For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
میرے نغموں سے حسیں تر ہوں گے ۔ گوپال مِتّل
۱
تیری تنقید ہے اے دوست بجا اور دُرُست
مجھ کو اِس بات سے خود بھی کوئی اِنکار نہیں
۲
میرا نغمہ ہے فقط وقت کی آوازِ نحیف
میرا نغمہ ہے فقط میرے ہی دل کی دھڑکن
اس میں موجود نہیں ہے ابدیت کا جلال
اس میں شامل ہی نہیں نورِ ازل کا پرتو
۳
ایک شاعر ہوں پیمبر تو نہیں ہوں اے دوست
اک مجھی پر تو نہیں ختم سرودِ ہستی
اک مجھی پر تو نہیں رونقِ دنیا کا مدار
سیلِ نغمہ تو ہر ایک قلب میں آسودا ہے
۴
جبرِ ماحول لگا دے نہ اگر مُہرِ سُکُوت
ہر گوالا ہے یہاں کرشن کنہیّا پیارے
۵
دیکھ ہر لمحہ نکھرتے ہوئے ماحول کو دیکھ
جبر کے داغ ہر اک آن مِٹے جاتے ہیں
اور اُبھرتے ہی چلے آتے ہیں دلکش خد و خال
۶
یہ ہر اِک لمحہ نکھرتا ہوا ماحول کا حُسن
نغمۂ شوق کی تطہیر بھی کر ڈالے گا
اِک نئی تان نئے ساز کا موجد ہوگا
۷
بدلے ماحول کے خوش بخت مُغنّی کی قسم
کل کے نغمے مرے نغموں سے حسیں تر ہوں گے
मेरे नग़्मौं से हसीं-तर होंगे – गोपाल मित्तल
१
तेरी तन्क़ीद है अए दोस्त बजा और दुरुस्त
मुझ को इस बात से ख़ुद भी कोई इन्कार नहीं
२
मेरा नग़्मा है फ़क़त वक़्त की आवाज़-ए नहीफ़
मेरा नग़्मा है फ़क़त मेरे ही दिल की धढकन
इस में मौजूद नहीं है अबदिय्यत का जलाल
इस में शामिल ही नहीं नूर-ए अज़ल का परतौ
३
एक शायर हूँ, पै’अम्बर तो नहीं हूँ अए दोस्त
एक मुझी पर तो नहीं ख़त्म सरूद-ए हस्ती
एक मुझी पर तो नहीं रौनक़-ए दुनिया का मदार
सैल-ए नग़्मा तो हर एक क़ल्ब में आसूदा है
४
जब्र-ए माहौल लगा दे न अगर मोहर-ए सुकूत
हर ग्वाला है यहाँ कृष्ण कन्हैया प्यारे
५
देख हर लम्हा निखरते हुए माहौल को देख
जब्र के दाग़ हर एक आन मिटे जाते हैं
और उभरते ही चले आते हैं दिलकश ख़द-ओ-ख़ाल
६
ये हर एक लम्हा निखरता हुआ माहौल का हुस्न
नग़्मा-ए शौक़ की तत्हीर भी कर डालेगा
एक नई तान नए साज़ का मौजिद होगा
७
बदले माहौल के ख़ुशबख़्त मुग़न्नी की क़सम
कल के नग़्मे मेरे नग़्मौं से हसीं-तर होंगे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. gopal mittal (1901-1993) migrated from lahore to dehli is 1948. Poet, editor, publisher, critic and much more. He has written eloquently about communal harmony, univeral love and Reason.
1
teri tanqiid1 hai aye dost baja2 aur durust3
mujh ko is baat se Khud4 bhi koi inkaar5 nahiiN 1.criticism 2.appropriate, valid 3.correct 4.myself 5.denial, refusal
Your criticism, my friend, is valid and correct, I myself do not deny this fact. The poet acknowledges the validity of his friend’s critique with humility. This sets the tone of the poem as introspective and self-aware, highlighting the poet’s willingness to accept constructive criticism and look forward with hope at the change that is coming.
2
mera naGhma1 hai faqat2 vaqt ki aavaaz-e nahiif3
mera naGhma hai faqat mere hi dil ki dhaRkan
is meN maujood4 nahiiN hai abadiyyat5 ka jalaal6
is meN shaamil7 hi nahiiN noor-e-azal8 ka partau9 1.song, poem 2.only 3.weak, faint 4.present 5.eternity 6.glory, majesty 7.included 8.eternal light 9.reflection, image
My song is merely the faint voice of time; it is only the rhythm of my own heartbeat; it does not possess the majesty of eternity; it lacks even a reflection of the eternal light. The poet reflects on the limitations of his work, humbly noting that his creations are finite i.e. relevant only to the times, and deeply personal. He contrasts the transient nature of his art with the grandeur of eternity, revealing an inner struggle with imperfection.
