीं कुछ भी होता,	To put me up, O friends, there's no trouble at all,
मिले न मंदिर, मिले न मस्जिद, मिल जाती है मधुशाला।।४७।	You find no masjid, you find no mandir, you can find the House of Wine. (47)
सजें न मस्जिद और नमाज़ी कहता है अल्लाताला,	In a masjid unadorned, the faithful chant, Exalted be the Divine,
सजधजकर, पर, साकी आता, बन ठनकर, पीनेवाला,	Resplendent is the server, resplendent the drinker of wine,
शेख, कहाँ तुलना हो सकती मस्जिद की मदिरालय से	O sheikh, how can you compare the masjid to the tavern,
चिर विधवा है मस्जिद तेरी, सदा सुहागिन मधुशाला।।४८।	Your masjid the eternal widow, an ageless bride is the House of Wine. (48)
बजी नफ़ीरी और नमाज़ी भूल गया अल्लाताला,	As the shehnai wails, forgets the faithful the Divine,
गाज गिरी, पर ध्यान सुरा में मग्न रहा पीनेवाला,	The thunder roars, but the drinker is lost in his wine,
शेख, बुरा मत मानो इसको, साफ़ कहूँ तो मस्जिद को	O sheikh, do not mind, but plainly the masjid,
अभी युगों तक सिखलाएगी ध्यान लगाना मधुशाला!।४९।	Must learn for ages, meditation from the House of Wine. (49)
मुसलमान औ' हिन्दू है दो, एक, मगर, उनका प्याला,	Muslim and Hindu are two, but only one, their stein,
एक, मगर, उनका मदिरालय, एक, मगर, उनकी हाला,	But only one, their tavern; but only one, their wine.
दोनों रहते एक न जब तक मस्जिद मन्दिर में जाते,	They remain not one, when to their Masjid-Mandir they go.
बैर बढ़ाते मस्जिद मन्दिर मेल कराती मधुशाला!।५०।	Split asunder by Masjid-Mandir, melded by the House of Wine. (50)
कोई भी हो शेख नमाज़ी या पंडित जपता माला,	Be it a priest or a sheikh, any seeker of the divine,
बैर भाव चाहे जितना हो मदिरा से रखनेवाला,	However much he may be an enemy of the wine,
एक बार बस मधुशाला के आगे से होकर निकले,	Just once, by the tavern, if he were to pass by,
देखूँ कैसे थाम न लेती दामन उसका मधुशाला!।५१।	Let's see how he escapes the clutches of the House of Wine. (51)
और रसों में स्वाद तभी तक, दूर जभी तक है हाला,	Relish the other drinks when far away is the wine,
इतरा लें सब पात्र न जब तक, आगे आता है प्याला,	Check out the other glasses till steps forward the stein,
कर लें पूजा शेख, पुजारी तब तक मस्जिद मन्दिर में	O sheikh and priest, worship at your masjid mandir, till,
घूँघट का पट खोल न जब तक झाँक रही है मधुशाला।।५२।	Lifting the veil, peeps at you the House of Wine. (52)
आज करे परहेज़ जगत, पर, कल पीनी होगी हाला,	Let the world resist it today, tomorrow it'll have to drink the wine,
आज करे इन्कार जगत पर कल पीना होगा प्याला,	Let the world refuse it today, tomorrow it'll have to accept the stein,
होने दो पैदा मद का महमूद जगत में कोई, फिर	O let the Sublime of the Spirit be born in this world, then
जहाँ अभी हैं मन्िदर मस्जिद वहाँ बनेगी मधुशाला।।५३।	Wherever there's a masjid mandir, there'll be a House of Wine. (53)
यज्ञ अग्नि सी धधक रही है मधु की भटठी की ज्वाला,	The honey brewery glows, ablaze as a sacrificial fire divine,
ऋषि सा ध्यान लगा बैठा है हर मदिरा पीने वाला,	Each drinker lost deep in thought, as a sage in a shrine,
मुनि कन्याओं सी मधुघट ले फिरतीं साकीबालाएँ,	The serving maidens wand'ring with goblets as sadhu-maidens,
किसी तपोवन से क्या कम है मेरी पावन मधुशाला।।५४।	Is it any less than a forest of sages, my House of Wine? (54)
सोम सुरा पुरखे पीते थे, हम कहते उसको हाला,	The elixir of life our ancestors drank, we call it wine,
द्रोणकलश जिसको कहते थे, आज वही मधुघट आला,	What they called the goblet of the gods, that's today the stein,
वेदिवहित यह रस्म न छोड़ो वेदों के ठेकेदारों,	Without the vedas, O inheritors of the vedas, break not the tradition,
युग युग से है पुजती आई नई नहीं है मधुशाला।।५५।	For ages and ages worshipped, not new is the House of Wine. (55)
वही वारूणी जो थी सागर मथकर निकली अब हाला,	The nectar that came from the churning of the Ocean, today it's the wine,
रंभा की संतान जगत में कहलाती 'साकीबाला',	Rambha's daughter is called the maiden serving the stein,
देव अदेव जिसे ले आए, संत महंत मिटा देंगे!	What the gods and demons brought forth, will the priests 'n' puritans wipe out?
