For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
بادۂ ناب میں ۔ میر مہدی حسین مجروحؔ دہلوی
۱
نہ وہ برق میں ہے نہ سیماب میں
تڑپ ہے جو دل کی تپ و تاب میں
۲
حذر سرمہ آگیں نگہ سے حذر
بجھی ہے یہ شمشیر زہر آب میں
۳
وہ یوسف سے کیوں بھاگتی ہے مگر
زلیخا نے دیکھا تمہیں خواب میں
۴
خدا دشمنوں کے نہ چیتے کرے
وہ آئے تو ہیں بزمِ احباب میں
۵
کوئی لختِ دل آ کے اٹکا ہے کیا
کھٹک سی ہے کچھ چشمِ پُر آب میں
۶
وہ مخمور آنکھیں ذرا دیکھنا
یہ مستی کہاں بادۂ ناب میں
۷
کوئی میرے دل ہی سے پوچھے اِسے
تپش ہے جو آہِ جگر تاب میں
۸
مگر طعنہ دیں گے کہ ہجر اور نیند
وہ بے وجہ آئے نہیں خواب میں
۹
یہاں کی بھی ہے سیر کرنی ضرور
سفینہ کو جانے دو گِرداب میں
۱۰
گئیں دل کی وہ شورش افزائیاں
رہا کچھ نہیں جانِ بیتاب میں
۱۱
پیالہ نہیں خم لبوں سے لگاؤ
تکلف کو جانے دو مہتاب میں
۱۲
نہ غربت میں کی بات تک خضر سے
رہے غرق یہ یادِ احباب میں
۱۳
نہ کر شور اے نالۂ بے ادب
یہ ہیں کس کی آنکھیں شکر خواب میں
۱۴
کہاں گھر جب اشکوں کا یہ شور ہو
بِنا کوئی تھمتی ہے سیلاب میں
۱۵
مداوائے زخمِ جگر خوب ہو
نمک بھی جو مل جائے تیزاب میں
۱۶
خبر کیا سنی مرگِ مجروحؔ کی
اُداسی ہے کچھ بزمِ احباب میں
बादा-ए नाब में – मीर महदी हुसैन मज्रूह देहलवी
१
न वो बर्क़ में है न सीमाब में
तढप है जो दिल की तप ओ ताब में
२
हज़र सुर्मा-आगीं निगह से हज़र
बुझी है ये शमशीर ज़हर-आब में
३
वो यूसुफ़ से क्यूं भागती है मगर
ज़ुलैख़ा ने देखा तुम्हें ख़्वाब में
४
ख़ुदा दुश्मनौं के न चीते करे
वो आए तो हैं बज़्म-ए अहबाब हैं
५
कोई लख़्त-ए दिल आ के अटका है क्या
खटक सी है कुछ चश्म-ए पुर-आब में
६
वो मख़्मूर आंखें ज़रा देखना
ये मस्ती कहां बादा-ए नाब में
७
कोई मेरे दिल ही से पूछे इसे
तपिश है जो आह-ए जिगर-ताब में
८
मगर ताना देंगे के हिज्र और नींद
वो बे-वजह आए नहीं ख़्वाब में
९
यहां की भी है सैर करनी ज़रूर
सफ़ीने को जाने दो गिर्दाब में
१०
गईं दिल की वो शोरिश-अफ़्ज़ाईयां
रहा कुछ नहीं जोन-ए बेताब में
११
पियाला नहीं ख़ुम लबौं से लगाऔ
तकल्लुफ़ को जाने दो महताब में
१२
न ग़ुर्बत में की बात तक ख़िज़्र से
रहे ग़र्क़ ये याद-ए अहबाब में
१३
न कर शोर अए नाला-ए बे-अदब
ये हैं किस की आंखें शकर-ख़्वाब में
१४
कहां घर जब अश्कौं का ये शोर है
बिना कोई थमती है सैलाब में
१५
मदावा-ए ज़ख़्म-ए जिगर ख़ूब हो
नमक भी जो मिल जाए तेज़ाब में
१६
ख़बर क्या सुनी मर्ग-ए मज्रूह की
उदासी है कुछ बज़्म-ए अहबाब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir mahdi husain majrooh dehlavi (1833-1903) was one of the closest disciples of Ghalib, devoted to him. In the aftermath of 1857 he fled to paanipat and later alwaaR and found patronage. This Ghazal is composed in the same radeef as ‘saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN’. It is linked to the series of Ghazal under Ghalib peshrau-ham-asar as well as to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam and the poet.