3
ek shaa’er huN, pai’ambar1 to nahiiN huN aye dost
ek mujhii par to nahiiN Khatm2 surood3-e hasti4
ek mujhii par to nahiiN raunaq5-e duniya ka madaar6
sa’el7-e naGhma to har ek qalb8 meN aasooda9 hai 1.prophet 2.end, completed 3.melody 4.life 5.glory, beauty 6.dependence 7.flood 8.heart 9.at peace, also used for those who are dead and buried, here it is used to mean buried
I am a poet, not a prophet, my friend; the melody of existence does not end with me alone; the world’s beauty does not depend on me alone; a flood of songs is buried in every heart. The poet distinguishes himself from divine messengers, emphasizing the universality of art. He acknowledges that creativity flows through every heart, suggesting suggesting that others may not have had a chance to let this flood manifest itself.
4
jabr1-e maahaul2 lagaa de na agar3 mohr4-e sukoot5
har gwaala6 hai yahaaN krishn kanhaiyya pyaare 1.oppression 2.surroundings, circumstances 3.if 4.seal 5.silence 6.cowherd
The hindu god krishn, also known as krishn kanhaiyya was a cowherd and he is known as a magical flute player and songster. If the oppression of circumstances does not silence voices; every cowherd here can become krishna, dear friend; this she’r celebrates the latent potential within everyone, asserting that oppressive environments suppress greatness. The imagery of every cowherd transforming into krishna signifies the divine power within ordinary individuals.
5
dekh har lamha1 nikharte2 hue maahaul3 ko dekh
jabr4 ke daaGh har ek aan5 miTe’6 jaate’ haiN
aur ubharte7 hi chale’ aate’ haiN dilkash8 Khud-o-Khaal9 1.moment 2.freshen, grow, evolve 3.circumstance, condition 4.oppression 5.moment 6.erased 7.emerge 8.beautiful 9.features
See the beauty of conditions evolving every moment; the scars of oppression are getting erased with every passing moment, and charming new features continue to emerge. The poet expresses optimism, observing the persistent transformation of society. He visualizes the fading of oppressive marks and the emergence of new, captivating aspects, symbolizing hope and progress.
6
ye har ek lamha1 nikharta2 hua maahaul3 ka husn
naGhma4-e shauq5 ki tat’hiir6 bhi kar Daalega
ek naii taan7 na’e saaz8 ka mojid9 hoga 1.moment 2.freshening, renewing, evolving 3.surroundings, world 4.song 5.desire, love 6.purification 7.melody 8.instrument, music 9.inventor, writer
This ever-evolving beauty of the world, will purify the songs of love as well. It will invent new melodies with new instruments. Here, the poet views change as an enhancer of art and human spirit. The idea of new tunes and instruments metaphorically represents innovation and renewal in thought and creativity.
7
badle1 maahaul2 ke KhushbaKht3 muGhanni4 ki qasam
kal ke naGhme5 mere’ naGhmoN se hasiiN-tar6 hoNge 1.changed, changing 2.surroundings, times 3.fortunate 4.singer 5.songs 6.more beautiful
I affirm/swear that by the fortunate singer of the changing times, tomorrow’s songs will be more beautiful than my songs. The poet gracefully anticipates the evolution of art and acknowledges that future works will surpass his own. This demonstrates his belief in progress and his lack of ego, concluding the poem on a note of humility and hope. Said sahir ludhianavi …
kal aur aaeNge naGhmauN ki kaliyaaN chun-ne vaale
mujh se behtar kahne vaale, tum se behtar sun-ne vaale
gopal mittal (1901-1993) migrated from lahore to dehli is 1948. Poet, editor, publisher, critic and much more. He has written eloquently about communal harmony, univeral love and Reason.
1
teri tanqiid1 hai aye dost baja2 aur durust3
mujh ko is baat se Khud4 bhi koi inkaar5 nahiiN
1.criticism 2.appropriate, valid 3.correct 4.myself 5.denial, refusal
Your criticism, my friend, is valid and correct, I myself do not deny this fact. The poet acknowledges the validity of his friend’s critique with humility. This sets the tone of the poem as introspective and self-aware, highlighting the poet’s willingness to accept constructive criticism and look forward with hope at the change that is coming.
