For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ولے ناشنیدہ ہوں ۔ مرزا اسداللہ خاں غالبؔ
۱
ممکن نہیں کہ بھول کے بھی آرمیدہ ہوں
میں دشتِ غم میں آہوے صیّاد دیدہ ہوں
۲
ہوں دردمند، جبر ہو یا اختیار ہو
گہ نالۂ کشیدہ، گہ اشکِ چکیدہ ہوں
۳
جاں لب پہ آئی تو بھی نہ شیریں ہوا دہن
ازبس کہ تلخیِ غم ہجراں چشیدہ ہوں
۴
نے سُبحہ سے علاقہ، نہ ساغر سے واسطہ
میں معرضِ مثال میں دستِ بریدہ ہوں
۵
ہوں خاکسار، پر نہ کسی سے ہے مجھ کو لاگ
نے دانۂ فتادہ ہوں نے دامِ چیدہ ہوں
۶
جو چاہئیے نہیں وہ مری قدر و منزلت
میں یوسفِ بقیمتِ اوّل خریدہ ہوں
۷
ہرگز کسی کے دل میں نہیں ہے مری جگہ
ہوں میں کلامِ نغز، ولے ناشنیدہ ہوں
۸
اہلِ وَرع کے حلقے میں ہرچند ہوں ذلیل
پر عاصیوں کے زُمرے میں میں برگُزیدہ ہوں
۹
پانی سے سگ گَزیدہ ڈرے جس طرح اسدؔ
ڈرتا ہوں آئینے سے کہ مردم گزیدہ ہوں
वले ना-शुनीदा हुं – मिर्ज़ा असदुल्लाह ख़ां ग़ालिब
१
मुमकिन नहीं के भूल के भी आरमीदा हुं
मैं दश्त-ए ग़म में आहु-ए सय्याद-दीदा हुं
२
हूं दर्दमंद, जब्र हो या एख़्तियार हो
गह नाला-ए कशीदा, गह अश्क-ए चकीदा हुं
३
जां लब पे आई तो भि न शीरीं हुआ दहन
अज़्बस के तल्ख़ि-ए ग़म-ए हिज्रां चशीदा हुं
४
ने सुब्बह से इलाक़ा न साग़र से वास्ता
मैं मारज़-ए मिसाल में दस्त-ए बुरीदा हुं
५
हूं ख़ाक्सार, पर न किसी से है मुझ को लाग
ने दाना-ए फ़तादा हुं, ने दाम-ए चीदा हुं
६
जो चाहिये नहीं वो मेरी क़द्र ओ मंज़िलत
मैं यूसुफ़-ए ब-क़ीमत-ए अव्वल ख़रीदा हुं
७
हरगिजं किसी के दिल में नहीं है मेरी जगह
हूं मैं कलाम-ए नग़्ज़, वले ना-शुनीदा हुं
८
अहल-ए वर’अ के हल्क़े में हरचंद हूं ज़लील
पर आसियौं के ज़ुर्मे में मैं बर्गुज़ीदा हुं
९
पानी से सग-गज़ीदा डरे जिस तरह असद
डरता हुं आईने से के मर्दुम-गज़ीदा हुं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. This Ghazal appeared in earlier publications of Ghalib’s divaan, but in the later versions, which have become “official” and more common, he, for whatever reason dropped it. This is dated 1816 in ‘nusKha-e raza’. This is one of three Ghazal composed in this zamin. Two are dated 1812-1816 and one is dated 1867, two years before his passing.
1
mumkin1 nahiN keh bhool ke bhi aarmiida2 huN
maiN dasht3-e Gham4 meN aahu5-e sayyaad-diida6 huN 1.possible 2.still, restful, relaxed 3.wilderness 4.pain, love 5.deer 6.spotting a hunter
It is not possible for me to relax even by mistake. I am (on the run) like a deer which has spotted a hunter in the wilderness (of love).
2
huuN dardmand1, jabr2 ho yaa eKhtiyaar3 ho
gah4 naala5-e kashiida6, gah4 ashk7-e chakiida8 huN 1.pained, sorrowful 2.under duress, no free will 3.in control, free will 4.one moment 5.sigh 6.stretched, long drawn 7.tears 8.dripping
I am sorrowful (separated from the divine beloved) whether under duress or under my own volition. One moment I draw a long sigh, another moment tears flow down my eyes. His sigh and tears represent his verse.
