For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
بات بنائے نہ بنے ۔ برج موہن دتّاتریہ کیفیؔ
۱
لطف ہو حشر میں کچھ بات بنائے نہ بنے
آنکھ بھی شوخ ستمگر سے چرائے نہ بنے
۲
مجھ کو اُٹھوا تو دیا اُس نے بھری محفل سے
کون تھا یہ کوئی پوچھے تو بتائے نہ بنے
۳
بات ساری یہ ہے وہ ضِد پہ اَڑے بیٹھے ہیں
یاد کی بھول ہو تو لاکھ جتائے نہ بنے
۴
تم سے اب کیا کہیں وہ چیز ہے داغِ غمِ عشق
کہ چھپائے نہ چھپے اور دکھائے نہ بنے
۵
سیدھی باتوں پہ ہے مطلوب سند اور ثبوت
ہیں وہ کج بحث زباں اُن سے ملائے نہ بنے
۶
فتح کا راز ہے ثابت قدمی اور ہمّت
کام بھی ہے کوئی ایسا کہ بنائے نہ بنے
۷
بات وہ کہہ گئے آئے بھی تو کس طرح یقیں
اور سحر اُس میں کچھ ایسا ہے بُھلائے نہ بنے
۸
بے کسی کی ہے مصیبت میں شکایت بے سود
کب پڑا وقت کہ اپنے بھی پرائے نہ بنے
۹
غم جو پیارے سے ملے کیوں نہ ہو وہ بھی پیارا
بھولنا بھی اُسے چاہیں تو بھلائے نہ بنے
۱۰
ہے نظر میں وہ سماں نقش ہے جس کا دل پر
درد وہ نام ہے لب تک جسے لائے نہ بنے
۱۱
بے خودی کا ہے جہاں بے اثرِ ناز و نیاز
سرکشی بھی نہ چلے سر بھی جُھکائے نہ بنے
۱۲
آہِ سرد اور بھی بھڑکاتی ہے شعلہ دل میں
یہ دیا وہ ہے جو پھونکؤں سے بجھائے نہ بنے
۱۳
سرد، آزاد ہے دل رشک و نمائش ہے عبث
خار کھائے نہ بنے گل بھی کِھلائے نہ بنے
۱۴
عین یک رنگی ہے نیرنگِ تماشا ہر چند
یہ وہ عریانی کا پردہ ہے اٹھائے نہ بنے
۱۵
بے خودی میں بھی تو کیفیؔ کی یہ خودداری ہے
حالِ دل پوچھ بھی لیں وہ تو سنائے نہ بنے
बात बनाए न बने – ब्रिज मोहन दत्तात्रेया कैफ़ी
१
लुत्फ़ हो हश्र में कुछ बात बनाए न बने
आँख भी शोख़ सितम-गर से चुराए न बने
२
मुझ को उठवा तो दिया उस ने भरी महफ़िल से
कौन था ये कोई पूछे तो बताए न बने
३
बात सारी ये है वो ज़िद पे अड़े बैठे हैं
याद की भूल हो तो लाख जताए न बने
४
तुम से अब क्या कहें वो चीज़ है दाग़-ए ग़म-ए इश्क़
के छुपाए न छुपे और दिखाए न बने
५
सीधी बातों पे है मतलूब सनद और सुबूत
हैं वो कज-बहस ज़बाँ उन से मिलाए न बने
६
फ़तह का राज़ है साबित-क़दमी और हिम्मत
काम भी है कोई ऐसा के बनाए न बने
७
बात वो कह गए आए भी तो किस तरह यक़ीं
और सेहर इस में कुछ ऐसा है भुलाए न बने
८
बे-कसी की है मुसीबत में शिकायत बे-सूद
कब पड़ा वक़्त के अपने भी पराए न बने
९
ग़म जो प्यारे से मिले क्यूँ न हो वो भी प्यारा
भूलना भी उसे चाहें तो भुलाए न बने
१०
है नज़र में वो समाँ नक़्श है जिस का दिल पर
दर्द वो नाम है लब तक जिसे लाए न बने
११
बे-ख़ुदी का है जहाँ बे-असर-ए नाज़ ओ नियाज़
सरकशी भी न चले सर भी झुकाए न बने
१२
आह-ए सर्द और भी भड़काती है शोला दिल में
ये दिया वो है जो फूँकौं से बुझाए न बने
१३
सर्द आज़ाद है दिल रश्क ओ नुमा’एश है अबस
ख़ार खाए न बने गुल भी खिलाए न बने
१४
ऐन यक-रंगी है नैरंग-ए तमाशा हर चंद
ये वो उर्यानी का पर्दा है उठाए न बने
१५
बे-ख़ुदी में भी तो कैफ़ी की ये ख़ुद्दारी है
हाल-ए दिल पूछ भी लें वो तो सुनाए न बने
