For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
محوِ غم دیکھتے ہیں ۔ منشی رگھوناتھ سنگھ ہاجرؔ دہلوی
۱
تجھے مسکراتے جو ہم دیکھتے ہیں
ہرے رخمِ دل اے صنم دیکھتے ہیں
۲
جہاح تیرے ابرو کا خم دیکھتے ہیں
وہیں سر کو اپنے قلم دیکھتے ہیں
۳
عدو پر نگاہِ کرم دیکھتے ہیں
غضب دیکھتے ہیں ستم دیکھتے ہیں
۴
کہیں کیا جو اُلفت میں ہم دیکھتے ہیں
وفاؤں کے بدلے ستم دیکھتے ہیں
۵
محبت میں لاکھوں الم دیکھتے ہیں
ستم پر ستم دم بہ دم دیکھتے ہیں
۶
کبھی محوِ جلوہ ہیں ہم بتکدے میں
کبھی جا کے سیرِ حرم دیکھتے ہیں
۷
کہیں اور بھی ہے عدو کا ٹھکانا
اُسے تیری محفل میں کم دیکھتے ہیں
۸
وہیں چھین لیتے ہیں اُلفت جتا کر
مری جیب میں جب رقم دیکھتے ہیں
۹
نگاہوں میں کیا کیا حسیں بس رہے ہیں
تصوّر میں سیرِ اِرم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۰
دمِ رقص لاکھوں کو پامال کر کے
وہ حیرت سے اپنے قدم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۱
اُسی کو نشانہ بناتے ہیں اپنا
ٹڑپنے کا وہ جس میں دم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۲
غرض کیا کسی کی سخاوت سے ہم کو
فقط تیرا دستِ کرم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۳
کبھی آئینے پر نگاہیں ہیں اُن کی
کبھی زلف کا پیچ و خم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۴
ضعیفی مرے کان میں کہہ رہی ہے
تری راہ اہلِ عدم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۵
کِسی کو کِسی سے محبت نہیں ہے
زمانے کی حالت کو ہم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۶
اسی میں پھنسا ہے کہیں دل ہمارا
ترے دامِ گیسو کو ہم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۷
کبھی پڑھتے ہیں وہ خطِ شوق میرا
کبھی میری طرزِ رقم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۸
سوا جامِ جم سے ہے آئینۂ دل
کہ دونوں جہاں اس میں ہم دیکھتے ہیں
۱۹
ہر اک گھر اب اک بت کدہ بن گیا ہے
ہر اک دل میں ہم اک صنم دیکھتے ہیں
۲۰
کہو کچھ تو منھ سے سبب کیا ہے ہاجرؔ
تمہیں ہر گھڑی محوِ غم دیکھتے ہیں
महव-ए ग़म देखते हैं – मुंशी रघुनाथ सिंघ हाजेर देहलवी
१
तुझे मुस्कुराते जो हम देखते हैं
हरे ज़ख़्म-ए दिल अए सनम देखते हैं
२
जहां तेरे अब्रू का ख़म देखते हैं
वहीं सर को अपने क़लम देखते हैं
३
अदू पर निगाह-ए करम देखते हैं
ग़ज़ब देखते हैं सितम देखते हैं
४
कहें क्या जो उल्फ़त में हम देखते हैं
वफ़ाऔं के बदले सितम देखते हैं
५
मोहब्बत में लाखौं अलम देखते हैं
सितम पर सितम दम ब दम देखते हैं
६
कभी महव-ए जल्वा हैं हम बुत-कदे में
कभी जा के सैर-ए हरम देखते हैं
७
कहीं और भी है अदू का ठिकाना
उसे तेरी महफ़िल में कम देखते हैं
८
वहीं छीन लेते हैं उल्फ़त जता कर
मेरी जेब में जब रक़म देखते हैं
९
निगाहौं में क्या क्या हसीं बस रहे हैं
तसव्वुर में सैर-ए इरम देखते हैं
१०
दम-ए रक़्स लाखौं को पामाल कर के
वो हैरत से अपने क़म देखते हैं
११
उसी को निशाना बनाते हैं अपना
तढपने का वो जिस में दम देखते हैं
१२
ग़रज़ क्या किसी की सख़ावत से हम को
फ़क़त तेरा दस्त-ए करम देखते हैं
१३
कभी आइने पर निगाहें हैं उन की
कभी ज़ुल्फ़ का पेच ओ ख़म देखते हैं
१४
ज़’ईफ़ी मेरे कान में कह रही है
तेरी राह अहल-ए अदम देखते हैं
१५
किसी को किसी से मोहब्बत नहीं है
ज़माने कि हालत को हम देखते हैं
१६
इसी में फंसा है कहीं दिल हमारा
