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Recitation
سخنور و سخنوری ۔ میر تقی میرؔ
منتخب اشعارا
۱
ریختے کے تُمہیں اُستاد نہیں ہو غالبؔ
کہتے ہیں اگلے زمانے میں کوئی میرؔ بھی تھا
۲
غالب اپنا یہ عقیدہ ہے بہ قولِ ناسخ
آپ بے بہرہ ہے جو معتقدِ میر نہیں
۳
میر کے شعر کا احوال کہوں کیا غالب
جس کا دیوان کم از گلشنِ کشمیر نہیں
۴
ریختہ کاہے کو تھا رُتبۂ عالی میں میرؔ
جو زمیں نکلی اُسے تا آسماں میں لے گیا
۵
ہم نے جانا تھا لکھے گا تو کوئی حرف ائے میرؔ
پر تیرا نامہ تو اِک شوق کا دفتر نکلا
۶
عاقلانہ حرف زن ہو میرؔ تو کرئے بیاں
زیرِ لب کیا جانئے کہتا ہے کیا مجذوب سا
۷
کیا جانوں دِل کو کھینچے ہیں کیوں شعر میرؔ کے
کچھ طرز ایسی بھی نہیں ایہام بھی نہیں
۸
اگر وہ بت نہ جانے تو نہ جانے
ہمیں سب جانتے ہیں ہندوستاں میں
۹
کچھ ہند ہی میں نہیں لوگ جیب چاک
ہے میرے ریختوں کا دوانہ دکن تمام
۱۰
سر سبز ہند ہی میں نہیں کچھ یہ ریختہ
ہے دھوم میرے شعر کی سارے دکھن کے بیچ
۱۱
دیکھو تو کس روانی سے کہتے ہیں شعر میرؔ
دُر سے ہزار چند ہے اُن کے سخن میں آب
۱۲
شعر پڑھتے پھرتے ہیں سب میرؔ کے
اِس قلمرو میں ہے اُن کا دور اب
۱۳
دفتر لکھے ہیں میرؔ نے دل کے الم کے یہ
یاں اپنے طور و طرز میں وہ فرد ہو گیا
۱۴
ہم نے جانا تھا سخن ہوں گے زباں پر کتنے
پر قلم ہاتھ جو آیا لکھے دفتر کتنے
۱۵
اُٹھ جائے رسمِ نالہ و آہ و فغان سب
اِس تیرہ روزگار میں تو میرؔ اگر نہ ہو
۱۶
ہم سے خوش زمزمہ کہاں یوں تو
لب و لہجہ ہزار رکھتے ہیں
۱۷
زلف سا پیچ دار ہے ہر شعر
ہے سخن میرؔ کا عجب ڈھب کا
۱۸
ہر ورق ہر صفحے میں اِک شعرِ شور انگیز ہے
عرصۂ محشر ہے عرصہ میرے بھی دیوان کا
۱۹
جانے کا نہیں شور سخن کا میرے ہرگز
تا حشر جہاں میں میرا دیوان رہے گا
۲۰
قیامت کو جرمانۂ شاعری پر
مرے سر سے میرا ہی دیوان مارا
۲۱
کس کو دماغِ شعر و سخن ضعف میں کہ میرؔ
اپنا رہے ہے اب تو ہمیں بیشتر خیال
۲۲
کہیں کیا جو پوچھے کوئی ہم سے میرؔ
جہاں میں تم آئے تھے کیا کر چلے
सुख़न्वर ओ सुख़न्वरी – मीर तक़ी मीर
मुंतख़ह अशआर
१
रेख़्ते के तुम्हीं उस्ताद नहीं हो ग़ालिब
कहते हैं अगले ज़माने में कोई मीर भी था
२
ग़ालेब अपना ये अक़ीदा है ब क़ौल-ए नासख़
आप बे-बहरा है जो मोतक़द-ए मीर नहीं
३
मीर के शेर का अहवाल कहूँ क्या ग़ालेब
जिस का दीवान कम अज़ गुलशन-ए कश्मीर नहीं
४
रेख़्ता काहे को था रुत्बा-ए आली में मीर
जो ज़मीं निकली उसे ता आस्मां मैं ले गया
५
हम ने जाना था लिखेगा तू कोई हर्फ़ अए मीर
पर तेरा नामा तो एक शौक़ का दफ़्तर निकला
६
आक़लाना हर्फ़-ज़न हो मीर तो कर्ये बयां
ज़ेर-ए लब क्या जानिये कहता है क्या मज्ज़ूब सा
७
क्या जानूं दिल को खींचे हैं क्यूं शेर मीर के
कुछ तर्ज़ ऐसी भी नहीं ईहाम भी नहीं
८
अगर वो बुत न जाने तो न जाने
हमें सब जांते हैं हिंदोस्तां में
९
कुछ हिन्द में हि नहीं लोग जेब-चाक
है मेरे रेख़्तौं का दिवाना दक्कन तमाम
१०
सर सब्ज़ हिन्द हि में नहीं कुछ ये रेख़्ता
है धूम मेरे शेर कि सारे दखन के बीच
११
देखो तो किस रवानि से कहते हैं शेर मीर
दुर से हज़ार-चन्द है उन के सुख़न में आब
१२
शेर पढ़ते फिरते हैं सब मीर के
इस क़लमरू में है उन का दौर अब
१३
दफ़्तर लिखे हैं मीर ने दिल के अलम के ये
यां अपने तौर ओ तर्ज़ में वो फ़र्द हो गया
१४
हम ने जाना था सुख़न होंगे ज़बां पर कितने
पर क़लम हाथ जो आया लिखे दफ़्तर कितने
१५
उठ जाए रस्म-ए नाला ओ आह ओ फ़ुग़ान सब
