For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کثافت ہوتی جاتی ہے ۔ پنڈت آنند موہن گلزارؔ دہلوی
۱
دلوں میں جلوہ فرما یوں کدورت ہوتی جاتی ہے
کہ اب مجروح روحِ آدمیت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۲
کِھلی جن کے اِشاروں پر چمن میں خون کی ہولی
اُنہیں محسوس اب کچھ کچھ ندامت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۳
بجز انسانیت ہے نرخ اب کِس چیز کا سستا
بدی باطن کی اب ظاہر بہ نِیّت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۴
رہے جو دم قدم کے ساتھ حاضر سرفروشی میں
اِلہٰی خیر اب اُن سے عداوت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۵
شہیدوں کا لہو بارے اب اتنا رنگ تو لایا
ہر اِک کو سرخروئی سے محبّت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۶
کرے بد نام جب مچھلی جہاں میں سارے دریا کو
گناہِ غیر پر نادم شرافت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۷
کبھی محسوس اُن دانشوروں کی بھی اذیّت کی
جنہیں ناقدریِ فن کی شکایت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۸
بچو شعلہ بیاں فنکار سے عیّار نادانو
کہ ظاہر اہلِ دنیا پر حقیقت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۹
یہی اُردُو جسے اپنے بیاں کا راستہ سمجھا
اُسی کی حق رسانی پر شماتت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۱۰
خدا جانے یہ سودا اور کیا کیا گُل کھلائے گا
کہ اِنسانوں کی فِطرت خود مشیّت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۱۱
جرائم ہی وسیلہ مال و زر کا ہوتے جاتے ہیں
جرائم ہی کے اب تابع قیادت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۱۲
عدالت میں حق و انصاف کی، گلزارؔ ہے غوغا
موکل کے لیے نادم وکالت ہوتی جاتی ہے
۱۳
یہی رحمت خدا کی ہم پہ اے گلزارؔ کیا کم ہے
فضا سے دور اب قدرے کثافت ہوتی جاتی ہے
कसाफ़त होती जाती है – पंडित आनंद मोहन गुलज़ार देहलवी
१
दिलौं में जल्वा फ़रमा यूं कदूरत होती जाती है
के अब मजरूह रूह-ए आदमियत होती जाती है
२
खिली जिन के इशारौं पर चमन में ख़ून की होली
उन्हें महसूस अब कुछ कुछ नदामत होती जाती है
३
बजुज़ इंसानियत है निर्ख़ अब किस चीज़ का सस्ता
बदी बातिन की अब ज़ाहर ब-निय्यत होती जाती है
४
रहे जो दम-क़दम के साथ हाज़िर सरफ़रोशी में
इलाही ख़ैर अब उन से अदावत होती जाती है
५
शहीदौं का लहू बारे अब इतना रंग तो लाया
हर एक को सर्ख़-रूई से मुहब्बत होती जाती है
६
करे बद-नाम जब मछली जहां में सारे दरिया को
गुनाह-ए ग़ैर पर नादिम शराफ़त होती जाती है
७
कभी महसूस उन दानिशवरौं की भी अज़िय्यत की
जिन्हें ना-क़दरी-ए फ़न की शिका’एत होती जाती है
८
बचो शोला-बयां फ़नकार से अय्यार नादानो
के ज़ाहिर अहल-ए दुनिया पर हक़ीक़त होती जाती है
९
यही उर्दू जिसे अपने बयां का रास्ता समझा
उसी की हक़ रसानी पर शमातत होती जाती है
१०
ख़ुदा जाने ये सौदा और क्या क्या गुल खिलाएगा
के इंसानौं की फ़ितरत ख़ुद मशिय्यत होती जाती है
११
जरा’एम ही वसीला माल ओ ज़र का होते जाते हैं
जरा’एम ही के अब ता’बे क़यादत होती जाती है
१२
अदालत में हक़ ओ इंसाफ़ की, गुलज़ार है ग़ोग़ा
मुवक्किल के लिए नादिम वकालत होती जाती है
१३
यही रहमत ख़ुदा की हम पे अए गुलज़ार क्या कम है
फ़ज़ा से दूर अब क़द्रे कसाफ़त होती जाती है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. anand mohan gulzar dehlavi (1926-2020), a kashmiri panDit, a scholar and lover of urdu and totally committed to communal harmony. Over his long and fruitful life has written with much love and admiration about many illustrious figures – political, religious and literary. This Ghazal probably has some historical context which I am unable to reconstruct. Hence, we have to settle for a limited understanding of his meaning.
