For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “English” or “Notes” tab.
Recitation
کہ کچھ رات کٹے ۔ رگھوپتی سہائے فراقؔ گورکھپوری
۱
ساغرِ صبح چکاں لاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
نورِ سیّال کو چھلکاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۲
نغمۂ جلوۂ رُخ گاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
شعلۂ عشق کو بھڑکاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۳
یہ لٹک اور یہ ٹھہراو فضا کا یہ سُکُوت
شب کے اے گیسوؤ بل کھاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۴
بھولے بسرے ہوئے غمہائے حیاتِ رفتہ
تم بھی ایسے میں چلے آو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۵
چار سُو چرخ پہ چھٹکے ہوئے تاروں کی شعاعو
رگِ ظلمات کو اُکساو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۶
ایک مُدّت سے فضاؤں میں ہیں شعلے لپکے
سازِ شبنم ہی کو کھنکاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۷
اوڑھنی اُس کی ہوائیں ہیں کہ تارؤں بھری رات
کسی گھونگھٹ ہی کو سرکاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۸
آج ہم میں نہیں وہ جانِ حیا کس سے کہیں
صبح کے رنگ میں شرماو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۹
تم جدا ہوگے تو ہو جائے گی یہ رات پہاڑ
رات کی رات ٹھہر جاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۰
اے کسی صحبتِ دوشینہ کی یادوں کے نقوش
درد بن بن کے اُٹھے جاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۱
ڈبڈبائے ہوئے ہیں دیدۂ انجم کب سے
مسکراتے ہوئے آ جاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۲
آنچ سے جن کی فلک پر دِلِ انجم ہیں گداز
غم کے وہ ساز اُٹھا لاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۳
دَورِ ساغر کو بنائے چلو دَورِ افلاک
غم آفاق کو بہلاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۴
جیسے تاروں کی چمک بہتی ہوئی گنگا میں
اہلِ غم کو یوں ہی یاد آو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۵
اِس زمانے میں کہاں ہے کوئی روُدادِ نشاط
غم کے افسانے کہے جاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۶
اُس کی پلکوں سے جو رہ رہ کے چھلک جاتے ہیں
اُنھیں افسانوں کو دُہراو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۷
یادِ ایّام کی پُروئیو دھیمے دھیمے
میر کی کوئی غزل گاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۸
دوں کن الفاظ میں اس مصرۂ مخدوم کی داد
غمزدو تیشوں کو چمکاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
۱۹
آ کے محفل میں فراقؔ آج نہیں نغمہ سرا
جا کے اُس کو بھی بلا لاو کہ کچھ رات کٹے
के कुछ रात कटे – रघुपति सहाय फ़िराक़ गोरखपूरी
१
साग़र-ए सुबह चकां लाओ के कुछ रात कटे
नूर-ए सय्याल को छल्काओ के कुछ रात कटे
२
नग़्मा-ए जल्वा-ए रुख़ गाओ के कुछ रात कटे
शोला-ए इश्क़ को भढकाओ के कुछ रात कटे
३
ये लटक और ये ठहराऊ फ़िज़ा का ये सुकूत
शब के अए गेसुओ बल खाओ के कुछ रात कटे
४
भूले बिस्रे हुए ग़म-हा-ए हयात-ए रफ़्ता
तुम भी ऐसे में चले आओ के कुछ रात कटे
५
चार सू चर्ख़ पे छिट्के हुए तारौं कि शु’आओ
रग-ए ज़ुल्मात को उक्साओ के कुछ रात कटे
६
एक मुद्दत से फ़ज़ाओं में हैं शोले लपके
साज़-ए शबनम हि को खन्खाओ के कुछ रात कटे
७
ओढ़नी उस की हवाएं हैं के तारौं भरी रात
किसी घूंघट हि को सरकाओ के कुछ रात कटे
८
आज हम में नहीं वो जान-ए हया, किस से कहें
सुबह के रंग में शरमाओ के कुछ रात कटे
९
तुम जुदा होगे तो हो जाएगी ये रात पहाढ
रात की रात ठहर जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१०
अए किसी सोहबत-ए दोशीना कि यादौं के नुक़ूश
दर्द बन बन के उठे जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
११
डबडबाए हुए हैं दीदा-ए अंजुम कब से
मुस्कुराते हुए आ जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१२
आंच से जिन कि फ़लक पर दिल-ए अंजुम हैं गुदाज़
ग़म के वो साज़ उठा लाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१३
दौर-ए साग़र को बनाए चलो दौर-ए अफ़्लाक
ग़म-ए आफ़ाक़ को बहलाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१४
जैसे तारौं कि चमक बहती हुई गंगा में