तेरे दाम-ए गेसू को हम देखते हैं
१७
कभी पढ़ते हैं वो ख़त-ए शौक़ मेरा
कभी मेरी तर्ज़-ए रक़म देखते हैं
१८
सिवा जाम-ए जम से है आईना-ए दिल
के दोनों जहां इस में हम देखते हैं
१९
हर एक घर अब एक बुत-कदा बन गया है
हर एक दिल में हम एक सनम देखते हैं
२०
कहो कुछ तो मुंह से सबब क्या है हाजेर
तुम्हें हर घढी महव-ए ग़म देखते हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. munshi raghunath siNgh haajir dehlavi (1884-1922). Both father and grandfather were poets and scholars of urdu and faarsi. He started composing at the age of 13-14. His father died in 1906 and he moved to bhopal for work and returned to dehli in 1910 to re-start his family practice, establishing a clinic named ‘daar-ul-shifa’. He died in 1922 before he could publish his diivaan, but his son collected his papers and published it. His brother, kaviraj raghunandan singh saahir wrote the preface. In addition to his diivan, there is a collection of his Ghazal called, ‘Ghalib aur haajir’, all composed in the zamin of Ghalib. This Ghazal, composed in the zamin of ‘jahaaN tera naqsh-e qadam dekhte haiN’, is linked to that category under the icon ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’, on the Theme page.
1
tujhe muskuraate jo ham dekhtay haiN
hare1 zaKhm2-e dil aye sanam3 dekhtay haiN 1.green, fresh 2.wound 3.idol, beloved
Whenever the poet/lover sees the beloved smiling the wounds of his heart get fresh again – they start to bleed. This could be because she is smiling before the rival, or that she is smiling thinking of something other than the poet/lover.
2
jahaaN tere abruu1 ka Kham2 dekhtay haiN
vahiiN sar ko apne qalam3 dekhtay haiN 1.eyebrows 2.curl, arch 3.cut off
An arched eyebrow is an indication of anger. Thus, whenever the poet/lover sees the beloved’s eyebrow arched, he is sure that she is mad at him and is going to chop his head off.
3
adu1 par nigaah2-e karam3 dekhtay haiN
Ghazab4 dekhtay haiN sitam5 dekhtay haiN 1.enemy, rival 2.glance 3.kindness 4.curse 5.cruelty, oppression
Whenever the poet/lover sees her looking at the rival with kindness he sees a curse and cruelty for himself.
4
kaheN kya jo ulfat1 meN ham dekhtay haiN
vafaaoN2 ke badlay3 sitam4 dekhtay haiN 1.love 2.fidelity, steadfast love 3.in exchange 4.cruelty, oppression
What can I say, what I see in love. All I see is cruelty in return of fidelity.
5
mohabbat meN laakhoN alam1 dekhtay haiN
sitam2 par sitam dam-ba-dam3 dekhtay haiN 1.sorrow 2.injustice 3.minute by minute
I see/experience a thousand sorrows in love. Injustice upon injustice every minute is what I see.
6
kabhi mahv1-e jalva2 haiN ham but-kaday3 meN
kabhi jaa ke sair4-e haram5 dekhtay haiN 1.busy, engrossed 2.beauty, glory 3.idol-house, temple 4.sightseeing 5.mosque
Sometimes I am absorbed in the beauty/glory of the idols in the temple. At other times I go to enjoy myself with the sights of the mosque.
