For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
jagjit & chitra singh
ustaad raza ali KhaaN
مرزا غالب
١
ہر ایک بات پہ کہتے ہو تم کہ تو کیا ہے
تمہیں کہو کہ یہ اندازِ گفتگو کیاہے
٢
نہ شعلے میں یہ کرشمہ نہ برق میں یہ ادا
کوئی بتاؤ کہ وہ شوخِ تند خوُ کیا ہے
٣
یہ رشک ہے کہ وہ ہوتا ہے ہم سخن تم سے
وگرنہ خوفِ بد آموزیِ عدو کیاہے
٤
چپک رہا ہے بدن پر لہو سے پیراہن
ہمارے جیب کو اب حاجتِ رفو کیا ہے
٥
جلا ہے جسم جہاں دل بھی جل گیا ہوگا
کر یدتے ہو جو اب راکھ جستجو کیا ہے
٦
رگوں میں دوڑتے پھرنے کے ہم نہیں قائل
جب آ نکھ سے ہی نہ ٹپکا تو پھر لہو کیا ہے
٧
وہ چیز جس کے لیے ہم کو ہو بہشت عزیز
سواۓ بادۂ گل فامِ مشک بو کیا ہے
٨
پیوں شراب اگر خم بھی دیکھ لوں دو چار
یہ شیشہ و قدح و کوزہ و سبو کیاہے
٩
رہی نہ طاقتِ گفتار اور اگر ہو بھی
تو کس امید پہ کہیے کہ آرزو کیاہے
١٠
ہوا ہے شہ کا مصاحب پھرے ہے اتراتا
وگرنہ شہر میں غالب کی آبرو کیا ہے
मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब
१
हर एक बात पह कहते हो तुम कि तू कया है
तुमहीं कहो कि यह अनदाज़-ए गुफ़तगू कया है
२
न शु`ले में यह करिशमह न बरक़ में यह अदा
कोई बताओ कि वह शोख़-ए तुनद-ख़ू कया है
३
यह रशक है कि वह होता है हम-सुख़न तुम से
वगरनह ख़ौफ़-ए बद-आमोज़ी-ए `अदू कया है
४
चिपक रहा है बदन पर लहू से पैराहन
हमारे जेब को अब हाजत-ए रफ़ू कया है
५
जला है जिसम जहां दिल भी जल गया होगा
कुरेदते हो जो अब राख जुसतजू कया है
६
रगों में दौड़ते फिरने के हम नहीं क़ाइल
जब आंख से ही न टपका तो फिर लहू कया है
७
वह चीज़ जिस के लिये हम को हो बिहिशत `अज़ीज़
सिवा-ए बादह-ए गुल-फ़ाम-ए मुशक-बू कया है
८
पियूं शराब अगर ख़ुम भी देख लूं दो चार
यह शीशह-ओ-क़दह-ओ-कूज़ह-ओ-सबू कया है
९
रही न ताक़त-ए गुफ़तार और अगर हो भी
तो किस उमीद पह कहये कि आरज़ू कया है
१०
हुआ है शह का मुसाहिब फिरे है इतराता
वगरनह शहर में ग़ालिब की आब-रू कया है
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.
1
har ek baat pah kahte ho tum keh tuu kyaa hai
tumhiiN kaho kih yih andaaz-e-guftaguu1 kyaa hai1.style of conversation
The poet lover is upset at the beloved’s taunt “of what consequence are you?” and is turning around with a mild admonishment, “what kind of style of conversation is this?”.
2
nah sho’le1 meN yih karishmah2 nah barq3 meN yih adaa4
koii bataao kih vuh shooKh5-e tund-Khuu6 kyaa hai1.flame 2.magic, enchantment 3.lightning 4.style, coquetry 5.mischievous 6.“fast natured”, quick tempered
The poet/lover observes/thinks to himself that the flame does not have the same kind of enchantment (as the beloved) nor does lightning have the playful style. Then will someone please tell me what this mischievous, quick tempered person is if she is not a flame or lightning.
3
yih rashk1 hai kih vuh hotaa hai ham-suKhan2 tum se
vagarnah3 Khauf4-e bad-aamozii5-e ‘aduu6 kyaa hai1.jealousy, envy 2.conversation with 3.otherwise 4.fear 5.teaching/learning bad thoughts 6.enemy, rival
The beloved is often in conversation with the rival. The poet/lover is jealous because of that. He is not so concerned that he is teaching her (or perhaps learning from her) bad thoughts, he is envious because he is with her.
