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Recitation
andaleeb wasif
جاؤ ں کدھر کو میں – مرزا غالب
١
حیراں ہوں دل کو روؤں کہ پیٹوں جگر کو میں
مقدور ہو تو ساتھ رکھوں نوحہ گر کو میں
٢
چھوڑا نہ رشک نے کہ ترے گھر کا نام لوں
ہر اک سے پوچھتا ہوں کہ جاؤ ں کدھر کو میں
٣
جانا پڑا رقیب کے در پر ہزار بار
اۓ کاش جانتا نہ تری رہ گزر کو میں
٤
ہے کیا جو کس کے باندھئیے میری بلا ڈرے
کیاجانتا نہیں ہوں تمہاری کمر کو میں
٥
لو وہ بھی کہتے ہیں کہ یہ بے ننگ و نام ہے
یہ جانتا اگر تو لٹاتا نہ گھر کو میں
٦
چلتا ہوں تھوڑی دور ہر اک تیز رو کے ساتھ
پہچانتانہیں ہوں ابھی راہبر کو میں
٧
خواہش کو احمقوں نے پرستش دیا قرار
کیا پوجتا ہوں اس بتِ بیدادگر کو میں
٨
پھر بے خودی میں بھول گیا راہِ کوئے یار
جاتا وگرنہ ایک دن اپنی خبر کو میں
٩
اپنے پہ کر رہاہوں قیاس اہلِ دہر کا
سمجھا ہوں دل پذیر متاعِ ہنر کو میں
١٠
غالب خدا کرے کہ سوارِ سمندِ ناز
دیکھوں علی بہادرِ عالی گہر کو میں
जाऊं किधर को मैं – मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब
१
हैराँ हूँ दिल को रोऊँ कि पीटूँ जिगर को मैं
मक़दूर हो तो साथ रखूँ नौहा-गर को मैं
२
छोड़ा न रश्क ने कि तिरे घर का नाम लूँ
हर यक से पूछता हूँ कि जाऊँ किधर को मैं
३
जाना पड़ा रक़ीब के दर पर हज़ार बार
अय काश जानता न तिरे रा-गुज़र को मैं
४
है क्या जो कस के बांधिये मेरी बला डरे
क्या जानता नहीं हूँ तुम्हारी कमर को मैं
५
लो वो भी कहते हैं कि ये बे-नंग‐ओ‐नाम है
ये जानता अगर तो लुटाता न घर को मैं
६
चलता हूँ थोड़ी दूर हर इक तेज़-रौ के साथ
पहचानता नहीं हूँ अभी राहबर को मैं
७
ख़्वाहिश को अहमक़ों ने परस्तिश दिया क़रार
क्या पूजता हूँ उस बुत‐ए बेदाद-गर को मैं
८
फिर बे-ख़ुदी में भूल गया राह‐ए कू‐ए यार
जाता वगर्ना एक दिन अपनी ख़बर को मैं
९
अपने पे कर रहा हूँ क़ियास अह्ल‐ए दहर का
समझा हूँ दिल-पज़ीर मता‐ए हुनर को मैं
१०
ग़ालिब ख़ुदा करे कि सवार‐ए समंद‐ए नाज़
देखूँ अली बहादुर‐ए आली-गुहर को मैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. badri raina, retired professor of English, dehli University, poet, writer, columnist and a dear friend has translated several Ghalib Ghazal and published them as a book. andaleeb wasif, also a dear friend, retired architect with a lilting, classical Ghazal singing voice has shared several of his recordings with urdushahkar.
1
hairaaN1 huN dil ko rouN keh piiTuN jigar2 ko maiN
maqdoor3 ho to saath rakhuN nauha-gar4 ko maiN 1.puzzled, confused 2.liver (used in Urdu poetry much like heart) 3.means, capability 4.(paid/professional) mouner
The poet/lover is undecided/confused whether to weep for his heart (hurt feelings, unrequited love) or to beat his chest for the ailment of his liver (lost fortitude/ability to bear burdens). Only if he had the means he would hire a professional mourner – a rather witty confabulation.
2
chhoRaa na rashk1 ne ke tere ghar ka naam luN
har ek se poochhta huN ke jaauN kidhar ko maiN 1.envy, jealousy
The poet/lover is looking for the beloved’s house but is so jealous/fearful that others might find out where she lives that he cannot directly/by name ask for directions. So he is reduced to asking, “Where should I go?” in a rather meaningless way – a continuation of Ghalib’s witticism.
3
jaana paRaa raqiib1 ke dar2 par hazaar baar
ay kaash3 jaanta na teri rah-guzar4 ko maiN 1.rival (in love) 2.door 3.I wish 4.(freqently used) pathway
The poet/lover of course wants to know which pathway the beloved takes often so he can meet/talk to her. But then she goes frequently to the rival’s house, making the lover feel even more deprived. So he wishes that he had not known the pathway she frequents.