अहल-ए ग़म को युं हि याद आओ के कुछ रात कटे
१५
इस ज़माने में कहां है कोई रूदाद-ए निशात
ग़म के अफ़्साने कहे जाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१६
उस कि पल्कौं से जो रह रह के छलक जाते हैं
उन्हीं अफ़्सानौं को दोहराओ के कुछ रात कटे
१७
याद-ए अय्याम कि पुर्वाईयो धीमे धीमे
मीर कि कोई ग़ज़्ल सुनाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१८
दूं किन अल्फ़ाज़ में इस मिस्रा-ए मख़्दूम कि दाद
ग़मज़दो तीशौं को चमकाओ के कुछ रात कटे
१९
आ के महफ़िल में फ़िराक़ आज नहीं नग़्मा-सरा
जा के उस को भी बुला लाओ के कुछ रात कटे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982) pre-eminent urdu shaa’er, scholar of farsi and sanskrit. Was nominated to Indian Civil Service but chose to participate in the freedom movement. After independence he chose an academic career, teaching English at Allahabad University. This is one of several Ghazal with the same refrain … ‘ke kuchh raat kaTe’. The others by maKhdoom, naasir kazimi, saaGhar nizami and more are also posted.
1
saaGhar1-e subah-chakaaN2 laao ke kuchh raat kaTe
noor3-e sayyaal4 ko chhalkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.goblet, cup 2.overflowing, dripping 3.light, sparkle 4.liquid, flowing
The poet, either alone or in company with friends, is despondent and the night is long. He is calling upon someone (perhaps the saaqi) to bring the morning cup, overflowing with wine, to spill (generous serving) that sparkling liquid so that this long night might pass.
2
naGhma1-e jalva2-e ruKh3 gaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
sho’la4-e ishq5 ko bhaRkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.song 2.glory, beauty 3.face 4.flame 5.love
Sing songs of the beauty of the face (of the beloved) that this night may pass. Fire up the flame of love that this night may pass.
3
ye laTak1 aur ye Thahraauu2, fiza3 ka ye sukoot4
shab5 ke aye gesu’o6 bal khaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.style, coquetry 2.pose 3.atmsophere, ambience 4.stillness, tranquility 5.night 6.tresses, long hair
The night is like the long dark tresses of the beloved. There is coquettish style and an enticing pose but everything is still. The poet/lover calls upon the long hair of the night to blow and swing so that the night may pass.
4
bhoole-bisre1 hue Gham-haa2-e hayaat-e rafta3
tum bhi aise meN chale aao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.forgotten and lost 2.sorrows 3.life gone by, youth
The poet is so down and out that adding memories of old sorrows on top of everything else is not going to do any more harm. In such a condition, you (old forgotten sorrows, which he considers his friends) come over so that this night may pass.
5
chaar-soo1 charKh2 pe chhiTke3 hue taaroN ki shu’aao4
rag-e-zulmaat5 ko uksaao6 ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.four directions, all around 2.wheel, sky 3.sprinkled 4.rays of light 5.veins of darkness 6.excite, energize
Darkness has veins through which blood flows. But it seems that this blood flow is still right now. It needs to be needled/excited/energized. The poet calls upon the rays of light of the stars sprinkled all around him on the sky to energize the veins of darkness so that the night may pass.
6
ek muddat1 se fizaaoN2 meN haiN sho’le3 lapke4
saaz5-e shabnam hi ko khankhaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.long time 2.air, ambience, atmosphere 3.flames 4.leap, burst out 5.lute, harp
For a long time now the ambience is on fire with flames leaping higher. There is not much that the poet (and his comrades can do). If nothing else, at least, string up the harp of dew drops that the night might pass.