3
jaaN lab1 pe aaii to bhi na shiiriiN2 hua dahan3
azbas4 keh talKhi5-e Gham6-e hijraaN7 chashiida8 huN 1.lips 2.sweet 3.mouth 4.because 5.bitterness 6.sorrow 7.separation (from the divine beloved) 8.tasted
“jaan lab pe aana” is an expression meaning “near death”. Even near death i.e., all my life the mouth never tasted sweet because I have tasted the bitterness of separation from the divine beloved.
4
ne subbah1 se ilaaqa2, na saaGhar3 se vaasta4
maiN maa’rez5-e misaal6 meN dast7-e buriida8 huN 1.tasbeeh, islamic prayer beads 2.connection 3.flask (of wine) 4.relationship 5.field, domain 7.hand 8.cut off
I have no connection with prayer beads nor any relationship with the flask (of wine). I am like a hand that has been cut off i.e., I am utterly helpless, unable to subscribe to orthodoxy or to hedonism.
5
huuN Khaaksaar1 par na kisi se hai mujh ko laag2
ne daana3-e fataada4 huN, ne daam5-e chiida6 huN 1.humble, of the dust/clay 2.attachment, friendship 3.seed 4.fallen, scattered 5.net, web 6.arranged
I am a lowly person with no friendship or attachments. Neither am I a seed scattered to attract birds or a net arranged/stretched to catch them. I am not sure what this means besides self-pity. Composed in 1867, just two years before his passing, this must have been a very difficult and sad time for him.
6
jo chaahiye1 nahiN vo meri qadr2 o manzilat3
maiN yuusuf4-e ba-qiimat5-e avval-Khariida6 huN 1.used here to mean – deserved 2.value, respect 3.status 4.Joseph 5.price 6.first bought
Biblical and qur’aanic stories say that Joseph was thrown down a deep well by his jealous older brothers. Later, a passing caravan pulled him out and sold him as a slave. The first sale was at a very low price … only later did the value of Joseph come to light. Thus, I do not get the respect and status that I deserve. I am like Joseph who was sold for the first time at a very low price.
7
hargiz1 kisi ke dil meN nahiN hai meri jagah
huN maiN kalaam2-e naGhz3, vale4 naa-shuniida5 huN 1.under no circumstance 2.voice, words, verse 3.high class, refined 4.but, even though 5.unheard
I do not have a place in the heart of anyone. My verse is refined and of high quality even if it is not heard/appreciated.
8
ahl1-e var’a2 ke halqe3 meN harchand4 huN zaliil5
par aasiyoN6 ke zurme7 meN maiN barguziida8 huN 1.people of 2.(ritual, orthodox) chanting 3.circle 4.even though 5.disreputable 6.sinners 7.group 8.selected, chosen
In the circle of ritual chanters (these could be the orthodoxy or other poets who compose ritual/meaningless verse), I am disreputable but among the group of sinners (unorthodox) I am chosen/selected.
9
paani se sag1 gaziida2 Dare jis tarah3 asad4
Darta huN aaiine se keh mardum-gaziida5 huN 1.dog 2.biting (rabid) 3.like, similar to 4.penname of the poet 5.bitten by humans
It is believed that rabid dogs are terrified of water (such as a lake or pond, because they see their own reflection in it). Thus, just like a rabid dog is terrified of water, I fear looking into the mirror, O asad, because I have been bitten by men. This could be that a sheet of water is like a mirror.
mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. This Ghazal appeared in earlier publications of Ghalib’s divaan, but in the later versions, which have become “official” and more common, he, for whatever reason dropped it. This is dated 1816 in ‘nusKha-e raza’. This is one of three Ghazal composed in this zamin. Two are dated 1812-1816 and one is dated 1867, two years before his passing.
