For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
عالم ہے اک تصویر کا ۔ منشی نوبت رائے نظرؔ لکھنوی
۱
ذکرِ اُلفت پر نتیجہ یہ ہوا تقریر کا
میں بھی چپ ہوں، وہ بھی چپ، عالم ہے اک تصویر کا
۲
آتے آتے رک گیا ہے دم جو مجھ دلگیر کا
آہ بھر کر منتظر ہوں، آہ کی تاثیر کا
۳
وحشیوں کو قید سے چھوٹے ہوے مدّت ہوئی
گونجتا ہے شور اب تک کان میں زنجیر کا
۴
میری تربت پر نہ رو اس طرح او وعدہ خلاف
شوق ٹھنڈا ہو نہ میری خاکِ دامن گیر کا
۵
زلفِ لیلائے شبِ غم ہوتی جاتی ہے دراز
اور اے دل کیا اثر ہو نالۂ شب گیر کا
۶
توڑ کر پہلو جو نکلا ہے خدنگِ ناز یوں
دل نہیں اک دوسرا پیکاں ہے گویا تیر کا
۷
روتے روتے حجر میں یاں ہو گئیں آنکھیں سفید
آپ کے نزدیک اک قصہ ہے جوئے شیر کا
۸
صاف باطن ہیں ہمارا رازِ اُلفت کیا چھپے
دل میں عالم ہے یہاں آئینۂ تصویر کا
۹
صبح تک دیکھیں دلِ مہجور کا کیا حال ہو
قصد ہے پھر آج مشقِ نالۂ شب گیر کا
۱۰
شمع ہے بزمِ جہاں میں کیا ادب آموزِ عشق
لب پہ شکوہ تک نہیں بے رحمیِ دلگیر کا
۱۱
موت سے کیا ساز کر رکھا ہے اس نے اے نظرؔ
مدتیں گزریں سبب کھلتا نہیں تاخیر کا
आलम है एक तस्वीर का – मुंशी नौबत राए नज़र देहलवी
१
ज़िक्र-ए उल्फ़त पर नतीजा ये हुआ तक़्रीर का
मैं भी चुप हुं, वो भी चुप, आलम है एक तस्वीर का
२
आते आते रुक गया है दम जो मुझ दिल्गीर का
आह भर कर मुंतज़िर हुं आह की तासीर का
३
वहशियौं को क़ैद से छूटे हुए मुद्दत हुई
गूंजता है शोर अब तक कान में ज़ंजीर का
४
मेरी तुर्बत पर न रो इस तरह ओ वादा-ख़िलाफ़
शौक़ ठंडा हो न मेरी ख़ाक-ए दामन-गीर का
५
ज़ुल्फ़-ए लैला-ए शब-ए ग़म होती जाती है दराज़
और अए दिल क्या असर हो नाला-ए शबगीर का
६
तोढ कर पहलू जो निक्ला है ख़दंग-ए नाज़ युं
दिल नहीं एक दूसरा पैकां है गोया तीर का
७
रोते रोते हिज्र में यां हो गईं आंखें सफ़ेद
आप के नज़्दीक एक क़िस्सा है जू-ए शीर का
८
साफ़ बातिन हैं हमारा राज़-ए उल्फ़त क्या छुपे
दिल में आलम है यहां आईना-ए तस्वीर का
९
सुबह तक देखें दिल-ए महजूर का क्या हाल हो
क़स्द है फिर आज मश्क़-ए नाला-ए शबगगीर का
१०
शम’अ है बज़्म-ए जहां में क्या अदब-आमोज़-ए इश्क़
लब पे शिक्वा तक नहीं बे-रहमी-ए दिल्गीर का
११
मौत से क्या साज़ कर रक्खा है उस ने अए नज़र
मुद्दतें गुज़्रीं सबब खुलता नही ताख़ीर का
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. munshi naubat rai nazar lakhnavi (1864-1923), lukhnow. Well recognized poet with a published diivaan and the editor of several literary magazines including adeeb. He has several Ghazal modeled after Ghalib. This is one of two Ghazal that he composed in the style of ‘naqsh faryaadi hai kis ki shooKhi-e tahriir ka’. Both are linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
zikr1-e ulfat2 par nateeja3 ye hua taqriir4 ka
maiN bhi chup huN, vo bhi chup, aalam5 hai ek tasviir ka 1.mention, narration 2.love 3.result 4.conversation 5.condition
The poet/lover narrates his love to the beloved. The result of this conversation is that both fall silent, their condition like that of a picture-still and silent. Why? The poet/lover because he is fearfully waiting for her response and the beloved probably because she is offended.
