For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
الماس دیدہ ہوں ۔ میر مہدی حسین مجروحؔ دہلوی
۱
میں آہ ہوں توخونِ جگر میں طپیدہ ہوں
میں زخم ہوں تو سُودَۂ الماس دیدہ ہوں
۲
کیونکر رہوں میں چین سے کیا آرمیدہ ہوں
میں بحرِغم میں کشتیِ طوفاں رسیدہ ہوں
۳
طوفانِ جہل نے مرا جوہر مٹا دیا
میں اک کتابِ خوب ہوں پر آبدیدہ ہوں
۴
میرا کسی کے دام میں آنا محال ہے
وہ صید ہوں کہ سایہ سے اپنے رمیدہ ہوں
۵
کیا کیا نہ بعدِ مرگ کی آسایشیں ملیں
میں قبر میں مسافرِ منزل رسیدہ ہوں
۶
ایذا کبھی کسی کی گوارا نہیں مجھے
ہوں خارِ رہ تو پاؤں میں اپنے خلیدہ ہوں
۷
دیکھ اے رقیب سامنے آنا نہ تو مرے
مین دستِ روزگار میں تیغِ کشیدہ ہوں
۸
پورا ہوا نہ اپنا زمانہ سے کوئی کام
نالہ ہوں میں اگر تو بہ لب نا رسیدہ ہوں
۹
ہو طالبِ وصال نہ کیوں محوِ روئے یار
میں اُس کے آگے شبنمِ خورشید دیدہ ہوں
۱۰
کچھ دل کو اضطراب سے نسبت ہے اِس قدر
آرام بھی بنوں تو نہ میں آرمیدہ ہوں
۱۱
صحراو شہر میں مرا مسکن کہیں نہیں
اس دام گہ میں طائرِ رنگِ پریدہ ہوں
۱۲
اس خاکداں سے طبع کو ہوتا نہیں لگاؤ
کس جوہرِ لطیف سے میں آفریدہ ہوں
۱۳
یکساں ہے اس جہاں میں وجود و عدم مرا
خوابِ ندیدۂ و سخنِ نا شنیدہ ہوں
۱۴
مجروحؔ میرے حال کو کیا پوچھتے ہو تم
میں کیا ہوں اِک ستمکشِ آفت رسیدہ ہوں
अल्मास दीदा हूँ – मीर महदी हुसैन मज्रूह देहलवी
१
मैं आह हूँ तो ख़ून-ए जिगर में तपीदा हूँ
मैं ज़ख़्म हूँ तो सूदा-ए अल्मास-दीदा हूँ
२
क्यूंकर रहूँ मैँ चैन से क्या आरमीदा हूँ
मैं बहर-ए ग़म में किश्ती-ए तूफ़ां-रसीदा हूँ
३
तूफ़ान-ए जहल ने मेरा जौहर मिटा दिया
मैं एक किताब-ए ख़ूब हूँ पर आब्दीदा हूँ
४
मेरा किसी के दाम में आना मुहाल है
वो सैद हूँ के साए से अपने रमीदा हूँ
५
क्या क्या ना बाद-ए मर्ग कि आसाएशें मिलीं
मैं क़ब्र में मुसाफ़र-ए मंज़िल-रसीदा हूँ
६
ईज़ा कभी किसी की गवारा नहीं मुझे
हूँ ख़ार-ए रह तो पाऊं में अपने ख़लीदा हूँ
७
देख अए रक़ीब सामने आना ना तू मेरे
मैं दस्त-ए रोज़्गार में तेग़-ए कशीदा हूँ
८
पूरा हुआ ना अपना ज़माने से कोई काम
नाला हूँ मैं अगर तो ब-लब ना-रसीदा हूँ
९
हो तालेब-ए विसाल ना क्यूं महव-ए रू-ए यार
मैं उस के आगे शबनम-ए ख़ुर्शीद दीदा हूँ
१०
कुछ दिल को इज़्तराब से निस्बत है इस क़दर
आराम भी बनूँ तो ना मैं आरमीदा हूँ
११
सेहराओ शहर में मेरा मस्कन कहीं नहीं
इस दाम-गह में ताएर-ए रंग-ए परीदा हूँ
१२
इस ख़ाक्दां से तब’अ को होता नहीं लगाउ
किस जौहर-ए लतीफ़ से मैं आफ़्रीदा हूँ
१३
यक्सां है इस जहां में वजूद ओ अदम मेरा
ख़्वाब-ए न-दीदा ओ सुख़न-ए ना-शुनीदा हूँ
१४
मज्रूह मेरे हाल को क्या पूछते हो तुम
मैं क्या हूँ एक सितमकश-ए आफ़त रसीदा हूँ
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir mahdi hasan majrooh dehlavi (1833-1903) was one of the closest disciples of Ghalib, devoted to him. This Ghazal is composed in the same radeef as Ghalib’s andaliib-e gulshan-e na-aafriida huN. It is linked to series of Ghazal under Ghalib pesh-rau o ham-asar.
