For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
fariida Khaanum
تھا جو رازداں اپنا – مرزا غالبؔ
١
ذکر اس پری وش کا اور پھر بیاں اپنا
بن گیا رقیب آخر تھا جو رازداں اپنا
٢
مے وہ کیوں بہت پیتے بزمِ غیر میں یا رب
آج ہی ہوا منظور اُن کو اِمتحاں اپنا
٣
منظر اک بلندی پر اور ہم بنا سکتے
عرش سے ادھر ہوتا کاش کہ مکاں اپنا
٤
دے وہ جس قدر ذِلّت ہم ہنسی میں ٹالیں گے
بارے آشنا نکلا ان کا پاسباں اپنا
٥
دردِ دل لکھوں کب تک جاؤں ان کو دکھلا دوں
انگلیاں فگار اپنی خامہ خوں چکاں اپنا
٦
گھستے گھستے مٹ جاتا آپ نے عبث بدلا
ننگِ سجدہ سے میرے سنگِ آستاں اپنا
٧
تا کرے نہ غمّازی کر لیا ہے دشمن کو
دوست کی شکایت میں ہم نے ہم زباں اپنا
٨
ہم کہاں کے دانا تھے کس ہنر میں یکتا تھے
بے سبب ہوا غالبؔ دشمن آسماں اپنا
था जो राज़्दाँ अपना – मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब
१
ज़िक्र उस परी-वश का और फिर बयाँ अपना
बन गया रक़ीब आख़िर था जो राज़्दाँ अपना
२
मै वो क्यूँ बहुत पीते बज़्म‐ए ग़ैर में या रब
आज ही हुआ मंज़ूर उन को इमतहाँ अपना
३
मंज़र एक बुलंदी पर और हम बना सकते
अरश से उधर होता काश-के मकाँ अपना
४
दे वो जिस क़दर ज़िल्लत हम हंसी में टालेंगे
बारे आश्ना निकला उन का पासबाँ अपना
५
दर्द‐ए दिल लिखूँ कब तक जाऊँ उन को दिख्ला दूँ
उंग्लियाँ फ़िगार अपनी ख़ामा ख़ूँ-चकाँ अपना
६
घिस्ते घिस्ते मिट जाता आप ने अबस बदला
नंग‐ए सिजदा से मेरे संग‐ए आसताँ अपना
७
ता करे न ग़म्माज़ी कर लिया है दुशमन को
दोस्त की शिकायत में हम ने हम-ज़बाँ अपना
८
हम कहाँ के दाना थे किस हुनर में यकता थे
बे-सबब हुआ ग़ालिब दुशमन आसमाँ अपना
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. badri raina, retired professor of English, dehli University, poet, writer, columnist and a dear friend has translated several Ghalib Ghazal and published them as a book.
1
zikr1 us parii-vash2 kaa aur phir bayaaN3 apnaa
ban gayaa raqiib4 aaKhir thaa jo raaz-daaN5 apnaa 1.description 2.angel bodied 3.words, conversation 4.rival 5.confidante
The poet/lover has been talking to his confidant/friend about his angel-bodied beloved with such beautiful language that the confidant has fallen in love with her and become his rival.
2
mai voh kyuuN bahut piite bazm1-e Ghair2 meN yaa rab
aaj hii huaa manzuur3 un ko imtihaaN4 apnaa 1.gathering, assembly, party 2.other 3.acceptable, desirable 4.trial
She drinks too much wine in the assembly of the “other” (the rival) and in her inebriation shows favours to him. Why does she do this o god, why is it desirable that she try my fortitude today.
3
manzar1 ik bulandii2 par aur3 hum banaa sakte
arsh4 se idhar (udhar) hotaa kaash5-ke makaaN6 apnaa 1.scene, vision 2.height 3.another, more 4.sky 5.I wish, if only
The word “idhar” written without either the “zer” or the “pesh” in Urdu, can be read as either “idhar” or “udhar”. Both readings can be made and give delightfully different meanings. In either case, the starting point is that our vision is limited because we are on this earth.