7
kahiiN aur bhi hai adu1 ka Thikaana2
use teri mahfil3 meN kam dekhtay haiN 1.enemy, rival 2.place to visit/rest 3.gathering
The poet/lover observes that the rival is coming to the beloved’s gathering less often than before. He says (probably to try to get the beloved to throw him out) that the rival must have some other place that he visits.
8
vahiiN chhiin1 lete haiN ulfat2 jata3 kar
meri jeb meN jab raqam4 dekhtay haiN 1.snatch, grab 2.love 3.assert, claim 4.money
Whenever she sees money in my pocket, she snatches asserting her love.
9
nigaahoN1 meN kya kya hasiiN2 bas rahay haiN
tasavvur3 meN sair4-e iram5 dekhtay haiN 1.eyes 2.beauties 3.imagination 4.sights 5.heaven
The poet seems to be influenced by the tales of hoor/angels in heaven. Thus, in his mind’s eye he sees a lot of beauties and imagines that these are sights of heaven.
10
dam1-e raqs2 laakhoN ko paamaal3 kar kay
vo hairat4 say apne qadam5 dekhtay haiN 1.moment, time 2.dance 3.trample 4.amazement, surprise 5.feet
Lovers lay down on the ground in the path of the beloved. She is dancing and in her vigorous dance, she tramples on them. The imagery is like godess kaali’s dance. The lovers are all injured and there is blood on the beloved’s feet. She looks at her feet in amazement, wondering where the blood has come from.
11
usi ko nishaana1 banaatay haiN apna
taRapne2 ka vo jis may dam3 dekhtay haiN 1.target 2.writhe in pain 3.power, strength
Some lovers may not have the strength to bear the atrocities of the beloved. They would run away or die. So, she is choosy on who she targets. She targets only those who can bear her cruelty enough to not run away but writhe in pain before her, because she enjoys the sight.
12
Gharaz1 kya kisi ki saKhaavat2 say ham ko
faqat3 tera dast4-e karam5 dekhtay haiN 1.need 2.generosity 3.only 4.hand 5.kindness
What need do I have of anybody’s generosity. The only thing I look for is god’s hand of kindness.
13
kabhi aaiine par nigaaheN1 haiN un ki
kabhi zulf2 ka pech-o-Kham3 dekhtay haiN 1.eyes, sight 2.hair 3.twists and turns, curls
Sometimes her eyes are fixed on the mirror (looking at her own beauty). At other times she is looking at her curly hair.
14
za’iifi1 mere kaan meN kah rahi hai
teri raah2 ahl3-e adam4 dekhtay haiN 1.old age 2.raah dekhna – wait for, look at the pathway for someone’s arrival 3.people of 4.non-existence, other world
Old age whispers in my ears that people of the other world are waiting for me.
15
kisi ko kisi say mohabbat nahiN hai
zamaane ki haalat1 ko ham dekhtay haiN 1.condition
Nobody has any regard/love for anyone. I see the condition of the world.
16
isi meN phaNsa hai kahiN dil hamaara
tere daam1-e gesu2 ko ham dekhtay haiN 1.net, web, trap 2.hair
The imagery is that the poet is like a bird and the beloved has her hair woven into a trap to catch the bird or in this case the heart of the bird. Thus, my heart is caught somewhere in there. I look/search into the web of your hair.
17
kabhi paRhtay haiN vo Khat1-e shauq2 mera
kabhi meri tarz3-e raqam4 dekhtay haiN 1.letter 2.desire, love 3.style 4.writing
Sometimes she reads my letter of love (actually reads the content). At other times she is content with looking at the style of writing and does not bother with the contents.
18
siva1 jaam-e-jam2 se hai aaiina dil ka
keh donoN jahaaN3 is meN ham dekhtay haiN 1.beyond, better than 2.cup of jamshed 3.worlds
jamshed was an ancient Persian emperor. Legend has it that he had an enchanted cup into which he could look and tell the future. The poet claims that his own heart is better than cup of jamshed because by looking into the mirror of his heart he can tell not only the future of what is going to happen in this world but also in the next.