2
aate aate ruk gaya hai dam1 jo mujh dilgiir2 ka
aah3 bhar kar muntazir4 huN aah3 ki taasiir5 ka 1.breath 2.heart-broken 3.sigh 4.waiting 5.effect
The poet/lover is heart-broken and sighs in sorrow. He suddenly stops breathing after a deep sigh. Why? Because he is anxiously waiting for his sigh to have an effect i.e., perhaps the beloved will have pity and show some love.
3
vahshiyoN1 ko qaid2 se chhooTe hue muddat3 hui
goonjta4 hai shor5 ab tak kaan meN zanjiir6 ka 1.wild, passionate, mad 2.prison 3.long time 4.echoes 5.noise, sound 6.chains
Mad/passionate lovers gone berserk, were chained and imprisoned. It has been a long time since their release, but the clanking sound of chains still echoes in their ears.
4
meri turbat1 par na ro is tarah2 o vaada-Khilaaf3
shauq4 ThanDa ho na meri Khaak5-e daaman-giir6 ka 1.grave 2.in this way 3.promise breaker 4.enthusiasm, passion 5.dust 6.holding on to the hem of the robe, pleading, begging
The beloved always breaks her promise. The poet/lover has died of the disappointment of broken promises, has been buried and turned into ashes (but he can still compose verse). The beloved visits his grave and his dust clings to the robe of the beloved as she weeps. He protests – do not weep like this O breaker of promises, lest the passion of my dust cool off (perhaps it can get washed away by her tears).
5
zulf1-e laila2-e shab3-e Gham4 hoti jaati hai daraaz5
aur aye dil kya asar6 ho naala7-e shabgiir8 ka 1.hair 2.night, dark 3.night 4.sorrow 5.long 6.effect 7.wailing 8.all night long, night conquering
The dark hair of the night of sorrow keeps getting longer – i.e., the night of separation never seems to end. O my stricken heart, what else can be the result of wailing all night long.
6
toR kar pahlu1 jo nikla hai KhadaNg2-e naaz3 yuN
dil nahiN ek doosra paikaaN4 hai goya5 tiir ka 1.side of the bosom 2.arrow 3.coquetry, coquettish glance 4.tip of the arrow 5.as if
The beloved shoots coquettish glances like arrows at the heart of the poet/lover. The arrow tears through the side of the bosom carrying the heart with it as if it is a new arrow-tip.
7
rote rote hijr1 meN yaaN ho gaiiN aaNkheN safed2
aap ke nazdiik3 ek qissa4 hai juu5-e shiir6 ka 1.separation, away from home, exile 2.white – an expression meaning crying so much that the iris gets washed off and sight is lost 3.near, view, thought 4.story, legend 5.river 6.milk
This has reference to the story of shirin-farhaad in which farhaad is set the impossible task of carving a channel through a mountain and making a river of milk flow through it. The poet/lover in the sorrow of separation has been crying his eyes out so much so that the iris is washed off and he is blind. All this while the beloved is waiting with the expectation that he will make a river of milk flow like farhaad almost succeeded in doing. Thus, it is a matter of my life, and it is mere fun and games for you. Said kalb-e ahmed maani jaa’esi …
kya Ghazab hai kohkan ko hasrat-e shiriiN rahi
aur shiiriiN ko raha armaan juu-e shiir ka
8
saaf baatin1 hai hamaara raaz2-e ulfat3 kya chhupe
dil meN aalam4 hai yahaaN aaiina-e tasviir ka 1.innermost feelings/thoughts 2.secret 3.love 4.condition
The feelings of my heart are clear/open for everyone to see; how can the secret of my love remain hidden. The condition of my heart is like a mirror reflecting the image of the beloved.
