For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
بات کا بستار دیکھ کر ۔ بمل کرشن اشکؔ
۱
دُکھتی ہے روح پاؤں کو لاچار دیکھ کر
رک جائیں گے کہیں کوئی دیوار دیکھ کر
۲
سُبکی نہ ہو کہیں طرفِ یار دیکھ کر
آنکھیں اٹھائیے بھی تو دستار دیکھ کر
۳
نکلو جو بن سنور کے تو بازار دیکھ کر
مانگیں ہیں مول شکلِ خریدار دیکھ کر
۴
کہنا تو بس یہی ہے کہ چاہیں ہیں ہم تجھے
گھبرائیو نہ بات کا بستار دیکھ کر
۵
سستائے ہے ارادہ تساہل کے روبرو
دُکھتے ہیں پاؤں سایۂ دیوار دیکھ کر
۶
اپنوں سے منہ چھپائے پھرے ہے اک آدمی
جیبیں ٹٹول کے کبھی بازار دیکھ کر
۸
ماروں ہوں ہاتھ پاؤں بہت اشکؔ خود کو میں
اپنے ہی بازوؤں میں گرفتار دیکھ کر
बात का बिस्तार देख कर – बिमल क्रिश्न अश्क
१
दुखती है रूह पाँव को लाचार देख कर
रुक जाएँगे कहीं कोई दीवार देख कर
२
सुबकी न हो कहीं तरफ़-ए यार देख कर
आँखें उठाइए भी तो दस्तार देख कर
३
निकलो जो बन-सँवर के तो बाज़ार देख कर
माँगें हैं मोल शक्ल-ए ख़रीदार देख कर
४
कहना तो बस यही है के चाहें हैं हम तुझे
घबराइयो न बात का बिस्तार देख कर
५
सुस्ताए है इरादा तसाहुल के रू-ब-रू
दुखते हैं पाँव साया-ए दीवार देख कर
६
अपनौं से मुँह छुपाए फिरे है एक आदमी
जेबें टटोल के कभी बाज़ार देख कर
७
मारूँ हूँ हाथ-पाँव बहुत अश्क ख़ुद को मैं
अपने ही बाज़ुऔं में गिरफ़्तार देख कर
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. bimal krishn ashk (1924-1982). Born in gurgaauN, haryana. He received an MA in English and taught English at punjab university, rohtak and maharishi dayanand university. Five collections of his urdu nazm and Ghazal were published but I could not find anything about the origins of his interest in urdu. He is known for writing about every day experiences. Many of the ash’aar sound like every day homilies. This Ghazal in composed in the style of Ghalib’s ‘zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar’.
1
dukhti hai ruuh1 paauN ko laachaar2 dekh kar
ruk jaayeNge kahiN koi divaar dekh kar 1.spirit 2.helpless, useless
The poet/seeker is on a journey (of life, seeking, learning) but he is frustrated because he is feet are tired/useless. That hurts his spirit. He may have to stop somehwere, where he can find some shelter (wall here is used for shelter).
2
subki1 na ho kahiN taraf2-e yaar3 dekh kar
aaNkheN uThaaiye bhi to dastaar4 dekh kar 1.embarrassment, insult 2.towards 3.friend, beloved 4.cap – used here to mean dignity
Be mindful of your own dignity when you look at (meet) someone lest you be insulted.
3
niklo jo ban-saNvar ke to baazaar dekh kar
maaNgeN haiN mol shakl1-e Kharidaar dekh kar 1.face, form, looks
Perhaps it means that when you go out into the market to buy something and you are all dressed up, then they ask for a price that suits the looks of the buyer. So be careful.