1
maiN aah1 huN to Khoon-e jigar meN tapiida2 huN
maiN zakhm3 huN to sooda4-e almaas-diida5 huN 1.sigh 2.thrash/writhe in pain 3.wound 4.powder 5.one who has seen diamond
The imagery is of a slaughtered sacrificial beast writhing in pain, in his own blood. That is why he sighs. He is a wound that has been ‘shown’ (rubbed with) powdered diamond (this is like throwing salt on the wound – it increases pain). Supposedly, this is what the beloved has done to him.
2
kyuNkar1 kahuN maiN chain2 se kya aaramiida3 huN
maiN bahr4-e Gham5 meN kashti-e toofaaN-rasiida6 huN 1.how 2.contentment 3.rested 4.sea 5.sorrow 6.storm-stricken
How can I say that I am contented and rested. I am a storm-stricken boat in a sea of sorrow.
3
toofaan-e jahl1 ne mera jauhar2 miTa diya
maiN ek kitaab-e Khoob3 huN par aab-diida4 huN 1.ignorance 2.brilliance 3.good, excellent 4.that which has been shown water, washed
The poet says that he is like a good book the bright print of which have been erased by a storm of ignorance. Whose ignorance? His own or his readers’, is left for us to decide. Has this book been washed in the water of his own tears or the storm of ignorance is external?
4
mera kisi ke daam1 meN aana muhaal2 hai
maiN saed3 huN keh saaye4 se apne ramiida5 huN 1.trap, net 2.difficult 3.prey 4.shadow 5.run away
The poet is like a bird which has experienced being trapped/caught in a net before. So, he is very careful/fearful to the point of ‘running away from his own shadow’. This might imply that he has been deceived by the beloved before and he is not likely to fall for it again.
5
kya kya na baa’d1-e marg2 ki aasaa’esheN3 miliiN
maiN qabr4 meN musaafir5-e manzil-rasiida6 huN 1.after 2.death 3.comforts 4.grave 5.traveler, seeker 6.destination received/given/arrived
The poet is dead and buried in his grave. That does not prevent him from writing about himself. He apparently has received so many comforts (enough to remind him of his destination – heaven) that he feels he is a seeker who has already been given his destination. Why has he been chosen thus? Is that because the grave is comfortable compared to the torture that the beloved has subjected him to? Or he is simply so comfortable in this faith that he is content with the brief sojourn in the grave?
6
eeza1 kabhi kisi ki gawaara2 nahiN mujhe
huN Khaar3-e rah4 to paauN meN apne Khaliida5 huN 1.discomfort, pain 2.acceptable, tolerable 3.thorn 4.path 5.prick
Nobody’s (nobody else’s) pain is acceptable to me. If I am like a thorn in the way, I only prick my own feet.
7
dekh aye raqiib1 saamne aana na tuu mere
maiN dast2-e rozgaar3 meN teGh4-e kashiida5 huN 1.rival 2.hand 3.daily life, world 4.sword 5.stretched, raised ready to strike
O rival, do not confront me. I am like a drawn sword in the hands of the world.
8
poora hua na apna zamaane1 se koi kaam
naala2 huN maiN agar3 to ba-lab4 na-rasiida5 huN 1.times, world 2.cry, wail 3.if 4.to the lips 5.not arrived
Not any of my wishes/needs were fulfilled in this world. (In spite of that) if I raise a cry, then it does not reach the lips.
9
ho taalib1-e visaal2 na kyuN mahv3-e roo4-e yaar5
maiN us ke aage6 shabnam7-e Khurshiid-diida8 huN 1.seeker, one who demands 2.union (with the beloved) 3.engrossed 4.face 5.beloved 6.in front of, before 7.dew drop 8.one who has seen/been shown the sun
A dew drop that ‘sees’ the sun soon disappears (perhaps merges in spirit with the sun). The poet/lover is ‘taalib-e visaal’ seeker of union. Why should he not then, be engrossed with the face/image of the beloved. Just like the dew drop, he too facing the brilliance of the beauty of the beloved will disappear (and achieve union).