1
diloN meN jalva-farmaa1 yuN kuduurat2 hoti jaati hai
keh ab majruuh3 ruuh4-e aadmiyyat5 hoti jaati hai 1.manifest, appearing, growing 2.impurity, ill-feeling, hatred 3.wounded 4.soul 5.humanity, human-ness, the quality of being human
The context must be related to growing communal tensions. The poet laments that as impurity/ill-feeling (kuduurat) appears/grows in people’s hearts, the soul of the quality of being human (ruuh-e aadmiyyat) becomes increasingly wounded.
2
khili1 jin ke ishaaroN2 par chaman meN khuun ki holi
unheN mahsuus3 ab kuchh-kuchh4 nadaamat5 hoti jaati hai 1.played 2.signs, direction, instigation 3.feel 4.a little 5.regret
Apparently, there were some who instigated violence, on whose subtle directions there was bloodshed (khuun ki holi) in the garden of life. Things must have gotten out of hand and they are now beginning to feel a sense of remorse (nadaamat).
3
bajuz1 insaaniyat2 hai nirKh3 ab kis chiiz kaa sastaa4
badi5 baatin6 ki ab zaahir7 ba-niyyat8 hoti jaati hai 1.except for 2.humanity 3.price, value 4.cheap 5.evil 6.hidden 7.apparent 8.by intention
Except for humanity what else is cheap these days. The inner evil that used to be hidden (badi baatin) within people is now manifesting openly and intentionally (ba-niyyat), reflecting the moral decay of society.
4
rah’e jo dam-qadam1 ke saath haazir2 sarfaroshi3 meN
ilaahi4 Khair5 ab unn se adaavat6 hoti jaati hai 1.every step 2.present 3.sacrifice 4.my god 5.safety, protection 6.hostility
Those who once stood shoulder to shoulder at every step, ready to sacrifice (sarfaroshi) themselves (god save me) are now being met with hostility (adaavat).
5
shahiidoN1 kaa lahu2 baare3 ab itnaa raNg4 to laaya
har ek ko surKh-ruuii5 se muhabbat hoti jaati hai 1.martyrs 2.blood 3.at last 4.colour, vibrancy, beauty 5.an expression literally meaning-glowing face is used to mean honour, recognition, happiness
The blood of martyrs (shahiidoN kaa lahuu) has at last brought such vibrancy (raNg) to the world that everyone is beginning to desire to be associated with such honours.
6
kare bad-naam1 jab machhli jahaaN2 meN saare daryaa3 ko
gunaah4-e Ghair5 par naadim6 sharaafat7 hoti jaati hai 1.disreputable 2.world 3.river, sea 4.sins 5.others 6.remorseful 7.nobility
When a single fish (machhli) brings disrepute to the entire river (daryaa), in the whole world, then even nobility (sharaafat) begins to feel remorse (naadim) for the sins of others. Thus, ‘nobility’ is more sensitive to the disrepute that gets reflected on them rather than feel for the victims of the sin/cruelty.
7
kabhi mahsuus1 unn daanishvaroN2 ki bhi aziyyat3 kii
jinheN naaqadri4-e fun5 ki shikaa’et6 hoti jaati hai 1.feel 2.intellectuals, talented 3.pain 4.undervalue 5.talent, art 6.complaint
Here the poet turns to the experience of poets and artists who feel undervalued, underappreciated. Have you ever stopped to feel/sense the pain of those intellectuals who feel (and begin to complain) that their art is undervalued.
8
bacho1 sho’la-bayaaN2 fankaar3 se ayyaar4 naadaano5
keh zaahir6 ahl7-e duniya par haqiiqat8 hoti jaati hai 1.save yourself 2.fiery speech 3.artists, tricksters 4.cumming 5.simpletons 6.apparent 7.people of 8.truth
This could be about fire-breathing politicians or cult leaders who trick and lure simple people. The poet warns naive people (naadaano) to beware of fire-breating cunning individuals (ayyaar) con-artists (fankaar). The truth (haqiqat) about such people is becoming evident to the world (ahl-e duniya).
9
yahii urdu jise apne bayaaN1 kaa raastaa2 samjhaa
usii ki haq-rasaani3 par shamaatat4 hoti jaati hai 1.expression, speaking 2.means, method 3.truth accessing 4.rejoicing in other’s distress
The same urdu that we once considered our means of expression (bayaaN kaa raastaa), is now being tortured (shamaatat) for its truthfulness (haq rasaani).