4
chipak rahaa hai badan par lahuu1 se pairaahan2
hamaare jeb3 ko ab haajat4-e rafuu5 kyaa hai1.blood 2.robe, cloak 3.collar opening (often the collar/breast area was used to carry things – hence “jeb” has also come mean “pocket” but here it is used in its original meaning of collar 4.need for 5.repair
The poet/lover is distraught and rent his collar. Perhaps in this process he has also scratched himself badly. The blood soaked shirt is now sticking to the body with no need to repair the rent collar. Why worry about repairing a rent collar when the whole body is bleeding?
5
jalaa hai jism jahaaN dil bhii jal gayaa hogaa
kuredte1 ho jo ab raakh justajuu2 kyaa hai1.poking, scratching 2.search
Now that poet/lover is burnt to ashes the beloved is poking around looking for something (for his heart, where his love resided). What is the use, the heart (and the love it contained) also got burnt to ashes. Too late.
6
ragoN meN dauRte phirne ke ham nahiiN qaail
jab aaNkh se hii nah Tapkaa to phir lahuu kyaa haiIt is not enough for blood to run through veins. The poet/lover is not willing to accept this as the legitimate function of blood. It must flow from eyes as tears.
7
vuh chiiz jis ke liye ham ko ho bihisht1 aziiz2
sivaa3-e baadah4-e gul-faam5-e mushk-buu6 kyaa hai1.paradise 2.dear, cherished 3.except for 4.wine 5.rose coloured 6.musk aroma
What is there in paradise to like, except for rose coloured, musk aromatic wine? This is an irreverant poke at the concept of “jannat” like Ghalib does in many other places. It also can be interpreted as intoxication of divine love.
8
piyuuN sharaab agar Khum1 bhii dekh luuN do chaar
yih shiishah2-o-qadah3-o-kuuzah4-o-sabuu5 kyaa hai1.casks (large) 2.glass 3.goblet 4.bowl 5.cup
If I could only see a few large casks I would be assured that I would have enough and drink my fill. How can I be satisified with a little cup, bowl or goblet full of wine.
9
rahii nah taaqat1-e guftaar2 aur agar ho bhii
to kis umiid3 pah kahye kih aarzuu4 kyaa hai1.strength, ability 2.speak 3.hope 4.desire
The poet/lover is on the death bed and the beloved has called upon to see him, but all his strength (even to express himself) has ebbed away. Even if was able to speak, what hope is there of his desire being fulfilled. So why speak?
10
huaa hai shah1 kaa musaahib2 phire hai itraataa3
vagarnah4 shahr meN Gaalib kii aabruu5 kyaa hai1.king, emperor 2.companion, attendant 3.prance, strut, showing off 4.otherwise 5.respect, status
Now that he has become an attendant of the king, Ghalib struts about proudly. Otherwise, what status would Ghalib have in this town. There is a story popular “on the street” with no authentication or original documentation. But it is a beautiful story and worth repeating with the reminder that it may not be authentic. There was intense rivalry between Zauq, another very senior court poet and the ustaad of Bahadur Shah Zafar. In speaking to someone about Zauq, Ghalib is supposed to have said, “he struts about because he is a friend of the emperor, otherwise there is nothing worthwhile in him”. Word reached Zauq who complained to Bahadur Shah Zafar, who in open court upbraided Ghalib. It is said that Ghalib immediately concocted a story that he was not speaking of Zauq at all but speaking of himself and recited this she’r. The Emperor was pleased but Zauq was not satisfied and demanded that Ghalib recite the whole Ghazal whereupon Ghalib composed this Ghazal on the spot and recited it.
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.
1
har ek baat pah kahte ho tum keh tuu kyaa hai
tumhiiN kaho kih yih andaaz-e-guftaguu1 kyaa hai
1.style of conversation
The poet lover is upset at the beloved’s taunt “of what consequence are you?” and is turning around with a mild admonishment, “what kind of style of conversation is this?”.
2
nah sho’le1 meN yih karishmah2 nah barq3 meN yih adaa4
koii bataao kih vuh shooKh5-e tund-Khuu6 kyaa hai
1.flame 2.magic, enchantment 3.lightning 4.style, coquetry 5.mischievous 6.“fast natured”, quick tempered
The poet/lover observes/thinks to himself that the flame does not have the same kind of enchantment (as the beloved) nor does lightning have the playful style. Then will someone please tell me what this mischievous, quick tempered person is if she is not a flame or lightning.