किसमें कितना दम खम, इसको खूब समझती मधुशाला।।५६।	Who has what power-shower, very well knows the House of Wine. (56)
कभी न सुन पड़ता, 'इसने, हा, छू दी मेरी हाला',	Never do you hear, 'He, oh!, has touched my wine',
कभी न कोई कहता, 'उसने जूठा कर डाला प्याला',	Never does anyone say, 'He has fouled my stein',
सभी जाति के लोग यहाँ पर साथ बैठकर पीते हैं,	People of all castes sit here together, sipping in peace,
सौ सुधारकों का करती है काम अकेले मधुशाला।।५७।	The work of a hundred reformers, solo does the House of Wine. (57)
श्रम, संकट, संताप, सभी तुम भूला करते पी हाला,	Stress, scourge or sorrow, all can be forgotten by the wine,
सबक बड़ा तुम सीख चुके यदि सीखा रहना मतवाला,	You've learnt a big lesson if you learn to remain in the wine,
व्यर्थ बने जाते हो हिरजन, तुम तो मधुजन ही अच्छे,	Useless for you to be teetotal, for you love to imbibe,
ठुकराते हिर मंिदरवाले, पलक बिछाती मधुशाला।।५८।	The mandir men throw you out, sweetly smiles the House of Wine. (58)
एक तरह से सबका स्वागत करती है साकीबाला,	The serving maiden welcomes each guest in the same line,
अज्ञ विज्ञ में है क्या अंतर हो जाने पर मतवाला,	An ignorant and a pundit are the same, when immersed in wine,
रंक राव में भेद हुआ है कभी नहीं मदिरालय में,	There's no difference of rank and file in a winehouse,
साम्यवाद की प्रथम प्रचारक है यह मेरी मधुशाला।।५९।	The pioneer of true equality is the House of Wine. (59)
बार बार मैंने आगे बढ़ आज नहीं माँगी हाला,	Many a time today I stepped forward but didn't ask for wine,
समझ न लेना इससे मुझको साधारण पीने वाला,	Think me not as a regular sot, with a lack of spine,
हो तो लेने दो ऐ साकी दूर प्रथम संकोचों को,	O maiden, let my intial nervousness disappear,
मेरे ही स्वर से फिर सारी गूँज उठेगी मधुशाला।।६०।	With my voice shall again echo the House of Wine. (60)
कल? कल पर विश्वास किया कब करता है पीनेवाला,	The morrow? Since when does the drinker trust the time line?
हो सकते कल कर जड़ जिनसे फिर फिर आज उठा प्याला,	Yesterday we may have fought, today we share the stein,
आज हाथ में था, वह खोया, कल का कौन भरोसा है,	What was in hand today, that's lost, who knows about tomorrow,
कल की हो न मुझे मधुशाला काल कुटिल की मधुशाला।।६१।	For we're lost in the maze of time of the House of Wine. (61)
आज मिला अवसर, तब फिर क्यों मैं न छकूँ जी-भर हाला	Today is the chance, why should I not immerse myself in wine?
आज मिला मौका, तब फिर क्यों ढाल न लूँ जी-भर प्याला,	Today is the time, why should I not fill up fully the stein?
छेड़छाड़ अपने साकी से आज न क्यों जी-भर कर लूँ,	With my maiden, why shall I not play out my desires,
एक बार ही तो मिलनी है जीवन की यह मधुशाला।।६२।	Only once will I ever be at my life's House of Wine. (62)
आज सजीव बना लो, प्रेयसी, अपने अधरों का प्याला,	Today, come alive, beloved, the lips of your stein,
भर लो, भर लो, भर लो इसमें, यौवन मधुरस की हाला,	Fill it, fill it, fill it fully with the youthful amorous wine,
और लगा मेरे होठों से भूल हटाना तुम जाओ,	Bring these lips to my lips, forget all the faults,
अथक बनू मैं पीनेवाला, खुले प्रणय की मधुशाला।।६३।	Tireless lover be I, at the romance at the House of Wine. (63)
सुमुखी तुम्हारा, सुन्दर मुख ही, मुझको कन्चन का प्याला	O beauty, your beautiful face, is to me a golden stein,
छलक रही है जिसमंे माणिक रूप मधुर मादक हाला,	In it is splashing like gems, intoxicating honeyed wine,
मैं ही साकी बनता, मैं ही पीने वाला बनता हूँ	Let me be the server, let me be the served,
जहाँ कहीं मिल बैठे हम तुम़ वहीं गयी हो मधुशाला।।६४।	Wherever we too happen to meet, there's the House of Wine. (64)
दो दिन ही मधु मुझे पिलाकर ऊब उठी साकीबाला,	Two days you've served me, and I can see your interest decline,
भरकर अब खिसका देती है वह मेरे आगे प्याला,	With no interest, you pass towards me a filled-up stein,
नाज़, अदा, अंदाजों से अब, हाय पिलाना दूर हुआ,	Alas, you no longer serve with flirting, grace and style,
अब तो कर देती है केवल फ़र्ज़ -अदाई मधुशाला।।६५।	Now it's only a performance of duty at the House of Wine. (65)
छोटे-से जीवन में कितना प्यार करुँ, पी लूँ हाला,	In such a short life, how much shall I love, and drink the wine?
आने के ही साथ जगत में कहलाया 'जानेवाला',	Even at the start, the world prepares for the finish line,
स्वागत के ही साथ विदा की होती देखी तैयारी,	Even at the welcome, the world plans for the farewell,
बंद लगी होने खुलते ही मेरी जीवन-मधुशाला।।६६।	As soon as it opens, it's time to close at life's House of Wine. (66)
क्या पीना, निर्द्वन्द न जब तक ढाला प्यालों पर प्याला,	What's a drink, until recklessly we can pour the wine?
क्या जीना, निरंिचत न जब तक साथ रहे साकीबाला,	What's a life, until confident we'll have the concubine?
खोने का भय, हाय, लगा है पाने के सुख के पीछे,	The fear of loss, alas, chases the delights of desire,
मिलने का आनंद न देती मिलकर के भी मधुशाला।।६७।	Even when you own, the joy of owning is held by the House of Wine. (67)
मुझे पिलाने को लाए हो इतनी थोड़ी-सी हाला!	You've brought for me to drink a thimbleful of wine!
मुझे दिखाने को लाए हो एक यही छिछला प्याला!	You've come to show me such a single shallow stein!
इतनी पी जीने से अच्छा सागर की ले प्यास मरुँ,	Rather than live on a thimble, better to drink seawater and die,
सिंधँु-तृषा दी किसने रचकर बिंदु-बराबर मधुशाला।।६८।	An oceanic thirst can't be filled with a drop at the House of Wine. (68)
क्या कहता है, रह न गई अब तेरे भाजन में हाला,	Oh say what, in your barrels there's no more of the wine,
क्या कहता है, अब न चलेगी मादक प्यालों की माला,	Oh say what, no more of the goblets moving in a line,
थोड़ी पीकर प्यास बढ़ी तो शेष नहीं कुछ पीने को,	A single sip whetted my thirst, but there's no more to drink,
प्यास बुझाने को बुलवाकर प्यास बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।६९।	Calling to quench my thirst, but just whetting it is the House of Wine. (69)
लिखी भाग्य में जितनी बस उतनी ही पाएगा हाला,	Whatever Fate has written, you'll get only that much wine,
लिखा भाग्य में जैसा बस वैसा ही पाएगा प्याला,	Whatever Fate has written, you'll get only such a stein,
लाख पटक तू हाथ पाँव, पर इससे कब कुछ होने का,	Try as much as you will, but what will that ever achieve?