1
na vo barq1 meN hai na seemaab2 meN
taRap3 hai jo dil ki tap-o-taab4 meN 1.lightning 2.mercury 3.painful writhing, tossing and turning 4.painful burning
Such painful writhing that is seen in a heart burning with love, can be found neither in lightning nor in mercury.
2
hazar1 surma-aagiiN2 nigah3 se hazar1
bujhi hai ye shamshiir4 zahr-aab5 meN 1.hazard, danger 2.collyrium coated eyes 3.eyes 4.sword, knife 5.poison
‘zahr-aab meN bujhi’ – quenched in poison – is an expression reflecting an old practice. It was thought that heating a sword or knife and then quenching it in poison made it more fatal. The poet presents the imagery of collyrium (eye shadow) coated eyelashes as daggers. There is danger in such eyelashes, says he.
3
vo yusuf1 se kyuN bhaagti hai magar
zulaiKha2 ne dekha tumheN Khwaab meN 1.Joseph 2.Potiphar’s wife
Hebrew, Biblical and qur’aanic legends portray yusuf/Joseph as a very handsome man. He was rescued from a well by a caravan and sold as a slave in the bazar of Cairo. Potiphar, the trader, took him home and his wife zulaiKha, fell in love with him. Legends tell stories of her chasing him. But here the poet implies that he is even more handsome than yusuf and that zulaiKha has seen him in her dreams. That is why she is running away from yusuf.
4
Khuda dushmanoN ke na cheete-kare1
vo aaye to haiN bazm2-e ahbaab3 meN 1.cheete yaar karna, to make friends with 2.gathering 3.friends, admirers
The beloved has come into the gathering of admirers. There is a danger that someone will make advances and win her over. Thus, may god that none of the rivals win her heart. She has come into the gathering of admirers.
5
koii laKht1-e dil aa ke aTka2 hai kya
khaTak3 si hai kuchh chashm4-e pur-aab5 meN 1.piece, fragment 2.stuck 3.prick, irritation 4.eye 5.overflowing with water/tears
The poet/lover cries tears of blood. Maybe a fragment of his broken heart has come stuck in the eye and it is irritating.
6
vo maKhmoor1 aaNkheN zara dekhna
ye masti2 kahaaN baada3-e naab4 meN 1.intoxicating 2.intoxication 3.wine 4.pure, strong
Just look at those intoxicating eyes. Is there such intoxication in pure/strong wine.
7
koii mere dil hi se poochhe ise
tapish1 hai jo aah2-e jigar-taab3 meN 1.burning, heat 2.sigh 3.heavy liver/heart
In urdu poetic tradition jigar and dil are sometimes used interchangeably. Someone ask my heart i.e., only my heart knows, how the sighs of my heavy heart burn.
8
magar taana1 deNge keh hijr2 aur niind
vo be-vaj’h3 aaye nahiN Khwaab meN 1.sarcasm, blame 2.separation 3.without reason
It is the night of separation but instead of staying awake, lamenting, the poet/lover has fallen asleep. He sees the beloved in his dreams. She had not come for no reason – she makes a sarcastic remark – separation and sleep! The implication is that she considers this to be less than steadfast love and upbraids the poet/lover.
9
yahaaN ki bhi hai sair1 karni zaruur2
safiine3 ko jaane do girdaab4 meN 1.sightseeing, experiencing 2.necessary 3.boat 4.whirlpool
It is necessary that one experiences this too. Let the boat get caught in the whirlpool.
10
gaiiN dil ki vo shorish-afzaaiyaaN1
raha kuchh nahiN jaan-e be-taab2 meN 1.passion/madness increasing 2.restless
The poet/lover has grown frail (either due to age or to the constant pain of love). Perhaps he is on his death bed. The earlier passion increasing feelings that he used to experience in his heart are gone. There is nothing left in his restless life.
11
piyaala nahiN Khum1 laboN2 se lagaao
takalluf3 ko jaane do mahtaab4 meN 1.flask, barrell 2.lips 3.formalities, holding back 4.night of full moon
Put your lips to the flask, not the cup. The night of the full moon is not the time of formality, of holding back.
