ROZ EK SHER

ओ मेरे अरबाब, क्या तारे नुमायां कर गये
पैदा हुए, बी.ए. किये, नौकर बने और मर गये
- इक़बाल

o mere arbaab, kyaa taare numaayaan kar gaye
paidaa huey, B.A. kiye, naukar bane aur mar gaye
- Iqbal

O my lord, what stars have you caused to appear!
They take birth, graduate, slave at a job and die.


Sher contributed by Man Mohan Das

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Book of the day

PARSHVACARITRAM: THE LIFE OF PARSHVA
By Acarya Gunabhadra
Sanskrit text + English translation
Ed. and translated into English by Prof Willem Bollée
Paperback
Rs. 60

ROZ EK SHER

तुम्हारे साथ रहकर
अक्सर मुझे लगा है
कि हम असमर्थताओं से नहीं
सम्भावनाओं से घिरे हैं,
हर दीवार में द्वार बन सकता है
और हर द्वार से पूरा का पूरा
पहाड़ गुज़र सकता है।


tumhaare saath rahkar
aksar mujhe lagaa hai
ki ham asamarthataaon se nahiin
sambhaavanaaon se ghire hain
har diivaar mein dvaar ban saktaa hai
aur har dvaar se puuraa kaa puraa
pahaad guzar saktaa hai


Living with you
I have often thought
that we are surrounded
not by incapabilities
but by possibilites.

A door can be built
through each wall
and through each door
an entire mountain can pass.


Poem contributed by Kirti Sandheliya

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Book of the day

MAHABHARATA OF VYASA
Sanskrit text + English translation
Eng. tr by M N Dutta
Edited with an Introduction by I C Sharma & O N Bimali
Set of 9 books
English
2008     250 x 190 mm     6000 pages in 9 volumes
Hardcover     Rs. 7000

ROZ EK SHER

यह कहाँ की दोस्ती है, जो बने हैं दोस्त नासेह
कोई चाराका होता, कोई ग़म गुसार होता
- ग़ालिब

ye kahaan kii dostii hai, jo bane hain dost naaseh
koii chaar'aakaar hotaa, koii gham gusaar hotaa
- Ghalib

What kind of friendship is this, when friends preach giving up love
There should have been some last remedy, someone sympathetic

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The first ever autobiography written in an Indian language!

ARDHAKATHANAKA
Autobiography
By Banarasidasa
Khadi boli + Modern Hindi translation
By Rohini Chowdhury
Hindi
2008     200 x 130 mm     228 pp
Paperback     Rs. 175

ROZ EK SHER

In memory of the innocent lives lost to terrorism

एटमों का ख़तरा है, रात भारी-भारी है
आज ये ज़मीं मेरी, कितने दुख की मारी है
- क़मर बरतर

atomon ka khataraa hai, raat bhaarii bhaarii hai
aaj ye zamiin merii, kitane dukh kii maarii hai
- Qamar Bartar

The night is heavy with the fear of atom bombs,
Today my motherland is engulfed in sadness

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Book of the day

THE FOUR VEDAS IN SIMPLE HINDI
--------------------------------------------------------

RGVEDA SAMHITA in 4 Volumes
Sanskrit Text with Hindi Translation
Ed. & tr. by Shriram Sharma & Bhagavati Sharma
2005    250 x 185 mm    1687 pages (in 4 vols.)
Hardcover    Rs. 600

YAJURVEDA SAMHITA
Sanskrit Text with Hindi Translation
Ed. & tr. by Shriram Sharma & Bhagavati Sharma
2004    250 x 185 mm    432 pages
Hardcover    Rs. 150

SAMAVEDA SAMHITA
Sanskrit Text with Hindi Translation
Ed. & tr. by Shriram Sharma & Bhagavati Sharma
2003    250 x 185 mm    332 pages
Hardcover    Rs. 150

ATHARVAVEDA SAMHITA in 2 Volumes
Sanskrit Text with Hindi Translation
Ed. & tr. by Shriram Sharma & Bhagavati Sharma
2002    250 x 185 mm    964 pages (in 2 vols.)
Hardcover    Rs. 300

Total 8 Volumes for Rs. 1200 only.

