For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
خط کے جواب میں ۔ مرزا جعفر علی خان اثرؔ لکھنوی
۱
قطرے عرق کے رُخ پہ نہیں ہیں نقاب میں
تارے چھٹک رہے ہیں شبِ ماہتاب میں
۲
رکھتی ہے لطف برق کی چشمک سحاب میں
ہاں ہاں یوں ہی چھپائے رہو منہ نقاب میں
۳
قطرہ ہوں وہ جو بند ہے چشمِ حباب میں
دریا ہوں وہ جو موج کشا ہے سراب میں
۴
بے ربط ہو گئی تھی عبارت کہیں کہیں
کافر نے نقل کی وہی خط کے جواب میں
۵
اے مُطرِبِ خیال سنا دے پھر ایک بار
نغمہ شکستِ دل کا شکستِ حباب میں
۶
تڑپائے جا مجھے یوں ہی کچھ دیر ابھی کہ ہے
اک شائبہ سکوں کا میرے اِضطراب میں
۷
اُف شرم معصیت کی زباں لڑکھڑا گئی
میں اور عرضِ حال پھر ایسی جناب میں
۸
آنکھوں سے وہ نہاں ہے مگر جلوہ آشکار
حیراں ہوں فرق کیا ہے شہود و حجاب میں
۹
پژمردہ ہو کے پھول گرا شاخ سے تو کیا
وہ موت ہے حسین جو آئے شباب میں
۱۰
اِس بے قرار دل کو مقابل میں برق کے
طغراے اِمتیاز ملا پیچ و تاب میں
۱۱
دل خون کیا ہوا کہ زمانہ بدل گیا
سو اِنقلاب ہو گئے اک اِنقلاب میں
۱۲
یہ کون سوئے گورِ غریباں گزر گیا
پھر ہچکیاں اُلٹ گئیں ارباب خواب میں
۱۳
ہے قید تن میں روح حقیقت سے بے خبر
نا آشناے بحر ہے قطرہ حباب میں
۱۴
ہنگامۂ فراق میں تھی دل کی کیا بساط
اک آبلہ تھا پھوٹ گیا اِضطراب میں
۱۵
شیرازۂ حیات بکھر جائے گا اثرؔ
پیماں گسل کو یاد نہ کر اضطراب میں
ख़त के जवाब में – मिर्ज़ा जाफ़र अली ख़ां असर लखनवी
१
क़तरे अरक़ के रुख़ पे नहीं हैं नक़ाब में
तारे छिटक रहे हैं शब-ए महताब में
२
रखती है लुत्फ़ बर्क़ की चश्मक सहाब में
हां हां युंही छुपाए रहो मुंह नक़ाब में
३
क़तरा हुं वो जो बंद है चश्म-ए हबाब में
दरिया हुं वो जो मौज-कुशा है सराब में
४
बे-रब्त हो गई है इबारत कहीं कहीं
काफ़ेर ने नक़्ल की वही ख़त के जवाब में
५
अए मुतरिब-ए ख़याल सुना दे फिर एक बार
नग़्मा शिकस्त-ए दिल का शिकस्त-ए हबाब में
६
तढपाए जा मुझे युंही कुछ देर अभी के है
एक शा’एबा सुक़ूं का मेरे इज़्तेराब में
७
उफ़्फ़ शर्म मासियत की ज़बां लढखढा गई
मैं और अर्ज़-ए हाल फिर ऐसी जनाब में
८
आँखों से वो नेहां है मगर जल्वा आशकार
हैरां हुं फ़र्क़ क्या है शुहूद ओ हिजाब में
९
पज़्शमुर्दा हो के फूल गिरा शाख़ से तो क्या
वो मौत है हसीन जो आए शबाब में
१०
इस बे-क़रार दिल को मुक़ाबल में बर्क़ के
तुग़्राए इम्तियाज़ मिला पेच ओ ताब में
११
दिल ख़ून क्या हुआ के ज़माना बदल गया
सौ इन्क़ेलाब हो गए एक इन्क़ेलाब में
१२
ये कौन सू-ए गोर-ए ग़रीबां गुज़र गया
फिर हिचकियाँ उलट गईं अर्बाब ख़्वाब में
१३
है क़ैद तन में रूह हक़ीक़त से बे-ख़बर
ना-आश्ना-ए बहर है क़तरा हबाब में
१४
हंगामा-ए फ़िराक़ में थी दिल की क्या बिसात
एक आबला था फूट गया इज़्तेराब में
१५
शिराज़ा-ए हयात बिखर जाएगा असर
पैमाँ-गुसिल को याद न कर इज़्तेराब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza jaafar ali KhaaN asar lakhnavi (1885-1967). Classical education at home until the age of 11, then formal schooling and college to BA. Indulged in MA and LLB but did not finish. Served in the British government as Deputy Collector (1909), Executive Officer and Collector until 1940. Resigned from service. Several collections of his Ghazal and nazm including descriptions of nature in kashmir where he served in the cabinet and also as acting prime minister (until 1945) to the maharaja. He also did a versified translation of the bhagwad-giita. This Ghazal is linked to ‘saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN’, Ghalib naqsh-e qadam, on the Theme Index page.