12
na Ghurbat1 meN kii baat tak Khizr2 se
rahe Gharq3 ye yaad4-e ahbaab5 meN 1.exile, being away from home 2.guide 3.drowned 4.memories 5.friends
Khizr is a legendary figure of Biblical origins. He is believed to be a guide for lost travelers. The poet is away from his homeland (this probably refers to the period in the immediate aftermath of 1857 when the poet was traveling from place to place looking for a reliable patron). Thus, even in exile, I did not even think of Khizr, drowned as I was in the memory of friends back home.
13
na kar shor1 aye naala2-e be-adab3
ye haiN kis ki aaNkheN shakar-Khwaab4 meN 1.noise 2.wailing 3.disrespectful, unmindful 4.sweet dreams
The beloved is fast asleep dreaming sweet dreams. The poet/lover is wailing/crying because of the pain of separation (he is not necessarily in the presence of the beloved, just imagining her sleeping). He may be in the street of the beloved and admonishes himself … O unmindful wailing, don’t make a loud noise, the beloved is in deep sleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
14
kahaaN ghar jab ashkoN1 ka ye shor2 hai
bina3 koii thamti4 hai sailaab5 meN 1.tears 2.noise, passion 3.foundation 4.stay put, remain in place 4.flood
The poet/exile is crying up a flood of tears. Everything gets washed away in the force. How can I have a home with this passion of tears. Does any foundation stay in place in this flood (of tears).
15
madaavaa1-e zaKhm2-e jigar3 Khoob ho
namak bhi jo mil jaaye tez’aab4 meN 1.cure 2.wound 3.liver/heart 4.acid
The poet/lover is a glutton for pain, because traditionally, pain is considered valuable. Thus, it will be a great cure for the pain of my heart if salt is mixed with acid.
16
Khabar1 kya suni marg2-e majrooh3 ki
udaasi4 hai kuchh bazm5-e ahbaab6 meN 1.news 2.death 3.pen-name of the poet 4.sorrow 5.gathering 6.friends
Ever since they heard news of majrooh’s death, there has been sorrow in the gathering of friends.
mir mahdi husain majrooh dehlavi (1833-1903) was one of the closest disciples of Ghalib, devoted to him. In the aftermath of 1857 he fled to paanipat and later alwaaR and found patronage. This Ghazal is composed in the same radeef as ‘saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN’. It is linked to the series of Ghazal under Ghalib peshrau-ham-asar as well as to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam and the poet.
1
na vo barq1 meN hai na seemaab2 meN
taRap3 hai jo dil ki tap-o-taab4 meN
1.lightning 2.mercury 3.painful writhing, tossing and turning 4.painful burning
Such painful writhing that is seen in a heart burning with love, can be found neither in lightning nor in mercury.
2
hazar1 surma-aagiiN2 nigah3 se hazar1
bujhi hai ye shamshiir4 zahr-aab5 meN
1.hazard, danger 2.collyrium coated eyes 3.eyes 4.sword, knife 5.poison
‘zahr-aab meN bujhi’ – quenched in poison – is an expression reflecting an old practice. It was thought that heating a sword or knife and then quenching it in poison made it more fatal. The poet presents the imagery of collyrium (eye shadow) coated eyelashes as daggers. There is danger in such eyelashes, says he.
3
vo yusuf1 se kyuN bhaagti hai magar
zulaiKha2 ne dekha tumheN Khwaab meN
1.Joseph 2.Potiphar’s wife
Hebrew, Biblical and qur’aanic legends portray yusuf/Joseph as a very handsome man. He was rescued from a well by a caravan and sold as a slave in the bazar of Cairo. Potiphar, the trader, took him home and his wife zulaiKha, fell in love with him. Legends tell stories of her chasing him. But here the poet implies that he is even more handsome than yusuf and that zulaiKha has seen him in her dreams. That is why she is running away from yusuf.
4
Khuda dushmanoN ke na cheete-kare1
vo aaye to haiN bazm2-e ahbaab3 meN
1.cheete yaar karna, to make friends with 2.gathering 3.friends, admirers
The beloved has come into the gathering of admirers. There is a danger that someone will make advances and win her over. Thus, may god that none of the rivals win her heart. She has come into the gathering of admirers.