लिखी भाग्य में जो तेरे बस वही मिलेगी मधुशाला।।७०।	Whatever Fate has written, you'll get only such a House of Wine. (70)
कर ले, कर ले कंजूसी तू मुझको देने में हाला,	Okay, okay, be miserly in pouring me the wine,
दे ले, दे ले तू मुझको बस यह टूटा फूटा प्याला,	Give me, give me, just give me this half-broken stein,
मैं तो सब्र इसी पर करता, तू पीछे पछताएगी,	For in my patient heart I know : you shall regret later,
जब न रहूँगा मैं, तब मेरी याद करेगी मधुशाला।।७१।	When I'm no more, you'll remember me, O House of Wine. (71)
ध्यान मान का, अपमानों का छोड़ दिया जब पी हाला,	Dishonour and hnonour, all is discarded when lost in wine,
गौरव भूला, आया कर में जब से मिट्टी का प्याला,	Pride is forgot, when in my hands is the earthen stein,
साकी की अंदाज़ भरी झिड़की में क्या अपमान धरा,	In the maiden's stylish censure, where is the dishonour?
दुनिया भर की ठोकर खाकर पाई मैंने मधुशाला।।७२।	From the school of hard knocks have I reached the House of Wine. (72)
क्षीण, क्षुद्र, क्षणभंगुर, दुर्बल मानव मिटटी का प्याला,	Frail, feeble, fragile, decrepit man is the earthen stein,
भरी हुई है जिसके अंदर कटु-मधु जीवन की हाला,	In which is filled the bitter-honey of life's wine,
मृत्यु बनी है निर्दय साकी अपने शत-शत कर फैला,	Cruel maiden, you have become Death; spread your hundred arms,
काल प्रबल है पीनेवाला, संसृति है यह मधुशाला।।७३।	Time is the deep drinker, at the universe of the House of Wine. (73)
प्याले सा गढ़ हमें किसी ने भर दी जीवन की हाला,	Shaping us as goblets, someone has filled us with the life-wine,
नशा न भाया, ढाला हमने ले लेकर मधु का प्याला,	Not heeding the drowsiness, we drank up the nectar-wine,
जब जीवन का दर्द उभरता उसे दबाते प्याले से,	When life's pain overflows, we use the cup to suppress it,
जगती के पहले साकी से जूझ रही है मधुशाला।।७४।	Not just with the world, but with the maiden wrestles the House of Wine. (74)
अपने अंगूरों से तन में हमने भर ली है हाला,	From my grapes, I've filled in me the deep dark wine,
क्या कहते हो, शेख, नरक में हमें तपाएगी ज्वाला,	What say, sheikh, will I burn in the Hell fire divine?
तब तो मदिरा खूब खिंचेगी और पिएगा भी कोई,	If so, it shall draw the drink, and I shall drink some more,
हमें नमक की ज्वाला में भी दीख पड़ेगी मधुशाला।।७५।	Even in the fires of Hell, I shall see the House of Wine. (75)
यम आएगा लेने जब, तब खूब चलूँगा पी हाला,	When Yum calls, willingly with wine, I shall toe the line.
पीड़ा, संकट, कष्ट नरक के क्या समझेगा मतवाला,	Pain, danger, agony - what can the drinker even divine?
क्रूर, कठोर, कुटिल, कुविचारी, अन्यायी यमराजों के	Cruel, crooked, crafty, criminal, evil dealers of death,
डंडों की जब मार पड़ेगी, आड़ करेगी मधुशाला।।७६।	From your rain of sticks, the shield shall be the House of Wine. (76)
यदि इन अधरों से दो बातें प्रेम भरी करती हाला,	If to these lips speaks a few words of love, the wine,
यदि इन खाली हाथों का जी पल भर बहलाता प्याला,	If it fills the darkness of my life with a moment of sunshine,
हानि बता, जग, तेरी क्या है, व्यर्थ मुझे बदनाम न कर,	What's wrong, people, what's it to you, blame me not in vain,
मेरे टूटे दिल का है बस एक खिलौना मधुशाला।।७७।	For in my broken heart, the only joy is the House of Wine. (77)
याद न आए दूखमय जीवन इससे पी लेता हाला,	To forget the tragedy of my life, I drink the wine,
जग चिंताओं से रहने को मुक्त, उठा लेता प्याला,	To be free from worldly worries, I pick up the stein,
शौक, साध के और स्वाद के हेतु पिया जग करता है,	In pursuit of purpose and pleasure drinks the world,
पर मै वह रोगी हूँ जिसकी एक दवा है मधुशाला।।७८।	But I'm that patient whose only cure is the House of Wine. (78)
गिरती जाती है दिन प्रतिदन प्रणयनी प्राणों की हाला	Day by day, drains away the lovely life-blood of wine,
भग्न हुआ जाता दिन प्रतिदन सुभगे मेरा तन प्याला,	Day by day, the goblet of my beautiful body doth decline,
रूठ रहा है मुझसे रूपसी, दिन दिन यौवन का साकी	Daily becomes distant Beauty, Grace and Glamour,
सूख रही है दिन दिन सुन्दरी, मेरी जीवन मधुशाला।।७९।	Daily decaying is my youth, my life the House of Wine. (79)
यम आयेगा साकी बनकर साथ लिए काली हाला,	Yum will come as the maiden, with a bottle of black wine,
पी न होश में फिर आएगा सुरा-विसुध यह मतवाला,	A sip, then supine, unconscious of benign and malign,
यह अंितम बेहोशी, अंतिम साकी, अंतिम प्याला है,	This is the last of sense, the last of wine and women,
पथिक, प्यार से पीना इसको फिर न मिलेगी मधुशाला।८०।	Pilgrim, sip with care, you won't get again the House of Wine. (80)
ढलक रही है तन के घट से, संगिनी जब जीवन हाला,	My dear, from the bottle of my body, is draining the life-wine,
पत्र गरल का ले जब अंतिम साकी है आनेवाला,	When the deathly maiden shall come with the strychnine,
हाथ स्पर्श भूले प्याले का, स्वाद सुरा जीव्हा भूले	My hands forget the feel of the cup, my lips forget the taste of wine,
कानो में तुम कहती रहना, मधु का प्याला मधुशाला।।८१।	In my ears, keep whispering, the cup of nectar, the House of Wine. (81)
मेरे अधरों पर हो अंतिम वस्तु न तुलसीदल प्याला	On my lips, let the last touch be not Tulsi, but the stein,
मेरी जीव्हा पर हो अंतिम वस्तु न गंगाजल हाला,	On my tongue, let the last touch be not Gangajal but wine,
मेरे शव के पीछे चलने वालों याद इसे रखना	O those who walk behind my casket, remember this,
राम नाम है सत्य न कहना, कहना सच्ची मधुशाला।।८२।	Say not the Truth is the Lord, but that True is the House of Wine. (82)
मेरे शव पर वह रोये, हो जिसके आंसू में हाला	At my funeral, who shall cry? Only those with tears of wine.