10
kuchh dil ko izteraab1 se nisbat2 hai is qadar3
aaraam4 bhi banuN to maiN na-aaramiida5 huN 1.restlessness, eagerness 2.association, relationship 3.so much 4.comfort 5.uncomfortable
The poet/lover’s heart is so used to restlessness that it has developed a close relationship with it. This relationship is so much/so strong that even if he has all means of comfort available, he will remain uncomfortable.
11
sehraao1 shahr meN mera maskan2 nahiN koi
is daam-gah3 meN taa’er4-e raNg-e-pariida5 huN 1.O deserts/wildernesses 2.dwelling, home 3.place of traps 4.bird 5.style/colour of flight
The poet is a mad/passionate lover in the tradition of majnuN. He longs to be in the wilderness away from the city. The city is a ‘place of traps’. O wilderness, I do not have any dwelling in the city/settlement. This is a big trap and I am like a bird in flight here.
12
is KhaakdaaN1 meN tab’a2 ko hota nahiN lagaau3
kis jauhar4-e latiif se maiN aafriida5 huN 1.container of dust, earth 2.nature, character 3.intimacy, attraction 4.jewel, gem 5.fine, refined 6.created
My nature does not get attracted to this world. What sort of refined gem am I made of!
13
yaksaaN1 hai is jahaaN2 meN vajood3 o adam4 mera
Khwaab5-e na-diida6 o suKhan7 na-shuniida8 huN 1.same 2.world 3.existence 4.non-existence 5.dream 6.not seen 7.words 8.not heard
It is the same (it does not make any difference) if I exist or not in this world. I am like a dream/illusion that nobody sees/notices and a voice that nobody hears.
14
majrooh1 mere haal2 ko kya poochhte ho tum
maiN kya kahuN ek sitam-kash3-e aafat-rasiida4 huN 1.penname of the poet 2.condition 3.killed by cruelty (of the beloved) 4.calamity-received
O majrooh, what is the use of asking about my condition. What can I say, I am the victim of cruelty on whom calamities have fallen.
mir mahdi hasan majrooh dehlavi (1833-1903) was one of the closest disciples of Ghalib, devoted to him. This Ghazal is composed in the same radeef as Ghalib’s andaliib-e gulshan-e na-aafriida huN. It is linked to series of Ghazal under Ghalib pesh-rau o ham-asar.
1
maiN aah1 huN to Khoon-e jigar meN tapiida2 huN
maiN zakhm3 huN to sooda4-e almaas-diida5 huN
1.sigh 2.thrash/writhe in pain 3.wound 4.powder 5.one who has seen diamond
The imagery is of a slaughtered sacrificial beast writhing in pain, in his own blood. That is why he sighs. He is a wound that has been ‘shown’ (rubbed with) powdered diamond (this is like throwing salt on the wound – it increases pain). Supposedly, this is what the beloved has done to him.
2
kyuNkar1 kahuN maiN chain2 se kya aaramiida3 huN
maiN bahr4-e Gham5 meN kashti-e toofaaN-rasiida6 huN
1.how 2.contentment 3.rested 4.sea 5.sorrow 6.storm-stricken
How can I say that I am contented and rested. I am a storm-stricken boat in a sea of sorrow.
3
toofaan-e jahl1 ne mera jauhar2 miTa diya
maiN ek kitaab-e Khoob3 huN par aab-diida4 huN
1.ignorance 2.brilliance 3.good, excellent 4.that which has been shown water, washed
The poet says that he is like a good book the bright print of which have been erased by a storm of ignorance. Whose ignorance? His own or his readers’, is left for us to decide. Has this book been washed in the water of his own tears or the storm of ignorance is external?
4
mera kisi ke daam1 meN aana muhaal2 hai
maiN saed3 huN keh saaye4 se apne ramiida5 huN
1.trap, net 2.difficult 3.prey 4.shadow 5.run away
The poet is like a bird which has experienced being trapped/caught in a net before. So, he is very careful/fearful to the point of ‘running away from his own shadow’. This might imply that he has been deceived by the beloved before and he is not likely to fall for it again.
