For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
روبرو کیا ہے ۔ تلوک چند محرومؔ
۱
نظر اُٹھا دلِ ناداں یہ جُستجُو کیا ہے
اُسی کا جلوہ تو ہے اور روبرو کیا ہے
۲
کسی کی ایک نظر نے بتا دیا مجھ کو
سُرُورِ بادۂ بے ساغر و سبو کیا ہے
۳
قفس عذاب سہی بلبلِ اسیر مگر
ذرا یہ سوچ کہ وہ دامِ رنگ و بو کیا ہے
۴
گدا نہیں ہیں کہ دستِ سوال پھیلائیں
کبھی نہ آپ نے پوچھا کہ آرزو کیا ہے
۵
نہ میرے اشک میں شامل نہ اُن کے دامن پر
میں کیا بتاؤں اُنہیں خونِ آرزو کیا ہے
۶
سخن ہو سمع خراشی تو خامشی بہتر
اثر کرے نہ جو دل پر وہ گفتگو کیا ہے
रू-ब-रू क्या है – तिलोक चन्द महरूम
१
नज़र उठा दिल-ए-नादाँ ये जुस्तुजू क्या है
उसी का जल्वा तो है और रू-ब-रू क्या है
२
किसी की एक नज़र ने बता दिया मुझ को
सुरूर-ए-बादा-ए-बे-साग़र-ओ-सुबू क्या है
३
क़फ़स अज़ाब सही बुलबुल-ए-असीर मगर
ज़रा ये सोच के वो दाम-ए-रंग-ओ-बू क्या है
४
गदा नहीं हैं कि दस्त-ए-सवाल फैलाएँ
कभी न आप ने पूछा कि आरज़ू क्या है
५
न मेरे अश्क में शामिल न उन के दामन पर
मैं क्या बताऊँ उन्हें ख़ून-ए-आरज़ू क्या है
६
सुख़न हो समअ’-ख़राशी तो ख़ामुशी बेहतर
असर करे न जो दिल पर वो गुफ़्तगू क्या है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. tilok chand mahroom (1887-1955) and his son jagan nath azad (1918-2004), both poets of high caliber moved/fled from lahore to dehli post-partition. Yet both retained great love for their homeland. This is a sufiyaana/aashiqana Ghazal in the style of Ghalib’s ‘tumhiiN kaho keh andaaz-e guftagu kya hai’ and is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
nazar1 uThaa dil-e-naadaN2 ye justaju3 kya hai
usi ka jalva4 to hai aur ruu-ba-ruu5 kya hai 1.sight, eyes 2.simple/innocent heart 3.search 4.manifestation, face 5.face to face, in front
The poet/devotee/lover is addressing himself through his simpleton heart, which has lowered its eyes out of humility. But of course, he has been searching for the beloved/god all this time. Raise your eyes, O simpleton, and see for yourself, why keep looking/searching elsewhere. Right in front of you is the manifestation/face of the beloved/god.
2
kisi ki ek nazar1 ne bataa diya mujh ko
suroor2-e baada3-e be-saaGhar-o-subu4 kya hai 1.glance 2.pleasure, intoxication 3.wine 4.without flask or cup
A glance of the beloved is enough to make the poet/lover intoxicated. This poet/lover too has learnt from her glance what the meaning of pleasure without wine of flask and cup is.
3
qafas1 azaab2 sahi bulbul-e-asiir3 magar
zaraa ye soch keh vo daam4-e raNg-o-bu5 kya hai 1.cage 2.curse 3.imprisoned/caged bulbul 4.noose, net, trap 5.fragrance and colour – material comfort, worldly possessions
The caged bulbul feels that the cage is a curse. True enough. But the poet/sufi suggests that this material life with worldly attractions is no different. It is a trap of fragrance and colour. The unstated part is that it is better to think of the spiritual rather than the material.