First “idhar”. We could have created an entirely new vision, a new way of looking at ourselves, had our station been in the sky looking down on earth. We could have understood “human-ness” so much better.
Second “udhar”. We could have created an entirely new vision of higher and spiritual thoughts, if only our station had been on the other side of the sky! Please see my own Ghazal, “sar paida kar”, with one she’r inspired by this one.
4
de voh jis qadar1 zillat2 hum haNsii meN TaaleNge3
baare4 aashnaa5 niklaa un kaa paasbaaN6 apnaa 1.however much 2.disgrace, insult 3.overlook 4.by chance, at last, for once 5.acquaintance 6.attendant, guard, servant
Urdu poetry tradition has lovers calling upon the house of the beloved and getting routinely berated by the guard. Traditionally, the poet/lover willingly submits himself to such abuse, even enjoys it. Now it turns out that the doorkeeper turned out to be his friend. So it is entirely agreeable for the lover/poet to overlook/ignore his insults with a smile.
5
dard-e dil likhuuN kab tak jaauuN un ko dikhlaa duuN
uNgliyaaN figaar1 apnii Khaamah2 KhuuN-chakaaN3 apnaa 1.wounded, lacerated 2.reed pen 3.blood dripping
The poet lover has been constantly writing to the beloved, describing to her the pain in his heart. How long can I do this, it does not seem to have any effect on her. Why not go there and show her my lacerated fingers and pen dripping in blood. The lacerations in the fingers can come because of constant writing or preparing the point of the reed pen. Blood can drip from the pen because of lacerations in the fingers or because blood dripping from the eyes has been used as ink.
6
ghiste ghiste miT jaataa aap ne abas1 badlaa
naNg2-e sijdah3 se mere sang4-e aastaaN5 apnaa 1.unnessearily, uselessly 2.disgrace 3.prostration 4.stone 5.door-sill
The poet/lover has been prostrating at her door sill. The beloved wants to hide the disgrace caused by the marks/indentation on the sill and changes the stone. Why did you do that, there was no need says the poet/lover, because it would have disappeared by my constant rubbing anyway. Thus the poet/lover proves his own devotion and the beloved’s cruelty.
7
taa1 kare nah Ghammaazii2 kar liyaa hai dushman ko
dost kii shikaayat3 meN hum ne hum-zabaaN4 apnaa 1.so that 2.back-biting, gossiping 3.complaint 4.same tongue/words
The poet/lover complains about the cruelty of the beloved to everyone, even to the rival. But he is afraid that the rival might carry this tale back to the beloved and cause trouble for him. So he has complained with such effectiveness (in beautiful language) that the rival has taken ownership of those words and can no longer carry tales back.
8
hum kahaaN ke daanaa1 the kis hunar2 meN yaktaa3 the
be-sabab4 huaa Ghalib dushman aasmaaN apnaa 1.wise 2.talent 3.unique, excellent 4.without cause
In urdu poetic tradition, skies/heavens are always unkind to outstanding people (because of jealousy). I am not wise, I am not excellent in any talent, then why, O why, are the heavens unkind to me. The implication is that it must be because I really AM wise and excellent.
mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. badri raina, retired professor of English, dehli University, poet, writer, columnist and a dear friend has translated several Ghalib Ghazal and published them as a book.
1
zikr1 us parii-vash2 kaa aur phir bayaaN3 apnaa
ban gayaa raqiib4 aaKhir thaa jo raaz-daaN5 apnaa
1.description 2.angel bodied 3.words, conversation 4.rival 5.confidante
The poet/lover has been talking to his confidant/friend about his angel-bodied beloved with such beautiful language that the confidant has fallen in love with her and become his rival.
2
mai vuh kyuuN bahut piite bazm1-e Ghair2 meN yaa rab
aaj hii huaa manzuur3 un ko imtihaaN4 apnaa
1.gathering, assembly, party 2.other 3.acceptable, desirable 4.trial
She drinks too much wine in the assembly of the “other” (the rival) and in her inebriation shows favours to him. Why does she do this o god, why is it desirable that she try my fortitude today.
