For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
سو لے ہیں ۔ رگھوپتی سہائے فراقؔ گورکھپوری
۱
فرقت کی غمگیں راتوں کو یاد میں تیری رو لیں ہیں
تاروں کو جب نیند آئے ہے ہم بھی گھڑی بھر سو لیں ہیں
۲
ساقی بھلا کہاں قسمت میں، اب وہ چھلکتے پیمانے
ہم یادوں کے جام چوم کے سوکھے ہونٹ بھگو لیں ہیں
۳
فطرت کی وہ آنکھ مچولی دید کے قابل ہوے ہے
عالمِ راز میں کلیاں آنکھیں بند کریں ہیں کھولیں ہیں
۴
بے قصور منصور کو ناحق دار و رسن پر کھینچو ہو
لوگو کوئی اور نہیں یہ، پردے سے ہم بولیں ہیں
۵
لاکھ لاکھ ہم ضبط کرے ہیں دل ہے کہ اُمنڈا آوے ہے
ہمدم آنکھیں بھر آوے ہیں نام بھی اُس کا جو لیں ہیں
۶
پتّہ پتّہ بُوٹا بُوٹا وجد کرے ہے گُلشن میں
جب مشرق میں شفق پھولے ہے، نرم ہوائیں ڈولیں ہیں
۷
کون کرے ہے باتیں مجھ سے تنہائی کے پردے میں
ایسے میں کس کی آوازیں کانوں میں رس گھولیں ہیں
۸
جچی تُلی میزانِ نظر ہے، کیا مجال جو فرق پڑے
آنکھوں آنکھوں میں وہ دِلوں کو، رتّی رتّی تولیں ہیں
۹
حسن کے ہاتھوں جب کہیں جاکر کوئی سرخ رو ہوے ہے
اہلِ وفا پہلے اپنا منھ اپنے لہو سے دھو لیں ہیں
۱۰
اب اکژ بیمار رہے ہیں، کہیں نہیں نکلے ہیں فراقؔ
حال چال لینے اُن کے گھر کبھو کبھو ہم ہو لیں ہیں
सो लें हैं – रघुपती सहाए फ़िराक़ गोरखपूरी
१
फ़ुर्क़त की ग़म्गीं रातौं को याद में तेरी रो लें हैं
तारौं को जब नींद आए है हम भी घढी भर सो लें हैं
२
साक़ी भला कहां क़िस्मत में, अब वो छलकते पैमाने
हम यादौं के जाम चूम के सूखे होंट भिगो लें हैं
३
फ़ित्रत की वो आंख मिचोली दीद के क़ाबिल होवे है
आलम-ए राज़ में कलियां आंखें बंद करें हैं खोलें हैं
४
बे-क़ुसूर मंसूर को नाहक़ दार ओ रसन पर खींचो हो
लोगो कोई और नहीं ये, पर्दे से हम बोलें हैं
५
लाख लाख हम ज़ब्त करे हैं दिल है के उम्डा आवे है
हमदम आंखें भर आवे हैं, नाम भी उस का जो लें हैं
६
पत्ता पत्ता बूटा बूटा वज्द करे है गुल्शन में
जब मश्रिक़ में शफ़क़ फूले है, नर्म हवाएं डोलें हैं
७
कौन करे है बातें मुझ से तन्हाई के पर्दे में
ऐसे में किस की आवाज़ें कानौं में रस घोलें हैं
८
जची तुली मीज़ान-ए नज़र है, क्या मजाल जो फ़र्क़ पढे
आंखौं आंखौं में वो दिलौं को, रत्ती रत्ती तोलें हैं
९
हुस्न के हाथौं जब कहीं जा कर कोई सुर्ख़ रू होवो है
अहल-ए वफ़ा पहले अपने मुंह अपने लहू से धो लें हैं
१०
अब अक्सर बीमार रहे हैं, कहींनहीं निकले हैं फ़िराक़
हाल चाल लेने उन के घर कभू कभू हम हो लें हैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982). Early lessons in urdu, farsi and sanskrit from his father. Was nominated for Civil Service but decided to get into the freedom movement. Imprisoned 1920-22. Taught at Allahabad University. Sahitya Academy and Gyanpith Awards. This is a Ghazal, at times playful, at other times so thoughtful and self-reflective loaded with pathos. This is one of several Ghazal that firaq wrote in the style of mir taqi mir.
