Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. manohar lal shaarib (1920-1962) learnt urdu, farsi and arabi at home. After matriculation he worked for the agriculture department in hyderabad. He was very much a part of the progressive circle of shu’ara. This Ghazal is in the style of Ghalib’s ‘dard minnat kash-e davaa na hua’.
1
sirf¹ itna hua Khuda na hua
varna² is aadmi se kya na hua    1.only 2.otherwise
Only this much, humans could not become god, otherwise what else has human being not been able to do.
2
allah allah ishq ka ejaaz
maiN fana ho ke bhi fana na hua    1.miracle 2.annihilate
By god, look at the miracle of love. I lost myself (and merged into the great spirit) and yet, my identity was not lost.
3
umr bhar ham chalaa kiye laikin
tai¹ mohabbat ka raasta na hua   1.settled, decided, completed
We have been walking this path all our lives but have still not traversed the path of love.
4
haq¹ to ye hai keh aadmi se abhi
aadmiyyat² ka haq³ ada⁴ na hua    1.truth 2.human-ness 3.rights, dues 4.paid
The truth is that man has not yet subscribed to the high qualities of being human.
5
kis ko takleef¹-e rahnumaaii² deN
dil hi jab apna rahnuma³ na hua   1.trouble, bother 2.guidance 3.guide
Our heart (universal love) should be our primary guide through life. If that primary requirement fails, what is the use of bothering anyone else and asking them for guidance.
6
chaar din ki bahaar¹ maaNgi thi
tujh se itna bhi aye Khuda na hua   1.spring, season of celebration/joy
All we asked for four days of happiness. You could not do even this much, O god. Consider a similar sentiment of faiz ahmed faiz …
ek fursat-e gunaah mili vo bhi chaar din
dekhe haiN hum ne hausle parvardigaar ke
7
tauba¹ karta hai mai² bhi piita hai
koii shaarib³ sa paarsa⁴ na hua    1.repent, promise to reform 2.wine 3.pen-name of poet, also means wine lover, drunk 4.virtuous, abstemious
He repents, promises to reform and then drinks wine. There has never been another abstemious person like shaarib.