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. panDit brij mohan dattatreya kaifi (1866-1955) was recognized as a scholar of arabi, faarsi, sanskrit and urdu. He was a great lover of urdu and wrote a short history of the evolution of the language. He wrote with much poignancy about communal harmony that existed before the souring of relationships. This Ghazal is modeled after Ghalib’s https://urdushahkar.org/nukta-chiin-hai-gham-e-dil-rainas-ghalib/ of the same bahr, radiif and qaafiya. In addition, kaifi’s tribute to Ghalib is also worth visiting (https://urdushahkar.org/mirza-ghalib-brij-mohan-kaifi/).
1
lutf1 ho hashr2 meN kuchh baat banaaye na bane
aaNkh bhi shoKh3 sitam-gar4 se churaaye5 na bane 1.pleasure, amusement 2.doomsday, day of judgement 3.mischievous 4.unkind, beloved 5.aaNkh churaan is to try to look away, guilty look
The scene is of judgement day. Everyone is being asked to give an account of their actions. The beloved is up for questioning and she has to give an account of all her unkindness to her lovers, including the poet. He exults that it will be amusing to see her when she tries to make up stories and will not be able to do so. And if that mischief making cruel beloved tries to look away, she will not be able to.
2
mujh ko uThva to diya us ne bhari mahfil1 se
kaun tha, ye koi poochhe to bataaye na bane 1.gathering
It is a gathering at the beloved’s, teeming with all her lovers/admirers. She calls in her servants and has them take the poet/lover out. Now if someone were to ask her who it was, she would be at a loss for words. This could be because she secretly loves him too and will not be able to deny knowing him with a straight face.
3
baat saari ye hai vo zid1 pe aRe2 baiThe haiN
yaad ki bhuul ho to laakh jataaye3 na bane 1.obstinacy 2.determined, stuck 3.insistence
The problem is that she is obstinate and is stuck on her statement (denying that she had promised to meet the poet/lover). He may insist on it a thousand times but she will claim that she does not remember and he will not get anywhere.
4
tum se ab kya kaheN vo chiiz hai daaGh1-e Gham-e ishq
ke chhupaaye na chhupe aur dikhaaye na bane 1.wound, scar
How can I tell you what kind of thing the scar of the sorrow of love is. It is something that I cannot hide even if I tried, I cannot show it. Hiding love is an important tradition in order not to risk maligning the reputation of the beloved. But the poet/lover’s love is so intense that he cannot hide it, even if he tried and cannot show it because of the convention.
5
siidhi baatoN pe hai matloob1 sanad2 aur suboot3
haiN vo kaj-bahas4 zabaaN un se milaaye na bane 1.demand 2.certificate, authentication 3.proof 4.crooked/convoluted arguments
Even for straightforward conversation she demands authentication and proof. He logic/argument is so convoluted that the poet/lover cannot carry on any meaningful conversation. ‘zabaan milaana’ means to talk.