इस तीरा रोज़गार में तू मीर अगर न हो
१६
हम से ख़ुश-ज़मज़मा कहां, यूं तो
लब ओ लहजा हज़ार रखते हैं
१७
ज़ुल्फ़ सा पेचदार है हर शेर
है सुख़न मीर का अजब ढब का
१८
हर वर्क़ हर सफ़हे में एक शेर-ए शोर-अंगेज़ है
अर्सा-ए महशर है अर्सा मेरे भी दीवान का
१९
जाने का नहीं शोर सुख़न का मेरे हर्गिज़
ता हश्र जहां में मेरा दीवान रहेगा
२०
क़यामत को जुर्माना-ए शाएरी पर
मेरे सर से मेरा हि दीवान मारा
२१
किस को दिमाग़-ए शेर ओ सुख़न ज़ोफ़ में के मीर
अपना रहे है अब तो हमें बेश्तर ख़्याल
२२
कहें क्या जो पूछे कोई हम से मीर
जहां में तुम आए थे क्या कर चले
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir taqi mir (1722-1810) pioneer of urdu language and Ghazal. Considered a poet of angst and sorrow. In this collection ash’aar from various Ghazal, he sings the merits of poetical capability, his place in history, his destiny and finally a humbling/rhetorical question about accomplishments.
1
reKhte1 ke tumhiN ustaad nahiN ho Ghalib
kahte haiN agle zamaane2 meN koi mir bhi tha 1.early name for urdu 2.past times
This is a collection of ash’aar by mir taqi mir, praising his own verse, but I begin with a tribute that Ghalib paid to the shaa’er who went before him. You are not the only master of urdu verse, O, Ghalib. They say that in past times there was someone called mir.
2
Ghalib apna ye ‘aqiida1 hai ba-qaul2-e naasiKh3
aap be-bahra4 hai jo muutaqid5-e mir nahiN 1.belief 2.according to, in the words of 3.shaa’er, contemporary of Ghalib 4.without share/stake/fortune 5.believer
Both belief and believer are strong religious terms and indicate the depth of feeling. naasiKh was also an admirer of mir taqi mir and the second misra is a direct quote from him. Ghalib, it is my belief that, in the words of naasiKh, he who does not a believer (of the greatness of) mir, is himself without any share/stake (in the language).
3
mir ke she’r ka ahvaal1 kahuN kya Ghalib
jis ka diivaan2 kam az3 gulshan-e kashmir nahiN 1.condition, status 2.book of verse 3.compared to
What can I say about the status of mir’s she’r O, Ghalib. His book of verse is no less (in beauty) than the garden of kashmir.
4
reKhta1 kaahe ko tha rutba2-e aali3 meN mir
jo zamiN nikli use taa aasmaN maiN le gaya 1.old name of urdu 2.status 3.high, exalted
zamiN is used in a number of delightfully different meanings. zamin-aasman implies low and high status/regard. zamin is background/meaning/context of the she’r. zamin is also the rhyming pattern and flow. Thus, when was urdu verse of high/exalted status/calibre. Whatever zamin (calibre, meaning, rhythm) appeared, I took to the aasman (high level of excellence).
5
ham ne jaana tha likhega tu koi harf1 aye mir
par tera naama2 to ek shauq3 ka daftar4 nikla 1.alphabet, word 2.writing, book 3.pleasure 4.collection, book, ledger
We knew you were going to write words O mir. But your book turned out to be a storehouse of pleasure.