7
oRhni1 us ki havaa’eN haiN ke taaroN bhari raat
kisi ghooNghaT hi ko sarkaao2 ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.head cover, shawl 2.move, unveil
The poet/lover cannot see the beloved. He imagines her veil to be wavy as if made of air or is she wearing a veil of the star studded night? Move this veil aside that this night may pass.
8
aaj hum meN nahiN vo jaan1-e haya2, kis se kaheN
subah ke raNg3 meN sharmaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.life, soul 2.bashfulness 3.colour/style
Probably it is the beloved who is ‘jaan-e haya’ the soul of bashfulness because no one else can be bashful like her. She is not among us today, who can I ask to “subah ke raNg meN sharmaao…”, i.e. be bashful like the crimson dawn. Had she been here, I could have asked her.
9
tum juda1 hoge to ho jaayegi ye raat pahaaR
raat ki raat Thahr jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe .separate, depart
If you (O, beloved) depart, the burden of this night will become like a mountain – unbearable. Stay through the night, so that this night may pass.
10
aye kisi sohbat1-e doshiina2 ki yaadoN ke nuqoosh3
dard ban ban ke uThe jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.company 2.last night 3.sketches, memories
The poet/lover recalls the company he had the previous night (could also mean some night in the distant past). He still carries those memories and calls upon them to rise again, like pain, so that the night may pass.
11
DabDabaaye1 hue haiN deeda2-e anjum3 kab se
muskuraate hue aa jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.dripping (as with tears) 2.eyes 3.stars
The picture is of dew drops in a cool night. These are like tear drops falling from the eyes of stars. The stars are sad because they are waiting for her. The poet/lover beseeches the beloved to come smiling so that the night may pass.
12
aaNch1 se jin ki falak2 par dil-e anjum3 haiN gudaaz4
Gham ke vo saaz5 uTha laao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.fire, passion, emotion 2.sky 3.stars 4.sorrowful 5.lute, harp
The hearts of the stars of the sky are sorrowful with the passion/emotion of the sad music of the lute/harp. Bring that harp again so that I may play the same music and the night may pass.
13
daur-e-saaGhar1 ko banaaye chalo daur-e-aflaak2
Gham-e-aafaaq3 ko bahlaao4 ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.circulation of the cup (of wine) 2.revolving of the skies 3.sorrows of the world (aafaaq is horizons) 4.console, sooth
In the tavern among the revelers the wine cup makes its rounds. Make this process so universal that it becomes like the revolving of the skies i.e. share the cup with the whole world so that sorrows of the world may be soothed and the night may pass.
14
jaise taaroN ki chamak bahti hui gaNga meN
ahl-e-Gham1 ko yuN hi yaad aao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.sorrowful people
Imagine a flowing river/gaNga with ripples and moonlight reflected in the ripples like glittering stars. The poet/lover and fellow lovers/rivals are all sorrowful but if the beloved’s image sparkles before them like the glittering river then the night may pass.
15
is zamaane meN kahaaN hai koii roodaad1-e nishaat2
Gham ke afsaane3 kahe jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.story, fable 2.happiness 3.story
There is no story of happiness in this world. Relate a story of sorrow so that this night may pass.
16
us ki palkoN se jo rah rah ke chhalak jaate haiN
unhiN afsaanoN1 ko dohraao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.stories, fables
The beloved has expressive eyes. All the stories of flow overflow from her eyelashes because there are so many that she cannot contain them. The lovers/rivals together may repeat these stories again and again so the night may pass.
17
yaad-e ayyaam1 ki purvaaiyo2 dheeme dheeme
mir ki koi Ghazl sunaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.memories of days gone by 2.wind
Memories of days gone by are blowing in like the wind. The poet is overwhelmed and asks them to blow gently and recite a Ghazal of mir so that this night may pass.
