Maa.n Ke Naam

Maut ki aaghosh mein jab thak ke so jaati hai maa.n
Tab kahin jaa ker sakoo.n thora sa pa jaati hai maa.n
maut = death
aaghosh = lap

(The only time when mothers can sleep with peace is when they're no longer alive)

Fikr mein bacchon ki kuch is tarah ghul jaati hai maa.n
Nau-javaa.n hotay huay boorhi nazar aati hai maa.n
ghul = melt
nau-javaa.n = young

(They get drowned in concern for their children to the extent that they age much before their time)

Orhti hai khud to ghurbaton ka boseeda kafan
Chaahaton ka pairahan bacchon ko pehnaati hai maa.n
ghurbaton = impoverish
boseeda = old
kafan = cloth in which dead bodies are wrapped in before burial
pairahan = attire

(They give up their own needs to spend everything they have on their children)

Rooh ke rishton ki yeh gehraaiyyaan to dekhiye
Chot lagti hai hamaaray aur chillaati hai maa.n

(Such is the depth of a mother-child relationship that when the child gets hurt, the mother feels the pain)

Jaanay kitni barf si raaton mein aisa bhi hua
Baccha to chaati pe hai geelay mein so jaati hai maa.n

(They spend so many cold nights sleeping where their children have wet the beds, and they place the children on their chest so the child wouldn't have to sleep on the wet sheet)

Apnay pehlu mein lita ker aur totay ki tarah
Allah Allah hum ko ratvaati hai maa.n
totay = tota = parrot

(They lie us next to them and teach us who the Lord is)

Ghar se jab bhi door jaata hai koi noor-e-nazar
Haath mein Qur'aan le ker dar pe aa jaati hai maa.n
noor-e-nazar = the light of eyes (refers to sons)

(Any time that a child has gone away from the home, the mother prays for his safe return the whole time he's gone)

De ke bacchon ko zamaanat mein razaa-e-paak ki
Peechay peechay sar jhukaaye door tak jaati hai maa.n
zamaanat = guarantee
razaa-e-paak = God's will

(She places her beloved children in God's hands (submits to fate) and then walks behind them in the journey of life)

Kaampti aazaav se kehti hai, "beta, alvida"
Saamnay jab tak rahay haathon ko lehraati hai maa.n

(When her kids depart from her, she says goodbye and keeps waving at them for as far as she can see them)

Laut ke jab bhi safar se ghar aatay hain hum
Daal ke baanhain galay mein sar ko sehlaati hai maa.n
sehlaati = gentle patting

(Every time we return home, she welcomes us in her warm embrace)

Vaqt-e-aakhir hai agar pardes mein noor-e-nazar
Apni donon putliyaan chaukhat pe rakh jaati hai maa.n
vaqt-e-aakhir = last moments (usually refers to the end of life)
putliyaan (silgular = putli) = eyes (literal meaning of putli = lens)
chaukhat = threshold

(If a child of hers is not present at her deathbed, she still keeps waiting for that child even after she has passed away)

Pyar kehtay hain kisay aur maamta kiya cheez hai
Koi un bacchon se poochay jin ki marr jaati hai maa.n
maamta = mother's love

(The value of love, especially a mother's love, is known to chose children who have lost their mothers)

Saal bhar mein ya kabhi haftay mein Jumeraat ko
Zindagi bhar ka sila ik Faatiha paati hai maa.n
Jumeraat = Thursday

(And after a lifetime of service to her children, all she gets is a Qur'aanic reading of a small chapter once a year on some random day)

~ Unknown