1
furqat1 kii GhamgiiN raatoN ko yaad meN teri ro leN haiN
taaroN ko jab neend aave hain hum bhi ghaRi bhar so leN haiN 1.separation (from the beloved)
During the sad nights of separation from the beloved, I have cried remembering you, throughout the night, until the stars are ready to sleep. Then and only then, have I slept for a short while.
2
saaqi bhala kahaaN qismat meN, ab vo chhalakte paimaane1
hum yaadoN ke jaam2 choom ke sookhe hoNT bhigo leN haiN 1.cups 2.goblets
O, saqi, no more in my fate, those overflowing goblets of wine. Now, I merely kiss the cups of memory to wet my dry lips.
3
fitrat1 ki vo aaNk-micholi2, diid3 ke qaabil4 hove hai
aalam-e-raaz5 meN kaliyaaN aaNkheN band kareN haiN kholeN haiN 1.nature 2.hide and seek 3.seeing 4.deserving of 5.world of secrets/mystery
The game of hide and seek they play in nature is worth seeing, when buds in their secretive world wink at each other. I have come across stars winking at each other or at us, but not flowers. firaq must be creating a world of enchantment.
4
be-qusoor1 mansoor2 ko naahaq3 daar-o-rasan4 par kheeNcho5 ho
logo koii aur nahiN ye, parde se hum boleN haiN 1.blameless 2.mansoor al-hallaaj 3.unjustifiably 4.hanging platform and rope 5.stretch, hang
mansoor refused to recant his teachings, in the face of a death sentence and chose to die. He is both a symbol of defiance and of being blameless. The poet is speaking out to say that his hanging was unjustified. There is a slight implication that this voice is coming from some mysterious place – like the voice of god, but he says it is him/poet speaking from behind the curtain (curtain of divinity?).
5
laakh laakh hum zabt1 kare haiN, dil hai ke umDa2 aave hai
humdum3 aaNkheN bhar aave haiN, naam bhi us ka jo leN haiN 1.bear with patience 2.well up 3.friend
As much as I bear my sorrow with patience, my heart wells up. O, friend, whenever I take her name, my eyes fill with tears.
6
patta patta booTa booTa vajd1 kare hai gulshan meN
jab mashriq2 meN shafaq3 phoole hai, narm havaaeN DoleN haiN 1.trance, joyful dance 2.east 3.twilight
It is dawn. Twilight breaks in the east. Soft morning breeze blows like as if softly swaying. Every leaf, every sapling sways as if in a trance. Of course, the phrase “patta, patta, booTa booTa” is directly out of a famous mir taqi mir she’r.
7
kaun kare hai baateN mujh se tanhaaii1 ke parde meN
aise meN kis ki aavaazeN kaanoN meN ras gholeN haiN 1.being alone (not lonely)
The poet/lover is alone in seclusion and he hears/imagines the beloved talking to him. It is as if the sound of her voice pours nectar in his ears.
8
jachi-tuli1 meezaan2-e nazar hai, kya majaal3 jo farq4 paRe
aaNkhoN aaNkhoN meN vo diloN ko, ratti5 ratti toleN haiN 1.tried and tested 2.balance 3.daring 4.difference (from reality) 5.grain
The beloved’s discriminating sight is tried and tested. There is no chance of error (difference from truth). Just by looking she is able to take the measure of every heart to the finest grain.
9
husn ke haathoN jab kahiN jaa kar koii surKh-ru1 hove hai
ahl-e-vafa2 pahle apne muNh, apne lahu3 se dho leN haiN 1.red/glowing/happy face 2.steadfast lovers 3.blood
The English phrase red-faced is used to mean the exact opposite to what it means in urdu. surKh-ru is better translated as ‘glowing face’. Before lovers can achieve this state of happiness they have to wash their face with their own blood. ‘lahu se muNh dhona’ is equivalent to being tested by fire, ‘agni pariksha’.
10
ab aksar1 biimaar rahe haiN, kahiN nahiN nikle haiN firaq
haal chaal lene un ke ghar, kabhu kabhu hum ho leN haiN 1.often
Now-a-days he is often sick, firaq does not venture out any more. To inquire after him, sometimes we have to go to his house.
raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982). Early lessons in urdu, farsi and sanskrit from his father. Was nominated for Civil Service but decided to get into the freedom movement. Imprisoned 1920-22. Taught at Allahabad University. Sahitya Academy and Gyanpith Awards. This is a Ghazal, at times playful, at other times so thoughtful and self-reflective loaded with pathos. This is one of several Ghazal that firaq wrote in the style of mir taqi mir.