6
aaqelaana1 harf-zan2 ho mir to kariye bayaaN3
zer-e-lab4 kya jaaniye kahta hai kya majzoob5 sa 1.wise 2.speak 3.speak, recite 4.under the lip i.e. mumbling 5.incomprehensible, mad
If you have wise words, spoken loudly and clearly, then go ahead and recite, O, mir. We don’t know what non-sense it is that you mumble under your breath.
7
kya jaanuN dil ko kheeNche haiN kyuN she’r mir ke
kuchh tarz1 aisi bhi nahiN eehaam2 bhi nahiN 1.style, manner 2.multiple meaning, ambiguity, illusion
I do not know why mir’s ash’aar pull at heart even though they don’t have a unique style or refined illusion. ‘eehaam’ was the style of day but mir wanted to write more straightforward ash’aar and claimed that they pulled at the heartstrings.
8
agar vo but1 na jaane to na jaane
hameN sub jaante haiN hindostaaN2 meN 1.idol, beloved 2.used for the Indo-Gangetic plain in those times
If the beloved doesn’t know, may be she does not know, but I am well known all over hindostaan.
9
kuchh hind meN hi nahiN log jeb1-chaak2
hai mere reKhte3 ka divaana dakkan tamaam 1.collar, shirt front 2.rent, torn 3.urdu verse
A rent shirt front is a sign of madness/frenzy/trance. It is not just in hind/hindostan that people are in a trance. The whole of the dakkan is also mad about my urdu verse.
10
sar-sabz1 hind2 hi meN nahiN kuchh ye reKhta3
hai dhoom mere she’r ki saare dakhan ke beech4 1.lush and green 2.Indo-Gangetic plain 3.old name of urdu 4.middle, centre
urdu is flourishing not just in the northern Indo-Gangetic plain, but my ash’aar are celebrated/admired throughout the dakhan (south) too.
11
dekho to kis ravaani1 se kahte haiN she’r mir
dur2 se hazaar-chand3 hai un ke suKhan4 meN aab5 1.flow, ease 2.pearl 3.thousand times 4.verse, recitation 5.brilliance
See, with what ease mir composes/recites she’r. His verse is a thousand times more brilliant than pearls.
12
she’r paRhte phirte haiN sub mir ke
is qalamroo1 meN hai un ka daur2 ab 1.kingdom, region, realm 2.times, dominance
Everyone walks around, reciting the ash’aar of mir. He is now the dominant poet of these times and this realm. ‘Realm’ could be interpreted either as the moGhal kingdom or as the ‘realm of urdu’.
13
daftar1 likhe haiN mir ne dil ke alam2 ke ye
yaaN apne taur-o-tarz3 meN vo fard4 ho gaya 1.account, books 2.sorrow, pain 3.style and method 4.unique, beyond compare
What mir has written are accounts of the sorrow of the heart. In his methods and ways he now beyond compare.
14
hum ne jaana tha suKhan1 hoNgeN zabaaN par kitne
par qalam haath jo aaya likhe daftar2 kitne 1.words, verse 2.books
We knew there would be many words/verses on his tongue/lips. But when he got a pen in hand, look how many books he wrote.
15
uTh jaaye rasm1-e naala2 o aah3 o fuGhaan4 sub
is teera5 rozgaar6 meN tu mir agar na ho 1.tradition 2.wailing 3.sighing 4.crying 5.dark 6.daily life
If you are gone from this world/life, O, mir, then this tradition of sorrowful expression will also be gone.
16
hum se Khush1-zamzama2 kahaaN yuN to
lab3 o lahja4 hazaar rakhte haiN 1.good, better 2.singer, musician (gurgling sound of a spring near k’aaba) 3.lips 4.accent
Where/who is a better singer/composer/shaa’er than me, even if there are thousands who have the ability and accent to speak.
17
zulf1 sa pech-daar2 hai har she’r
hai suKhan3 mir ka ajab4 Dhab5 ka 1.hair 2.curly 3.words, verse 4.unusual, enchanting 5.style
Every she’r is curled/convoluted/hidden meaning like the beloved’s curly hair. mir’s verse is of an unusual/enchanting style.
18
har varaq1 har safhe2 meN ek she’r-e shor-aNgez3 hai
arsa4-e mahshar5 hai arsa mere bhi diivan6 ka 1.paper 2.page 3.tumult raising 4.period of time and/or space 5.tumult, doomsday 6.book of verse
Judgement day will turn things topsy turvy, will raise a great tumult. The domain of my diivan also is tumult raising (raising hell).