4
gadaa1 nahiN haiN keh dast-e-savaal2 phailaa’eN3
kabhi na aap ne puchha keh aarzu4 kya hai 1.beggar 2.begging/asking hand 3.spread 4.desire
The poet/lover is proud of his dignity and will not spread his hand out for alms, will not tell the beloved what his feelings are. She has never asked him. So, he suffers in silence. Said Ghalib …
bandagi meN bhi vo aazaadah-o-Khud-biiN haiN ke hum
ulTe phir aaye dar-e-k’aaba agar vaa na hua
5
na mere ashk1 meN shaamil2 na un ke daaman3 par
maiN kya bataauN unheN Khuun-e-aarzu4 kya hai 1.tears 2.mixed, included 3.hem of the robe 4.blood of my desires
How can I explain to her what bleeding desire is. Neither is that blood mixed in my tears nor does it stain the hem of her robe i.e., I bleed silently inside.
6
suKhan1 ho sama’-Kharaashi2 to Khaamushi3 behtar4
asar5 kare na jo dil par vo guftugu6 kya hai 1.words 2.only to be heard i.e., only to make a noise 3.silence 4.better 5.effect 6.conversation
If words are spoken only to make a noise, then silence is better. Of what use is that conversation which does not affect the heart.
tilok chand mahroom (1887-1955) and his son jagan nath azad (1918-2004), both poets of high caliber moved/fled from lahore to dehli post-partition. Yet both retained great love for their homeland. This is a sufiyaana/aashiqana Ghazal in the style of Ghalib’s ‘tumhiiN kaho keh andaaz-e guftagu kya hai’ and is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
nazar1 uThaa dil-e-naadaN2 ye justaju3 kya hai
usi ka jalva4 to hai aur ruu-ba-ruu5 kya hai
1.sight, eyes 2.simple/innocent heart 3.search 4.manifestation, face 5.face to face, in front
The poet/devotee/lover is addressing himself through his simpleton heart, which has lowered its eyes out of humility. But of course, he has been searching for the beloved/god all this time. Raise your eyes, O simpleton, and see for yourself, why keep looking/searching elsewhere. Right in front of you is the manifestation/face of the beloved/god.
2
kisi ki ek nazar1 ne bataa diya mujh ko
suroor2-e baada3-e be-saaGhar-o-subu4 kya hai
1.glance 2.pleasure, intoxication 3.wine 4.without flask or cup
A glance of the beloved is enough to make the poet/lover intoxicated. This poet/lover too has learnt from her glance what the meaning of pleasure without wine of flask and cup is.
3
qafas1 azaab2 sahi bulbul-e-asiir3 magar
zaraa ye soch keh vo daam4-e raNg-o-bu5 kya hai
1.cage 2.curse 3.imprisoned/caged bulbul 4.noose, net, trap 5.fragrance and colour – material comfort, worldly possessions
The caged bulbul feels that the cage is a curse. True enough. But the poet/sufi suggests that this material life with worldly attractions is no different. It is a trap of fragrance and colour. The unstated part is that it is better to think of the spiritual rather than the material.
4
gadaa1 nahiN haiN keh dast-e-savaal2 phailaa’eN3
kabhi na aap ne puchha keh aarzu4 kya hai
1.beggar 2.begging/asking hand 3.spread 4.desire
The poet/lover is proud of his dignity and will not spread his hand out for alms, will not tell the beloved what his feelings are. She has never asked him. So, he suffers in silence. Said Ghalib …
bandagi meN bhi vo aazaadah-o-Khud-biiN haiN ke hum
ulTe phir aaye dar-e-k’aaba agar vaa na hua
5
na mere ashk1 meN shaamil2 na un ke daaman3 par
maiN kya bataauN unheN Khuun-e-aarzu4 kya hai
1.tears 2.mixed, included 3.hem of the robe 4.blood of my desires
How can I explain to her what bleeding desire is. Neither is that blood mixed in my tears nor does it stain the hem of her robe i.e., I bleed silently inside.
6
suKhan1 ho sama’-Kharaashi2 to Khaamushi3 behtar4
asar5 kare na jo dil par vo guftugu6 kya hai
1.words 2.only to be heard i.e., only to make a noise 3.silence 4.better 5.effect 6.conversation
If words are spoken only to make a noise, then silence is better. Of what use is that conversation which does not affect the heart.