आह भरे वो, जो हो सुरिभत मदिरा पी कर मतवाला,	Only those who drown their sorrows in wine are genuine.
दे मुझको वो कांधा जिनके पग मद डगमग होते हों	Let my pall-bearers be only those who stagger and lurch,
और जलूं उस ठौर जहां पर कभी रही हो मधुशाला।।८३।	And let me burn in a place where once was a House of Wine. (83)
और चिता पर जाये उंढेला पत्र न घ्रित का, पर प्याला	And on my body keep not a chalice of ghee, but a stein,
कंठ बंधे अंगूर लता में मध्य न जल हो, पर हाला,	Around my neck, a grapevine filled not with water, but wine,
प्राण प्रिये यदि श्राध करो तुम मेरा तो ऐसे करना	O you who love me deeply, at my funeral, do thus,
पीने वालों को बुलवा कर खुलवा देना मधुशाला।।८४।	Invite the drinkers, and celebrate at the House of Wine. (84)
नाम अगर कोई पूछे तो, कहना बस पीनेवाला	If someone asks my name, just say "a Lover of wine",
काम ढालना, और ढालना सबको मदिरा का प्याला,	Occupation "pouring", and pouring all a large stein,
जाति प्रिये, पूछे यदि कोई कह देना दीवानों की	If someone asks my caste, just say that of a madman,
धर्म बताना प्यालों की ले माला जपना मधुशाला।।८५।	My religion of goblets, and pray at the House of Wine. (85)
ज्ञात हुआ यम आने को है ले अपनी काली हाला,	Hearing that Yum will come, with his bottle of black wine,
पंडित अपनी पोथी भूला, साधू भूल गया माला,	The pandit forgot his texts, the sadhu his holy sign,
और पुजारी भूला पूजा, ज्ञान सभी ज्ञानी भूला,	The priest forgot his prayers, the scholar lost his learning,
किन्तु न भूला मरकर के भी पीनेवाला मधुशाला।।८६।	But even on death, forgets not the sot the House of Wine. (86)
यम ले चलता है मुझको तो, चलने दे लेकर हाला,	Yum, you want to take me, let me take along the wine,
चलने दे साकी को मेरे साथ लिए कर में प्याला,	Let the maiden come along with me, carrying the stein.
स्वर्ग, नरक या जहाँ कहीं भी तेरा जी हो लेकर चल,	Heaven, Hell or wherever else you want to take me,
ठौर सभी हैं एक तरह के साथ रहे यदि मधुशाला।।८७।	All places are the same if with me is the House of Wine. (87)
पाप अगर पीना, समदोषी तो तीनों - साकी बाला,	If drink is a sin, then all three are guilty - the server of wine,
नित्य पिलानेवाला प्याला, पी जानेवाली हाला,	The cup that serves me daily, the all-devouring wine,
साथ इन्हें भी ले चल मेरे न्याय यही बतलाता है,	Let's all go together, my sense of justice tells me,
कैद जहाँ मैं हूँ, की जाए कैद वहीं पर मधुशाला।।८८।	Wherever my jail, there shall be imprisoned the House of Wine. (88)
शांत सकी हो अब तक, साकी, पीकर किस उर की ज्वाला,	Drinking in the burning pain, you're still calm, my valentine.
'और, और' की रटन लगाता जाता हर पीनेवाला,	More! More! - Each drinker's needs have no finish line.
कितनी इच्छाएँ हर जानेवाला छोड़ यहाँ जाता!	Those who leave, how many dreams do they leave behind?
कितने अरमानों की बनकर कब्र खड़ी है मधुशाला।।८९।	On the tombs of such desires stands the House of Wine. (89)
जो हाला मैं चाह रहा था, वह न मिली मुझको हाला,	The wine that I wanted, alas, I didn't get that wine.
जो प्याला मैं माँग रहा था, वह न मिला मुझको प्याला,	The stein that I dreamt of, alas, I didn't get that stein.
जिस साकी के पीछे मैं था दीवाना, न मिला साकी,	The maiden that I was desperate for, I didn't get her.
जिसके पीछे था मैं पागल, हा न मिली वह मधुशाला!।९०।	That I was mad for, alas I didn't get that House of Wine. (90)
देख रहा हूँ अपने आगे कब से माणिक-सी हाला,	I see before me, for so long, this ruby-red wine,
देख रहा हूँ अपने आगे कब से कंचन का प्याला,	I see before me, for so long, this golden stein,
'बस अब पाया!'- कह-कह कब से दौड़ रहा इसके पीछे,	Saying "Oh now I'll get it", I've run after these so long,
किंतु रही है दूर क्षितिज-सी मुझसे मेरी मधुशाला।।९१।	But like the horizon, beyond my reach is ever the House of Wine. (91)
कभी निराशा का तम घिरता, छिप जाता मधु का प्याला,	Sometimes in the gloom of despair, hides the honeyed stein,
छिप जाती मदिरा की आभा, छिप जाती साकीबाला,	Hides the maiden, and hides the nectar's shine.
