Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. osman ali KhaaN (1886-1967), the erstwhile ruler of hyderabad was a prolific poet of considerable literary capability. His diivaan was collected and published posthumously in eight fair sized volumes. This is one of several Ghazal that he composed in the style of Ghalib. This one in the style of “muddat hui hai yaar ko mehmaaN kiye hue” is linked to the appropriate sub-category under ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’.
1
baiThe haiN hum bhi ishq ka saamaaN¹ kiye hue
nazr²-e nigaah-e-naaz³, dil o jaaN kiye hue    1.means, arrangements 2.devotional offering 3.coquettish glance
The poet/lover has made arrangements i.e., readied himself for the ordeal of love having made a devotional offering of his life and soul to the coquettish glance of the beloved.
2
gul¹ muntazir² haiN aamad³-e fasl-e-bahaar⁴ ke
sahn⁵-e chaman⁶ meN chaak⁷ garebaaN⁸ kiye hue    1.rose 2.waiting 3.arrival 4.season of blooms i.e., spring 5.yard, field 6.garden 7.tear, rip apart 8.shirt front, collar
Spring is the season of love. It is when the distraught lover follows his role model – majnuN. In poetic convention the mad passionate lover rips his shirt front in frenzy like majnuN. The flower blossoming, unfurling its petals is like a bud tearing its shirt front. Thus, in the field of the garden, having ripped open its shirt front, the rose is waiting in anticipation of the arrival of spring, when perhaps it will get to see his beloved.
3
kya tak¹ raha hai yaar² ki soorat ko baar-baar³
aaina apni chashm⁴ ko hairaaN⁵ kiye hue     1.stare 2.beloved 3.again and again, incessantly 4.eye 5.amazed
In poetic convention the beloved looks at herself in the mirror and is either amazed at her own beauty or jealous to find that there is someone else as beautiful as her. In this she’r it is the mirror that is constantly staring at her with amazement in its eyes.
4
parhez¹ o zoh’d² o ta’aat³ o taqvaa⁴ ko zaahida⁵
husn⁶-e butaaN⁷ pe hum bhi haiN qurbaaN⁸ kiye hue    1.abstinence 2.piety 3.prayer 4.steadfast observance of rituals 5.modification of zaahid for rhyme – preacher 6.beauty 7.idols, beloved 8.make a sacrificial offering
O preacher, I too have sacrificed my piety, abstinence, prayer and observance of rituals to the beauty of idols. The way this is phrased, with ‘bhi’, it implies that either many other people have done the same or perhaps even the preacher himself.
5
bahlaa¹ raha huN dil ko shab²-e intezaar³ meN
mahv⁴-e Khayaal⁵-e soorat⁶-e jaanaaN⁷ kiye hue     1.console 2.night 3.waiting 4.engrossed 5.thought 6.face, beauty 7.beloved
The poet/lover consoles himself during the long night of separation engrossed in thoughts of the beauty of the beloved.
6
Tapke¹ kahiiN na chashm² se ban ban ke ashk³-e KhooN
kab tak rahooN maiN ishq ko pinhaaN⁴ kiye hue     1.drip 2.eyes 3.tears 4.hidden
The convention of love requires that the lover remain stoic, hiding the pain of his love. He holds back his tears and is fearful that they will drip from his eyes in the form of blood. How long can I keep my love hidden.
7
nargis¹ hai sarf²-e giriyaa³ to suNbul⁴ hai ek taraf⁵
maatam⁶ meN mere zulf⁷ pareshaaN⁸ kiye hue    1.narcissus 2.spend 3.weeping 4.long fragrant grass 5.direction, side 6.mourning 7.hair 8.spread, scattered
Drooping eyes are a sign of mourning. The narcissus/nargis is likened to the eye because its shape and the black centre. It also droops down as it grows on the banks of streams. Unkempt, untied hair are a sign of distress and sorrow. Thus, the nargis is drooping in sorrow on one side and the suNbul has its hair scattered on the other. Both are mourning. Why? Because they are mourning for the poet/lover whose love is not fulfilled.
8
kya ahad¹ ho shikast² keh ek umr³ ho ga’ii
paimaana⁴-e sharaab se paimaaN⁵ kiye hue    1.promise 2.break 3.lifetime 4.measure, cup 5.agreement, commitment
How can my promise be broken. It has been a lifetime since I made a commitment to the cup of wine. Was that a commitment to abstain or was it a commitment to drink more!
9
osmaaN¹ ubhaar² de na kahiiN fasl-e-gul³ mujhe
muddat⁴ hui hai zaKhm⁵ ka daramaaN⁶ kiye hue    1.pen-name of the poet 2.lift up 3.season of flowers i.e., spring 4.long time 5.wound 6.cure, heal Top of Form
Spring is a time when flames of love flare up. The poet is fearful that spring might lift his hopes up and he might get wounded again. It has been a long time since he has had any healing for his wound and this spring might increase his pain again.