4
hai kyaa1 jo kas ke baaNdhiye2 meri balaa3 Dare`
kya jaanta nahiiN huN tumhaari kamar ko maiN 1.what is it, what difference does it make 2.tie it tightly, kamar kasna also means to determine to do something 3.merii balaa can mean “what do I care”, why should I be afraid
The beloved is determined to do something – something bad to the lover, like may be kill him. She has tied her waist – girded up. But the poet/lover does not care, is not afraid because he being her lover, has seen her waist and knows that she has no waist (in Urdu poetry exaggerated description of beauty is common and one exaggeration is for the beloved to have a thin waist – no waist at all!
5
lo vo1 bhi kahte haiN ke ye be-naNg2-o-naam3 hai
ye jaanta agar to luTaata na ghar ko maiN 1.“she”, the beloved 2.without shame/respect 3.without name meaning not a “good name”, reputation, no pedigree
Now even SHE is saying that I have no respect, no pedigree. If I had known this, why would I have neglected/destroyed my home to run after her. The catch-22 is beautiful … if he had not destroyed his home she would not even have said anything about it. Now that he has destroyed it, she rejects him because he has no pedigree.
6
chaltaa huN thoRii duur har ek tez-rau1 ke saath
pahchaanta nahiiN huN abhii raahbar2 ko maiN 1.fast moving 2.guide, one who shows the way
I am lost/confused and walk with every fast moving person for a short distance. I still don’t know who my guide is. This may have mystical overtones – I still don’t know the right path and am trying out ways based on hearsay.
7
Khwaahish1 ko ahmaqoN2 ne parastish3 diya qaraar
kya poojtaa huN us but4-e bedaad-gar5 ko maiN 1.desire 2.fools 3.worship 4.idol, beloved 5.pain causing, cruel
The poet/over’s desire is so intense that to the uninitiated (fools) it appears to be worship. Do I worship this cruel idol? Really? Is this a rhetorical question? The second misra can mean to question the judgement of fools OR it can also mean that the poet/lover is doing a little self-reflection and asking himself if he really worships her.
8
phir be-Khudii1 meN bhool gayaa raah2-e koo3-e yaar4
jaata vagarna5 ek din apni Khabar6 ko maiN 1.loss of awareness/consciousness, trance 2.pathway (to) 3.street 4.friend, beloved 5.otherwise 6.news, inquiry
The poet/lover is so distracted/distraught that he has competely forgotten the path to the beloved’s street. If he were aware of what he was doing he would not have gone there. He is so lost that he went there to ask about his own whereabouts – news about himself. Again, there are possibilities of a mystical interpretation with pathway to the beloved’s street taking on the meaning of a sought after path of mysticism.
9
apne pe kar rahaa huN qiyaas1 ahl-e dahr2 ka
samjhaa huN dil-paziir3 mataa4-e hunar5 ko maiN 1.suspicion, estimation 2.people of the world 3.acceptable/pleasing to the heart/soul 4.wealth, treasure 5.talent
The poet finds his own (poetic) talent to be heart pleasing. He has mistakenly suspected that “people of the world” would be like him and also appreciate this talent. Not so.“people of the world” can also mean “people of means/wealth”. Indeed Ghalib tried hard to get patronage from such people and indeed his talent was not fully appreciated during his lifetime.
10
Ghalib Khuda kare ke savaar1-e samand2-e naaz3
dekhuN ali bahaadur-e ‘aali-guhar4 ko maiN 1.mount, ride 2.horse 3.pride, respect 4.high capabilities/qualities
Ghalib wrote this she’r as a tribute to his host/relative, ali bahaadur – may god that I may see ali bahaadur, a man of great qualities, ride the horse of respect. This she’r coming immediately after decrying “all people of means” who turned out to be “not like me” can also be a subtle reminder that patronage is due.
mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. badri raina, retired professor of English, dehli University, poet, writer, columnist and a dear friend has translated several Ghalib Ghazal and published them as a book. andaleeb wasif, also a dear friend, retired architect with a lilting, classical Ghazal singing voice has shared several of his recordings with urdushahkar.
1
hairaaN1 huN dil ko ro’uN ke piiTuN jigar2 ko maiN
maqdoor3 ho to saath rakhuN nauha-gar4 ko maiN
1.puzzled, confused 2.liver (used in urdu poetry much like heart) 3.means, capability 4.(paid/professional) mouner
The poet/lover is undecided/confused whether to weep for his heart (hurt feelings, unrequited love) or to beat his chest for the ailment of his liver (lost fortitude/ability to bear burdens). Only if he had the means he would hire a professional mourner – a rather witty confabulation.
2
chhoRaa na rashk1 ne ke tere ghar ka naam luN
har ek se poochhta huN ke jaauN kidhar ko maiN
1.envy, jealousy
The poet/lover is looking for the beloved’s house but is so jealous/fearful that others might find out where she lives that he cannot directly/by name ask for directions. So he is reduced to asking, “Where should I go?” in a rather meaningless way – a continuation of Ghalib’s witticism.
