For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تجھے جیتنے کو ہاری ہے ۔ رام اوتار گپتا مظترؔ
۱
رہِ قرار عجب راہِ بے قراری ہے
رُکے ہوئے ہیں مسافر سفر بھی جاری ہے
۲
فرشتہ موت کا بستی میں پھر سے آیا ہے
مرے کریم بتا آج کس کی باری ہے
۳
یہ زخم زخم بدن تار تار پیراہن
ترے الم میں زمانہ کی نقش کاری ہے
۴
بساطِ غم پہ مرا چین لوٹنے والے
یہ بازی میں نے تجھے جیتنے کو ہاری ہے
۵
سحر شناس رہے کون کس کا دم ٹوٹے
شبِ فراق چراغوں پہ آج بھاری ہے
۶
ہٹائے لب، میری نم آنکھیں چوم کر اُس نے
دیارِ عشق کی جھیلوں کا آب کھاری ہے
तुझे जीतने को हारी है-राम अवतार गुप्ता मुज़्तर
१
रह-ए क़रार अजब राह-ए बे-क़रारी है
रुके हुए हैं मुसाफ़र सफ़र भी जारी है
२
फ़रिश्ता मौत का बस्ती में फिर से आया है
मेरे करीम बता आज किस कि बारी है
३
ये ज़ख़्म ज़ख़्म बदन, तार तार पैराहन
तेरे अलम में ज़माने की नक़्श-कारी है
४
बिसात-ए ग़म पे मेरा चैन लूटने वाले
ये बाज़ी मैं ने तुझे जीतने को हारी है
५
सहर शिनास रहे कौन किस का दम टूटे
शब-ए फ़िराक़ चराग़ौं पे आज भारी है
६
हटाए लब, मेरी नम आंखें चूम कर उस ने
दयार-ए इश्क़ कि झीलौं का आब खारी है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raam avtaar gupta muztar sundailvi (1936-xxxx) was a well recognized poet in both urdu and hindi. He was exposed to the Progressive Writers’ Association but explicitly chose to be apolitical. His compositions are classical romantic in their themes. His work is published in two collections – seepiyoN ka samandar and safeer-e aaKhir-e shab. This Ghazal is the same radeef-qaafiya as Ghalib’s ‘kucch to hai jis ki parda-daari hai’.
1
rah1-e qaraar2 ajab3 raah4-e be-qaraari5 hai
ruke hue haiN musaafir6 safar7 bhi jaari8 hai 1.path 2.peace, tranquility, well-being, happiness 3.strange 4.path 5.restlessness 6.travelers 7.journey 8.underway, going on
I am not sure what to make of this she’r except for the literal meaning. I would appreciate any help. The path to happiness is a strange path of restlessness. Travelers are stopped and yet the journey goes on. Possibly … those who seek happiness are actually on a path of restlessness. The journey goes on, but they don’t make any progress. Does this mean ‘happiness is not achievable in this life’. I am not sure.
2
farishta1 maut2 ka basti3 meN phir se aaya hai
mere kariim4 bata aaj kis ki baari5 hai 1.angel 2.death 3.neighbourhood 4.benevolent one, god 5.turn, chance
The angel of death once again prowls the neighbourhood. On my god, tell me whose turn is it today. Probably just a reflection on the unpredictability of life or possibly a more energetic interpretation saying make the most of what you have because you don’t know if it is your turn next.
3
ye zaKhm-zaKhm1 badan2, taar-taar3 pairaahan4
tere alam5 meN zamaane6 ki naqsh-kaari7 hai 1.many wounds, wounded 2.body 3.shredded to threads 4.clothing, robe 5.sorrow 6.times, the world 7.sketching, mischief making
Presumably the poet is addressing himself. It is his body that is wounded and his clothes that are torn to shreds. His appearance is sorrowful, he is sad and he thinks that in creating this sketch, the world has been unkind to him.
4
bisaat1-e Gham2 pe mera chain3 looTne vaale
ye baazi4 maiN ne tujhe jeetne ko haari hai 1.chessboard 2.sorrow 3.comfort 4.roll of the dice, chess move
Life is sorrowful and is like a chessboard. There are two players in this particular game … the poet/lover and the beloved. The beloved has robbed him of his happiness/comfort. But he has intentionally lost his move, in order win the overall game … her love.