कभी उजाला आशा करके प्याला फिर चमका जाती,	Sometimes bright hope shines on the golden goblet,
आँखिमचौली खेल रही है मुझसे मेरी मधुशाला।।९२।	With me plays hide and seek, my House of Wine. (92)
'आ आगे' कहकर कर पीछे कर लेती साकीबाला,	"Come, come!", says and then steps back, my concubine,
होंठ लगाने को कहकर हर बार हटा लेती प्याला,	Offers to touch my lips, and then moves away, my stein,
नहीं मुझे मालूम कहाँ तक यह मुझको ले जाएगी,	I don't know how how far they will lead me,
बढ़ा बढ़ाकर मुझको आगे, पीछे हटती मधुशाला।।९३।	Making me step forward, and then back, my House of Wine. (93)
हाथों में आने-आने में, हाय, फिसल जाता प्याला,	Just when about to hold it, alas! slips away the stein,
अधरों पर आने-आने में हाय, ढुलक जाती हाला,	Just when about to sip it, alas! spills away the wine,
दुनियावालो, आकर मेरी किस्मत की ख़ूबी देखो,	O people, come see the strangeness of my Fate,
रह-रह जाती है बस मुझको मिलते-मिलते मधुशाला।।९४।	I'm always just a step away from my House of Wine. (94)
प्राप्य नही है तो, हो जाती लुप्त नहीं फिर क्यों हाला,	If it's not achievable, then why does it not vanish, this stein?
प्राप्य नही है तो, हो जाता लुप्त नहीं फिर क्यों प्याला,	If it's not achievable, then why does it not vanish, this wine?
दूर न इतनी हिम्मत हारुँ, पास न इतनी पा जाऊँ,	Not too far for me to give up, not too close to get it,
व्यर्थ मुझे दौड़ाती मरु में मृगजल बनकर मधुशाला।।९५।	Fruitlessly making me run, is the mirage in the desert : the House of Wine. (95)
मिले न, पर, ललचा ललचा क्यों आकुल करती है हाला,	Beyond me, but, terribly tantalising is the stein,
मिले न, पर, तरसा तरसाकर क्यों तड़पाता है प्याला,	Beyond me, but, terribly tormenting is the wine,
हाय, नियति की विषम लेखनी मस्तक पर यह खोद गई	Alas, the moving finger has on my forehead writ,
'दूर रहेगी मधु की धारा, पास रहेगी मधुशाला!'।९६।	"Far away will be the wine, nearby the House of Wine". (96)
मदिरालय में कब से बैठा, पी न सका अब तक हाला,	For ages at the tavern, I haven't got a sip of wine,
यत्न सहित भरता हूँ, कोई किंतु उलट देता प्याला,	So carefully I fill, but then someone upsets the stein,
मानव-बल के आगे निर्बल भाग्य, सुना विद्यालय में,	Man's will triumphs over Fate, at the university I heard,
'भाग्य प्रबल, मानव निर्बल' का पाठ पढ़ाती मधुशाला।।९७।	"Fate is all-powerful, Man helpless", teaches the House of Wine. (97)
किस्मत में था खाली खप्पर, खोज रहा था मैं प्याला,	In my Fate was an empty bowl, I searched for a silver stein,
ढूँढ़ रहा था मैं मृगनयनी, किस्मत में थी मृगछाला,	I chased a deer, but in my Fate was the shattered spine,
किसने अपना भाग्य समझने में मुझसा धोखा खाया,	Oh who has been so mistaken in understanding his Fate,
किस्मत में था अवघट मरघट, ढूँढ़ रहा था मधुशाला।।९८।	In my Fate was the dark mortuary, I chased the House of Wine. (98)
उस प्याले से प्यार मुझे जो दूर हथेली से प्याला,	I crave the cup that lies beyond the skyline,
उस हाला से चाव मुझे जो दूर अधर से है हाला,	I desire the drink that comes from Heaven's grapevine,
प्यार नहीं पा जाने में है, पाने के अरमानों में!	Joy comes not from getting, but in the quest of the goal.
पा जाता तब, हाय, न इतनी प्यारी लगती मधुशाला।।९९।	If I I'd reached, alas, not so lovely would've seemed the House of Wine. (99)
साकी के पास है तिनक सी श्री, सुख, संपित की हाला,	The maiden has a thimble of wine to take us to cloud nine,
सब जग है पीने को आतुर ले ले किस्मत का प्याला,	The world is desperate to drink from Fortune's stein,
रेल ठेल कुछ आगे बढ़ते, बहुतेरे दबकर मरते,	Some scramble to get ahead , many die in the crush,
जीवन का संघर्ष नहीं है, भीड़ भरी है मधुशाला।।१००।	Not the rat-race, just the crowds at the House of Wine. (100)
साकी, जब है पास तुम्हारे इतनी थोड़ी सी हाला,	Maiden, when you have only a thimbleful of wine,
क्यों पीने की अभिलाषा से, करते सबको मतवाला,	Why do you get 'em drunk on the hope of being on cloud nine?
हम पिस पिसकर मरते हैं, तुम छिप छिपकर मुसकाते हो,	We die in the daily grind, you smile behind our back,
हाय, हमारी पीड़ा से है क्रीड़ा करती मधुशाला।।१०१।	Alas! Our torment is just amusement fot the House of Wine. (101)
साकी, मर खपकर यदि कोई आगे कर पाया प्याला,	Maiden, if somehow in the stampede, one gets to you the stein,
पी पाया केवल दो बूंदों से न अधिक तेरी हाला,	He can drink just two drops of your magical wine,
जीवन भर का, हाय, परिश्रम लूट लिया दो बूंदों ने,	The two drops, alas, have stolen the efforts of a lifetime,
भोले मानव को ठगने के हेतु बनी है मधुशाला।।१०२।	Swindling the innocent man, oh!, the House of Wine. (102)
जिसने मुझको प्यासा रक्खा बनी रहे वह भी हाला,	That which kept me thirsty, may it remain the wine,
जिसने जीवन भर दौड़ाया बना रहे वह भी प्याला,	That which kept me running, may it remain the stein,
मतवालों की जिहवा से हैं कभी निकलते शाप नहीं,	From the drunkard's tongue fall no curses,
दुखी बनाया जिसने मुझको सुखी रहे वह मधुशाला!।१०३।	You who made me sad, stay happy, O House of Wine. (103)
नहीं चाहता, आगे बढ़कर छीनूँ औरों की हाला,	I don't want that, by stepping forward, I shall steal another's wine,
नहीं चाहता, धक्के देकर, छीनूँ औरों का प्याला,	I don't want that, by pushing ahead, I shall steal another's stein,
साकी, मेरी ओर न देखो मुझको तनिक मलाल नहीं,	Maiden, look not at me; I don't have no remorse,
इतना ही क्या कम आँखों से देख रहा हूँ मधुशाला।।१०४।	It's enough that I am looking at the House of Wine. (104)
मद, मदिरा, मधु, हाला सुन-सुन कर ही जब हूँ मतवाला,	Liquor, brew, drink, wine, just hearing these makes me pine,
क्या गति होगी अधरों के जब नीचे आएगा प्याला,	What will be my state when at my lips is the stein,
साकी, मेरे पास न आना मैं पागल हो जाऊँगा,	Maiden, don't approach me, I shall become delirious,
प्यासा ही मैं मस्त, मुबारक हो तुमको ही मधुशाला।।१०५।	Just thirsty am I high, you are welcome to the House of Wine. (105)
क्या मुझको आवश्यकता है साकी से माँगूँ हाला,	Why do I need to beg the maiden for a cup of wine?