5
koii laKht1-e dil aa ke aTka2 hai kya
khaTak3 si hai kuchh chashm4-e pur-aab5 meN
1.piece, fragment 2.stuck 3.prick, irritation 4.eye 5.overflowing with water/tears
The poet/lover cries tears of blood. Maybe a fragment of his broken heart has come stuck in the eye and it is irritating.
6
vo maKhmoor1 aaNkheN zara dekhna
ye masti2 kahaaN baada3-e naab4 meN
1.intoxicating 2.intoxication 3.wine 4.pure, strong
Just look at those intoxicating eyes. Is there such intoxication in pure/strong wine.
7
koii mere dil hi se poochhe ise
tapish1 hai jo aah2-e jigar-taab3 meN
1.burning, heat 2.sigh 3.heavy liver/heart
In urdu poetic tradition jigar and dil are sometimes used interchangeably. Someone ask my heart i.e., only my heart knows, how the sighs of my heavy heart burn.
8
magar taana1 deNge keh hijr2 aur niind
vo be-vaj’h3 aaye nahiN Khwaab meN
1.sarcasm, blame 2.separation 3.without reason
It is the night of separation but instead of staying awake, lamenting, the poet/lover has fallen asleep. He sees the beloved in his dreams. She had not come for no reason – she makes a sarcastic remark – separation and sleep! The implication is that she considers this to be less than steadfast love and upbraids the poet/lover.
9
yahaaN ki bhi hai sair1 karni zaruur2
safiine3 ko jaane do girdaab4 meN
1.sightseeing, experiencing 2.necessary 3.boat 4.whirlpool
It is necessary that one experiences this too. Let the boat get caught in the whirlpool.
10
gaiiN dil ki vo shorish-afzaaiyaaN1
raha kuchh nahiN jaan-e be-taab2 meN
1.passion/madness increasing 2.restless
The poet/lover has grown frail (either due to age or to the constant pain of love). Perhaps he is on his death bed. The earlier passion increasing feelings that he used to experience in his heart are gone. There is nothing left in his restless life.
11
piyaala nahiN Khum1 laboN2 se lagaao
takalluf3 ko jaane do mahtaab4 meN
1.flask, barrell 2.lips 3.formalities, holding back 4.night of full moon
Put your lips to the flask, not the cup. The night of the full moon is not the time of formality, of holding back.
12
na Ghurbat1 meN kii baat tak Khizr2 se
rahe Gharq3 ye yaad4-e ahbaab5 meN
1.exile, being away from home 2.guide 3.drowned 4.memories 5.friends
Khizr is a legendary figure of Biblical origins. He is believed to be a guide for lost travelers. The poet is away from his homeland (this probably refers to the period in the immediate aftermath of 1857 when the poet was traveling from place to place looking for a reliable patron). Thus, even in exile, I did not even think of Khizr, drowned as I was in the memory of friends back home.
13
na kar shor1 aye naala2-e be-adab3
ye haiN kis ki aaNkheN shakar-Khwaab4 meN
1.noise 2.wailing 3.disrespectful, unmindful 4.sweet dreams
The beloved is fast asleep dreaming sweet dreams. The poet/lover is wailing/crying because of the pain of separation (he is not necessarily in the presence of the beloved, just imagining her sleeping). He may be in the street of the beloved and admonishes himself … O unmindful wailing, don’t make a loud noise, the beloved is in deep sleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
14
kahaaN ghar jab ashkoN1 ka ye shor2 hai
bina3 koii thamti4 hai sailaab5 meN
1.tears 2.noise, passion 3.foundation 4.stay put, remain in place 4.flood
The poet/exile is crying up a flood of tears. Everything gets washed away in the force. How can I have a home with this passion of tears. Does any foundation stay in place in this flood (of tears).
15
madaavaa1-e zaKhm2-e jigar3 Khoob ho
namak bhi jo mil jaaye tez’aab4 meN
1.cure 2.wound 3.liver/heart 4.acid
The poet/lover is a glutton for pain, because traditionally, pain is considered valuable. Thus, it will be a great cure for the pain of my heart if salt is mixed with acid.
16
Khabar1 kya suni marg2-e majrooh3 ki
udaasi4 hai kuchh bazm5-e ahbaab6 meN
1.news 2.death 3.pen-name of the poet 4.sorrow 5.gathering 6.friends
Ever since they heard news of majrooh’s death, there has been sorrow in the gathering of friends.