5
kya kya na baa’d1-e marg2 ki aasaa’esheN3 miliiN
maiN qabr4 meN musaafir5-e manzil-rasiida6 huN
1.after 2.death 3.comforts 4.grave 5.traveler, seeker 6.destination received/given/arrived
The poet is dead and buried in his grave. That does not prevent him from writing about himself. He apparently has received so many comforts (enough to remind him of his destination – heaven) that he feels he is a seeker who has already been given his destination. Why has he been chosen thus? Is that because the grave is comfortable compared to the torture that the beloved has subjected him to? Or he is simply so comfortable in this faith that he is content with the brief sojourn in the grave?
6
eeza1 kabhi kisi ki gawaara2 nahiN mujhe
huN Khaar3-e rah4 to paauN meN apne Khaliida5 huN
1.discomfort, pain 2.acceptable, tolerable 3.thorn 4.path 5.prick
Nobody’s (nobody else’s) pain is acceptable to me. If I am like a thorn in the way, I only prick my own feet.
7
dekh aye raqiib1 saamne aana na tuu mere
maiN dast2-e rozgaar3 meN teGh4-e kashiida5 huN
1.rival 2.hand 3.daily life, world 4.sword 5.stretched, raised ready to strike
O rival, do not confront me. I am like a drawn sword in the hands of the world.
8
poora hua na apna zamaane1 se koi kaam
naala2 huN maiN agar3 to ba-lab4 na-rasiida5 huN
1.times, world 2.cry, wail 3.if 4.to the lips 5.not arrived
Not any of my wishes/needs were fulfilled in this world. (In spite of that) if I raise a cry, then it does not reach the lips.
9
ho taalib1-e visaal2 na kyuN mahv3-e roo4-e yaar5
maiN us ke aage6 shabnam7-e Khurshiid-diida8 huN
1.seeker, one who demands 2.union (with the beloved) 3.engrossed 4.face 5.beloved 6.in front of, before 7.dew drop 8.one who has seen/been shown the sun
A dew drop that ‘sees’ the sun soon disappears (perhaps merges in spirit with the sun). The poet/lover is ‘taalib-e visaal’ seeker of union. Why should he not then, be engrossed with the face/image of the beloved. Just like the dew drop, he too facing the brilliance of the beauty of the beloved will disappear (and achieve union).
10
kuchh dil ko izteraab1 se nisbat2 hai is qadar3
aaraam4 bhi banuN to maiN na-aaramiida5 huN
1.restlessness, eagerness 2.association, relationship 3.so much 4.comfort 5.uncomfortable
The poet/lover’s heart is so used to restlessness that it has developed a close relationship with it. This relationship is so much/so strong that even if he has all means of comfort available, he will remain uncomfortable.
11
sehraao1 shahr meN mera maskan2 nahiN koi
is daam-gah3 meN taa’er4-e raNg-e-pariida5 huN
1.O deserts/wildernesses 2.dwelling, home 3.place of traps 4.bird 5.style/colour of flight
The poet is a mad/passionate lover in the tradition of majnuN. He longs to be in the wilderness away from the city. The city is a ‘place of traps’. O wilderness, I do not have any dwelling in the city/settlement. This is a big trap and I am like a bird in flight here.
12
is KhaakdaaN1 meN tab’a2 ko hota nahiN lagaau3
kis jauhar4-e latiif se maiN aafriida5 huN
1.container of dust, earth 2.nature, character 3.intimacy, attraction 4.jewel, gem 5.fine, refined 6.created
My nature does not get attracted to this world. What sort of refined gem am I made of!
13
yaksaaN1 hai is jahaaN2 meN vajood3 o adam4 mera
Khwaab5-e na-diida6 o suKhan7 na-shuniida8 huN
1.same 2.world 3.existence 4.non-existence 5.dream 6.not seen 7.words 8.not heard
It is the same (it does not make any difference) if I exist or not in this world. I am like a dream/illusion that nobody sees/notices and a voice that nobody hears.
14
majrooh1 mere haal2 ko kya poochhte ho tum
maiN kya kahuN ek sitam-kash3-e aafat-rasiida4 huN
1.penname of the poet 2.condition 3.killed by cruelty (of the beloved) 4.calamity-received
O majrooh, what is the use of asking about my condition. What can I say, I am the victim of cruelty on whom calamities have fallen.