19
jaane ka nahiN shor suKhan ka mere hargiz1
taa-hashr2 jahaaN meN mera diivan3 rahega 1.under no conditions 2.until the end of the world 3.book of verse
The noise/tumult/rebellion raised by my verse is not going away under any condition. My book verse will be around until the end of time.
20
qayaamat ko jurmaana2-e shaa’eri par
mere sar se mera hi diivaan3 maara 1.judgement day 2.fine, punishment 3.book of verse
On judgement day, as a fine/punishment for writing/composing she’r, they hit me on my head with my own book (it was massive).
21
kis ko dimaaGh1-e she’r-o-suKhan2 zo’f3 meN ke miir
apna rahe ab to hameN beshtar Khayaal 1.mind, thought 2.couplet and verse 3.weakness, old age 4.more often
The poet has gotten old. He can no longer summon up the strength/mood to write verse. These days, he mostly thinks of himself/his health/condition.
22
kaheN kya jo poochhe koii hum se miir
jahaaN meN tum aaye the kya kar chale What will you say, when someone asks you O, mir. You came into this world, what did you accomplish.
mir taqi mir (1722-1810) pioneer of urdu language and Ghazal. Considered a poet of angst and sorrow. In this collection ash’aar from various Ghazal, he sings the merits of poetical capability, his place in history, his destiny and finally a humbling/rhetorical question about accomplishments.
1
reKhte1 ke tumhiN ustaad nahiN ho Ghalib
kahte haiN agle zamaane2 meN koi mir bhi tha
1.early name for urdu 2.past times
This is a collection of ash’aar by mir taqi mir, praising his own verse, but I begin with a tribute that Ghalib paid to the shaa’er who went before him. You are not the only master of urdu verse, O, Ghalib. They say that in past times there was someone called mir.
2
Ghalib apna ye ‘aqiida1 hai ba-qaul2-e naasiKh3
aap be-bahra4 hai jo muutaqid5-e mir nahiN
1.belief 2.according to, in the words of 3.shaa’er, contemporary of Ghalib 4.without share/stake/fortune 5.believer
Both belief and believer are strong religious terms and indicate the depth of feeling. naasiKh was also an admirer of mir taqi mir and the second misra is a direct quote from him. Ghalib, it is my belief that, in the words of naasiKh, he who does not a believer (of the greatness of) mir, is himself without any share/stake (in the language).
3
mir ke she’r ka ahvaal1 kahuN kya Ghalib
jis ka diivaan2 kam az3 gulshan-e kashmir nahiN
1.condition, status 2.book of verse 3.compared to
What can I say about the status of mir’s she’r O, Ghalib. His book of verse is no less (in beauty) than the garden of kashmir.
4
reKhta1 kaahe ko tha rutba2-e aali3 meN mir
jo zamiN nikli use taa aasmaN maiN le gaya
1.old name of urdu 2.status 3.high, exalted
zamiN is used in a number of delightfully different meanings. zamin-aasman implies low and high status/regard. zamin is background/meaning/context of the she’r. zamin is also the rhyming pattern and flow. Thus, when was urdu verse of high/exalted status/calibre. Whatever zamin (calibre, meaning, rhythm) appeared, I took to the aasman (high level of excellence).
5
ham ne jaana tha likhega tu koi harf1 aye mir
par tera naama2 to ek shauq3 ka daftar4 nikla
1.alphabet, word 2.writing, book 3.pleasure 4.collection, book, ledger
We knew you were going to write words O mir. But your book turned out to be a storehouse of pleasure.
6
aaqelaana1 harf-zan2 ho mir to kariye bayaaN3
zer-e-lab4 kya jaaniye kahta hai kya majzoob5 sa
1.wise 2.speak 3.recite 4.under the lip i.e. mumbling 5.incomprehensible, mad
If you have wise words, spoken loudly and clearly, then go ahead and recite, O, mir. We don’t know what non-sense it is that you mumble under your breath.
7
kya jaanuN dil ko kheeNche haiN kyuN she’r mir ke
kuchh tarz1 aisi bhi nahiN eehaam2 bhi nahiN
1.style, manner 2.multiple meaning, ambiguity, illusion
I do not know why mir’s ash’aar pull at the heart even though they don’t have a unique style or refined illusion. ‘eehaam’ was the style of day but mir wanted to write more straightforward ash’aar and claimed that they pulled at the heartstrings.
8
agar vo but1 na jaane to na jaane
hameN sub jaante haiN hindostaaN2 meN
1.idol, beloved 2.used for the Indo-Gangetic plain in those times
If the beloved doesn’t know, may be she does not know, but I am well known all over hindostaan.