क्या मुझको आवश्यकता है साकी से चाहूँ प्याला,	Why do I need to beg the maiden for a goblet or stein?
पीकर मदिरा मस्त हुआ तो प्यार किया क्या मदिरा से!	Tipsy with the wine, did I love the brew?
मैं तो पागल हो उठता हूँ सुन लेता यदि मधुशाला।।१०६।	Delirious I become just listening to the House of Wine. (106)
देने को जो मुझे कहा था दे न सकी मुझको हाला,	When I asked for it, she could not give me the wine,
देने को जो मुझे कहा था दे न सका मुझको प्याला,	When I asked for it, she could not give me the stein,
समझ मनुज की दुर्बलता मैं कहा नहीं कुछ भी करता,	Accepting human weakness, I normally don't crtiicise,
किन्तु स्वयं ही देख मुझे अब शरमा जाती मधुशाला।।१०७।	But now, just seeing me, embarrassed is the House of Wine. (107)
एक समय संतुष्ट बहुत था पा मैं थोड़ी-सी हाला,	Once, I was satisfied if I had a thimbleful of wine,
भोला-सा था मेरा साकी, छोटा-सा मेरा प्याला,	So innocent was my maiden, so small my stein,
छोटे-से इस जग की मेरे स्वर्ग बलाएँ लेता था,	This tiny world of mine, was Heaven to me,
विस्तृत जग में, हाय, गई खो मेरी नन्ही मधुशाला!।१०८।	In the vast world, alas, lost is my innocent House of Wine. (108)
बहुतेरे मदिरालय देखे, बहुतेरी देखी हाला,	Many a tavern have I seen, sipped many a wine,
भाँत भाँत का आया मेरे हाथों में मधु का प्याला,	Held many many different types of cup, goblet, and stein,
एक एक से बढ़कर, सुन्दर साकी ने सत्कार किया,	Served by damsels, one more beautiful than the other,
जँची न आँखों में, पर, कोई पहली जैसी मधुशाला।।१०९।	But, in my eyes, none a patch on that first House of Wine. (109)
एक समय छलका करती थी मेरे अधरों पर हाला,	Once upon a time, on my lips, would whirl the wine,
एक समय झूमा करता था मेरे हाथों पर प्याला,	Once upon a time, in my hands, would dance the stein,
एक समय पीनेवाले, साकी आलिंगन करते थे,	Once upon a time, miadens would clasp me to their bosom,
आज बनी हूँ निर्जन मरघट, एक समय थी मधुशाला।।११०।	Now I'm a dreary cemetery, once I was a House of Wine. (110)
जला हृदय की भट्टी खींची मैंने आँसू की हाला,	Making a bonfire of my heart, I've wrung tears of wine,
छलछल छलका करता इससे पल पल पलकों का प्याला,	Spilling the salt-water, my eyelids form a stained stein,
आँखें आज बनी हैं साकी, गाल गुलाबी पी होते,	The eyes are the server, the cheeks pink with drink,
कहो न विरही मुझको, मैं हूँ चलती फिरती मधुशाला!।१११।	Maybe I'm nostalgic, I'm the walking House of Wine. (111)
कितनी जल्दी रंग बदलती है अपना चंचल हाला,	How soon fades the gorgeous colour of the flowing wine,
कितनी जल्दी घिसने लगता हाथों में आकर प्याला,	How soon the golden goblet loses its stunning shine,
कितनी जल्दी साकी का आकर्षण घटने लगता है,	How soon fades the attraction of the lovely maiden,
प्रात नहीं थी वैसी, जैसी रात लगी थी मधुशाला।।११२।	The dawn isn't what the night promised at the House of Wine. (112)
बूँद बूँद के हेतु कभी तुझको तरसाएगी हाला,	For each drop, someday, you'll be tormented by the wine,
कभी हाथ से छिन जाएगा तेरा यह मादक प्याला,	From your hands, someday, will be snatched the stein,
पीनेवाले, साकी की मीठी बातों में मत आना,	Drinkers, do not be fooled by the sweet words of the maiden,
मेरे भी गुण यों ही गाती एक दिवस थी मधुशाला।।११३।	Even I was thus praised, someday, by the House of Wine. (113)
छोड़ा मैंने पंथ मतों को तब कहलाया मतवाला,	They called me drunk when I gave up the path of the divine,
चली सुरा मेरा पग धोने तोड़ा जब मैंने प्याला,	Wine washed my feet when the golden goblet I did decline,
अब मानी मधुशाला मेरे पीछे पीछे फिरती है,	Now the proud House of Wine follows me around,
क्या कारण? अब छोड़ दिया है मैंने जाना मधुशाला।।११४।	But why? For now I have forsaken the House of Wine. (114)
यह न समझना, पिया हलाहल मैंने, जब न मिली हाला,	Do not think, that I drank poison, when I didn't get wine,
तब मैंने खप्पर अपनाया ले सकता था जब प्याला,	That I picked a broken bowl when I didn't get the stein,
जले हृदय को और जलाना सूझा, मैंने मरघट को	That broken heart, I chose to break it more, I chose,
अपनाया जब इन चरणों में लोट रही थी मधुशाला।।११५।	The cemetery when at my feet lay the House of Wine. (115)
कितनी आई और गई पी इस मदिरालय में हाला,	How many have come and gone, at this tavern, this liquor-shrine,
टूट चुकी अब तक कितने ही मादक प्यालों की माला,	How many golden goblets lie shattered, in a line,
कितने साकी अपना अपना काम खतम कर दूर गए,	How many maidens finished their work, and then went away,
कितने पीनेवाले आए, किन्तु वही है मधुशाला।।११६।	How many drinkers came, but stayed the same the House of Wine. (116)
कितने होठों को रक्खेगी याद भला मादक हाला,	How many lips will it remember, this madenning wine,
कितने हाथों को रक्खेगा याद भला पागल प्याला,	How many hands will it remember, this magical stein,
कितनी शक्लों को रक्खेगा याद भला भोला साकी,	How many faces will it remember, the innocent maiden,
कितने पीनेवालों में है एक अकेली मधुशाला।।११७।	Among all the drinkers, there's only one House of Wine. (117)
दर दर घूम रहा था जब मैं चिल्लाता - हाला! हाला!	Wandering in the desert, I craved and cried for wine, wine!