5
sahar1 shinaas2 rahe kaun kis ka dam3 TooTe4
shab5-e firaaq6 charaaGhoN7 pe aaj bhaari8 hai 1.dawn 2.aware of, knowing 3.breath 4.break, interrupted, stop 5.night 6.separation 7.lamps 8.heavy, difficult
‘dam TooTna’ is an expression meaning ‘taken the last breath’. There are several lamps burning through the night of separation. It is a very difficult night for them. Not only is it a night of separation, but also as soon as they become aware of dawn, they have to be put out. There appears to be a question, which one will be the first to be put out. That perhaps makes the night of separation even more difficult. Usually, the lamp is used to represent the beloved and moths are lovers. Here there are no moths and lamps are about breath their last.
6
haTaaye lab1 meri nam2 aaNkhen choom3 kar us ne
dayaar4-e ishq meN jhiiloN5 ka aab khaari6 hai 1.lips 2.moist 3.kiss 4.domain, region 5.lake 6.salty
The poet/lovers eyes are brimming with tears, like a lake. The beloved kisses his moist eyes and moves away. Perhaps she has tasted the salt in the tears. Lakes in the domain of love are salty! Is there a hidden meaning to this imagery?
raam avtaar gupta muztar sundailvi (1936-xxxx) was a well recognized poet in both urdu and hindi. He was exposed to the Progressive Writers’ Association but explicitly chose to be apolitical. His compositions are classical romantic in their themes. His work is published in two collections – seepiyoN ka samandar and safeer-e aaKhir-e shab. This Ghazal is the same radeef-qaafiya as Ghalib’s ‘kucch to hai jis ki parda-daari hai’.
1
rah1-e qaraar2 ajab3 raah4-e be-qaraari5 hai
ruke hue haiN musaafir6 safar7 bhi jaari8 hai
1.path 2.peace, tranquility, well-being, happiness 3.strange 4.path 5.restlessness 6.travelers 7.journey 8.underway, going on
I am not sure what to make of this she’r except for the literal meaning. I would appreciate any help. The path to happiness is a strange path of restlessness. Travelers are stopped and yet the journey goes on. Possibly … those who seek happiness are actually on a path of restlessness. The journey goes on, but they don’t make any progress. Does this mean ‘happiness is not achievable in this life’. I am not sure.
2
farishta1 maut2 ka basti3 meN phir se aaya hai
mere kariim4 bata aaj kis ki baari5 hai
1.angel 2.death 3.neighbourhood 4.benevolent one, god 5.turn, chance
The angel of death once again prowls the neighbourhood. On my god, tell me whose turn is it today. Probably just a reflection on the unpredictability of life or possibly a more energetic interpretation saying make the most of what you have because you don’t know if it is your turn next.
3
ye zaKhm-zaKhm1 badan2, taar-taar3 pairaahan4
tere alam5 meN zamaane6 ki naqsh-kaari7 hai
1.many wounds, wounded 2.body 3.shredded to threads 4.clothing, robe 5.sorrow 6.times, the world 7.sketching, mischief making
Presumably the poet is addressing himself. It is his body that is wounded and his clothes that are torn to shreds. His appearance is sorrowful, he is sad and he thinks that in creating this sketch, the world has been unkind to him.
4
bisaat1-e Gham2 pe mera chain3 looTne vaale
ye baazi4 maiN ne tujhe jeetne ko haari hai
1.chessboard 2.sorrow 3.comfort 4.roll of the dice, chess move
Life is sorrowful and is like a chessboard. There are two players in this particular game … the poet/lover and the beloved. The beloved has robbed him of his happiness/comfort. But he has intentionally lost his move, in order win the overall game … her love.
5
sahar1 shinaas2 rahe kaun kis ka dam3 TooTe4
shab5-e firaaq6 charaaGhoN7 pe aaj bhaari8 hai
1.dawn 2.aware of, knowing 3.breath 4.break, interrupted, stop 5.night 6.separation 7.lamps 8.heavy, difficult
‘dam TooTna’ is an expression meaning ‘taken the last breath’. There are several lamps burning through the night of separation. It is a very difficult night for them. Not only is it a night of separation, but also as soon as they become aware of dawn, they have to be put out. There appears to be a question, which one will be the first to be put out. That perhaps makes the night of separation even more difficult. Usually, the lamp is used to represent the beloved and moths are lovers. Here there are no moths and lamps are about breath their last.
6
haTaaye lab1 meri nam2 aaNkhen choom3 kar us ne
dayaar4-e ishq meN jhiiloN5 ka aab khaari6 hai
1.lips 2.moist 3.kiss 4.domain, region 5.lake 6.salty
The poet/lovers eyes are brimming with tears, like a lake. The beloved kisses his moist eyes and moves away. Perhaps she has tasted the salt in the tears. Lakes in the domain of love are salty! Is there a hidden meaning to this imagery?