9
subah tak dekheN dil-e mahjoor1 ka kya haal2 ho
qasd3 hai phir aaj mashq4-e naala-e-shabgiir5 ka 1.exiled, rejected 2.condition 3.resolve, determined 4.practice, undertake 5.wailing that conquers the night i.e., lasts longer than the night
The poet/lover has resolved to wail and cry all night long. Let us see what the condition of my forlorn heart will be by the morning, he wonders.
10
sham’a1 hai bazm-e-jahaaN2 meN kya adab-aamoz3-e ishq
lab4 pe shikva5 tak nahiN be-rahmi6-e dilgiir7 ka 1.candle 2.gatherings of the world 3.lesson in polite traditions 4.lips, mouth 5.complaint 6.unkindness, cruelty 7.heart conqueror, beloved
Normally the candle is portrayed as the beloved and the moth as the suffering lover, sacrificing its life. But here it appears that the candle is the beloved, burning with love of an undefined lover. Its tongue i.e., the flame burns silently without speaking any word of the cruelty of the beloved. That is a lesson in the polite traditions of love.
11
maut1 se kya saaz2 kar rakkha hai us ne aye nazar3
muddateN4 guzriiN sabab5 khulta nahiN taaKhiir6 ka 1.death 2.secret agreement, conspiracy 3.pen-name of the poet 4.long time, ages 5.reason, basis 6.delay
The poet has been forlorn and waiting for death for a long time. He does not understand the reason for this delay and speculates that the beloved must have come to a secret agreement with death. She wants the poet to live because she wants to continue to torture him.
munshi naubat rai nazar lakhnavi (1864-1923), lukhnow. Well recognized poet with a published diivaan and the editor of several literary magazines including adeeb. He has several Ghazal modeled after Ghalib. This is one of two Ghazal that he composed in the style of ‘naqsh faryaadi hai kis ki shooKhi-e tahriir ka’. Both are linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
zikr1-e ulfat2 par nateeja3 ye hua taqriir4 ka
maiN bhi chup huN, vo bhi chup, aalam5 hai ek tasviir ka
1.mention, narration 2.love 3.result 4.conversation 5.condition
The poet/lover narrates his love to the beloved. The result of this conversation is that both fall silent, their condition like that of a picture-still and silent. Why? The poet/lover because he is fearfully waiting for her response and the beloved probably because she is offended.
2
aate aate ruk gaya hai dam1 jo mujh dilgiir2 ka
aah3 bhar kar muntazir4 huN aah3 ki taasiir5 ka
1.breath 2.heart-broken 3.sigh 4.waiting 5.effect
The poet/lover is heart-broken and sighs in sorrow. He suddenly stops breathing after a deep sigh. Why? Because he is anxiously waiting for his sigh to have an effect i.e., perhaps the beloved will have pity and show some love.
3
vahshiyoN1 ko qaid2 se chhooTe hue muddat3 hui
goonjta4 hai shor5 ab tak kaan meN zanjiir6 ka
1.wild, passionate, mad 2.prison 3.long time 4.echoes 5.noise, sound 6.chains
Mad/passionate lovers gone berserk, were chained and imprisoned. It has been a long time since their release, but the clanking sound of chains still echoes in their ears.
4
meri turbat1 par na ro is tarah2 o vaada-Khilaaf3
shauq4 ThanDa ho na meri Khaak5-e daaman-giir6 ka
1.grave 2.in this way 3.promise breaker 4.enthusiasm, passion 5.dust 6.holding on to the hem of the robe, pleading, begging
The beloved always breaks her promise. The poet/lover has died of the disappointment of broken promises, has been buried and turned into ashes (but he can still compose verse). The beloved visits his grave and his dust clings to the robe of the beloved as she weeps. He protests – do not weep like this O breaker of promises, lest the passion of my dust cool off (perhaps it can get washed away by her tears).