2
mera naGhma1 hai faqat2 vaqt ki aavaaz-e nahiif3
mera naGhma hai faqat mere hi dil ki dhaRkan
is meN maujood4 nahiiN hai abadiyyat5 ka jalaal6
is meN shaamil7 hi nahiiN noor-e-azal8 ka partau9
1.song, poem 2.only 3.weak, faint 4.present 5.eternity 6.glory, majesty 7.included 8.eternal light 9.reflection, image
My song is merely the faint voice of time; it is only the rhythm of my own heartbeat; it does not possess the majesty of eternity; it lacks even a reflection of the eternal light. The poet reflects on the limitations of his work, humbly noting that his creations are finite i.e. relevant only to the times, and deeply personal. He contrasts the transient nature of his art with the grandeur of eternity, revealing an inner struggle with imperfection.
3
ek shaa’er huN, pai’ambar1 to nahiiN huN aye dost
ek mujhii par to nahiiN Khatm2 surood3-e hasti4
ek mujhii par to nahiiN raunaq5-e duniya ka madaar6
sa’el7-e naGhma to har ek qalb8 meN aasooda9 hai
1.prophet 2.end, completed 3.melody 4.life 5.glory, beauty 6.dependence 7.flood 8.heart 9.at peace, also used for those who are dead and buried, here it is used to mean buried
I am a poet, not a prophet, my friend; the melody of existence does not end with me alone; the world’s beauty does not depend on me alone; a flood of songs is buried in every heart. The poet distinguishes himself from divine messengers, emphasizing the universality of art. He acknowledges that creativity flows through every heart, suggesting suggesting that others may not have had a chance to let this flood manifest itself.
4
jabr1-e maahaul2 lagaa de na agar3 mohr4-e sukoot5
har gwaala6 hai yahaaN krishn kanhaiyya pyaare
1.oppression 2.surroundings, circumstances 3.if 4.seal 5.silence 6.cowherd
The hindu god krishn, also known as krishn kanhaiyya was a cowherd and he is known as a magical flute player and songster. If the oppression of circumstances does not silence voices; every cowherd here can become krishna, dear friend; this she’r celebrates the latent potential within everyone, asserting that oppressive environments suppress greatness. The imagery of every cowherd transforming into krishna signifies the divine power within ordinary individuals.
5
dekh har lamha1 nikharte2 hue maahaul3 ko dekh
jabr4 ke daaGh har ek aan5 miTe’6 jaate’ haiN
aur ubharte7 hi chale’ aate’ haiN dilkash8 Khud-o-Khaal9
1.moment 2.freshen, grow, evolve 3.circumstance, condition 4.oppression 5.moment 6.erased 7.emerge 8.beautiful 9.features
See the beauty of conditions evolving every moment; the scars of oppression are getting erased with every passing moment, and charming new features continue to emerge. The poet expresses optimism, observing the persistent transformation of society. He visualizes the fading of oppressive marks and the emergence of new, captivating aspects, symbolizing hope and progress.
6
ye har ek lamha1 nikharta2 hua maahaul3 ka husn
naGhma4-e shauq5 ki tat’hiir6 bhi kar Daalega
ek naii taan7 na’e saaz8 ka mojid9 hoga
1.moment 2.freshening, renewing, evolving 3.surroundings, world 4.song 5.desire, love 6.purification 7.melody 8.instrument, music 9.inventor, writer
This ever-evolving beauty of the world, will purify the songs of love as well. It will invent new melodies with new instruments. Here, the poet views change as an enhancer of art and human spirit. The idea of new tunes and instruments metaphorically represents innovation and renewal in thought and creativity.
7
badle1 maahaul2 ke KhushbaKht3 muGhanni4 ki qasam
kal ke naGhme5 mere’ naGhmoN se hasiiN-tar6 hoNge
1.changed, changing 2.surroundings, times 3.fortunate 4.singer 5.songs 6.more beautiful
I affirm/swear that by the fortunate singer of the changing times, tomorrow’s songs will be more beautiful than my songs. The poet gracefully anticipates the evolution of art and acknowledges that future works will surpass his own. This demonstrates his belief in progress and his lack of ego, concluding the poem on a note of humility and hope. Said sahir ludhianavi …
kal aur aaeNge naGhmauN ki kaliyaaN chun-ne vaale
mujh se behtar kahne vaale, tum se behtar sun-ne vaale
