For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
نجات کا رستہ دکھائی دے ۔ احمد فرازؔ
۱
صحرا تو بوند کو بھی ترستا دکھائی دے
بادل سمندروں پہ برستا دکھائی دے
۲
اِس شہرِ غم کو دیکھ کے دل ڈوبنے لگا
اپنے پہ ہی سہی کوئی ہنستا دکھائی دے
۳
اے صدرِ بزمِ مے تری ساقی گری کی خیر
ہر دل بسانِ شیشہ شکستہ دکھائی دے
۴
گر مے نہیں تو زہر ہی لاؤ کہ اس طرح
شاید کوئی نجات کا رستہ دکھائی دے
۵
اے چشمِ بار تو بھی تو کچھ دل کا حال کھول
ہم کو تو یہ دیار نہ بستا دکھائی دے
۶
جنسِ ہنر کا کون خریدار ہے فرازؔ
ہیرا، کہ پتھروں سے بھی سستا دکھائی دے
नजात का रस्ता दिखाई दे – अहमद फ़राज़
१
सहरा तो बूंद को भी तरस्ता दिखाई दे
बादल समंदरौं पे बरस्ता दिखाई दे
२
इस शहर-ए ग़म को देख के दिल डूबने लगा
अपने पे ही सही, कोई हंस्ता दिखाई दे
३
अए सद्र-ए बज़्म-ए मय तेरी साक़ी-गरी कि ख़ैर
हर दिल बसान-ए शीशा शिकस्ता दिखाई दे
४
गर मय नहीं तो ज़हर हि लाओ के इस तरह
शा’एद कोई नजात का रस्ता दिखाई दे
५
अए चश्म-ए बार तू भी तो कुछ दिल का हाल खोल
हम को तो ये दयार न बस्ता दिखाई दे
६
जिन्स-ए हुनर का कौन ख़रीदार है फ़राज़
हीरा, के पत्थरौं से भि सस्ता दिखाई दे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. This Ghazal is linked to a series of Ghazal with the qaafiya-radeef ‘xxxaaii de’ and named ‘sukoot ko naGhma saraaii de’ after parveen shakir’s beautiful Ghazal/nazm of the same title. The icon can be accessed on the page ‘radeef-refrain’. This could well be a politically loaded Ghazal. It was composed during the time of zia-ul-haq (published in a collection of 1979), when poets generally and ahmad faraz particularly were hounded. He chose self-exile.
1
sahra1 to boond2 ko bhi tarasta3 dikhaaii de
baadal samandaroN4 pe barasta dikhaaii de 1.desert 2.drop 3.thirsting 4.oceans
The desert thirsts for a single drop, but the clouds seem to rain on the ocean i.e., wealth is being showered on the already wealthy while the poor and oppressed remain thirsty.
2
is shahr1-e Gham2 ko dekh ke dil Doobne3 laga
apne pe hi sahii, koii haNsta dikhaaii de 1.city 2.sorrow 3.sinking
My heart sinks looking at this sorrowful country. May I see at least someone laugh, even if it is on/about themselves.
3
aye sadr1-e bazm2-e mai3 teri saaqi-gari4 ki Khair5
har dil basaan6-e shiisha7 shikasta8 dikhaaii de 1.head, chief 2.gathering 3.wine 4.wine-serving 5.may it be well 6.similar to, like 7.glass, bottle 8.broken, shattered
O chief wine server of the tavern, every heart hear looks broken/shattered like glass.
4
gar mai1 nahiN to zahr2 hi laao keh is tarah3
shaa’ed4 koii najaat5 ka rasta dikhaaii de 1.wine 2.poison 3.this way 4.perhaps 5.deliverance
If wine is not available, at least bring some poison. Perhaps this is the way to deliverance.
5
aye chashm1-e baar2 tuu bhi kuchh dil ka haal3 khol
ham ko to ye dayaar4 na basta5 dikhaaii de 1.eye 2.raining, flowing tears 3.condition 4.region, domain 5.habitable
O tearful eye, do reveal the condition of the heart. To me, this domain appears uninhabitable/unlivable.
6
jins1-e hunar2 ka kaun Khariidaar3 hai faraaz4
hiira, keh pattharoN se bhi sasta dikhaaii de 1.ingredient 2.talent, skill 3.buyer 4.pen-name of the poet
O faraaz, who here demands/respects the talent of versification. Among these pebbles, a diamond appears cheap i.e., nobody respects diamonds. He is of course, referring to his own ability as a poet.
ahmad faraz (1931-2008) popular love and romance poet as well as a substantial contributor to progressive themes. This Ghazal is linked to a series of Ghazal with the qaafiya-radeef ‘xxxaaii de’ and named ‘sukoot ko naGhma saraaii de’ after parveen shakir’s beautiful Ghazal/nazm of the same title. The icon can be accessed on the page ‘radeef-refrain’. This could well be a politically loaded Ghazal. It was composed during the time of zia-ul-haq (published in a collection of 1979), when poets generally and ahmad faraz particularly were hounded. He chose self-exile.
1
sahra1 to boond2 ko bhi tarasta3 dikhaaii de
baadal samandaroN4 pe barasta dikhaaii de
1.desert 2.drop 3.thirsting 4.oceans
The desert thirsts for a single drop, but the clouds seem to rain on the ocean i.e., wealth is being showered on the already wealthy while the poor and oppressed remain thirsty.
2
is shahr1-e Gham2 ko dekh ke dil Doobne3 laga
apne pe hi sahii, koii haNsta dikhaaii de
1.city 2.sorrow 3.sinking
My heart sinks looking at this sorrowful country. May I see at least someone laugh, even if it is on/about themselves.
3
aye sadr1-e bazm2-e mai3 teri saaqi-gari4 ki Khair5
har dil basaan6-e shiisha7 shikasta8 dikhaaii de
1.head, chief 2.gathering 3.wine 4.wine-serving 5.may it be well 6.similar to, like 7.glass, bottle 8.broken, shattered
O chief wine server of the tavern, every heart hear looks broken/shattered like glass.
4
gar mai1 nahiN to zahr2 hi laao keh is tarah3
shaa’ed4 koii najaat5 ka rasta dikhaaii de
1.wine 2.poison 3.this way 4.perhaps 5.deliverance
If wine is not available, at least bring some poison. Perhaps this is the way to deliverance.
5
aye chashm1-e baar2 tuu bhi kuchh dil ka haal3 khol
ham ko to ye dayaar4 na basta5 dikhaaii de
1.eye 2.raining, flowing tears 3.condition 4.region, domain 5.habitable
O tearful eye, do reveal the condition of the heart. To me, this domain appears uninhabitable/unlivable.
6
jins1-e hunar2 ka kaun Khariidaar3 hai faraaz4
hiira, keh pattharoN se bhi sasta dikhaaii de
1.ingredient 2.talent, skill 3.buyer 4.pen-name of the poet
O faraaz, who here demands/respects the talent of versification. Among these pebbles, a diamond appears cheap i.e., nobody respects diamonds. He is of course, referring to his own ability as a poet.