मुझे न मिलता था मदिरालय, मुझे न मिलता था प्याला,	I didn't get the tavern, I didn't get the stein,
मिलन हुआ, पर नहीं मिलनसुख लिखा हुआ था किस्मत में,	I found union, but in my fate was not the communion,
मैं अब जमकर बैठ गया हूँ, घूम रही है मधुशाला।।११८।	Now I'm sitting tightly, wandering is the House of Wine. (118)
मैं मदिरालय के अंदर हूँ, मेरे हाथों में प्याला,	I'm in the tavern, in my hands is the stein,
प्याले में मदिरालय बिंबित करनेवाली है हाला,	In the stein is the wine reflecting the liquor-shrine,
इस उधेड़-बुन में ही मेरा सारा जीवन बीत गया -	In this confusion my whole life has been spent -
मैं मधुशाला के अंदर या मेरे अंदर मधुशाला!।११९।	Is the tavern in me, or am I in the House of Wine! (119)
किसे नहीं पीने से नाता, किसे नहीं भाता प्याला,	Who doesn't relate to drinking, who doesn't enjoy the stein,
इस जगती के मदिरालय में तरह-तरह की है हाला,	In this world of taverns, there are many types of wine,
अपनी-अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार सभी पी मदमाते,	Each according to their will, choose their poison to drown in,
एक सभी का मादक साकी, एक सभी की मधुशाला।।१२०।	But all have the same maiden, the same House of Wine. (120)
वह हाला, कर शांत सके जो मेरे अंतर की ज्वाला,	That wine, which can cool the fire in this heart of mine,
जिसमें मैं बिंबित-प्रतिबिंबत प्रतिपल, वह मेरा प्याला,	That in which I'm reflected all the time, that very stein,
मधुशाला वह नहीं जहाँ पर मदिरा बेची जाती है,	The tavern is not the place where the drink is sold
भेंट जहाँ मस्ती की मिलती मेरी तो वह मधुशाला।।१२१।	Where there's the gift of jollity, there's my House of Wine. (121)
मतवालापन हाला से लेकर मैंने तज दी है हाला,	Taking the spirit of jollity, I gave up the wine,
पागलपन लेकर प्याले से, मैंने त्याग दिया प्याला,	Taking the madness from the cup , I gave up the stein,
साकी से मिल, साकी में मिल, अपनापन मैं भूल गया,	In my union with the maiden I forgot my solitude,
मिल मधुशाला की मधुता में भूल गया मैं मधुशाला।।१२२।	Having got the honey, I forgot the House of Wine. (122)
मदिरालय के द्वार ठोकता किस्मत का छूंछा प्याला,	Knocking at the doors of the tavern is Fate's empty stein,
गहरी, ठंडी सांसें भर भर कहता था हर मतवाला,	Taking deep breaths, each drinker would for extra time pine,
कितनी थोड़ी सी यौवन की हाला, हा, मैं पी पाया!	How little of the brew of youth, alas!, have I enjoyed,
बंद हो गई कितनी जल्दी मेरी जीवन मधुशाला।।१२३।	How soon stopped the clock of my life the House of Wine. (123)
कहाँ गया वह स्वर्गिक साकी, कहाँ गयी सुरिभत हाला,	Where's the ethereal maiden, where the sweet-scented wine,
कहाँ गया स्वपिनल मदिरालय, कहाँ गया स्वर्णिम प्याला!	Where's the fabulous tavern, where the golden stein!
पीनेवालों ने मदिरा का मूल्य, हाय, कब पहचाना?	When, alas, have drinkers understood the value of the spirt?
फूट चुका जब मधु का प्याला, टूट चुकी जब मधुशाला।।१२४।	When broken the cup of honey, when broken the House of Wine. (124)
अपने युग में सबको अनुपम ज्ञात हुई अपनी हाला,	In each age, they all felt, unique was their own wine,
अपने युग में सबको अदभुत ज्ञात हुआ अपना प्याला,	In each age, they all felt, special was their own stein,
फिर भी वृद्धों से जब पूछा एक यही उत्तर पाया -	But as I asked the elders, the only answer I heard was -
अब न रहे वे पीनेवाले, अब न रही वह मधुशाला!।१२५।	"Alas for those drinker! Alas for that House of Wine!" (125)
'मय' को करके शुद्ध दिया अब नाम गया उसको, 'हाला'	'Grapejuice' was first distilled and then we named it 'Wine',
'मीना' को 'मधुपात्र' दिया 'सागर' को नाम गया 'प्याला',	'Enamel' became 'Chalice', 'Ocean' was named 'Stein',
क्यों न मौलवी चौंकें, बिचकें तिलक-त्रिपुंडी पंडित जी	Why shouldn’t it startle the maulvi, the powder-pasted priest?
'मय-महिफल' अब अपना ली है मैंने करके 'मधुशाला'।।१२६।	Grapejuice-Honey' have now been absorbed into the House of Wine. (126)
कितने मर्म जता जाती है बार-बार आकर हाला,	How many times is the meaning explained, by the wine,
कितने भेद बता जाता है बार-बार आकर प्याला,	How many times is the difference explained, by the stein,
कितने अर्थों को संकेतों से बतला जाता साकी,	How much is explained with symbolism by the maiden,
फिर भी पीनेवालों को है एक पहेली मधुशाला।।१२७।	But for the drinkers, remains a puzzle: the House of Wine. (127)
जितनी दिल की गहराई हो उतना गहरा है प्याला,	As deep is the heart, is the depth of the stein,
जितनी मन की मादकता हो उतनी मादक है हाला,	As absorbed is the mind, is the heady wine,
जितनी उर की भावुकता हो उतना सुन्दर साकी है,	As romantic is the heart, that beautiful is the maiden.