3
manzar1 ik bulandii2 par aur3 hum banaa sakte
arsh4 se idhar (udhar) hotaa kaash5-ke makaaN6 apnaa
1.scene, vision 2.height 3.another, more 4.sky 5.I wish, if only
The word “idhar” written without either the “zer” or the “pesh” in Urdu, can be read as either “idhar” or “udhar”. Both readings can be made and give delightfully different meanings. In either case, the starting point is that our vision is limited because we are on this earth.
First “idhar”. We could have created an entirely new vision, a new way of looking at ourselves, had our station been in the sky looking down on earth. We could have understood “human-ness” so much better.
Second “udhar”. We could have created an entirely new vision of higher and spiritual thoughts, if only our station had been on the other side of the sky! Please see my own Ghazal, “sar paida kar”, with one she’r inspired by this one.
4
de voh jis qadar1 zillat2 hum haNsii meN TaaleNge3
baare4 aashnaa5 niklaa un kaa paasbaaN6 apnaa
1.however much 2.disgrace, insult 3.overlook 4.by chance, at last, for once 5.acquaintance 6.attendant, guard, servant
Urdu poetry tradition has lovers calling upon the house of the beloved and getting routinely berated by the guard. Traditionally, the poet/lover willingly submits himself to such abuse, even enjoys it. Now it turns out that the doorkeeper turned out to be his friend. So it is entirely agreeable for the lover/poet to overlook/ignore his insults with a smile.
5
dard-e dil likhuuN kab tak jaauuN un ko dikhlaa duuN
uNgliyaaN figaar1 apnii Khaamah2 KhuuN-chakaaN3 apnaa
1.wounded, lacerated 2.reed pen 3.blood dripping
The poet lover has been constantly writing to the beloved, describing to her the pain in his heart. How long can I do this, it does not seem to have any effect on her. Why not go there and show her my lacerated fingers and pen dripping in blood. The lacerations in the fingers can come because of constant writing or preparing the point of the reed pen. Blood can drip from the pen because of lacerations in the fingers or because blood dripping from the eyes has been used as ink.
6
ghiste ghiste miT jaataa aap ne abas1 badlaa
nang2-e sijdah3 se mere sang4-e aastaaN5 apnaa
1.unnessearily, uselessly 2.disgrace 3.prostration 4.stone 5.door-sill
The poet/lover has been prostrating at her door sill. The beloved wants to hide the disgrace caused by the marks/indentation on the sill and changes the stone. Why did you do that, there was no need says the poet/lover, because it would have disappeared by my constant rubbing anyway. Thus the poet/lover proves his own devotion and the beloved’s cruelty.
7
taa1 kare nah Ghammaazii2 kar liyaa hai dushman ko
dost kii shikaayat3 meN hum ne hum-zabaaN4 apnaa
1.so that 2.back-biting, gossiping 3.complaint 4.same tongue/words
The poet/lover complains about the cruelty of the beloved to everyone, even to the rival. But he is afraid that the rival might carry this tale back to the beloved and cause trouble for him. So he has complained with such effectiveness (in beautiful language) that the rival has taken ownership of those words and can no longer carry tales back.
8
hum kahaaN ke daanaa1 the kis hunar2 meN yaktaa3 the
be-sabab4 huaa Ghalib dushman aasmaaN apnaa
1.wise 2.talent 3.unique, excellent 4.without cause
In urdu poetic tradition, skies/heavens are always unkind to outstanding people (because of jealousy). I am not wise, I am not excellent in any talent, then why, O why, are the heavens unkind to me. The implication is that it must be because I really AM wise and excellent.
1
The theme her tender loveliness, and mine the rapt address
Good confidante, who heard the tale, forsook his friendliness
3
I wish the sky were not to be my restraining roof, my floor
Had I been stationed nearer earth, I could have built some more
5
Rather than scribble on and on, the story of the flood,
Better to show her my quill and fingers, dripping blood
6
Lest my brow should quite erase the stone upon her door
She had the slab removed entire, and replaced by another four
8
Gifted with no great talent, and recklessly unwise,
Then why should god be pitched against my harmless enterprise?