3
jaana paRaa raqiib1 ke dar2 par hazaar baar
ay kaash3 jaanta na teri rah-guzar4 ko maiN
1.rival (in love) 2.door 3.I wish 4.(freqently used) pathway
The poet/lover of course wants to know which pathway the beloved takes often so he can meet/talk to her. But then she goes frequently to the rival’s house, making the lover feel even more deprived. So he wishes that he had not known the pathway she frequents.
4
hai kyaa1 jo kas ke baaNdhiye2 meri balaa3 Dare`
kya jaanta nahiiN huN tumhaari kamar ko maiN
1.what is it, what difference does it make 2.tie it tightly, kamar kasna also means to determine to do something 3.merii balaa can mean “what do I care”, why should I be afraid
The beloved is determined to do something – something bad to the lover, like may be kill him. She has tied her waist – girded up. But the poet/lover does not care, is not afraid because he being her lover, has seen her waist and knows that she has no waist (in Urdu poetry exaggerated description of beauty is common and one exaggeration is for the beloved to have a thin waist – no waist at all!
5
lo vo1 bhi kahte haiN ke ye be-naNg2-o-naam3 hai
ye jaanta agar to luTaata na ghar ko maiN
1.“she”, the beloved 2.without shame/respect 3.without name meaning not a “good name”, reputation, no pedigree
Now even SHE is saying that I have no respect, no pedigree. If I had known this, why would I have neglected/destroyed my home to run after her. The catch-22 is beautiful … if he had not destroyed his home she would not even have said anything about it. Now that he has destroyed it, she rejects him because he has no pedigree.
6
chaltaa huN thoRii duur har ek tez-rau1 ke saath
pahchaanta nahiiN huN abhii raahbar2 ko maiN
1.fast moving 2.guide, one who shows the way
I am lost/confused and walk with every fast moving person for a short distance. I still don’t know who my guide is. This may have mystical overtones – I still don’t know the right path and am trying out ways based on hearsay.
7
Khwaahish1 ko ahmaqoN2 ne parastish3 diya qaraar
kya poojtaa huN us but4-e bedaad-gar5 ko maiN
1.desire 2.fools 3.worship 4.idol, beloved 5.pain causing, cruel
The poet/over’s desire is so intense that to the uninitiated (fools) it appears to be worship. Do I worship this cruel idol? Really? Is this a rhetorical question? The second misra can mean to question the judgement of fools OR it can also mean that the poet/lover is doing a little self-reflection and asking himself if he really worships her.
8
phir be-Khudii1 meN bhool gayaa raah2-e koo3-e yaar4
jaata vagarna5 ek din apni Khabar6 ko maiN
1.loss of awareness/consciousness, trance 2.pathway (to) 3.street 4.friend, beloved 5.otherwise 6.news, inquiry
The poet/lover is so distracted/distraught that he has competely forgotten the path to the beloved’s street. If he were aware of what he was doing he would not have gone there. He is so lost that he went there to ask about his own whereabouts – news about himself. Again, there are possibilities of a mystical interpretation with pathway to the beloved’s street taking on the meaning of a sought after path of mysticism.
9
apne pe kar rahaa huN qiyaas1 ahl-e dahr2 ka
samjhaa huN dil-paziir3 mataa4-e hunar5 ko maiN
1.suspicion, estimation 2.people of the world 3.acceptable/pleasing to the heart/soul 4.wealth, treasure 5.talent
The poet finds his own (poetic) talent to be heart pleasing. He has mistakenly suspected that “people of the world” would be like him and also appreciate this talent. Not so.“people of the world” can also mean “people of means/wealth”. Indeed Ghalib tried hard to get patronage from such people and indeed his talent was not fully appreciated during his lifetime.
10
Ghalib Khuda kare ke savaar1-e samand2-e naaz3
dekhuN ali bahaadur-e ‘aali-guhar4 ko maiN
1.mount, ride 2.horse 3.pride, respect 4.high capabilities/qualities
Ghalib wrote this she’r as a tribute to his host/relative, ali bahaadur – may god that I may see ali bahaadur, a man of great qualities, ride the horse of respect. This she’r coming immediately after decrying “all people of means” who turned out to be “not like me” can also be a subtle reminder that patronage is due.
Key Search Words:
jaauN kidhar ko maiN – mirza Ghalib – Raina’s Rendition
2
My jealous heart prevented me from disclosing your address
So I ask: “Pray, where must I turn?” as though in drunken-ness
5
Lo, now she joins the chant as well “A loafer that must roam!”
In whose pursuit I did renounce, the comforts of a home
6
In fevered haste I pace along, with each brisk passer by
But, oh, my fated fellow mate, I cannot yet espy
7
Imbeciles confuse my desire with idolatory
No worship, but warm love provokes this woeful urgency
8
Again, in my silly swoon do I, forget her happy house
Or else, I should have called on her, my senses to arouse
