For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
سوال و جواب میں ۔ داغؔ دہلوی
۱
کیا کیا فریب دل کو دئے اضطراب میں
اُن کی طرف سے آپ لکھے خط جواب میں
۲
شوخی نے تم کو ڈال دیا اضطراب میں
کچھ تمکنت کا لطف نہ دیکھا شباب میں
۳
کچھ شانِ مغفرت سے نہیں دور زاہدو
ڈوبیں گناہ بادہ کشوں کے شراب میں
۴
پیرِ مغاں کی دل شکنی کا رہا خیال
داخل ہوا ہوں توبہ سے پہلے ثواب میں
۵
گر وہ نہ آئیں گے تو اجل آئے گی ضرور
تسکیں ملی ہوئی ہے مرے اضطراب میں
۶
جی چاہتا ہے چھیڑ کے ہوں اُس سے ہمکلام
کچھ تو لگے گی دیر سوال و جواب میں
۷
اے داغؔ کوئی مجھ سا نہ ہوگا گناہ گار
ہے معصیت سے میرے جہنم عذاب میں
सवाल ओ जवाब में – दाग़ दहलवी
१
क्या क्या फ़रेब दिल को दिये इज़्तराब में
उन की तरफ़ से आप लिखे ख़त जवाब में
२
शूख़ी ने तुम को डाल दिया इज़्तराब में
कुछ तम्कनत का लुत्फ़ न देखा शबाब में
३
कुछ शान-ए मग़्फ़रत से नहीं दूर ज़ाहदो
डूबें गुनाह बादा-कशौं के शराब में
४
पीर-ए मुग़ां की दिल-शिकनी का रहा ख़्याल
दाख़ल हुआ हुं तौबा से पहले सवाब में
५
गर वो न आएंगे तो अजल आएगी ज़रूर
तस्कीं मिली हुई है मेरे इज़्तराब में
६
जी चाहता है छेढ के हों उस से हम-कलाम
कुछ तो लगेगी देर सवाल ओ जवाब में
७
अए दाग़ कोई मुझ सा न होगा गुनाहगार
है मा’सियत से मेरे जहन्नुम अज़ाब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. daaGh dehlavi (1831-1905), grandson of bahadur shah zafar. After 1857, he had to move to rampur and later to hyderabad, where he died. His Ghazal are more earthy and romantic than sufiyaana or philosophical. He was a disciple of zauq, whose rivalry with/jealousy of Ghalib is well known. But daaGh had good relations with Ghalib. He composed many Ghazal in the zamin of Ghalib. This one, in the zamin of ‘mila na diya ho sharaab meN’. As a pure guess, I can either link this Ghazal to 1897, marking the centennial of Ghalib’s birth or to 1800s Ghalib ham-qadam. I have chosen to do both.
1
kya kya fareb1 dil ko diye izteraab2 meN
un ki taraf3 se aap likhe Khat javaab meN 1.deception 2.restlessness, eagerness 3.side, on behalf of
How many different ways did I deceive myself in my restlessness. When she did not answer my letters, I wrote to myself on her behalf!
2
shooKhi1 ne tum ko Daal diya izteraab2 meN
kuchh tamkanat3 ka lutf4 na dekha shabaab5 meN 1.mischief, playfulness 2.restlessness 3.dignity, honour 4.pleasure 5.youth
The beloved was merely being playful and mischievous with the poet/lover. But he seriously fell in love with her and became restless when she did not reciprocate. In the enthusiasm of his youth he did not see through the pleasure that the beloved took in the display of her grandeur.
3
kuchh shaan1-e maGhfarat2 se nahiN duur zaahido3
DoobeN4 gunaah baada-kashoN5 ke sharaab meN 1.dignity 2.(divine) forgiveness, god 3.pious, preachers 4.drowned, washed away 5.wine lovers
‘kuchh duur nahiN’ is an expression meaning ‘it is not far from possibility’. Normally, wine drinking might be considered a punishable sin. But O, preacher, divine forgiveness is such that it is entirely possible that sins of wine-drinkers will be washed away in wine.
4
piir-e-muGhaaN1 ki dil-shikani2 ka raha Khayaal
daaKhil2 hua huN tauba4 se pahle savaab5 meN 1.chief of the wine makers 2.breaking the heart of 3.entered in/added to (the list of) 4.repentence 5.blessing, forgiveness
The poet/wine drinker was a favourite of the chief winemaker because he was a regular customer. god was very considerate and did not want to break the heart of the chief winemaker by punishing his favourite client. So his name was entered in the list of the blessed even before he repented.
