For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کُو بہ کُو کیا ہے ۔ پنڈت مہارج کشن ندیمؔ
خمسہ بر غزلِ غالبؔ
۱
تمہاری باتوں کا طرز آہ شعلہ رُو کیا ہے
جہاں میں ذکر سُنو آج کُو بہ کُو کیا ہے
جو ناپسند ہو سب کو بھلا وہ خُو کیا ہے
ہر ایک بات پہ کہتے ہو تم کہ تو کیا ہے
تمہیں کہو کہ یہ اندازِ گفتگو کیا ہے
۲
حسین جس کا جہاں میں نہیں کوئی ہمتا
کوئی بتائے تو کس کو بتائے مثل اِس کا
کیا ہے کون و مکاں میں اسی نے حشر بپا
نہ شعلہ میں یہ کرشمہ نہ برق میں یہ ادا
کوئی بتاؤ کہ وہ شوخ تند خو کیا ہے
۳
کہے وہ شوق سے جو کچھ کہ جی میں ہو اُس کے
کیا کرے وہ خباثت سے پے بہ پے حملے
کروں گا ایک ہی فقرے میں میں لے دے
یہ رشک ہے کہ وہ ہوتا ہے ہم سخن تم سے
وگرنہ خوفِ بدآموزیِ عدو کیا ہے
۴
کسی کے عشق کی دل میں لگی ہوئی ہے لگن
کھلا ہے جسم پہ دھبّوں سے خوں کے ایک چمن
مگر میں لاتا نہیں ابروؤں پہ اپنی شکن
چپک رہا ہے لہو سے بدن پہ پیراہن
ہمارے جیب کو اب حاجتِ رفو کیا ہے
۵
کچھ ایسی ضعف سے اب گھٹ گئی ہے قوتِ دل
کہ ہو گئی ہے اسے اپنی زندگی مشکل
غضب تو یہ ہے کہ احساس ہو گیا زائل
رگوں میں دوڑتے پھرنے کے ہم نہیں قائل
جب آنکھ ہی سے نہ ٹپکا تو پھر لہو کیا ہے
۶
ہر ایک شخص کو ہے دل سے تو بہشت عزیز
تمہیں ہے کس لئے اے زاہدو بہشت عزیز
بِلا سبب نہیں اِنسان کو بہشت عزیز
وہ چیز جس کے لئے ہم کو ہو بہشت عزیز
سوائے بادۂ گلفامِ مشکبو کیا ہے
۷
جو پوچھو سچ تو بَلا نوشوں میں ہے اپنا شمار
ہمیشہ نشہ کے گھوڑے پہ ہوں میں رہتا سوار
جو پینے بیٹھا تو پھر لاوکا نہ ٹوٹے گا تار
پیوں شراب اگر خُم بھی دیکھ لوں دو چار
یہ شیشہ و قدح و کوزہ و سبو کیا ہے
۸
ہوئی ہے ضعف سے حالت کہ بیٹھا جاتا ہے جی
یہ کیفیت ہے کہ ہم کو نہیں خبر اپنی
رہے گی کیا کہیں اب اپنے جی ہی میں جی کی
رہی نہ طاقتِ گفتار اور اگر ہو بھی
تو کس امید پہ کہئے کہ آرزو کیا ہے
۹
حضورِ شاہِ ظفر مقتدر ہوا مرزا
جہاں تلک وہ کرے فخر ہے اُسے زیبا
ندیمؔ لوگوں میں اِس طرح کا سُنا چرچا
ہوا ہے شہ کا مصاحب پھرے ہے اتراتا
وگرنہ شہر میں غالب کی آبرو کیا ہے
कू ब कू क्या है – पंडित महाराज किशन नदीम
ख़म्सा बर ग़ज़्ल-ए ग़ालिब
१
तुम्हारी बातौं का तर्ज़ आह शो’ला-रू क्या है
जहां में ज़िक्र सुनो आज कू ब कू क्या है
जो नापसंद हो सब को भला वो ख़ू क्या है
हर एक बात पे कहते हो तुम के तू क्या है
तुम्हीं कहो के ये अंदाज़-ए गुफ़्तगू क्या है
२
हसीन जिस का जहां में नहीं कोई हम्ता
कोई बताए तो किस को बताए मिस्ल इस का
किया है कौन ओ मकां में इसी ने हश्र बपा
ना शो’ले में ये करिश्मा ना बर्क़ में ये अदा
कोई बताओ के वो शूख़ तुन्द-ख़ू क्या है
३
कहे वो शौक से जो कुछ के जी में हो उस के
किया करे वो ख़बासत से पै-ब-पै हमले
करूंगा एक हि फ़िक़्रे में मैं ले दे
ये रश्क है के वो होता है हम-सुख़न तुम से
वगरना ख़ौफ़-ए बद-आमोज़ी-ए अदू क्या है
४
किसी के इश्क़ कि दिल में लगी हुई है लगन
खिला है जिस्म पे धब्बौं से ख़ूं के एक चमन
मगर मैं लाता नहीं अब्रुऔं पे अपनी शिकन
चिपक रहा है लहू से बदन पे पैराहन
हमारे जेब को अब हाजत-ए रफ़ू कया है
५
कुछ ऐसी ज़ो’फ़ से अब घट गई है क़ुव्वत-ए दिल
के हो गई है इसे अपनी ज़िंदगी मुश्किल
ग़ज़ब तो ये है के एहसास हो गया ज़ा’एल
रगौं में दौढते फिरने के हम नहीं क़ा’एल
जब आंख हि से न टपका तो फिर लहू क्या है
६
हर एक शख़्स को है दिल से तो बेहिश्त अज़ीज़
तुम्हें है किस लिये अए ज़ाहेदो बेहिश्त अज़ीज़
बिला सबब नहीं इन्सान को बेहिश्त अज़ीज़