10
Khuda jaane yeh sauda1 aur kya kya gul-khilaa’ega2
keh insaanoN ki fitrat3 Khud mashiyyat4 hoti jaati hai 1.trade, transaction, behaviour 2.an expression meaning ‘creating mischief’ 3.nature 4.divine decree
God knows what kinds of mishief this behaviour will create. Now human nature/human wish is being portrayed as divine will/decree.
11
jaraa’em1 hi vasiila2 maal-o-zar3 kaa hote jaate haiN
jaraa’em1 hii ke ab taab’e4 qayaadat5 hoti jaati hai 1.crimes 2.means, instruments 3.property and wealth 4.subservience 5.leadership
Criminality (jaraa’em) is becoming the primary means to acquire property and wealth (maal-o-zar). (Political) leadership (qayaadat) is now subservient to criminality.
12
adaalat1 meN haq2 o insaaf3 ki, gulzaar4 hai GhauGha5
muvakkil6 ke liye naadim7 vakaalat8 hoti jaati hai 1.court (of justice) 2.truth, rights 3.justice 4.pen-name of the poet 5.clamour, chaos 6.lawyer, advocate 7.remorse, shame 8.advocacy (the profession)
This perhaps reflects the mistreatment/beating up or even killing of lawyers who stood up for the underdog. Thus, O gulzaar, there is chaos in the courts of justice over truth, human rights and justice. Even the profession of advocacy is ashamed of the lawyers thus treated.
13
yahi rahmat1 Khuda ki ham pe aye gulzaar2 kya kam hai
fazaa3 se duur ab qadre4 kasaafat5 hoti jaati hai 1.mercy, benevolence 2.pen-name 3.surroundings, air, atmosphere 4.(qadre=kisi qadar) to some extent 5.impurity, ill-feeling, enmity
In the historical context of this Ghazal some improvement in conditions must have taken place. I do not know the context or the date of this Ghazal. The poet is thankful for small mercies. O gulzaar, what more do we want from god; the surroundings are a bit cleaner; there has been some reduction in ill-feelings
anand mohan gulzar dehlavi (1926-2020), a kashmiri panDit, a scholar and lover of urdu and totally committed to communal harmony. Over his long and fruitful life has written with much love and admiration about many illustrious figures – political, religious and literary. This Ghazal probably has some historical context which I am unable to reconstruct. Hence, we have to settle for a limited understanding of his meaning.
1
diloN meN jalva-farmaa1 yuN kuduurat2 hoti jaati hai
keh ab majruuh3 ruuh4-e aadmiyyat5 hoti jaati hai
1.manifest, appearing, growing 2.impurity, ill-feeling, hatred 3.wounded 4.soul 5.humanity, human-ness, the quality of being human
The context must be related to growing communal tensions. The poet laments that as impurity/ill-feeling (kuduurat) appears/grows in people’s hearts, the soul of the quality of being human (ruuh-e aadmiyyat) becomes increasingly wounded.
2
khili1 jin ke ishaaroN2 par chaman meN khuun ki holi
unheN mahsuus3 ab kuchh-kuchh4 nadaamat5 hoti jaati hai
1.played 2.signs, direction, instigation 3.feel 4.a little 5.regret
Apparently, there were some who instigated violence, on whose subtle directions there was bloodshed (khuun ki holi) in the garden of life. Things must have gotten out of hand and they are now beginning to feel a sense of remorse (nadaamat).
3
bajuz1 insaaniyat2 hai nirKh3 ab kis chiiz kaa sastaa4
badi5 baatin6 ki ab zaahir7 ba-niyyat8 hoti jaati hai
1.except for 2.humanity 3.price, value 4.cheap 5.evil 6.hidden 7.apparent 8.by intention
Except for humanity what else is cheap these days. The inner evil that used to be hidden (badi baatin) within people is now manifesting openly and intentionally (ba-niyyat), reflecting the moral decay of society.
4
rah’e jo dam-qadam1 ke saath haazir2 sarfaroshi3 meN
ilaahi4 Khair5 ab unn se adaavat6 hoti jaati hai
1.every step 2.present 3.sacrifice 4.my god 5.safety, protection 6.hostility
Those who once stood shoulder to shoulder at every step, ready to sacrifice (sarfaroshi) themselves (god save me) are now being met with hostility (adaavat).