3
yih rashk1 hai kih vuh hotaa hai ham-suKhan2 tum se
vagarnah3 Khauf4-e bad-aamozii5-e ‘aduu6 kyaa hai
1.jealousy, envy 2.conversation with 3.otherwise 4.fear 5.teaching/learning bad thoughts 6.enemy, rival
The beloved is often in conversation with the rival. The poet/lover is jealous because of that. He is not so concerned that he is teaching her (or perhaps learning from her) bad thoughts, he is envious because he is with her.
4
chipak rahaa hai badan par lahuu1 se pairaahan2
hamaare jeb3 ko ab haajat4-e rafuu5 kyaa hai
1.blood 2.robe, cloak 3.collar opening (often the collar/breast area was used to carry things – hence “jeb” has also come mean “pocket” but here it is used in its original meaning of collar 4.need for 5.repair
The poet/lover is distraught and rent his collar. Perhaps in this process he has also scratched himself badly. The blood soaked shirt is now sticking to the body with no need to repair the rent collar. Why worry about repairing a rent collar when the whole body is bleeding?
5
jalaa hai jism jahaaN dil bhii jal gayaa hogaa
kuredte1 ho jo ab raakh justajuu2 kyaa hai
1.poking, scratching 2.search
Now that poet/lover is burnt to ashes the beloved is poking around looking for something (for his heart, where his love resided). What is the use, the heart (and the love it contained) also got burnt to ashes. Too late.
6
ragoN meN dauRte phirne ke ham nahiiN qaail
jab aaNkh se hii nah Tapkaa to phir lahuu kyaa hai
It is not enough for blood to run through veins. The poet/lover is not willing to accept this as the legitimate function of blood. It must flow from eyes as tears.
7
vuh chiiz jis ke liye ham ko ho bihisht1 aziiz2
sivaa3-e baadah4-e gul-faam5-e mushk-buu6 kyaa hai
1.paradise 2.dear, cherished 3.except for 4.wine 5.rose coloured 6.musk aroma
What is there in paradise to like, except for rose coloured, musk aromatic wine? This is an irreverant poke at the concept of “jannat” like Ghalib does in many other places. It also can be interpreted as intoxication of divine love.
8
piyuuN sharaab agar Khum1 bhii dekh luuN do chaar
yih shiishah2-o-qadah3-o-kuuzah4-o-sabuu5 kyaa hai
1.casks (large) 2.glass 3.goblet 4.bowl 5.cup
If I could only see a few large casks I would be assured that I would have enough and drink my fill. How can I be satisified with a little cup, bowl or goblet full of wine.
9
rahii nah taaqat1-e guftaar2 aur agar ho bhii
to kis umiid3 pah kahye kih aarzuu4 kyaa hai
1.strength, ability 2.speak 3.hope 4.desire
The poet/lover is on the death bed and the beloved has called upon to see him, but all his strength (even to express himself) has ebbed away. Even if was able to speak, what hope is there of his desire being fulfilled. So why speak?
10
huaa hai shah1 kaa musaahib2 phire hai itraataa3
vagarnah4 shahr meN Gaalib kii aabruu5 kyaa hai
1.king, emperor 2.companion, attendant 3.prance, strut, showing off 4.otherwise 5.respect, status
Now that he has become an attendant of the king, Ghalib struts about proudly. Otherwise, what status would Ghalib have in this town. There is a story popular “on the street” with no authentication or original documentation. But it is a beautiful story and worth repeating with the reminder that it may not be authentic. There was intense rivalry between Zauq, another very senior court poet and the ustaad of Bahadur Shah Zafar. In speaking to someone about Zauq, Ghalib is supposed to have said, “he struts about because he is a friend of the emperor, otherwise there is nothing worthwhile in him”. Word reached Zauq who complained to Bahadur Shah Zafar, who in open court upbraided Ghalib. It is said that Ghalib immediately concocted a story that he was not speaking of Zauq at all but speaking of himself and recited this she’r. The Emperor was pleased but Zauq was not satisfied and demanded that Ghalib recite the whole Ghazal whereupon Ghalib composed this Ghazal on the spot and recited it.
aabru kya hai – Raina’s Ghalib
1
O, every time you question my pretension to converse
Pray what manner of polite address is this? if I may be so terse
5
The flesh and bone is all consumed, so must my heart have been
Then why rake the ashes now, why poke? why belatedly so keen
6
O not the blood that courses through the veins and vessels by
For bood is no blood until it oozes from the eye
9
My utterance has all ebbed away, or, could I yet communicate,
Upon what hope make my lament? in what declining state
10
Now favoured of the royal court, he struts about in a dance
For no renown does Ghalib occupy, except that circumstance