वो चीज़ जिस के लिये हम को है बेहिश्त अज़ीज़
सिवाए बादा-ए गुल्फ़ाम-ए मुश्क-बू क्या है
७
जो पूछो सच तो बला-नोशौं में है अपना शुमार
हमेशा नश’ए के घोढे पे रहता हुं मैं सवार
जो पीने बैठा तो फिर लावका न टूटेगा तार
पियूं शराब अगर ख़ुम भी देख लूं दो चार
ये शीशा ओ क़दह ओ कूज़ा ओ सुबू क्या है
८
हुई है ज़ो’फ़ से हालत के बैठा जाता है जी
ये कैफ़िय्यत है के हम को नहीं ख़बर अपनी
रहेगी क्या कहीं अब अपने जी हि में जी की
रही न ताक़त-ए गुफ़्तार और अगर हो भी
तो किस उमीद पे कहिये के आर्ज़ू क्या है
९
हुज़ूर-ए शाह-ए ज़फ़र मुक़्तदर हुआ मिर्ज़ा
जहां तलक वो करे फ़ख़्र है उसे ज़ेबा
नदीम लोगौं में इस तरह का सुना चर्चा
हुआ है शह का मुसाहब फिरे है इतराता
वगरना शहर में ग़ालिब कि आब्रू क्या है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. panDit maharaj krishn (~1866-~1950) followed the family tradition established by his grandfather and father into composing in urdu. Initially, he used ‘maftoon’ as his taKhallus and then switched to ‘nadiim’. There is precious little by way of biographical notes but in the book I have access to there is reference to his rubaaii published in magazines from 1908-1912 and a note on the first volume of his diivaan about to be published. safi lakhnavi (1862-1950) is listed as his ustaad. This is a “Khamsa” – a five misra nazm specifically composed using ash’aar of a master’s Ghazal. This one after Ghalib’s ‘tumhiN kaho keh ye andaaz-e guftagu kya hai’ and is linked to it under Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
tumhaari baatoN ka tarz1 aah2 sho’la-ruu3 kya hai
jahaaN4 meN zikr5 suno aaj kuu-ba-kuu6 kya hai
jo naapasand7 ho sab ko bhala vo Khuu8 kya hai
har ek baat pe kahte ho tum keh tuu kya hai
tumhiiN kaho keh ye andaaz9-e guftagu10 kya hai 1.ways, manner 2.alas 3.fire-faced, angry 4.world 5.topic of conversation 6.street by street, every street 7.disliked 8.nature, habits 9.style 10.conversation
O angry beloved, alas, what kind of style of conversation is this. Just listen to what everyone is talking about in the world. What kind of mannerism is this that is disliked by everyone. With every word you discount my value. You tell me, what kind of a style of conversation is this!
2
hasiin1 jis ka jahaaN2 meN nahiN koii hamta3
koii bataaye to kis ko bataaye misl4 is ka
kiya hai kaun-o makaaN5 meN isi ne hashr6 bapa7
na sho’le8 meN ye karishma9 na barq10 meN ye ada11
koii bataao keh vo shooKh12 tund-Khuu13 kya hai 1.beautiful 2.world 3.equal 4.example 5.time and space, forever and everywhere 6.doomsday, tumult 7.promulgate, cause to happen 8.flame 9.miraculous quality 10.lightning 11.style, coquetry 12.mischief maker 13.angry nature
There is none in the world equal to her in beauty. How can anyone show an example of her beauty even if they tried. She has caused a tumult forever and everywhere. Neither does the flame her magical qualities nor does lightning her style. Can someone please tell me what this angry mischief maker is made of.