6
fat’h1 ka raaz2 hai saabit-qadami3 aur himmat4
kaam bhi hai koi aisa ke banaaye na bane 1.success 2.secret 3.steadfast, determination 4.courage
The secret of success is courage and determination. Is there any task that cannot be accomplished!
7
baat vo kah gaye aaye bhi to kis tarah yaqiN1
aur sehr2 is meN kuchh aisa hai bhulaaye na bane 1.belief, certainty 2.magic
The beloved has said something to the poet/lover … something so outlandish that he cannot believe it. Perhaps a promise that she will favour him. But there is such magic in her words that even if he tried he cannot forget it.
8
be-kasi1 ki hai musiibat2 meN shikaayat3 be-sood4
kab paRa vaqt ke apne bhi paraaye na bane 1.helplessness, friendlessness 2.difficulty, burden 3.complaint 4.useless
It is useless to complain about friendlessness. The second misra should be read as ‘kab nahiN paRa aisa vaqt’. Was there any time when even friends did not act like they were strangers i.e. failed to help/sympathise with you. That is the way of live, go on with it.
9
Gham jo pyaare se mile, kyuN na ho vo bhi pyaara
bhoolna bhi use chaaheN to bhulaaye na bane Why can the pain (of love) received from a loved one, not itself be loved, liked and treasured. Even if you try to forget it, you cannot.
10
hai nazar1 meN vo samaaN2 naqsh3 hai jis ka dil par
dard vo naam hai lab4 tak jise laaye na bane 1.sight – used here to mean mind’s eye 2.scene 3.etching, picture 4.lips
The poet lover has a scene (perhaps a memory) etched on his heart (this could be the picture of the beloved). It is a pain/sorrow (of unrequited love) that even if he wants to, he cannot bring himself to talk about.
11
be-Khudi1 ka hai jahaaN2 be-asar3-e naaz-o-niyaaz4
sarkashi5 bhi na chale sar bhi jhukaaye na bane 1.ignoring, self-absorbed, indifference 2.world 3.not affected by 4.entreaties and offerings 5.rebellion, force
Normally ‘be-Khudi’ is used to mean – sufiyaana trance. But here it means the beloved’s indifference, absorbed in herself. This world of indifference is such that neither entreaties nor gifts will work, or even anger/force nor submission. The implication is that you just have to accept this indifference.
12
aah1-e sard2 aur bhi bhaRkaati3 hai sho’la4 dil meN
ye diya5 vo hai jo phooNkoN6 se bujhaaye na bane 1.sigh 2.cold, sorrowful 3.inflame 4.flame 5.lamp 6.blowing
Love is like a flame burning in the heart. Sorrowful sighs will only inflame it more. It is a lamp that cannot be put out by blowing on it (as by sighing).
13
sard1, azaad hai dil, rashk2 o numaa’esh3 hai abas4
Khaar5 khaaye na bane gul6 bhi khilaaye na bane 1.cold, unfeeling 2.envy 3.display 4.useless 5.Khaar itself means thorn, Khaar khaana is an expression meaning ‘getting jealous’ 6.gul khilaana is an expression that means doing tricks or even tricking someone
The beloved has an unfeeling and free heart – free in the sense that she will entertain many admirers without giving her heart to any one. In such a case it is useless to be envious, or display your sincere love. You cannot get anything by being jealous or by trickery.
14
a’in1 yak-raNgi2 hai nairaNg3-e tamaasha har-chand4
ye vo uryaani5 ka parda hai uThaaye na bane 1.total, hundred percent 2.same colour/style, uniformity 3.enchanting 4.even though 5.nakedness
The beloved is an enchantress and displays it. Her allure is the same with all her admirers. She keeps them hooked. Even though this is apparent in all its nakedness, the admirers are so taken that there is a veil over their eyes.