ROZ EK SHER and a quick note

Why we cannot play cricket with Pakistan.

हुआ है हाथ गुलदस्ता हमारा
कि दाग़े-खूं बहुत हैं आस्तीन पर
-मीर तक़ी मीर

huaa hai haath guldastaa hamaaraa
ki daaghe-khuun bahut hain aastiin par
-Mir Taqi Mir

My hand looks like a bouquet
So much have I bled onto my sleeves

_________

Fondly
M

What can we, the people do: Svami Veda Bharati on how tackle Terrorism

Svami Veda Bharati:

The answer to terrorism is to refuse to be terrorized.
___________________________________________

The streets of Mumbai are now full.

Leopold Café, next to the Iconic Taj Hotel, had suffered shocking violence.  Within 24 hours of the ending of commando action the café opened as the owners and the Manager said, "we cannot give to the terrorists the satisfaction that they have succeeded".

A nine year old girl heard of the attacks and was terrified, suffering from shock and fever.

Her father brought her to Leopold Café to light a candle.

A small crowd gathered beaming and smiling.  She lit the candle and smiled.

The people from the crowd patted her on the back.

She went home free of shock and fear, with a smile on her face.

This is the answer to terrorism but it requires resilience of mind and spiritual strength.

This is the mood all over India at this time.

ROZ EK SHER

नहीं कि मुझको क़यामत का एतिक़ाद नहीं
शब-ए-फ़िराक़ से रोज़-ए-जज़ा ज़्यादा नहीं
-ग़ालिब

nahiin ki mujhko qayaamat kaa etiqaad nahiin
shab-e-firaaq se roz-e-jazaa zyaadaa nahiin
-Ghalib

It is not that I do not believe in the Day of Judgment
But the night of separation is no less (painful) than the Day of
Judgment

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Book of the day

ASHVAGOSHA
The Awakening of Faith
Translated by Timothy Richard
M
2005     Dy.      116 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 225

ROZ EK SHER

नयी नयी आँखें हों तो हर मंज़र अच्छा लगता है
कुछ दिन शहर में घूमे लेकिन अब घर अच्छा लगता है
-निदा फ़ाज़ली

nayii nayii aankhen hon to har manzar achhaa lagtaa hai
kucch din shahr mein ghuume lekin ab ghar acchaa lagtaa hai
- Nida Fazli

When seen with fresh eyes, every view looks beautiful
I enjoyed visiting the City, but now I want to go home

_________


Book of the day

THE ASRAMA SYSTEM
The History and Hermeneutics of a Religious Institution
By Prof Dr Patrick Olivelle
M
2004     Ro.     287 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 450

ROZ EK SHER

आँखों में कुछ नमी सी है माज़ी की यादगार
गुज़रा था इस मक़ाम से इक कारवां कभी
-इक़बाल

aankhon mein kuchh namii sii hai maazii kii yaadgaar
guzaraa thaa is maqaam se ik caaravaan kabhii
-Iqbal

My eyes are wet at the memories of the past
There once passed a caravan through this place

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Book of the day

DHYANASHATAKA
Prakrit text + Hindi translation
By Jinabhadragani Kshamashramana
Hindi translation by Dr Jaykumar Jalaj
Edited by Manish Modi
Pandit Nathuram Premi Research Series Volume 11
Mumbai: Hindi Granth Karyalay
2009     220 x 140 mm     32 pages
ISBN 978-81-88769-21-6     Paperback

Terrorist attack on Mumbai

Learned friends,
Jay Jinendra

It is horrible, this dastardly terrorist attack by Pakistan-trained terrorists on Mumbai.

The terrorists are clearly familiar with the city of Mumbai and seem to know exactly what they are doing.

The tragedy of modern civilisation is that the terrorist can slip through the most diligent of check posts.

Constant vigilance, a clear cut policy on combating terrorism and a strong and decisive legal system could be possible deterrents to terrorist attacks. But our country lacks these.

Heartbreaking to see my city in flames.

My immediate family is safe for now, but how safe are we if our beloved city is under such a deadly terrorist attack?