3
kahe vo shauq1 se jo kuchh keh jii meN ho us ke
kiya kare vo Khabaasat2 se pa’e-ba-pa’e3 hamle4
karuuNga ek hi fiqre5 meN maiN le-de6
ye rashk7 hai keh vo hota hai ham-suKhan8 tum se
vagarna9 Khauf10-e bad-aamozi11-e adu12 kya hai 1.with pleasure 2.ill nature, ill will 3.minute by minute 4.attack 5.sentence, phrase 6.give and take, settle account 7.envy 8.conversant together 9.otherwise 10.fear 11.bad/wrong teaching 12.rival
She can say whatever she wants to, to me, with pleasure. She can attack me every minute with ill will if she wants. I can settle all these questions with just one expression – I am envious that he talks to you, otherwise what fear do I have that the rival tells you lies.
4
kisi ke ishq ki dil meN lagi hui hai lagan
khila hai jism1 pe dhabboN2 se KhuuN ke ek chaman
magar maiN laata nahiN abruoN3 pe apni shikan4
chipak raha hai lahu5 se badan6 pe pairaahan7
hamaare jeb8 ko ab haajit9-e rafu10 kya hai 1.body 2.spots, stains 3.eyebrows 4.wrinkle, frown 5.blood 6.body 7.clothes 8.collar, shirt front 9.need 10.stitching, darning
Love of that special someone is deep in my heart. I bleed and blood stains on my clothes look like a garden of blossoming flowers. But I don’t bring a frown to my brow. My dress clings to the body because of blood. The torn cothes no longer need stitching.
5
kuchh aisi zo’f1 se ab ghaT2 gaii hai quvvat3-e dil
ke ho gaii hai ise apni zindagi mushkil4
Ghazab5 to ye hai keh ehsaas6 ho gaya zaa’el7
ragauN8 meN dauRte phirne ke ham nahiN qaa’el9
jab aaNkh hi se na Tapka10 to phir lahu11 kya hai 1.weakness 2.reduced 3.power, fortitude 4.difficult 5.calamity, curse 6.feeling 7.useless, wasted 8.veins 9.convinced, satisfied 10.drip, flow 11.blood
The fortitude of the heart has been reduced by weakness so much that it has become difficult for it to live. The calamity is that feelings have been numbed and rendered useless. It is not enough that it merely circulate through the veins. If it does not flow down the eyes, of what use is blood.
6
har ek shaKhs1 ko hai dil se to behisht2 aziiz3
tumheN hai kis liye aye zaahido4 behisht aziiz
bila-sabab5 nahiN insaan6 ko behisht aziiz
vo cheez jis ke liye ham ko hai behisht aziiz
sivaa’e7 baada8-e gulfaam9-e mushk-buu10 kya hai 1.person 2.heaven 3.dear, beloved 4.pious, observant 5.without reason 6.human 7.except for 8.wine 9.flower bodied 10.musk fragrant
Every person holds heaven dear deep in their hearts. Why do you, O pious people, love heaven. There must be a reason why all humanity likes it. The thing for which we like heaven is nothing other than the flower bodied wine of musk fragrance.
7
jo poochho such to balaa-noshoN1 meN hai apna shumaar2
hamesha nash’e3 ke ghoRe pe rahta huN maiN savaar4
jo piine baiTha to phir laavaka5 na TooTega taar6
piyuN sharaab agar Khum7 bhi dekh luN do chaar
ye shiisha8 o qadah9 o kooza10 o subuu11 kya hai 1.heavy drinkers 2.enumeration, counting 3.intoxication 4.mounted, riding 5.heart’s desire 6.string, continuity 7.barrells, large casks 8.bottle 9.glass of wine 10.cup 11.flask
If you ask the truth, I am counted among heavy drinkers, always mounted on the horse of intoxication. When I sit down to drink, the heart’s desire does not allow any breaks. When I drink, I need a few casks. These bottles, glasses, cups or flasks are not of much use.
8
hui hai zo’f1 se haalat2 keh baiTha3 jaata hai jii4
ye kaifiyyat5 hai keh ham ko nahiN Khabar6 apnii
rahegi kya kahiN ab apne jii hi meN jii7
rahi na taaqat8-e guftaar9 aur agar ho bhii
to kis umiid10 pe kahiye keh aarzu11 kya hai 1.weakness 2.condition 3.sink 4.heart 5.state, condition 6.awareness 7.used for jaan meN jaan i.e., security of life 8.strength, ability 9.conversation, speaking 10.hope 11.desire
My heart sinks because of my weakness. My condition is such that I am not aware of myself – have lost my senses. Then, how can my life be secure. I have no strength left to speak to her and even if I did, on what hope could I tell her what I desire.