4
kahna to bas yahi hai ki chaaheN haiN ham tujhe
ghabraaiyo na baat kaa bistaar1 dekh kar 1.vistaar – detail, length
All the poet/lover wants to say is that he loves her. He might get wordy in describing what he feels. Don’t worry, he says – all I want to say is …
5
sustaa’e1 hai iraada2 tasaahul3 ke ruu-ba-ruu4
dukhte haiN paauN saaya-e divaar dekh kar 1.slow down 2.determination 3.apathy, carelessness, forgetfulness 4.face to face
The poet/seeker is on a journey, on a quest. During the quest if he is faced with/overcome by apathy then if he sees shade (of a wall) then his feel begin to hurt i.e. it is the apathy of purpose, not the arduousness of the journey that makes your fee tired.
6
apnoN se muNh chhupaa’e phire hai ek aadmi
jebeN TaTol1 ke kabhi baazaar dekh kar 1.search
The poet is ashamed/looks away even from friends. His pockets are empty. Even if he searches in them, he finds nothing. So, out on the street, in the bazaar he is embarrassed.
7
maaruuN huN haath-paauN bahut ashk Khud ko maiN
apne hi baazuoN1 meN giraftaar2 dekh kar 1.arms 2.captive, imprisoned
The poet is a captive of his own arms i.e. he is bound by his own desires. When he realizes that he is a prisoner of himself he thrashes about to escape i.e. you alone have the ability to free yourselves.
bimal krishn ashk (1924-1982). Born in gurgaauN, haryana. He received an MA in English and taught English at punjab university, rohtak and maharishi dayanand university. Five collections of his urdu nazm and Ghazal were published but I could not find anything about the origins of his interest in urdu. He is known for writing about every day experiences. Many of the ash’aar sound like every day homilies. This Ghazal in composed in the style of Ghalib’s ‘zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar’.
1
dukhti hai ruuh1 paauN ko laachaar2 dekh kar
ruk jaayeNge kahiN koi divaar dekh kar
1.spirit 2.helpless, useless
The poet/seeker is on a journey (of life, seeking, learning) but he is frustrated because he is feet are tired/useless. That hurts his spirit. He may have to stop somehwere, where he can find some shelter (wall here is used for shelter).
2
subki1 na ho kahiN taraf2-e yaar3 dekh kar
aaNkheN uThaaiye bhi to dastaar4 dekh kar
1.embarrassment, insult 2.towards 3.friend, beloved 4.cap – used here to mean dignity
Be mindful of your own dignity when you look at (meet) someone lest you be insulted.
3
niklo jo ban-saNvar ke to baazaar dekh kar
maaNgeN haiN mol shakl1-e Kharidaar dekh kar
1.face, form, looks
Perhaps it means that when you go out into the market to buy something and you are all dressed up, then they ask for a price that suits the looks of the buyer. So be careful.
4
kahna to bas yahi hai ki chaaheN haiN ham tujhe
ghabraaiyo na baat kaa bistaar1 dekh kar
1.vistaar – detail, length
All the poet/lover wants to say is that he loves her. He might get wordy in describing what he feels. Don’t worry, he says – all I want to say is …
5
sustaa’e1 hai iraada2 tasaahul3 ke ruu-ba-ruu4
dukhte haiN paauN saaya-e divaar dekh kar
1.slow down 2.determination 3.apathy, carelessness, forgetfulness 4.face to face
The poet/seeker is on a journey, on a quest. During the quest if he is faced with/overcome by apathy then if he sees shade (of a wall) then his feel begin to hurt i.e. it is the apathy of purpose, not the arduousness of the journey that makes your fee tired.
6
apnoN se muNh chhupaa’e phire hai ek aadmi
jebeN TaTol1 ke kabhi baazaar dekh kar
1.search
The poet is ashamed/looks away even from friends. His pockets are empty. Even if he searches in them, he finds nothing. So, out on the street, in the bazaar he is embarrassed.
7
maaruuN huN haath-paauN bahut ashk Khud ko maiN
apne hi baazuoN1 meN giraftaar2 dekh kar
1.arms 2.captive, imprisoned
The poet is a captive of his own arms i.e. he is bound by his own desires. When he realizes that he is a prisoner of himself he thrashes about to escape i.e. you alone have the ability to free yourselves.
