madhur bhaavnaaon ki sumadhur nitya banaata hoon haala
bharta hoon is madhu se apne antar ka pyaasa pyaala
uttha kalpana ke haaton se swayam use pee jaata hoon
apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala
This is the last of the five introductory verses of the Madhushala. And just as Al Mustapha, the Prophet of Khalil Gibran's eponymous poem, tells the people of Orphalese as he departs from them, Bachchan says that he is also the reader, the listener.
The last line, apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala....is not self-glorification. He tells us that we are the readers, the tellers, the listeners as well. Remember that the Madhushala is your story, and mine. And Bachchan's. As Bachchan writes, he reads too. As you read, so do you teach. As you get enlightened, so does the universe. For You are the Universe. I am the universe. He, she and she and he are the universe as well.
Before we embark on the "poem proper", so to speak, let us understand the spirit with which this poem is to be read. We read it as if it were a visit to a kind but truthful doctor. We are in pain, we are hurting. We are in sorrow. In confusion. The doctor is going to tell us what is wrong with us. His diagnosis is going to be accurate, and some of it is going to be bad news. But this compassionate, beautiful-hearted doctor is not going to pull any punches. He is going to tell us what is wrong with us, and he is going to politely suggest the only remedy. However, he is keenly aware that we may not be in a state of mind to listen to him. He will accept that, sit by us, hold our hand, and maybe cry with us a little. He is going to say, "I understand. I know how hard it is. I've been there".
I understand. I know how hard it is. I've been there. That is the true meaning of apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala.
bharta hoon is madhu se apne antar ka pyaasa pyaala
uttha kalpana ke haaton se swayam use pee jaata hoon
apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala
This is the last of the five introductory verses of the Madhushala. And just as Al Mustapha, the Prophet of Khalil Gibran's eponymous poem, tells the people of Orphalese as he departs from them, Bachchan says that he is also the reader, the listener.
The last line, apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala....is not self-glorification. He tells us that we are the readers, the tellers, the listeners as well. Remember that the Madhushala is your story, and mine. And Bachchan's. As Bachchan writes, he reads too. As you read, so do you teach. As you get enlightened, so does the universe. For You are the Universe. I am the universe. He, she and she and he are the universe as well.
Before we embark on the "poem proper", so to speak, let us understand the spirit with which this poem is to be read. We read it as if it were a visit to a kind but truthful doctor. We are in pain, we are hurting. We are in sorrow. In confusion. The doctor is going to tell us what is wrong with us. His diagnosis is going to be accurate, and some of it is going to be bad news. But this compassionate, beautiful-hearted doctor is not going to pull any punches. He is going to tell us what is wrong with us, and he is going to politely suggest the only remedy. However, he is keenly aware that we may not be in a state of mind to listen to him. He will accept that, sit by us, hold our hand, and maybe cry with us a little. He is going to say, "I understand. I know how hard it is. I've been there".
I understand. I know how hard it is. I've been there. That is the true meaning of apne hee mein hoon main saaqi, peenewaala, madhushaala.
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