15
be-Khudi1 meN bhi to kaifi2 ki ye Khud-daari3 hai
haal4-e dil poochh bhi leN vo to sunaaye na bane 1.indifference 2.pen-name of the poet 3.self-respect 4.condition
This reminds me of Ghalib’s …
bandagi meN bhi vo aazaada o Khud-biiN haiN keh hum
ulTe phir aaye dar-e k’aaba agar vaa na hua
The beloved may occasionally overcome her indifference and inquire about the admirer. But the poet/admirer/kaifi is also self-respecting and even if she asks about the condition of his heart he cannot bring himself to speak about it.
panDit brij mohan dattatreya kaifi (1866-1955) was recognized as a scholar of arabi, faarsi, sanskrit and urdu. He was a great lover of urdu and wrote a short history of the evolution of the language. He wrote with much poignancy about communal harmony that existed before the souring of relationships. This Ghazal is modeled after Ghalib’s https://urdushahkar.org/nukta-chiin-hai-gham-e-dil-rainas-ghalib/ of the same bahr, radiif and qaafiya. In addition, kaifi’s tribute to Ghalib is also worth visiting (https://urdushahkar.org/mirza-ghalib-brij-mohan-kaifi/).
1
lutf1 ho hashr2 meN kuchh baat banaaye na bane
aaNkh bhi shoKh3 sitam-gar4 se churaaye5 na bane
1.pleasure, amusement 2.doomsday, day of judgement 3.mischievous 4.unkind, beloved 5.aaNkh churaan is to try to look away, guilty look
The scene is of judgement day. Everyone is being asked to give an account of their actions. The beloved is up for questioning and she has to give an account of all her unkindness to her lovers, including the poet. He exults that it will be amusing to see her when she tries to make up stories and will not be able to do so. And if that mischief making cruel beloved tries to look away, she will not be able to.
2
mujh ko uThva to diya us ne bhari mahfil1 se
kaun tha, ye koi poochhe to bataaye na bane
1.gathering
It is a gathering at the beloved’s, teeming with all her lovers/admirers. She calls in her servants and has them take the poet/lover out. Now if someone were to ask her who it was, she would be at a loss for words. This could be because she secretly loves him too and will not be able to deny knowing him with a straight face.
3
baat saari ye hai vo zid1 pe aRe2 baiThe haiN
yaad ki bhuul ho to laakh jataaye3 na bane
1.obstinacy 2.determined, stuck 3.insistence
The problem is that she is obstinate and is stuck on her statement (denying that she had promised to meet the poet/lover). He may insist on it a thousand times but she will claim that she does not remember and he will not get anywhere.
4
tum se ab kya kaheN vo chiiz hai daaGh1-e Gham-e ishq
ke chhupaaye na chhupe aur dikhaaye na bane
1.wound, scar
How can I tell you what kind of thing the scar of the sorrow of love is. It is something that I cannot hide even if I tried, I cannot show it. Hiding love is an important tradition in order not to risk maligning the reputation of the beloved. But the poet/lover’s love is so intense that he cannot hide it, even if he tried and cannot show it because of the convention.
5
siidhi baatoN pe hai matloob1 sanad2 aur suboot3
haiN vo kaj-bahas4 zabaaN un se milaaye na bane
1.demand 2.certificate, authentication 3.proof 4.crooked/convoluted arguments
Even for straightforward conversation she demands authentication and proof. He logic/argument is so convoluted that the poet/lover cannot carry on any meaningful conversation. ‘zabaan milaana’ means to talk.
6
fat’h1 ka raaz2 hai saabit-qadami3 aur himmat4
kaam bhi hai koi aisa ke banaaye na bane
1.success 2.secret 3.steadfast, determination 4.courage
The secret of success is courage and determination. Is there any task that cannot be accomplished!
7
baat vo kah gaye aaye bhi to kis tarah yaqiN1
aur sehr2 is meN kuchh aisa hai bhulaaye na bane
1.belief, certainty 2.magic
The beloved has said something to the poet/lover … something so outlandish that he cannot believe it. Perhaps a promise that she will favour him. But there is such magic in her words that even if he tried he cannot forget it.