1
mumkin1 nahiN keh bhool ke bhi aarmiida2 huN
maiN dasht3-e Gham4 meN aahu5-e sayyaad-diida6 huN
1.possible 2.still, restful, relaxed 3.wilderness 4.pain, love 5.deer 6.spotting a hunter
It is not possible for me to relax even by mistake. I am (on the run) like a deer which has spotted a hunter in the wilderness (of love).
2
huuN dardmand1, jabr2 ho yaa eKhtiyaar3 ho
gah4 naala5-e kashiida6, gah4 ashk7-e chakiida8 huN
1.pained, sorrowful 2.under duress, no free will 3.in control, free will 4.one moment 5.sigh 6.stretched, long drawn 7.tears 8.dripping
I am sorrowful (separated from the divine beloved) whether under duress or under my own volition. One moment I draw a long sigh, another moment tears flow down my eyes. His sigh and tears represent his verse.
3
jaaN lab1 pe aaii to bhi na shiiriiN2 hua dahan3
azbas4 keh talKhi5-e Gham6-e hijraaN7 chashiida8 huN
1.lips 2.sweet 3.mouth 4.because 5.bitterness 6.sorrow 7.separation (from the divine beloved) 8.tasted
“jaan lab pe aana” is an expression meaning “near death”. Even near death i.e., all my life the mouth never tasted sweet because I have tasted the bitterness of separation from the divine beloved.
4
ne subbah1 se ilaaqa2, na saaGhar3 se vaasta4
maiN maa’rez5-e misaal6 meN dast7-e buriida8 huN
1.tasbeeh, islamic prayer beads 2.connection 3.flask (of wine) 4.relationship 5.field, domain 7.hand 8.cut off
I have no connection with prayer beads nor any relationship with the flask (of wine). I am like a hand that has been cut off i.e., I am utterly helpless, unable to subscribe to orthodoxy or to hedonism.
5
huuN Khaaksaar1 par na kisi se hai mujh ko laag2
ne daana3-e fataada4 huN, ne daam5-e chiida6 huN
1.humble, of the dust/clay 2.attachment, friendship 3.seed 4.fallen, scattered 5.net, web 6.arranged
I am a lowly person with no friendship or attachments. Neither am I a seed scattered to attract birds or a net arranged/stretched to catch them. I am not sure what this means besides self-pity. Composed in 1867, just two years before his passing, this must have been a very difficult and sad time for him.
6
jo chaahiye1 nahiN vo meri qadr2 o manzilat3
maiN yuusuf4-e ba-qiimat5-e avval-Khariida6 huN
1.used here to mean – deserved 2.value, respect 3.status 4.Joseph 5.price 6.first bought
Biblical and qur’aanic stories say that Joseph was thrown down a deep well by his jealous older brothers. Later, a passing caravan pulled him out and sold him as a slave. The first sale was at a very low price … only later did the value of Joseph come to light. Thus, I do not get the respect and status that I deserve. I am like Joseph who was sold for the first time at a very low price.
7
hargiz1 kisi ke dil meN nahiN hai meri jagah
huN maiN kalaam2-e naGhz3, vale4 naa-shuniida5 huN
1.under no circumstance 2.voice, words, verse 3.high class, refined 4.but, even though 5.unheard
I do not have a place in the heart of anyone. My verse is refined and of high quality even if it is not heard/appreciated.
8
ahl1-e var’a2 ke halqe3 meN harchand4 huN zaliil5
par aasiyoN6 ke zurme7 meN maiN barguziida8 huN
1.people of 2.(ritual, orthodox) chanting 3.circle 4.even though 5.disreputable 6.sinners 7.group 8.selected, chosen
In the circle of ritual chanters (these could be the orthodoxy or other poets who compose ritual/meaningless verse), I am disreputable but among the group of sinners (unorthodox) I am chosen/selected.
9
paani se sag1 gaziida2 Dare jis tarah3 asad4
Darta huN aaiine se keh mardum-gaziida5 huN
1.dog 2.biting (rabid) 3.like, similar to 4.penname of the poet 5.bitten by humans
It is believed that rabid dogs are terrified of water (such as a lake or pond, because they see their own reflection in it). Thus, just like a rabid dog is terrified of water, I fear looking into the mirror, O asad, because I have been bitten by men. This could be that a sheet of water is like a mirror.
