For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
کوند رہی ہے سحاب میں ۔ میر عثمانؔ علی خاں
۱
عکسِ رُخِ نِگار ہے جامِ شراب میں
ہے آفتاب جلوہ نُما آفتاب میں
۲
رُخسار و چشمِ یار کی تصویر دیکھنا
نرگِس کے پھول باندھ دئے ہیں گُلاب میں
۳
دِل میں جو ایک یوسفِ ثانی کا ہے خیال
مِلتا ہے میرا عشق زلیخا کے خواب میں
۴
چھوڑے گا دستِ شوق نہ رُخ پر ترے نقاب
رہنے نہ دیگا دل مرا تجھ کو حِجاب میں
۵
یارب ہے جوشِ عشق کہ سیلاب ہے کوئی
ہر دم ترقیاں ہیں مرے اِضطراب میں
۶
قاتل نے بِسمِلوں کا جو محضر کیا رقم
پہلے مرا ہی نام لکھا انتخاب میں
۷
ساقی جو بے مزہ ہے تو کیا لُطفِ میکشی
لذّت کباب میں نہ مزہ ہے شراب میں
۸
زیرِ نقاب دیکھئے شوخی نگاہ کی
اک برق ہے کہ کوند رہی ہے سحاب میں
۹
عثمان ہو میکشی تو ندامت کے ساتھ ہو
کچھ تو کمی ہو روزِ جزا کے عذاب میں
कौंद रही है सहाब में – मीर उस्मान अली ख़ां
१
अक्स-ए रुख़-ए निगार है जाम-ए शराब में
है आफ़्ताब जल्वा नुमा आफ़्ताब में
२
रुख़्सार ओ चश्म-ए यार कि तस्वीर देखना
नर्गिस के फूल बांध दिये हैं गुलाब में
३
दिल में जो एक यूसुफ़-ए सानी का है ख़्याल
मिलता है मेरा इश्क़ ज़ुलैख़ा के ख़्वाब में
४
छोढेगा दस्त-ए शौक़ न रुख़ पर तेरे नक़ाब
रहने न देगा दिल मेरा तुझ को हिजाब में
५
यारब है जोश-ए इश्क़ के सैलाब है रवां
हर दम तरक़्क़ियां हैं मेरे इज़्तेराब में
६
क़ातिल ने बिस्मिलौं का जो महज़र किया रक़म
पहले मेरा हि नाम लिखा इन्तेख़ाब में
७
साक़ी जो बे-मज़ा है तो क्या लुत्फ़-ए मयकशी
लज़्ज़त कबाब में न मज़ा है शराब में
८
ज़ेर-ए नक़ाब देखिये शूख़ी निगाह की
एक बर्क़ है के कौंद रही है सहाब में
९
उस्मां हो मयकशी तो नदामत के साथ हो
कुछ तो कमी हो रोज़-ए जज़ा के अज़ाब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. osman ali KhaaN (1886-1967), the erstwhile ruler of hyderabad was a prolific poet of considerable literary capability. His diivaan was collected and published posthumously in eight fair sized volumes. Considering the life-span of the poet and historical and legacy events of Ghalib, I place this Ghazal (one of two that the poet composed) modeled after Ghalib’s “saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN” in 1919. Also, I do not want to fail to remind the reader that a man reputed to have a 100 concubines suffers agony because of the beloved’s indifference!
1
aks1-e ruKh2-e nigaar3 hai jaam4-e sharaab meN
hai aaftaab5 jalva-numa6 aaftaab meN 1.reflection, image 2.face, picture 3.beauty, beloved 4.cup 5.sun 6.manifest
The poet/lover sees the reflection of the face of the beloved in the cup of wine. It is not clear whether this is his imagination or whether he considers the wine itself to be like the beloved. The rim of the cup itself is like the sun. Thus, the sun is reflected within the sun.
2
ruKhsaar1 o chashm2-e yaar3 ki tasviir dekhna
nargis4 ke phool baandh diye haiN gulaab meN 1.cheeks, face 2.eyes 3.beloved 4.narcissus-used as an analogy for eyes
Look at the face/cheeks and eyes of the beloved – they form a picture as if narcissus (eyes) are embedded in rose petals.
3
dil meN jo ek yusuf1-e saani2 ka hai Khayaal
milta hai mera ishq3 zulaiKha4 ke Khwaab meN 1.Joseph, considered the epitome of beauty (both male and female) 2.second 3.love, desire 4.wife of the slave owner who purchased Joseph. zulaiKha fell hopelessly in love with yusuf/Joseph
The poet/lover carries in his heart/mind thoughts/image of a second yusuf i.e. an image of the same legendary beauty. Therefore, his desire is similar to the dreams/desires of zulaiKha.
4
chhoRega dast1-e shauq2 na ruKh3 par tere naqaab4
rahne na dega dil mera tujh ko hijaab5 meN 1.hand 2.desire, yearning 3.face 4.veil 5.hidden, veiled
The hand of love/desire is eager and strong. It will not let a veil be pulled down over the beloved’s face. It will not let her be hidden/veiled.
5
yaarab1 hai josh2-e ishq3, ke sailaab4 hai ravaaN5
har dam6 taraqqiyaaN7 haiN mere izteraab8 meN 1.god 2.passion 3.love 4.flood 5.flowing 6.moment 7.increase 8.restlessness
O, lord, is this a passion of love or a flowing flood. Every moment there is an increase in my restlessness.