5
shahiidoN1 kaa lahu2 baare3 ab itnaa raNg4 to laaya
har ek ko surKh-ruuii5 se muhabbat hoti jaati hai
1.martyrs 2.blood 3.at last 4.colour, vibrancy, beauty 5.an expression literally meaning-glowing face is used to mean honour, recognition, happiness
The blood of martyrs (shahiidoN kaa lahuu) has at last brought such vibrancy (raNg) to the world that everyone is beginning to desire to be associated with such honours.
6
kare bad-naam1 jab machhli jahaaN2 meN saare daryaa3 ko
gunaah4-e Ghair5 par naadim6 sharaafat7 hoti jaati hai
1.disreputable 2.world 3.river, sea 4.sins 5.others 6.remorseful 7.nobility
When a single fish (machhli) brings disrepute to the entire river (daryaa), in the whole world, then even nobility (sharaafat) begins to feel remorse (naadim) for the sins of others. Thus, ‘nobility’ is more sensitive to the disrepute that gets reflected on them rather than feel for the victims of the sin/cruelty.
7
kabhi mahsuus1 unn daanishvaroN2 ki bhi aziyyat3 kii
jinheN naaqadri4-e fun5 ki shikaa’et6 hoti jaati hai
1.feel 2.intellectuals, talented 3.pain 4.undervalue 5.talent, art 6.complaint
Here the poet turns to the experience of poets and artists who feel undervalued, underappreciated. Have you ever stopped to feel/sense the pain of those intellectuals who feel (and begin to complain) that their art is undervalued.
8
bacho1 sho’la-bayaaN2 fankaar3 se ayyaar4 naadaano5
keh zaahir6 ahl7-e duniya par haqiiqat8 hoti jaati hai
1.save yourself 2.fiery speech 3.artists, tricksters 4.cumming 5.simpletons 6.apparent 7.people of 8.truth
This could be about fire-breathing politicians or cult leaders who trick and lure simple people. The poet warns naive people (naadaano) to beware of fire-breating cunning individuals (ayyaar) con-artists (fankaar). The truth (haqiqat) about such people is becoming evident to the world (ahl-e duniya).
9
yahii urdu jise apne bayaaN1 kaa raastaa2 samjhaa
usii ki haq-rasaani3 par shamaatat4 hoti jaati hai
1.expression, speaking 2.means, method 3.truth accessing 4.rejoicing in other’s distress
The same urdu that we once considered our means of expression (bayaaN kaa raastaa), is now being tortured (shamaatat) for its truthfulness (haq rasaani).
10
Khuda jaane yeh sauda1 aur kya kya gul-khilaa’ega2
keh insaanoN ki fitrat3 Khud mashiyyat4 hoti jaati hai
1.trade, transaction, behaviour 2.an expression meaning ‘creating mischief’ 3.nature 4.divine decree
God knows what kinds of mishief this behaviour will create. Now human nature/human wish is being portrayed as divine will/decree.
11
jaraa’em1 hi vasiila2 maal-o-zar3 kaa hote jaate haiN
jaraa’em1 hii ke ab taab’e4 qayaadat5 hoti jaati hai
1.crimes 2.means, instruments 3.property and wealth 4.subservience 5.leadership
Criminality (jaraa’em) is becoming the primary means to acquire property and wealth (maal-o-zar). (Political) leadership (qayaadat) is now subservient to criminality.
12
adaalat1 meN haq2 o insaaf3 ki, gulzaar4 hai GhauGha5
muvakkil6 ke liye naadim7 vakaalat8 hoti jaati hai
1.court (of justice) 2.truth, rights 3.justice 4.pen-name of the poet 5.clamour, chaos 6.lawyer, advocate 7.remorse, shame 8.advocacy (the profession)
This perhaps reflects the mistreatment/beating up or even killing of lawyers who stood up for the underdog. Thus, O gulzaar, there is chaos in the courts of justice over truth, human rights and justice. Even the profession of advocacy is ashamed of the lawyers thus treated.
13
yahi rahmat1 Khuda ki ham pe aye gulzaar2 kya kam hai
fazaa3 se duur ab qadre4 kasaafat5 hoti jaati hai
1.mercy, benevolence 2.pen-name 3.surroundings, air, atmosphere 4.(qadre=kisi qadar) to some extent 5.impurity, ill-feeling, enmity
In the historical context of this Ghazal some improvement in conditions must have taken place. I do not know the context or the date of this Ghazal. The poet is thankful for small mercies. O gulzaar, what more do we want from god; the surroundings are a bit cleaner; there has been some reduction in ill-feelings