1
furqat1 kii GhamgiiN raatoN ko yaad meN teri ro leN haiN
taaroN ko jab neend aave hain hum bhi ghaRi bhar so leN haiN
1.separation (from the beloved)
During the sad nights of separation from the beloved, I have cried remembering you, throughout the night, until the stars are ready to sleep. Then and only then, have I slept for a short while.
2
saaqi bhala kahaaN qismat meN, ab vo chhalakte paimaane1
hum yaadoN ke jaam2 choom ke sookhe hoNT bhigo leN haiN
1.cups 2.goblets
O, saqi, no more in my fate, those overflowing goblets of wine. Now, I merely kiss the cups of memory to wet my dry lips.
3
fitrat1 ki vo aaNk-micholi2, diid3 ke qaabil4 hove hai
aalam-e-raaz5 meN kaliyaaN aaNkheN band kareN haiN kholeN haiN
1.nature 2.hide and seek 3.seeing 4.deserving of 5.world of secrets/mystery
The game of hide and seek they play in nature is worth seeing, when buds in their secretive world wink at each other. I have come across stars winking at each other or at us, but not flowers. firaq must be creating a world of enchantment.
4
be-qusoor1 mansoor2 ko naahaq3 daar-o-rasan4 par kheeNcho5 ho
logo koii aur nahiN ye, parde se hum boleN haiN
1.blameless 2.mansoor al-hallaaj 3.unjustifiably 4.hanging platform and rope 5.stretch, hang
mansoor refused to recant his teachings, in the face of a death sentence and chose to die. He is both a symbol of defiance and of being blameless. The poet is speaking out to say that his hanging was unjustified. There is a slight implication that this voice is coming from some mysterious place – like the voice of god, but he says it is him/poet speaking from behind the curtain (curtain of divinity?).
5
laakh laakh hum zabt1 kare haiN, dil hai ke umDa2 aave hai
humdum3 aaNkheN bhar aave haiN, naam bhi us ka jo leN haiN
1.bear with patience 2.well up 3.friend
As much as I bear my sorrow with patience, my heart wells up. O, friend, whenever I take her name, my eyes fill with tears.
6
patta patta booTa booTa vajd1 kare hai gulshan meN
jab mashriq2 meN shafaq3 phoole hai, narm havaaeN DoleN haiN
1.trance, joyful dance 2.east 3.twilight
It is dawn. Twilight breaks in the east. Soft morning breeze blows like as if softly swaying. Every leaf, every sapling sways as if in a trance. Of course, the phrase “patta, patta, booTa booTa” is directly out of a famous mir taqi mir she’r.
7
kaun kare hai baateN mujh se tanhaaii1 ke parde meN
aise meN kis ki aavaazeN kaanoN meN ras gholeN haiN
1.being alone (not lonely)
The poet/lover is alone in seclusion and he hears/imagines the beloved talking to him. It is as if the sound of her voice pours nectar in his ears.
8
jachi-tuli1 meezaan2-e nazar hai, kya majaal3 jo farq4 paRe
aaNkhoN aaNkhoN meN vo diloN ko, ratti5 ratti toleN haiN
1.tried and tested 2.balance 3.daring 4.difference (from reality) 5.grain
The beloved’s discriminating sight is tried and tested. There is no chance of error (difference from truth). Just by looking she is able to take the measure of every heart to the finest grain.
9
husn ke haathoN jab kahiN jaa kar koii surKh-ru1 hove hai
ahl-e-vafa2 pahle apne muNh, apne lahu3 se dho leN haiN
1.red/glowing/happy face 2.steadfast lovers 3.blood
The English phrase red-faced is used to mean the exact opposite to what it means in urdu. surKh-ru is better translated as ‘glowing face’. Before lovers can achieve this state of happiness they have to wash their face with their own blood. ‘lahu se muNh dhona’ is equivalent to being tested by fire, ‘agni pariksha’.
10
ab aksar1 biimaar rahe haiN, kahiN nahiN nikle haiN firaq
haal chaal lene un ke ghar, kabhu kabhu hum ho leN haiN
1.often
Now-a-days he is often sick, firaq does not venture out any more. To inquire after him, sometimes we have to go to his house.
Key Search Words:
