For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
Tina saani
کتنوں کا لہو ۔ فیض احمد فیضؔ
تجھ کو کتنوں کا لہو چاہئے ائے ارضِ وطن
جو تیرے عارضِ بے رنگ کو گلنار کریں
کتنی آہوں سے کلیجہ تیرا ٹھنڈا ہوگا
کتنے آنسو تیرے صحراؤں کو گلزار کریں
تیرے ایوانوں میں پُرزے ہوے پیماں کتنے
کتنے وعدے جو نہ آسودۂ اِقرار ہوئے
کتنی آنکھوں کو نظر کھا گئی بدخواہوں کی
خواب کتنے تیرے شاہراہوں میں سنگسار ہوئے
بلا کشانِ محبت پہ جو ہوا سو ہوا
جو مجھ پہ گذری مت اُس سے کہو، ہوا سو ہوا
مبادا ہو کوئی ظالم تیرا گریباں گیر
لہو کے داغ تو دامن سے دھو، ہوا سو ہوا
ہم تو مجبورِ وفا ہیں مگر ائے جانِ جہاں
اپنے عشاق سے ایسے بھی کوئی کرتا ہے
تیری محفل کو خدا رکھّے ابد تک قائم
ہم تو مہماں ہیں گھڑی بھر کے ہمارا کیا ہے
कितनौं का लहू – फ़ैज़ अहमद फ़ैज़
तुझ को कितनौं का लहू चाहिए अए अर्ज़-ए वतन
जो तेरे आरिज़-ए बे-रंग को गुलनार करें
कितनी आहौं से कालेज तेरा ठंडा होगा
कितने आंसू तेरे सेहराओं को गुलज़ार करें
तेरे ऐवानों में पुरज़े हुए पैमां कितने
कितने वाडे जो न-आसूदा-ए इक़रार हुए
कितनी आंखों को नज़र खा गई बद ख़्वाहौं की
ख़्वाब कितने तेरे शाहराहौं से संगसार हुए
बला कशान-ए मोहब्बत पे जो हुआ सो हुआ
जो मुझ पे गुज़री मत उस से कहो हुआ सो हुआ
मबादा हो कोई ज़ालिम तेरा गरेबां गीर
लहू के दाग़ तो दामन से धो, हुआ सो हुआ
हम तो मज्बूर-ए वफ़ा हैं मगर ऐ जान-ए जहां
अपने उश्शाक़ से ऐसे भी कोई करता है
तेरी महफ़िल को ख़ुदा रक्खे आबाद तक क़ाएम
हम तो मेहमां हैं घड़ी भर के हमारा क्या है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance and resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution. This Ghazal is linked to ‘maKhdoom-faiz parallels’ on the Theme Index page.
tujh ko kitnauN ka lahu1 chaahiye aye arz-e-vatan2
jo tere aariz3-e be-raNg ko gulnaar4 kareN
kitni aahauN se kaleja5 tera ThanDa hoga
kitne aaNsu tere sehraauN6 ko gulzaar7 kareN1.blood 2.homeland 3.face 4.red, colourful 5.liver 6.desert, arid lands 7.gardens
‘kaleja ThanDa hona’ is a colloquial expression to mean, ‘get well, become comfortable or happy’. How many people’s blood is required, my homeland to bring some colour to your colourless visage. How many sighs will it take to bring comfort to your heart, how many tears to water your wastelands to grow gardens.
tere aivaanauN1 meN purze2 hue paimaaN3 kitne
kitne vaade4 jo na-aasooda5-e iqraar6 hue
kitni aaNkhaun ko nazar7 kha gaii badKhwaahauN8 ki
Khwaab kitne tere shahraahauN meN saNgsaar9 hue1.hallways 2.pieces, shattered, torn 3.agreements, promises 4.promises 5.not satisfied 6.agreement 7.evil eye 8.antagonist 9.pelted with stones, stoned
In your hallways of power, how many agreements have been torn apart, how many promises left unfulfilled, how many hopes twisted as if cursed by the evil eye, how many dreams stoned openly for everyone on the highways to see.
balaa-kashaan1-e mohabbat2 pe jo hua so hua
jo mujh pe guzri3 mat us se kaho, hua so hua
mabaada4 ho koii zaalim tera garebaaN-giir5
lahu ke daaGh6 to daaman7 se dho, hua so hua1.afflicted with 2.love (of homeland) 3.occured, happened 4.lest, for fear that 5.hold collar, hold responsible, accuse 6.stains 7.hem (of the robe)
faiz has taken these asha’ar directly from sauda’s Ghazal. Whatever has happened to those afflicted with love of homeland, let it go. Whatever happened to me, let it go, don’t tell her (the beloved/homeland) lest someone accuse you. Wash out the blood stains from the hem of your robe, whatever has happened has happened.
hum to majboor-e-vafa1 haiN magar aye jaan-e-jahaaN2
apne ushshaaq3 se aise bhi koii karta hai
teri mahfil ko Khuda rakkhe abad4 tak qaa’em5
hum to mehmaaN6 haiN ghaRi7 bhar ke hamaara kya hai1.bound by love 2.dearest in the world 3.lovers 4.eternity 5.established, prosperous 6.guest 7.a moment
What of us, we are after all bound by our love (for you/homeland). But O most beloved of all, is this any way to behave with your lovers. May you prosper forever, we are but guests for a short while, what of us.
faiz ahmed faiz (1911-1984) a poet of romance and resistance, labour leader, journalist, political activist, Lenin Peace Prize awardee writes with great finesse and delicacy using the beloved as a metaphor for the homeland and/or the socialist revolution. This Ghazal is linked to ‘maKhdoom-faiz parallels’ on the Theme Index page.
tujh ko kitnauN ka lahu1 chaahiye aye arz-e-vatan2
jo tere aariz3-e be-raNg ko gulnaar4 kareN
kitni aahauN se kaleja5 tera ThanDa hoga
kitne aaNsu tere sehraauN6 ko gulzaar7 kareN
1.blood 2.homeland 3.face 4.red, colourful 5.liver 6.desert, arid lands 7.gardens
‘kaleja ThanDa hona’ is a colloquial expression to mean, ‘get well, become comfortable or happy’. How many people’s blood is required, my homeland to bring some colour to your colourless visage. How many sighs will it take to bring comfort to your heart, how many tears to water your wastelands to grow gardens.
tere aivaanauN1 meN purze2 hue paimaaN3 kitne
kitne vaade4 jo na-aasooda5-e iqraar6 hue
kitni aaNkhaun ko nazar7 kha gaii badKhwaahauN8 ki
Khwaab kitne tere shahraahauN meN saNgsaar9 hue
1.hallways 2.pieces, shattered, torn 3.agreements, promises 4.promises 5.not satisfied 6.agreement 7.evil eye 8.antagonist 9.pelted with stones, stoned
In your hallways of power, how many agreements have been torn apart, how many promises left unfulfilled, how many hopes twisted as if cursed by the evil eye, how many dreams stoned openly for everyone on the highways to see.
balaa-kashaan1-e mohabbat2 pe jo hua so hua
jo mujh pe guzri3 mat us se kaho, hua so hua
mabaada4 ho koii zaalim tera garebaaN-giir5
lahu ke daaGh6 to daaman7 se dho, hua so hua
1.afflicted with 2.love (of homeland) 3.occured, happened 4.lest, for fear that 5.hold collar, hold responsible, accuse 6.stains 7.hem (of the robe)
faiz has taken these asha’ar directly from sauda’s Ghazal. Whatever has happened to those afflicted with love of homeland, let it go. Whatever happened to me, let it go, don’t tell her (the beloved/homeland) lest someone accuse you. Wash out the blood stains from the hem of your robe, whatever has happened has happened.
hum to majboor-e-vafa1 haiN magar aye jaan-e-jahaaN2
apne ushshaaq3 se aise bhi koii karta hai
teri mahfil ko Khuda rakkhe abad4 tak qaa’em5
hum to mehmaaN6 haiN ghaRi7 bhar ke hamaara kya hai
1.bound by love 2.dearest in the world 3.lovers 4.eternity 5.established, prosperous 6.guest 7.a moment
What of us, we are after all bound by our love (for you/homeland). But O most beloved of all, is this any way to behave with your lovers. May you prosper forever, we are but guests for a short while, what of us.