19
har ek ghar ab ek but-kada1 ban gaya hai
har ek dil meN ham ek sanam2 dekhtay haiN 1.idol house, temple 2.idol, beloved
Every house/heart has become a temple now. I see an idol/image of a beloved in every heart.
20
kaho kuchh to muNh se sabab1 kya hai haajir2
tumheN har ghaRi3 mahv4-e Gham dekhtay haiN 1.basis, reason 2.pen-name of the poet 3.moment 4.absorbed in
O haajir, do say what the reason is. Why do we see you absorbed in sorrow all the time.
munshi raghunath siNgh haajir dehlavi (1884-1922). Both father and grandfather were poets and scholars of urdu and faarsi. He started composing at the age of 13-14. His father died in 1906 and he moved to bhopal for work and returned to dehli in 1910 to re-start his family practice, establishing a clinic named ‘daar-ul-shifa’. He died in 1922 before he could publish his diivaan, but his son collected his papers and published it. His brother, kaviraj raghunandan singh saahir wrote the preface. In addition to his diivan, there is a collection of his Ghazal called, ‘Ghalib aur haajir’, all composed in the zamin of Ghalib. This Ghazal, composed in the zamin of ‘jahaaN tera naqsh-e qadam dekhte haiN’, is linked to that category under the icon ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’, on the Theme page.
1
tujhe muskuraate jo ham dekhtay haiN
hare1 zaKhm2-e dil aye sanam3 dekhtay haiN
1.green, fresh 2.wound 3.idol, beloved
Whenever the poet/lover sees the beloved smiling the wounds of his heart get fresh again – they start to bleed. This could be because she is smiling before the rival, or that she is smiling thinking of something other than the poet/lover.
2
jahaaN tere abruu1 ka Kham2 dekhtay haiN
vahiiN sar ko apne qalam3 dekhtay haiN
1.eyebrows 2.curl, arch 3.cut off
An arched eyebrow is an indication of anger. Thus, whenever the poet/lover sees the beloved’s eyebrow arched, he is sure that she is mad at him and is going to chop his head off.
3
adu1 par nigaah2-e karam3 dekhtay haiN
Ghazab4 dekhtay haiN sitam5 dekhtay haiN
1.enemy, rival 2.glance 3.kindness 4.curse 5.cruelty, oppression
Whenever the poet/lover sees her looking at the rival with kindness he sees a curse and cruelty for himself.
4
kaheN kya jo ulfat1 meN ham dekhtay haiN
vafaaoN2 ke badlay3 sitam4 dekhtay haiN
1.love 2.fidelity, steadfast love 3.in exchange 4.cruelty, oppression
What can I say, what I see in love. All I see is cruelty in return of fidelity.
5
mohabbat meN laakhoN alam1 dekhtay haiN
sitam2 par sitam dam-ba-dam3 dekhtay haiN
1.sorrow 2.injustice 3.minute by minute
I see/experience a thousand sorrows in love. Injustice upon injustice every minute is what I see.
6
kabhi mahv1-e jalva2 haiN ham but-kaday3 meN
kabhi jaa ke sair4-e haram5 dekhtay haiN
1.busy, engrossed 2.beauty, glory 3.idol-house, temple 4.sightseeing 5.mosque
Sometimes I am absorbed in the beauty/glory of the idols in the temple. At other times I go to enjoy myself with the sights of the mosque.
7
kahiiN aur bhi hai adu1 ka Thikaana2
use teri mahfil3 meN kam dekhtay haiN
1.enemy, rival 2.place to visit/rest 3.gathering
The poet/lover observes that the rival is coming to the beloved’s gathering less often than before. He says (probably to try to get the beloved to throw him out) that the rival must have some other place that he visits.
8
vahiiN chhiin1 lete haiN ulfat2 jata3 kar
meri jeb meN jab raqam4 dekhtay haiN
1.snatch, grab 2.love 3.assert, claim 4.money
Whenever she sees money in my pocket, she snatches asserting her love.