I hope the Government takes firm steps and comes down very hard on terrorism. The terrorists have shown that they deserve no mercy. None
should be wasted on them.

And I pray that political parties do not use this attack on Indians as a way to garner more votes and create hatred between various communities in India.

What we Indians need to do in times like this is to come together, trust each other and act in the best interests of the nation.

Jay Hind
Vande Mataram

M

ROZ EK SHER

ज़मीन वालों के दुःख से जो था ख़ाली
वो नग़्मा किस तरह इल्हाम ठहरा
- ताज भोपाली

zamiin vaalon ke dukh se jo thaa khaalii
vo naghmaa kis tarah ilhaam thahraa
- Taj Bhopali

That which was bereft of the pain of the dwellers of Earth
How could that song be considered a message from god

__________


Book of the day

RGVEDA
Mandalas 3, 4 and 5
Sanskrit text + Hindi poetic translation and gloss
By Govind Chandra Pandey
2008     220 x 145 mm     1065 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 800

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ROZ EK SHER

जो रँग भर दो, उसी रँग में नज़र आये
यह ज़िन्दगी न हुई, काँच का गिलास हुआ
-शाहिद कबीर

jo rang bhar do, usii rang mein nazar aaye
yah zindagii na huii, kaanch kaa gilaas huaa
-Shahid Kabir

It will take on whichever colour you add
As if life were a cup of glass!

NB 'kaanch kaa gilaas' is extremely difficult to translate for those who are not familiar with Hindi - Urdu. For literally, it would mean a cup made out of glass. For in India, a tall cup, used for drinking water, milk and lassi, is known as a glass. It is usually made out of steel, but it is still referred to as glass. This is why you would go to roadside stalls in India and find 'ganne kaa ras', sugarcane juice, sold by the glass!

(Rupert, maybe you could explain the Indian usage of the word 'glass' for your forthcoming seminar - Chutneyfying English)

ROZ EK SHER

अंग्रेज़ों ने अंग्रेज़ी पढ़ाकर प्रजा बनाई
अंग्रेज़ी पढ़ाकर अब हम राजा बना रहे है ।
-रघुवीर सहाय

angrezon ne angrezi padhaakar prajaa banaaii
angrezii padhaakar ab hum raajaa banaa rahe hain
-Raghuvir Sahai

The English taught English and created a class of subjects
Now we teach English and create rulers


Sher contributed by Prof Rupert Snell

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Book of the day

Illustrated KATHA-SARITSAGARA
Hindi translation of selected stories from the Katha-Saritsagara
Original text by
Somadeva Bhatta
Hindi translation by SC Sharma
Illustrations by Vivek Kaushik
Set of two books
Hindi
2006     220 x 140 mm     488 pages
Hardcover     Rs. 500

ROZ EK SHER

थी बेनमक मेरी ही ज़बां वरना सच है ये
नमकीन पानियों में ग़ज़ब की मिठास है
-हकीम मंज़ूर

thii benamak merii hii zabaan varnaa sach hai ye
namkiin paaniyon mein ghazab kii mithaas hai
-Hakim Manzoor

My tongue lacked the taste buds, for the truth is that
The saltiest waters taste the sweetest

_________
Book of the day

SRIRAMACARITABDHIRATNA
A Sanskrit Ramayana composed in the 19th Century
By Nityananda Shastri
With an English translation
By Satyavrat Shastri
Sanskrit text + English translation
2005     220 x 145 mm     441 pages
Deluxe Hardcover      Rs. 300

ROZ EK SHER

ख़ुदा में शक हो तो हो मौत में नहीं कोई शक
मुशाहदे में कहीं एहतिमाल होता है?
-यास युगाना

khudaa mein shak ho to ho maut mein nahiin koii shak
mushaahade mein kahiin ehtimaal hotaa hai
-Yas Yagana

Even if one may doubt the existence of god, one does not doubt death
Does anyone doubt what one has observed?
___________

Book of the day
PAVANAPUTRA
Novelised biography of Hanuman in Hindi
By Dr. Bhagavatisharan Mishra
R
2004     220 x 145 mm     360 pp
Hardcover     Rs. 300