9
huzuur1-e shaah-e zafar2 muqtadar3 hua mirza4
jahaaN talak5 vo kare faKhr6 hai use zeba7
nadiim8 logoN meN is tarah9 ka sunaa charcha10
hua hai shah11 ka musaahib12 phire hai itraata13
vagarna14 shahr15 meN Ghalib ki aabru16 kya hai 1.in the presence of 2.bahadur shah zafar 3.respected, office holder 4.mirza Ghalib 5.as much as 6.pride 7.suitable, deserving 8.pen-name of the poet 9.kind 10.talk, rumour 11.emporer 12.companion 13.preening 14.otherwise 15.town 16.respect
In the court of bahadur shah zafar, mirza Ghalib has attained a respected position. He deserves however much pride he shows. nadiim has heard this rumour going around among people – he has become the companion of the emporer and goes about preening himself, otherwise what respect does Ghalib command in the town.
panDit maharaj krishn (~1866-~1950) followed the family tradition established by his grandfather and father into composing in urdu. Initially, he used ‘maftoon’ as his taKhallus and then switched to ‘nadiim’. There is precious little by way of biographical notes but in the book I have access to there is reference to his rubaaii published in magazines from 1908-1912 and a note on the first volume of his diivaan about to be published. safi lakhnavi (1862-1950) is listed as his ustaad. This is a “Khamsa” – a five misra nazm specifically composed using ash’aar of a master’s Ghazal. This one after Ghalib’s ‘tumhiN kaho keh ye andaaz-e guftagu kya hai’ and is linked to it under Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
tumhaari baatoN ka tarz1 aah2 sho’la-ruu3 kya hai
jahaaN4 meN zikr5 suno aaj kuu-ba-kuu6 kya hai
jo naapasand7 ho sab ko bhala vo Khuu8 kya hai
har ek baat pe kahte ho tum keh tuu kya hai
tumhiiN kaho keh ye andaaz9-e guftagu10 kya hai
1.ways, manner 2.alas 3.fire-faced, angry 4.world 5.topic of conversation 6.street by street, every street 7.disliked 8.nature, habits 9.style 10.conversation
O angry beloved, alas, what kind of style of conversation is this. Just listen to what everyone is talking about in the world. What kind of mannerism is this that is disliked by everyone. With every word you discount my value. You tell me, what kind of a style of conversation is this!
2
hasiin1 jis ka jahaaN2 meN nahiN koii hamta3
koii bataaye to kis ko bataaye misl4 is ka
kiya hai kaun-o makaaN5 meN isi ne hashr6 bapa7
na sho’le8 meN ye karishma9 na barq10 meN ye ada11
koii bataao keh vo shooKh12 tund-Khuu13 kya hai
1.beautiful 2.world 3.equal 4.example 5.time and space, forever and everywhere 6.doomsday, tumult 7.promulgate, cause to happen 8.flame 9.miraculous quality 10.lightning 11.style, coquetry 12.mischief maker 13.angry nature
There is none in the world equal to her in beauty. How can anyone show an example of her beauty even if they tried. She has caused a tumult forever and everywhere. Neither does the flame her magical qualities nor does lightning her style. Can someone please tell me what this angry mischief maker is made of.
3
kahe vo shauq1 se jo kuchh keh jii meN ho us ke
kiya kare vo Khabaasat2 se pa’e-ba-pa’e3 hamle4
karuuNga ek hi fiqre5 meN maiN le-de6
ye rashk7 hai keh vo hota hai ham-suKhan8 tum se
vagarna9 Khauf10-e bad-aamozi11-e adu12 kya hai
1.with pleasure 2.ill nature, ill will 3.minute by minute 4.attack 5.sentence, phrase 6.give and take, settle account 7.envy 8.conversant together 9.otherwise 10.fear 11.bad/wrong teaching 12.rival
She can say whatever she wants to, to me, with pleasure. She can attack me every minute with ill will if she wants. I can settle all these questions with just one expression – I am envious that he talks to you, otherwise what fear do I have that the rival tells you lies.