8
be-kasi1 ki hai musiibat2 meN shikaayat3 be-sood4
kab paRa vaqt ke apne bhi paraaye na bane
1.helplessness, friendlessness 2.difficulty, burden 3.complaint 4.useless
It is useless to complain about friendlessness. The second misra should be read as ‘kab nahiN paRa aisa vaqt’. Was there any time when even friends did not act like they were strangers i.e. failed to help/sympathise with you. That is the way of live, go on with it.
9
Gham jo pyaare se mile, kyuN na ho vo bhi pyaara
bhoolna bhi use chaaheN to bhulaaye na bane
Why can the pain (of love) received from a loved one, not itself be loved, liked and treasured. Even if you try to forget it, you cannot.
10
hai nazar1 meN vo samaaN2 naqsh3 hai jis ka dil par
dard vo naam hai lab4 tak jise laaye na bane
1.sight – used here to mean mind’s eye 2.scene 3.etching, picture 4.lips
The poet lover has a scene (perhaps a memory) etched on his heart (this could be the picture of the beloved). It is a pain/sorrow (of unrequited love) that even if he wants to, he cannot bring himself to talk about.
11
be-Khudi1 ka hai jahaaN2 be-asar3-e naaz-o-niyaaz4
sarkashi5 bhi na chale sar bhi jhukaaye na bane
1.ignoring, self-absorbed, indifference 2.world 3.not affected by 4.entreaties and offerings 5.rebellion, force
Normally ‘be-Khudi’ is used to mean – sufiyaana trance. But here it means the beloved’s indifference, absorbed in herself. This world of indifference is such that neither entreaties nor gifts will work, or even anger/force nor submission. The implication is that you just have to accept this indifference.
12
aah1-e sard2 aur bhi bhaRkaati3 hai sho’la4 dil meN
ye diya5 vo hai jo phooNkoN6 se bujhaaye na bane
1.sigh 2.cold, sorrowful 3.inflame 4.flame 5.lamp 6.blowing
Love is like a flame burning in the heart. Sorrowful sighs will only inflame it more. It is a lamp that cannot be put out by blowing on it (as by sighing).
13
sard1, azaad hai dil, rashk2 o numaa’esh3 hai abas4
Khaar5 khaaye na bane gul6 bhi khilaaye na bane
1.cold, unfeeling 2.envy 3.display 4.useless 5.Khaar itself means thorn, Khaar khaana is an expression meaning ‘getting jealous’ 6.gul khilaana is an expression that means doing tricks or even tricking someone
The beloved has an unfeeling and free heart – free in the sense that she will entertain many admirers without giving her heart to any one. In such a case it is useless to be envious, or display your sincere love. You cannot get anything by being jealous or by trickery.
14
a’in1 yak-raNgi2 hai nairaNg3-e tamaasha har-chand4
ye vo uryaani5 ka parda hai uThaaye na bane
1.total, hundred percent 2.same colour/style, uniformity 3.enchanting 4.even though 5.nakedness
The beloved is an enchantress and displays it. Her allure is the same with all her admirers. She keeps them hooked. Even though this is apparent in all its nakedness, the admirers are so taken that there is a veil over their eyes.
15
be-Khudi1 meN bhi to kaifi2 ki ye Khud-daari3 hai
haal4-e dil poochh bhi leN vo to sunaaye na bane
1.indifference 2.pen-name of the poet 3.self-respect 4.condition
This reminds me of Ghalib’s …
bandagi meN bhi vo aazaada o Khud-biiN haiN keh hum
ulTe phir aaye dar-e k’aaba agar vaa na hua
The beloved may occasionally overcome her indifference and inquire about the admirer. But the poet/admirer/kaifi is also self-respecting and even if she asks about the condition of his heart he cannot bring himself to speak about it.