जितना हो जो रिसक, उसे है उतनी रसमय मधुशाला।।१२८।	As passionate the person, as pleasureful the House of Wine. (128)
जिन अधरों को छुए, बना दे मस्त उन्हें मेरी हाला,	Whichever lips you touch, make them delirious, O wine,
जिस कर को छू दे, कर दे विक्षिप्त उसे मेरा प्याला,	Whichever hands you touch, make them desperate, O stein,
आँख चार हों जिसकी मेरे साकी से दीवाना हो,	May all in love be moonstruck for my maiden,
पागल बनकर नाचे वह जो आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१२९।	He who is caught in that mad dance, is my House of Wine. (129)
हर जिहवा पर देखी जाएगी मेरी मादक हाला	On each tongue shall be seen my maddening wine,
हर कर में देखा जाएगा मेरे साकी का प्याला	In each hand shall be seen that golden goblet of mine,
हर घर में चर्चा अब होगी मेरे मधुविक्रेता की	In each house people shall talk about my wine-seller,
हर आंगन में गमक उठेगी मेरी सुरिभत मधुशाला।।१३०।	In each courtyard shall burst forth my sweet-secnted House of Wine. (130)
मेरी हाला में सबने पाई अपनी-अपनी हाला,	In my wine, each to their desire found their own wine,
मेरे प्याले में सबने पाया अपना-अपना प्याला,	In my stein, each to their desire found their own stein,
मेरे साकी में सबने अपना प्यारा साकी देखा,	In my maiden, each saw their own dearest maiden,
जिसकी जैसी रुचि थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाला।।१३१।	Whatever each desired, they saw that in the House of Wine. (131)
यह मदिरालय के आँसू हैं, नहीं-नहीं मादक हाला,	These are the winehouse's tears, not the maddening wine,
यह मदिरालय की आँखें हैं, नहीं-नहीं मधु का प्याला,	These are the winehouse's eyes, not the honeyed stein,
किसी समय की सुखदस्मृति है साकी बनकर नाच रही,	The happy memories of a lost age, are dancing as the maiden,
नहीं-नहीं किव का हृदयांगण, यह विरहाकुल मधुशाला।।१३२।	Not the poet's heart-yard, this nostalgic House of Wine. (132)
कुचल हसरतें कितनी अपनी, हाय, बना पाया हाला,	Crushing many a desire, oh, have I made the wine,
कितने अरमानों को करके ख़ाक बना पाया प्याला!	Destroying many a hope, oh, have I made the stein,
पी पीनेवाले चल देंगे, हाय, न कोई जानेगा,	The drinkers will just move on, oh, no one will know,
कितने मन के महल ढहे तब खड़ी हुई यह मधुशाला!।१३३।	On the ruins of castles in my mind has been built the House of Wine. (133)
विश्व तुम्हारे विषमय जीवन में ला पाएगी हाला	Oh, world, in your vile life, if even a thimbleful of wine,
यदि थोड़ी-सी भी यह मेरी मदमाती साकीबाला,	Is brought to you by this tipsy maiden of mine,
शून्य तुम्हारी घड़ियाँ कुछ भी यदि यह गुंजित कर पाई,	If even a few empty hours echoes with this joy,
जन्म सफल समझेगी जग में अपना मेरी मधुशाला।।१३४।	Shall consider my life successful, my House of Wine. (134)
बड़े-बड़े नाज़ों से मैंने पाली है साकीबाला,	With much pride have I raised this maiden of mine,
कलित कल्पना का ही इसने सदा उठाया है प्याला,	The only cup she's held is of my imagination's design,
मान-दुलारों से ही रखना इस मेरी सुकुमारी को,	Keep my gentle girl with all the care you can,
विश्व, तुम्हारे हाथों में अब सौंप रहा हूँ मधुशाला।।१३५।	World, in your hands I now present my House of Wine. (135)
पिरिशष्ट से	Post-script:
स्वयं नहीं पीता, औरों को, किन्तु पिला देता हाला,	I don't drink, but others, I make them drink the wine,
स्वयं नहीं छूता, औरों को, पर पकड़ा देता प्याला,	I don't touch, but others, I make them hold the stein,
पर उपदेश कुशल बहुतेरों से मैंने यह सीखा है,	But from the good advice of many have I learnt,
स्वयं नहीं जाता, औरों को पहुंचा देता मधुशाला।	I don't go, but I help others reach the House of Wine.
मैं कायस्थ कुलोदभव मेरे पुरखों ने इतना ढ़ाला,	With so much drinking in my Kayasth bloodline,
मेरे तन के लोहू में है पचहज्ञल्तऌार प्रतिशत हाला,	In my body's blood flows ninety percent wine,
पुश्तैनी अधिकार मुझे है मदिरालय के आँगन पर,	On the tavern, I can stake a hereditary claim,
मेरे दादों परदादों के हाथ बिकी थी मधुशाला।	My forefathers bought and sold the House of Wine.
बहुतों के सिर चार दिनों तक चढ़कर उतर गई हाला,	Many for a few days became high, then went off the wine,
बहुतों के हाथों में दो दिन छलक झलक रीता प्याला,	Many for a few days held a shimmer-glimmer empty stein,
पर बढ़ती तासीर सुरा की साथ समय के,	But with time, the effect of the flow increased,
इससे ही और पुरानी होकर मेरी और नशीली मधुशाला।	With the vintage became more potent my House of Wine.
पित्र पक्ष में पुत्र उठाना अर्ध्य न कर में, पर प्याला	Son, venerate not my soul with ceremonies, but with a stein,
बैठ कहीं पर जाना,गंगा सागर में भरकर हाला	Sit somewhere, fill the cup with Gangasagar's wine,
किसी जगह की मिटटी भीगे, तृप्ति मुझे मिल जाएगी	As the earth somewhere finds its freshness, my soul shall find its peace,
तर्पण अर्पण करना मुझको,पढ़ पढ़ कर के मधुशाला।	Remember me each day, by re-reading the House of Wine.