9
kuchh hind meN hi nahiN log jeb1-chaak2
hai mere reKhte3 ka divaana dakkan tamaam
1.collar, shirt front 2.rent, torn 3.urdu verse
A rent shirt front is a sign of madness/frenzy/trance. It is not just in hind/hindostan that people are in a trance. The whole of the dakkan is also mad about my urdu verse.
10
sar-sabz1 hind2 hi meN nahiN kuchh ye reKhta3
hai dhoom mere she’r ki saare dakhan ke beech4
1.lush and green 2.Indo-Gangetic plain 3.old name of urdu 4.middle, centre
urdu is flourishing not just in the northern Indo-Gangetic plain, but my ash’aar are celebrated/admired throughout the dakhan (south) too.
11
dekho to kis ravaani1 se kahte haiN she’r mir
dur2 se hazaar-chand3 hai un ke suKhan4 meN aab5
1.flow, ease 2.pearl 3.thousand times 4.verse, recitation 5.brilliance
See, with what ease mir composes/recites she’r. His verse is a thousand times more brilliant than pearls.
12
she’r paRhte phirte haiN sub mir ke
is qalamroo1 meN hai un ka daur2 ab
1.kingdom, region, realm 2.times, dominance
Everyone walks around, reciting the ash’aar of mir. He is now the dominant poet of these times and this realm. ‘Realm’ could be interpreted either as the moGhal kingdom or as the ‘realm of urdu’.
13
daftar1 likhe haiN mir ne dil ke alam2 ke ye
yaaN apne taur-o-tarz3 meN vo fard4 ho gaya
1.account, books 2.sorrow, pain 3.style and method 4.unique, beyond compare
What mir has written are accounts of the sorrow of the heart. In his methods and ways he is now beyond compare.
14
hum ne jaana tha suKhan1 hoNgeN zabaaN par kitne
par qalam haath jo aaya likhe daftar2 kitne
1.words, verse 2.books
We knew there would be many words/verses on his tongue/lips. But when he got a pen in hand, look how many books he wrote.
15
uTh jaaye rasm1-e naala2 o aah3 o fuGhaan4 sub
is teera5 rozgaar6 meN tu mir agar na ho
1.tradition 2.wailing 3.sighing 4.crying 5.dark 6.daily life
If you are gone from this world/life, O, mir, then this tradition of sorrowful expression will also be gone.
16
hum se Khush1-zamzama2 kahaaN yuN to
lab3 o lahja4 hazaar rakhte haiN
1.good, better 2.singer, musician (gurgling sound of a spring near k’aaba) 3.lips 4.accent
Where/who is a better singer/composer/shaa’er than me, even if there are thousands who have the ability and accent to speak.
17
zulf1 sa pech-daar2 hai har she’r
hai suKhan3 mir ka ajab4 Dhab5 ka
1.hair 2.curly 3.words, verse 4.unusual, enchanting 5.style
Every she’r is curled/convoluted/hidden meaning like the beloved’s curly hair. mir’s verse is of an unusual/enchanting style.
18
har varaq1 har safhe2 meN ek she’r-e shor-aNgez3 hai
arsa4-e mahshar5 hai arsa mere bhi diivan6 ka
1.paper 2.page 3.tumult raising 4.period of time and/or space, field 5.tumult, doomsday 6.book of verse
Judgement day will turn things topsy turvy, will raise a great tumult. The domain of my diivan also is tumult raising (raising hell).
19
jaane ka nahiN shor suKhan ka mere hargiz1
taa-hashr2 jahaaN meN mera diivan3 rahega
1.under no conditions 2.until the end of the world 3.book of verse
The noise/tumult/rebellion raised by my verse is not going away under any condition. My book verse will be around until the end of time.
20
qayaamat ko jurmaana2-e shaa’eri par
mere sar se mera hi diivaan3 maara
1.judgement day 2.fine, punishment 3.book of verse
On judgement day, as a fine/punishment for writing/composing she’r, they hit me on my head with my own book (it was massive).
21
kis ko dimaaGh1-e she’r-o-suKhan2 zo’f3 meN ke miir
apna rahe ab to hameN beshtar Khayaal
1.mind, thought 2.couplet and verse 3.weakness, old age 4.more often
The poet has gotten old. He can no longer summon up the strength/mood to write verse. These days, he mostly thinks of himself/his health/condition.
22
kaheN kya jo poochhe koii hum se miir
jahaaN meN tum aaye the kya kar chale
What will you say, when someone asks you O, mir. You came into this world, what did you accomplish.
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