1
qatray1 araq2 ke ruKh3 peh nahiN haiN naqaab4 meN
taaray chhiTak5 rahe haiN shab6-e maahtaab7 meN 1.drops 2.liquid, sweat 3.face 4.veil 5.spraying, dripping 6.night 7.full moon
The beloved’s face is behind a (dark) veil … it is like the full moon in the night sky. The drops of sweat dripping from her face are like falling stars.
2
rakhti hai lutf1 barq2 ki chashmak3 sahaab4 meN
haaN haaN yuNhi chhupaa’e raho muNh naqaab5 meN 1.pleasure 2.lightning 3.flash 4.(dark) cloud 5.(dark) veil
The beloved’s bright face behind a dark veil with the brilliance of her beauty flashing through every now and then is beautiful like the flash of lightning in dark clouds. Thus, do keep your face hidden behind a veil, flashes of beauty show through anyway.
3
qatra1 huN voh jo band hai chashm2-e habaab3 meN
darya4 huN voh jo mauj-kusha5 hai saraab6 meN 1.drop 2.eye 3.bubble 4.river, sea 5.causing waves 6.mirage
I am the drop that is contained in the eye of the bubble. I am the sea that causes waves in the mirage. This is a vague, not very exact imagery to suggest that the poet has much more to offer than can be seen at the surface or from a distance.
4
be-rabt1 ho gaii hai ibaarat2 kahiiN kahiiN
kaafir3 ne naql4 ki vahi Khat ke javaab5 meN 1.incoherent 2.writing 3.often used for the beloved 4.copy 5.answer
The beloved has sent an answer to the poet/lover’s letter. In places, her writing is incoherent/discontinuous. He surmises that rather than thoughtful reply she has thoughtlessly copied passages from here and there in answer to his letter.
5
aye mutrib1-e Khayaal2 suna de phir aek baar
naGhma3 shikast4-e dil ka shikast-e habaab5 meN 1.singer 2.thought, imagination 3.song 4.breaking 5.bubble
There is sound/music in the breaking of the heart and the bursting of a bubble or so does the poet imagine and asks the singer in his imagination to sing that song again.
6
taRpaa’e1 jaa mujhe yuNhi kuchh der abhi keh hai
ek shaa’eba2 sukooN3 ka meray izteraab4 meN 1.torture 2.hint 3.peace, tranquility 4.restlessness, agitation
The poet/lover has been agitated (because the beloved has not reciprocated his love) but there is still a hint of tranquility in it. He wants to be totally agitated and asks the beloved to torture him some more so that even that hint of peace goes away.
7
uff sharm1 m’aasiyat2 ki zabaaN laRkhaRa3 gaii
maiN aur arz4-e haal5 phir aisi janaab6 meN 1.shame 2.sin, mistake 3.stumble 4.present, submit, petition 6.exalted presence
In the conventions of love, the lover never complains about the beloved. Said shaiKh ibrahim zauq …
ham nahiN vo jo kareN Khoon ka daa’va tujh par
balkeh poochhega Khuda bhi to mukar jaa’eNge
Me! and petition/appeal my condition and that in such an exalted presence (before god). My tongue stumbles with shame at such a transgression.
8
aaNkhoN se voh nehaaN1 hai magar jalva2 aashkaar3
hairaaN4 huN farq5 kya hai shuhood6 o hijaab7 meN 1.hidden 2.beauty, glory, reflection 3.manifest, seen 4.amazed, puzzled 5.difference 6.evidence 7.veiling
This is about god. He is hidden from the eyes but his glory is manifest all around. I am puzzled what the difference is between evidence/display and veiling/invisibility.
9
pazshmurda1 ho ke phool giray shaaKh2 se to kya
voh maut3 hai hasiin4 jo aa’e shabaab5 meN 1.wilted 2.branch 3.death 4.beautiful 5.youth, vigour
How can it be good if the flower wilts and falls off the branch. That death is beautiful which happens when life is still in vigour/activity.
10
iss be-qaraar1 dil ko muqaabil2 meN barq3 ke
tuGhra4-e imtiaaz5 mila pech-o-taab6 meN 1.agitated 2.compared to 3.lightning 4.medal 5.distinction 6.restlessness
There was a competition to see which was the most agitated. The poet/lover’s heart was competing with lightning and received a medal of distinction i.e., it won.
11
dil Khoon kya hua keh zamaana1 badal gaya
sau inqelaab2 ho gaye ek inqelaab meN 1.times, world 2.revolution, change
There was just one change which caused the whole world/times/life to change. What was that one change … dil Khoon ho gaya i.e., it broke asunder and bled – the beloved broke his heart and his whole life changed.
12
yeh kaun suu1-e gor-e-GhariibaaN2 guzar3 gaya
phir hichkiyaaN4 ulaT gaiiN arbaab5 Khwaab6 meN 1.towards 2.poor, deprived 3.passed by 4.hiccups 5.friends, masters 6.sleep
The poet/lover is dead and buried. He is relating this to his friends – perhaps fellow lovers. The beloved passes by. That is enough to set off intense weeping/mourning of the lover even in his death/sleep. The weeping is so intense that it sets off hiccups.
13
hai qaid1 tan2 meN rooh3 haqiiqat4 se be-Khabar5
naa-aashna6-e bahr7 hai qatra8 habaab9 meN 1.imprisoned, confined 2.body 3.soul 4.reality, truth 5.unaware 6.not knowing 7.ocean 8.drop 9.bubble
The soul is confined to the body unaware of the larger divine spirit and union with it just like the drop is unaware of the vast ocean and is confined in a bubble.
14
haNgaama1-e firaaq2 meN thi dil ki kya bisaat3
ek aabla4 tha phooT5 gaya izteraab6 meN 1.time, during 2.separation 3.used to mean status, position 4.bubble 5.burst 6.agitation
What was the status/importance of the heart during separation (from the beloved) – the implication is that there was no value. It was just a bubble that burst in agitation.
15
shiiraaza1-e hayaat2 bikhar3 jaa’ega asar4
paimaaN-gusil5 ko yaad na kar izteraab6 meN 1.binding, sequence, orderliness, harmony 2.life 3.scatter 4.pen-name of the poet 5.promise-breaker 6.agitation
O asar, the harmony of your life will be destroyed/scattered. Do not think of the promise-breaker in your agitation.
mirza jaafar ali KhaaN asar lakhnavi (1885-1967). Classical education at home until the age of 11, then formal schooling and college to BA. Indulged in MA and LLB but did not finish. Served in the British government as Deputy Collector (1909), Executive Officer and Collector until 1940. Resigned from service. Several collections of his Ghazal and nazm including descriptions of nature in kashmir where he served in the cabinet and also as acting prime minister (until 1945) to the maharaja. He also did a versified translation of the bhagwad-giita. This Ghazal is linked to ‘saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN’, Ghalib naqsh-e qadam, on the Theme Index page.
1
qatray1 araq2 ke ruKh3 peh nahiN haiN naqaab4 meN
taaray chhiTak5 rahe haiN shab6-e maahtaab7 meN
1.drops 2.liquid, sweat 3.face 4.veil 5.spraying, dripping 6.night 7.full moon
The beloved’s face is behind a (dark) veil … it is like the full moon in the night sky. The drops of sweat dripping from her face are like falling stars.
2
rakhti hai lutf1 barq2 ki chashmak3 sahaab4 meN
haaN haaN yuNhi chhupaa’e raho muNh naqaab5 meN
1.pleasure 2.lightning 3.flash 4.(dark) cloud 5.(dark) veil
The beloved’s bright face behind a dark veil with the brilliance of her beauty flashing through every now and then is beautiful like the flash of lightning in dark clouds. Thus, do keep your face hidden behind a veil, flashes of beauty show through anyway.
3
qatra1 huN voh jo band hai chashm2-e habaab3 meN
darya4 huN voh jo mauj-kusha5 hai saraab6 meN
1.drop 2.eye 3.bubble 4.river, sea 5.causing waves 6.mirage
I am the drop that is contained in the eye of the bubble. I am the sea that causes waves in the mirage. This is a vague, not very exact imagery to suggest that the poet has much more to offer than can be seen at the surface or from a distance.
4
be-rabt1 ho gaii hai ibaarat2 kahiiN kahiiN
kaafir3 ne naql4 ki vahi Khat ke javaab5 meN
1.incoherent 2.writing 3.often used for the beloved 4.copy 5.answer
The beloved has sent an answer to the poet/lover’s letter. In places, her writing is incoherent/discontinuous. He surmises that rather than thoughtful reply she has thoughtlessly copied passages from here and there in answer to his letter.
5
aye mutrib1-e Khayaal2 suna de phir aek baar
naGhma3 shikast4-e dil ka shikast-e habaab5 meN
1.singer 2.thought, imagination 3.song 4.breaking 5.bubble
There is sound/music in the breaking of the heart and the bursting of a bubble or so does the poet imagine and asks the singer in his imagination to sing that song again.
6
taRpaa’e1 jaa mujhe yuNhi kuchh der abhi keh hai
ek shaa’eba2 sukooN3 ka meray izteraab4 meN
1.torture 2.hint 3.peace, tranquility 4.restlessness, agitation
The poet/lover has been agitated (because the beloved has not reciprocated his love) but there is still a hint of tranquility in it. He wants to be totally agitated and asks the beloved to torture him some more so that even that hint of peace goes away.
7
uff sharm1 m’aasiyat2 ki zabaaN laRkhaRa3 gaii
maiN aur arz4-e haal5 phir aisi janaab6 meN
1.shame 2.sin, mistake 3.stumble 4.present, submit, petition 6.exalted presence
In the conventions of love, the lover never complains about the beloved. Said shaiKh ibrahim zauq …
ham nahiN vo jo kareN Khoon ka daa’va tujh par
balkeh poochhega Khuda bhi to mukar jaa’eNge
Me! and petition/appeal my condition and that in such an exalted presence (before god). My tongue stumbles with shame at such a transgression.
8
aaNkhoN se voh nehaaN1 hai magar jalva2 aashkaar3
hairaaN4 huN farq5 kya hai shuhood6 o hijaab7 meN
1.hidden 2.beauty, glory, reflection 3.manifest, seen 4.amazed, puzzled 5.difference 6.evidence 7.veiling
This is about god. He is hidden from the eyes but his glory is manifest all around. I am puzzled what the difference is between evidence/display and veiling/invisibility.
9
pazshmurda1 ho ke phool giray shaaKh2 se to kya
voh maut3 hai hasiin4 jo aa’e shabaab5 meN
1.wilted 2.branch 3.death 4.beautiful 5.youth, vigour
How can it be good if the flower wilts and falls off the branch. That death is beautiful which happens when life is still in vigour/activity.
10
iss be-qaraar1 dil ko muqaabil2 meN barq3 ke
tuGhra4-e imtiaaz5 mila pech-o-taab6 meN
1.agitated 2.compared to 3.lightning 4.medal 5.distinction 6.restlessness
There was a competition to see which was the most agitated. The poet/lover’s heart was competing with lightning and received a medal of distinction i.e., it won.
11
dil Khoon kya hua keh zamaana1 badal gaya
sau inqelaab2 ho gaye ek inqelaab meN
1.times, world 2.revolution, change
There was just one change which caused the whole world/times/life to change. What was that one change … dil Khoon ho gaya i.e., it broke asunder and bled – the beloved broke his heart and his whole life changed.
12
yeh kaun suu1-e gor-e-GhariibaaN2 guzar3 gaya
phir hichkiyaaN4 ulaT gaiiN arbaab5 Khwaab6 meN
1.towards 2.poor, deprived 3.passed by 4.hiccups 5.friends, masters 6.sleep
The poet/lover is dead and buried. He is relating this to his friends – perhaps fellow lovers. The beloved passes by. That is enough to set off intense weeping/mourning of the lover even in his death/sleep. The weeping is so intense that it sets off hiccups.
13
hai qaid1 tan2 meN rooh3 haqiiqat4 se be-Khabar5
naa-aashna6-e bahr7 hai qatra8 habaab9 meN
1.imprisoned, confined 2.body 3.soul 4.reality, truth 5.unaware 6.not knowing 7.ocean 8.drop 9.bubble
The soul is confined to the body unaware of the larger divine spirit and union with it just like the drop is unaware of the vast ocean and is confined in a bubble.
14
haNgaama1-e firaaq2 meN thi dil ki kya bisaat3
ek aabla4 tha phooT5 gaya izteraab6 meN
1.time, during 2.separation 3.used to mean status, position 4.bubble 5.burst 6.agitation
What was the status/importance of the heart during separation (from the beloved) – the implication is that there was no value. It was just a bubble that burst in agitation.
15
shiiraaza1-e hayaat2 bikhar3 jaa’ega asar4
paimaaN-gusil5 ko yaad na kar izteraab6 meN
1.binding, sequence, orderliness, harmony 2.life 3.scatter 4.pen-name of the poet 5.promise-breaker 6.agitation
O asar, the harmony of your life will be destroyed/scattered. Do not think of the promise-breaker in your agitation.