6
qaatil1 ne bismiloN2 ka jo mahzar3 kiya raqam4
pahle mera hi naam likha inteKhaab5 meN 1.killer, beloved 2.sacrificial offerings, conquests (in love) 3.statement, declaration, list 4.write 5.selection
When the beloved declared the list of her conquests/lovers, she wrote the poet/lover’s name at the head of the selection. Editorial – somehow I have difficulty picturing usmaan ali KhaaN as a conquered/sacrificed lover.
7
saaqi jo be-maza hai to kya lutf-e maikashi
lazzat kabaab meN na maza hai sharaab meN 1.wine cup-bearer, beloved 2.displeased 3.pleasure 4.drinking wine 5.taste
The saaqi/wine cup-bearer is synonymous with the beloved. When the beloved is displeased how can there be any pleasure in drinking wine. There is no taste in food or in drink.
8
zer1-e naqaab2 dekhiye shooKhi3 nigaah4 ki
ek barq5 hai ke kaund6 rahi hai sahaab7 meN 1.under, behind 2.veil 3.mischief, coquetry 4.glance 5.lightining 6.flashing 7.cloud
Look at the mischievous glance behind the veil. It is as if lightning is flashing behind a cloud.
9
usmaaN1 ho maikashi2 to nadaamat3 ke saath ho
kuchh to kami ho roz4-e jaza5 ke azaab6 meN 1.pen-name of poet 2.wine drinking 3.regret, penitence 4.day of 5.reward, judgement 6.punishment, agony
O, usmaan, if there is wine drinking, it should be accompanied by penitence. There should be some attenuation of punishment on the day of judgement.
osman ali KhaaN (1886-1967), the erstwhile ruler of hyderabad was a prolific poet of considerable literary capability. His diivaan was collected and published posthumously in eight fair sized volumes. Considering the life-span of the poet and historical and legacy events of Ghalib, I place this Ghazal (one of two that the poet composed) modeled after Ghalib’s “saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN” in 1919. Also, I do not want to fail to remind the reader that a man reputed to have a 100 concubines suffers agony because of the beloved’s indifference!
1
aks1-e ruKh2-e nigaar3 hai jaam4-e sharaab meN
hai aaftaab5 jalva-numa6 aaftaab meN
1.reflection, image 2.face, picture 3.beauty, beloved 4.cup 5.sun 6.manifest
The poet/lover sees the reflection of the face of the beloved in the cup of wine. It is not clear whether this is his imagination or whether he considers the wine itself to be like the beloved. The rim of the cup itself is like the sun. Thus, the sun is reflected within the sun.
2
ruKhsaar1 o chashm2-e yaar3 ki tasviir dekhna
nargis4 ke phool baandh diye haiN gulaab meN
1.cheeks, face 2.eyes 3.beloved 4.narcissus-used as an analogy for eyes
Look at the face/cheeks and eyes of the beloved – they form a picture as if narcissus (eyes) are embedded in rose petals.
3
dil meN jo ek yusuf1-e saani2 ka hai Khayaal
milta hai mera ishq3 zulaiKha4 ke Khwaab meN
1.Joseph, considered the epitome of beauty (both male and female) 2.second 3.love, desire 4.wife of the slave owner who purchased Joseph. zulaiKha fell hopelessly in love with yusuf/Joseph
The poet/lover carries in his heart/mind thoughts/image of a second yusuf i.e. an image of the same legendary beauty. Therefore, his desire is similar to the dreams/desires of zulaiKha.
4
chhoRega dast1-e shauq2 na ruKh3 par tere naqaab4
rahne na dega dil mera tujh ko hijaab5 meN
1.hand 2.desire, yearning 3.face 4.veil 5.hidden, veiled
The hand of love/desire is eager and strong. It will not let a veil be pulled down over the beloved’s face. It will not let her be hidden/veiled.
5
yaarab1 hai josh2-e ishq3, ke sailaab4 hai ravaaN5
har dam6 taraqqiyaaN7 haiN mere izteraab8 meN
1.god 2.passion 3.love 4.flood 5.flowing 6.moment 7.increase 8.restlessness
O, lord, is this a passion of love or a flowing flood. Every moment there is an increase in my restlessness.
6
qaatil1 ne bismiloN2 ka jo mahzar3 kiya raqam4
pahle mera hi naam likha inteKhaab5 meN
1.killer, beloved 2.sacrificial offerings, conquests (in love) 3.statement, declaration, list 4.write 5.selection
When the beloved declared the list of her conquests/lovers, she wrote the poet/lover’s name at the head of the selection. Editorial – somehow I have difficulty picturing usmaan ali KhaaN as a conquered/sacrificed lover.
7
saaqi jo be-maza hai to kya lutf-e maikashi
lazzat kabaab meN na maza hai sharaab meN
1.wine cup-bearer, beloved 2.displeased 3.pleasure 4.drinking wine 5.taste
The saaqi/wine cup-bearer is synonymous with the beloved. When the beloved is displeased how can there be any pleasure in drinking wine. There is no taste in food or in drink.
8
zer1-e naqaab2 dekhiye shooKhi3 nigaah4 ki
ek barq5 hai ke kaund6 rahi hai sahaab7 meN
1.under, behind 2.veil 3.mischief, coquetry 4.glance 5.lightining 6.flashing 7.cloud
Look at the mischievous glance behind the veil. It is as if lightning is flashing behind a cloud.
9
usmaaN1 ho maikashi2 to nadaamat3 ke saath ho
kuchh to kami ho roz4-e jaza5 ke azaab6 meN
1.pen-name of poet 2.wine drinking 3.regret, penitence 4.day of 5.reward, judgement 6.punishment, agony
O, usmaan, if there is wine drinking, it should be accompanied by penitence. There should be some attenuation of punishment on the day of judgement.