18
dooN kin alfaaz1 meN is misra2-e maKhdoom3 ki daad4
Ghamzado5 teeshoN6 ko chamkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.words 2.one line of a she’r 3.maKhdoom mohiuddin whose Ghazal with the same refrain has the second misra 4.compliments 5.grief stricken, oppressed 6.pick-axe, sickle (of hammer & sickle)
firaq has modeled his Ghazal after maKhdoom’s and is paying a compliment to him. I don’t have words to pay compliments to this line of maKhdoom calling upon the oppressed to get their pick-axe/sickle sharpened/shining that this night (of oppression) may pass.
19
aake mahfil1 meN firaq aaj nahiN naGhma-sara2
jaake us ko bhi bula laao ke kuchh raat kaTe 1.gathering 2.songster
firaq has not come to this gathering and is not singing his Ghazal. Go and fetch him so that this night may pass.
raghupati sahay firaq gorakhpuri (1896-1982) pre-eminent urdu shaa’er, scholar of farsi and sanskrit. Was nominated to Indian Civil Service but chose to participate in the freedom movement. After independence he chose an academic career, teaching English at Allahabad University. This is one of several Ghazal with the same refrain … ‘ke kuchh raat kaTe’. The others by maKhdoom, naasir kazimi, saaGhar nizami and more are also posted.
1
saaGhar1-e subah-chakaaN2 laao ke kuchh raat kaTe
noor3-e sayyaal4 ko chhalkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.goblet, cup 2.overflowing, dripping 3.light, sparkle 4.liquid, flowing
The poet, either alone or in company with friends, is despondent and the night is long. He is calling upon someone (perhaps the saaqi) to bring the morning cup, overflowing with wine, to spill (generous serving) that sparkling liquid so that this long night might pass.
2
naGhma1-e jalva2-e ruKh3 gaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
sho’la4-e ishq5 ko bhaRkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.song 2.glory, beauty 3.face 4.flame 5.love
Sing songs of the beauty of the face (of the beloved) that this night may pass. Fire up the flame of love that this night may pass.
3
ye laTak1 aur ye Thahraauu2, fiza3 ka ye sukoot4
shab5 ke aye gesu’o6 bal khaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.style, coquetry 2.pose 3.atmsophere, ambience 4.stillness, tranquility 5.night 6.tresses, long hair
The night is like the long dark tresses of the beloved. There is coquettish style and an enticing pose but everything is still. The poet/lover calls upon the long hair of the night to blow and swing so that the night may pass.
4
bhoole-bisre1 hue Gham-haa2-e hayaat-e rafta3
tum bhi aise meN chale aao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.forgotten and lost 2.sorrows 3.life gone by, youth
The poet is so down and out that adding memories of old sorrows on top of everything else is not going to do any more harm. In such a condition, you (old forgotten sorrows, which he considers his friends) come over so that this night may pass.
5
chaar-soo1 charKh2 pe chhiTke3 hue taaroN ki shu’aao4
rag-e-zulmaat5 ko uksaao6 ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.four directions, all around 2.wheel, sky 3.sprinkled 4.rays of light 5.veins of darkness 6.excite, energize
Darkness has veins through which blood flows. But it seems that this blood flow is still right now. It needs to be needled/excited/energized. The poet calls upon the rays of light of the stars sprinkled all around him on the sky to energize the veins of darkness so that the night may pass.
6
ek muddat1 se fizaaoN2 meN haiN sho’le3 lapke4
saaz5-e shabnam hi ko khankhaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.long time 2.air, ambience, atmosphere 3.flames 4.leap, burst out 5.lute, harp
For a long time now the ambience is on fire with flames leaping higher. There is not much that the poet (and his comrades can do). If nothing else, at least, string up the harp of dew drops that the night might pass.
7
oRhni1 us ki havaa’eN haiN ke taaroN bhari raat
kisi ghooNghaT hi ko sarkaao2 ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.head cover, shawl 2.move, unveil
The poet/lover cannot see the beloved. He imagines her veil to be wavy as if made of air or is she wearing a veil of the star studded night? Move this veil aside that this night may pass.
8
aaj hum meN nahiN vo jaan1-e haya2, kis se kaheN
subah ke raNg3 meN sharmaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.life, soul 2.bashfulness 3.colour/style
Probably it is the beloved who is ‘jaan-e haya’ the soul of bashfulness because no one else can be bashful like her. She is not among us today, who can I ask to “subah ke raNg meN sharmaao…”, i.e. be bashful like the crimson dawn. Had she been here, I could have asked her.
