For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مسلسل سے خواب میں ۔ جے کرشن چودھری حبیبؔ
۱
نظریں جُھکیں سوال پہ میرے، جواب میں
کیا کیا نہ کہہ گئی ہیں نگاہیں جواب میں
۲
مضراب ہی سے ساز میں ہے ساری نغمگی
ہے زندگی کا لطف نہاں اِضطراب میں
۳
ہر سمت تھی بہار، فضاؤں میں کیف تھا
پانی شراب تھا مرے عہدِ شباب میں
۴
رہ رہ کے اب رُلاتی ہے پیری میں اُن کی یاد
ہنس ہنس کے زخم کھائے جو ہم نے شباب میں
۵
یہ تازگی، یہ رنگ بھی آیا کہاں سے ہے
کانٹوں کا خون ہی تو ہے شائد گلاب میں
۶
بیداریوں کی تاب نہ ہم لا سکے حبیب
گذری حیات ایک مسلسل سے خواب میں
मुसल्सल से ख़्वाब में – जय किशन चौधरी हबीब
१
नज़्रें झुकीं सवाल पे मेरे जवाब में
क्या क्या नो कह गई हैं निगाहें जवाब में
२
मिज़्राब हि से साज़ में है सारी नग़्मगी
है ज़िन्दगी का लुत्फ़ नेहां इज़्तेराब में
३
हर सम्त थी बहार, फ़ज़औं में कैफ़ था
पानी शराब था मेरे अहद-ए शबाब में
४
रह रह के अब रुलाती है पीरी में उन की याद
हंस हंस के ज़ख़्म खाये जो हम ने शबाब में
५
ये ताज़गी ये रंग भी आया कहां से है
कांटौं का ख़ून हि तो है शा’एद गुलाब में
६
बेदारियौं की ताब न हम ला सके हबीब
गुज़्री हयात एक मुसल्सल से ख़्वाब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This Ghazal is taken from a small booklet published in 1969 by Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! jai kishan chaudhry habeeb was the Vice-Chair of the samiti. This is one of several Ghazal that he (and others) composed for events celebrating Ghalib Centennial and is representative of the wide following that urdu had even in 1969! How rapidly was the language murdered! This is one of several Ghazal modeled after “saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN”. The ‘samiti’ held several mushaa’era over a two year period using one Ghazal or the other of Ghalib’s as a model.
1
nazreN jhukiiN savaal pe mere, javaab meN
kya kya kah gayi haiN nigaaheN javaab meN The poet/lover asked the beloved (perhaps) for tryst and she coyly lowered her eyes. Not a word was spoken but what all have those eyes not said in answer.
2
mizraab1 hi se saaz2 meN hai saari naGhmagi3
hai zindagi ka lutf4 nehaaN5 izteraab6 meN 1. finger-pluck worn to play stringed instruments 2.musical instrument, harp 3.musicality 4.joy, pleasure 5.hidden 6.restlessness
In poetic tradition, restlessness/pain/yearning is valued highly. Thus the pleasure of living in yearning (for the beloved), just like you can create music from the harp only by plucking at the strings with a finger-pluck, which here represents restlessness/yearning.
3
har samt1 thi bahaar, fazaaoN2 meN kaif3 tha
paani sharaab tha mere ahd4-e shabaab5 meN 1.direction 2.atmosphere, ambience 3.pleasure, joy 4.period, times 5.youth
Wherever he looked, it was spring. The atmosphere was joyful. During his youth even water tasted/intoxicated like wine.
4
rah rah ke ab rulaati hai piiri1 meN un ki yaad
haNs haNs ke zaKhm khaaye jo ham ne shabaab2 meN 1.old age 2.youth
When he was young, he was carefree and without thinking of consequences, laughing away, he accepted wounds (of love). Now in old age, those memories have come back to haunt and make him weep.
5
ye taazagi1 ye raNg bhi aaya kahaaN se hai
kaaNToN ka Khoon hi to hai shaa’ed2 gulaab meN 1.freshness 2.perhaps
In poetic tradition, there is no beauty/joy/colour without pain. Thus, the colour and beauty of the rose are all due to blood oozing from thorns. Pain and pleasure/beauty exist side by side.
6
bedaariyoN1 ki taab2 na hum laa sake habeeb3
guzri4 hayaat5 ek musalsal6 se Khwaab7 meN 1.wakefulness, awareness, knowledge 2.weight, burden 3.pen-name of poet 4.passed 5.life 6.continuous 7.dream, unthinking, sleepwalking, automaton
This is either a reflection on the daily struggle of life or of unthinking belief and faith. We could not bear the burden of thinking, O, habeeb. Life passed constantly as if in a dream, sleepwalking. It might also be that life was spent constantly dreaming of love (or even ambitions) without being realistic.
This Ghazal is taken from a small booklet published in 1969 by Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! jai kishan chaudhry habeeb was the Vice-Chair of the samiti. This is one of several Ghazal that he (and others) composed for events celebrating Ghalib Centennial and is representative of the wide following that urdu had even in 1969! How rapidly was the language murdered! This is one of several Ghazal modeled after “saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN”. The ‘samiti’ held several mushaa’era over a two year period using one Ghazal or the other of Ghalib’s as a model.
1
nazreN jhukiiN savaal pe mere, javaab meN
kya kya kah gayi haiN nigaaheN javaab meN
The poet/lover asked the beloved (perhaps) for tryst and she coyly lowered her eyes. Not a word was spoken but what all have those eyes not said in answer.
2
mizraab1 hi se saaz2 meN hai saari naGhmagi3
hai zindagi ka lutf4 nehaaN5 izteraab6 meN
1. finger-pluck worn to play stringed instruments 2.musical instrument, harp 3.musicality 4.joy, pleasure 5.hidden 6.restlessness
In poetic tradition, restlessness/pain/yearning is valued highly. Thus the pleasure of living in yearning (for the beloved), just like you can create music from the harp only by plucking at the strings with a finger-pluck, which here represents restlessness/yearning.
3
har samt1 thi bahaar, fazaaoN2 meN kaif3 tha
paani sharaab tha mere ahd4-e shabaab5 meN
1.direction 2.atmosphere, ambience 3.pleasure, joy 4.period, times 5.youth
Wherever he looked, it was spring. The atmosphere was joyful. During his youth even water tasted/intoxicated like wine.
4
rah rah ke ab rulaati hai piiri1 meN un ki yaad
haNs haNs ke zaKhm khaaye jo ham ne shabaab2 meN
1.old age 2.youth
When he was young, he was carefree and without thinking of consequences, laughing away, he accepted wounds (of love). Now in old age, those memories have come back to haunt and make him weep.
5
ye taazagi1 ye raNg bhi aaya kahaaN se hai
kaaNToN ka Khoon hi to hai shaa’ed2 gulaab meN
1.freshness 2.perhaps
In poetic tradition, there is no beauty/joy/colour without pain. Thus, the colour and beauty of the rose are all due to blood oozing from thorns. Pain and pleasure/beauty exist side by side.
6
bedaariyoN1 ki taab2 na hum laa sake habeeb3
guzri4 hayaat5 ek musalsal6 se Khwaab7 meN
1.wakefulness, awareness, knowledge 2.weight, burden 3.pen-name of poet 4.passed 5.life 6.continuous 7.dream, unthinking, sleepwalking, automaton
This is either a reflection on the daily struggle of life or of unthinking belief and faith. We could not bear the burden of thinking, O, habeeb. Life passed constantly as if in a dream, sleepwalking. It might also be that life was spent constantly dreaming of love (or even ambitions) without being realistic.