9
nigaahoN1 meN kya kya hasiiN2 bas rahay haiN
tasavvur3 meN sair4-e iram5 dekhtay haiN
1.eyes 2.beauties 3.imagination 4.sights 5.heaven
The poet seems to be influenced by the tales of hoor/angels in heaven. Thus, in his mind’s eye he sees a lot of beauties and imagines that these are sights of heaven.
10
dam1-e raqs2 laakhoN ko paamaal3 kar kay
vo hairat4 say apne qadam5 dekhtay haiN
1.moment, time 2.dance 3.trample 4.amazement, surprise 5.feet
Lovers lay down on the ground in the path of the beloved. She is dancing and in her vigorous dance, she tramples on them. The imagery is like godess kaali’s dance. The lovers are all injured and there is blood on the beloved’s feet. She looks at her feet in amazement, wondering where the blood has come from.
11
usi ko nishaana1 banaatay haiN apna
taRapne2 ka vo jis may dam3 dekhtay haiN
1.target 2.writhe in pain 3.power, strength
Some lovers may not have the strength to bear the atrocities of the beloved. They would run away or die. So, she is choosy on who she targets. She targets only those who can bear her cruelty enough to not run away but writhe in pain before her, because she enjoys the sight.
12
Gharaz1 kya kisi ki saKhaavat2 say ham ko
faqat3 tera dast4-e karam5 dekhtay haiN
1.need 2.generosity 3.only 4.hand 5.kindness
What need do I have of anybody’s generosity. The only thing I look for is god’s hand of kindness.
13
kabhi aaiine par nigaaheN1 haiN un ki
kabhi zulf2 ka pech-o-Kham3 dekhtay haiN
1.eyes, sight 2.hair 3.twists and turns, curls
Sometimes her eyes are fixed on the mirror (looking at her own beauty). At other times she is looking at her curly hair.
14
za’iifi1 mere kaan meN kah rahi hai
teri raah2 ahl3-e adam4 dekhtay haiN
1.old age 2.raah dekhna – wait for, look at the pathway for someone’s arrival 3.people of 4.non-existence, other world
Old age whispers in my ears that people of the other world are waiting for me.
15
kisi ko kisi say mohabbat nahiN hai
zamaane ki haalat1 ko ham dekhtay haiN
1.condition
Nobody has any regard/love for anyone. I see the condition of the world.
16
isi meN phaNsa hai kahiN dil hamaara
tere daam1-e gesu2 ko ham dekhtay haiN
1.net, web, trap 2.hair
The imagery is that the poet is like a bird and the beloved has her hair woven into a trap to catch the bird or in this case the heart of the bird. Thus, my heart is caught somewhere in there. I look/search into the web of your hair.
17
kabhi paRhtay haiN vo Khat1-e shauq2 mera
kabhi meri tarz3-e raqam4 dekhtay haiN
1.letter 2.desire, love 3.style 4.writing
Sometimes she reads my letter of love (actually reads the content). At other times she is content with looking at the style of writing and does not bother with the contents.
18
siva1 jaam-e-jam2 se hai aaiina dil ka
keh donoN jahaaN3 is meN ham dekhtay haiN
1.beyond, better than 2.cup of jamshed 3.worlds
jamshed was an ancient Persian emperor. Legend has it that he had an enchanted cup into which he could look and tell the future. The poet claims that his own heart is better than cup of jamshed because by looking into the mirror of his heart he can tell not only the future of what is going to happen in this world but also in the next.
19
har ek ghar ab ek but-kada1 ban gaya hai
har ek dil meN ham ek sanam2 dekhtay haiN
1.idol house, temple 2.idol, beloved
Every house/heart has become a temple now. I see an idol/image of a beloved in every heart.
20
kaho kuchh to muNh se sabab1 kya hai haajir2
tumheN har ghaRi3 mahv4-e Gham dekhtay haiN
1.basis, reason 2.pen-name of the poet 3.moment 4.absorbed in
O haajir, do say what the reason is. Why do we see you absorbed in sorrow all the time.