4
kisi ke ishq ki dil meN lagi hui hai lagan
khila hai jism1 pe dhabboN2 se KhuuN ke ek chaman
magar maiN laata nahiN abruoN3 pe apni shikan4
chipak raha hai lahu5 se badan6 pe pairaahan7
hamaare jeb8 ko ab haajit9-e rafu10 kya hai
1.body 2.spots, stains 3.eyebrows 4.wrinkle, frown 5.blood 6.body 7.clothes 8.collar, shirt front 9.need 10.stitching, darning
Love of that special someone is deep in my heart. I bleed and blood stains on my clothes look like a garden of blossoming flowers. But I don’t bring a frown to my brow. My dress clings to the body because of blood. The torn cothes no longer need stitching.
5
kuchh aisi zo’f1 se ab ghaT2 gaii hai quvvat3-e dil
ke ho gaii hai ise apni zindagi mushkil4
Ghazab5 to ye hai keh ehsaas6 ho gaya zaa’el7
ragauN8 meN dauRte phirne ke ham nahiN qaa’el9
jab aaNkh hi se na Tapka10 to phir lahu11 kya hai
1.weakness 2.reduced 3.power, fortitude 4.difficult 5.calamity, curse 6.feeling 7.useless, wasted 8.veins 9.convinced, satisfied 10.drip, flow 11.blood
The fortitude of the heart has been reduced by weakness so much that it has become difficult for it to live. The calamity is that feelings have been numbed and rendered useless. It is not enough that it merely circulate through the veins. If it does not flow down the eyes, of what use is blood.
6
har ek shaKhs1 ko hai dil se to behisht2 aziiz3
tumheN hai kis liye aye zaahido4 behisht aziiz
bila-sabab5 nahiN insaan6 ko behisht aziiz
vo cheez jis ke liye ham ko hai behisht aziiz
sivaa’e7 baada8-e gulfaam9-e mushk-buu10 kya hai
1.person 2.heaven 3.dear, beloved 4.pious, observant 5.without reason 6.human 7.except for 8.wine 9.flower bodied 10.musk fragrant
Every person holds heaven dear deep in their hearts. Why do you, O pious people, love heaven. There must be a reason why all humanity likes it. The thing for which we like heaven is nothing other than the flower bodied wine of musk fragrance.
7
jo poochho such to balaa-noshoN1 meN hai apna shumaar2
hamesha nash’e3 ke ghoRe pe rahta huN maiN savaar4
jo piine baiTha to phir laavaka5 na TooTega taar6
piyuN sharaab agar Khum7 bhi dekh luN do chaar
ye shiisha8 o qadah9 o kooza10 o subuu11 kya hai
1.heavy drinkers 2.enumeration, counting 3.intoxication 4.mounted, riding 5.heart’s desire 6.string, continuity 7.barrells, large casks 8.bottle 9.glass of wine 10.cup 11.flask
If you ask the truth, I am counted among heavy drinkers, always mounted on the horse of intoxication. When I sit down to drink, the heart’s desire does not allow any breaks. When I drink, I need a few casks. These bottles, glasses, cups or flasks are not of much use.
8
hui hai zo’f1 se haalat2 keh baiTha3 jaata hai jii4
ye kaifiyyat5 hai keh ham ko nahiN Khabar6 apnii
rahegi kya kahiN ab apne jii hi meN jii7
rahi na taaqat8-e guftaar9 aur agar ho bhii
to kis umiid10 pe kahiye keh aarzu11 kya hai
1.weakness 2.condition 3.sink 4.heart 5.state, condition 6.awareness 7.used for jaan meN jaan i.e., security of life 8.strength, ability 9.conversation, speaking 10.hope 11.desire
My heart sinks because of my weakness. My condition is such that I am not aware of myself – have lost my senses. Then, how can my life be secure. I have no strength left to speak to her and even if I did, on what hope could I tell her what I desire.
9
huzuur1-e shaah-e zafar2 muqtadar3 hua mirza4
jahaaN talak5 vo kare faKhr6 hai use zeba7
nadiim8 logoN meN is tarah9 ka sunaa charcha10
hua hai shah11 ka musaahib12 phire hai itraata13
vagarna14 shahr15 meN Ghalib ki aabru16 kya hai
1.in the presence of 2.bahadur shah zafar 3.respected, office holder 4.mirza Ghalib 5.as much as 6.pride 7.suitable, deserving 8.pen-name of the poet 9.kind 10.talk, rumour 11.emporer 12.companion 13.preening 14.otherwise 15.town 16.respect
In the court of bahadur shah zafar, mirza Ghalib has attained a respected position. He deserves however much pride he shows. nadiim has heard this rumour going around among people – he has become the companion of the emporer and goes about preening himself, otherwise what respect does Ghalib command in the town.