5
zulf1-e laila2-e shab3-e Gham4 hoti jaati hai daraaz5
aur aye dil kya asar6 ho naala7-e shabgiir8 ka
1.hair 2.night, dark 3.night 4.sorrow 5.long 6.effect 7.wailing 8.all night long, night conquering
The dark hair of the night of sorrow keeps getting longer – i.e., the night of separation never seems to end. O my stricken heart, what else can be the result of wailing all night long.
6
toR kar pahlu1 jo nikla hai KhadaNg2-e naaz3 yuN
dil nahiN ek doosra paikaaN4 hai goya5 tiir ka
1.side of the bosom 2.arrow 3.coquetry, coquettish glance 4.tip of the arrow 5.as if
The beloved shoots coquettish glances like arrows at the heart of the poet/lover. The arrow tears through the side of the bosom carrying the heart with it as if it is a new arrow-tip.
7
rote rote hijr1 meN yaaN ho gaiiN aaNkheN safed2
aap ke nazdiik3 ek qissa4 hai juu5-e shiir6 ka
1.separation, away from home, exile 2.white – an expression meaning crying so much that the iris gets washed off and sight is lost 3.near, view, thought 4.story, legend 5.river 6.milk
This has reference to the story of shirin-farhaad in which farhaad is set the impossible task of carving a channel through a mountain and making a river of milk flow through it. The poet/lover in the sorrow of separation has been crying his eyes out so much so that the iris is washed off and he is blind. All this while the beloved is waiting with the expectation that he will make a river of milk flow like farhaad almost succeeded in doing. Thus, it is a matter of my life, and it is mere fun and games for you. Said kalb-e ahmed maani jaa’esi …
kya Ghazab hai kohkan ko hasrat-e shiriiN rahi
aur shiiriiN ko raha armaan juu-e shiir ka
8
saaf baatin1 hai hamaara raaz2-e ulfat3 kya chhupe
dil meN aalam4 hai yahaaN aaiina-e tasviir ka
1.innermost feelings/thoughts 2.secret 3.love 4.condition
The feelings of my heart are clear/open for everyone to see; how can the secret of my love remain hidden. The condition of my heart is like a mirror reflecting the image of the beloved.
9
subah tak dekheN dil-e mahjoor1 ka kya haal2 ho
qasd3 hai phir aaj mashq4-e naala-e-shabgiir5 ka
1.exiled, rejected 2.condition 3.resolve, determined 4.practice, undertake 5.wailing that conquers the night i.e., lasts longer than the night
The poet/lover has resolved to wail and cry all night long. Let us see what the condition of my forlorn heart will be by the morning, he wonders.
10
sham’a1 hai bazm-e-jahaaN2 meN kya adab-aamoz3-e ishq
lab4 pe shikva5 tak nahiN be-rahmi6-e dilgiir7 ka
1.candle 2.gatherings of the world 3.lesson in polite traditions 4.lips, mouth 5.complaint 6.unkindness, cruelty 7.heart conqueror, beloved
Normally the candle is portrayed as the beloved and the moth as the suffering lover, sacrificing its life. But here it appears that the candle is the beloved, burning with love of an undefined lover. Its tongue i.e., the flame burns silently without speaking any word of the cruelty of the beloved. That is a lesson in the polite traditions of love.
11
maut1 se kya saaz2 kar rakkha hai us ne aye nazar3
muddateN4 guzriiN sabab5 khulta nahiN taaKhiir6 ka
1.death 2.secret agreement, conspiracy 3.pen-name of the poet 4.long time, ages 5.reason, basis 6.delay
The poet has been forlorn and waiting for death for a long time. He does not understand the reason for this delay and speculates that the beloved must have come to a secret agreement with death. She wants the poet to live because she wants to continue to torture him.