5
gar1 vo na aayeNge to ajal2 aayegi zaruur
taskiiN3 mili hui hai mere izteraab4 meN 1.if 2.death 3.tranquility, peace, contentment 4.restlessness
The poet/lover consoles himself with the thought that if the beloved does not come (as promised), surely Death will come one day. That certainty give him peace even as he is restless in love.
6
ji chaahta hai chheR ke hoN us se ham-kalaam1
kuchh to lagegi der savaal o javaab meN 1.join in conversation 2.question 3.answer
The poet/lover wishes to tease her, intrude on her and join her in conversation. This way the back and forth question and answer will take some time that he will be able to spend in her company.
7
aye daaGh1 mujh sa koii na hoga gunaahgaar2
hai maa’siyat3 se mere jahannum4 azaab5 meN 1.pen-name of the poet 2.sinner 3.(habitual, repeated) transgression/disobedience 4.hell 5.agony
Hell is in agony over the prospect of receiving a sinner like the poet. Because of his habitual transgression, even hell might not be able to come up with punishment enough to do justice.
daaGh dehlavi (1831-1905), grandson of bahadur shah zafar. After 1857, he had to move to rampur and later to hyderabad, where he died. His Ghazal are more earthy and romantic than sufiyaana or philosophical. He was a disciple of zauq, whose rivalry with/jealousy of Ghalib is well known. But daaGh had good relations with Ghalib. He composed many Ghazal in the zamin of Ghalib. This one, in the zamin of ‘mila na diya ho sharaab meN’. As a pure guess, I can either link this Ghazal to 1897, marking the centennial of Ghalib’s birth or to 1800s Ghalib ham-qadam. I have chosen to do both.
1
kya kya fareb1 dil ko diye izteraab2 meN
un ki taraf3 se aap likhe Khat javaab meN
1.deception 2.restlessness, eagerness 3.side, on behalf of
How many different ways did I deceive myself in my restlessness. When she did not answer my letters, I wrote to myself on her behalf!
2
shooKhi1 ne tum ko Daal diya izteraab2 meN
kuchh tamkanat3 ka lutf4 na dekha shabaab5 meN
1.mischief, playfulness 2.restlessness 3.display of grandeur 4.pleasure 5.youth
The beloved was merely being playful and mischievous with the poet/lover. But he seriously fell in love with her and became restless when she did not reciprocate. In the enthusiasm of his youth he did not see through the pleasure that the beloved took in the display of her grandeur.
3
kuchh shaan1-e maGhfarat2 se nahiN duur zaahido3
DoobeN4 gunaah baada-kashoN5 ke sharaab meN
1.dignity 2.(divine) forgiveness, god 3.pious, preachers 4.drowned, washed away 5.wine lovers
‘kuchh duur nahiN’ is an expression meaning ‘it is not far from possibility’. Normally, wine drinking might be considered a punishable sin. But O, preacher, divine forgiveness is such that it is entirely possible that sins of wine-drinkers will be washed away in wine.
4
piir-e-muGhaaN1 ki dil-shikani2 ka raha Khayaal
daaKhil2 hua huN tauba4 se pahle savaab5 meN
1.chief of the wine makers 2.breaking the heart of 3.entered in/added to (the list of) 4.repentence 5.blessing, forgiveness
The poet/wine drinker was a favourite of the chief winemaker because he was a regular customer. god was very considerate and did not want to break the heart of the chief winemaker by punishing his favourite client. So his name was entered in the list of the blessed even before he repented.
5
gar1 vo na aayeNge to ajal2 aayegi zaruur
taskiiN3 mili hui hai mere izteraab4 meN
1.if 2.death 3.tranquility, peace, contentment 4.restlessness
The poet/lover consoles himself with the thought that if the beloved does not come (as promised), surely Death will come one day. That certainty give him peace even as he is restless in love.
6
ji chaahta hai chheR ke hoN us se ham-kalaam1
kuchh to lagegi der savaal o javaab meN
1.join in conversation 2.question 3.answer
The poet/lover wishes to tease her, intrude on her and join her in conversation. This way the back and forth question and answer will take some time that he will be able to spend in her company.
7
aye daaGh1 mujh sa koii na hoga gunaahgaar2
hai maa’siyat3 se mere jahannum4 azaab5 meN
1.pen-name of the poet 2.sinner 3.(habitual, repeated) transgression/disobedience 4.hell 5.agony
Hell is in agony over the prospect of receiving a sinner like the poet. Because of his habitual transgression, even hell might not be able to come up with punishment enough to do justice.