9
tum juda1 hoge to ho jaayegi ye raat pahaaR
raat ki raat Thahr jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.separate, depart
If you (O, beloved) depart, the burden of this night will become like a mountain – unbearable. Stay through the night, so that this night may pass.
10
aye kisi sohbat1-e doshiina2 ki yaadoN ke nuqoosh3
dard ban ban ke uThe jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.company 2.last night 3.sketches, memories
The poet/lover recalls the company he had the previous night (could also mean some night in the distant past). He still carries those memories and calls upon them to rise again, like pain, so that the night may pass.
11
DabDabaaye1 hue haiN deeda2-e anjum3 kab se
muskuraate hue aa jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.dripping (as with tears) 2.eyes 3.stars
The picture is of dew drops in a cool night. These are like tear drops falling from the eyes of stars. The stars are sad because they are waiting for her. The poet/lover beseeches the beloved to come smiling so that the night may pass.
12
aaNch1 se jin ki falak2 par dil-e anjum3 haiN gudaaz4
Gham ke vo saaz5 uTha laao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.fire, passion, emotion 2.sky 3.stars 4.sorrowful 5.lute, harp
The hearts of the stars of the sky are sorrowful with the passion/emotion of the sad music of the lute/harp. Bring that harp again so that I may play the same music and the night may pass.
13
daur-e-saaGhar1 ko banaaye chalo daur-e-aflaak2
Gham-e-aafaaq3 ko bahlaao4 ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.circulation of the cup (of wine) 2.revolving of the skies 3.sorrows of the world (aafaaq is horizons) 4.console, sooth
In the tavern among the revelers the wine cup makes its rounds. Make this process so universal that it becomes like the revolving of the skies i.e. share the cup with the whole world so that sorrows of the world may be soothed and the night may pass.
14
jaise taaroN ki chamak bahti hui gaNga meN
ahl-e-Gham1 ko yuN hi yaad aao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.sorrowful people
Imagine a flowing river/gaNga with ripples and moonlight reflected in the ripples like glittering stars. The poet/lover and fellow lovers/rivals are all sorrowful but if the beloved’s image sparkles before them like the glittering river then the night may pass.
15
is zamaane meN kahaaN hai koii roodaad1-e nishaat2
Gham ke afsaane3 kahe jaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.story, fable 2.happiness 3.story
There is no story of happiness in this world. Relate a story of sorrow so that this night may pass.
16
us ki palkoN se jo rah rah ke chhalak jaate haiN
unhiN afsaanoN1 ko dohraao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.stories, fables
The beloved has expressive eyes. All the stories of flow overflow from her eyelashes because there are so many that she cannot contain them. The lovers/rivals together may repeat these stories again and again so the night may pass.
17
yaad-e ayyaam1 ki purvaaiyo2 dheeme dheeme
mir ki koi Ghazl sunaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.memories of days gone by 2.wind
Memories of days gone by are blowing in like the wind. The poet is overwhelmed and asks them to blow gently and recite a Ghazal of mir so that this night may pass.
18
dooN kin alfaaz1 meN is misra2-e maKhdoom3 ki daad4
Ghamzado5 teeshoN6 ko chamkaao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.words 2.one line of a she’r 3.maKhdoom mohiuddin whose Ghazal with the same refrain has the second misra 4.compliments 5.grief stricken, oppressed 6.pick-axe, sickle (of hammer & sickle)
firaq has modeled his Ghazal after maKhdoom’s and is paying a compliment to him. I don’t have words to pay compliments to this line of maKhdoom calling upon the oppressed to get their pick-axe/sickle sharpened/shining that this night (of oppression) may pass.
19
aake mahfil1 meN firaq aaj nahiN naGhma-sara2
jaake us ko bhi bula laao ke kuchh raat kaTe
1.gathering 2.songster
firaq has not come to this gathering and is not singing his Ghazal. Go and fetch him so that this night may pass.
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