For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
بے زباں کیوں ہو ۔ بلدیو کرشن سہگل اثرؔ
۱
محبّت میں غمِ پنہاں کا کوئی ترجماں کیوں ہو
رواں ہو اشک کیوں آنکھوں سے، ہونٹوں پر فغاں کیوں ہو
۲
وفورِ شوق سے ہر دم شعورِ ضبط کہتا ہے
یہ غم اُن کا سہی لیکن، یہ اُن پر بھی عیاں کیوں ہو
۳
میں موسیٰ تو نہیں تابِ نظارہ جو نہ لا پاؤں
ازل سے منتظر ہوں، سامنے آؤ، نہاں کیوں ہو
۴
جب اتنا ظرف ہے اپنا کہ دشمن سے گلے مل لیں
تو پھر بجلی کی زد سے دور اپنا آشیاں کیوں ہو
۵
کسی کو دِل ہی دے کر تو متاعِ درد ملتا ہے
کسی کو دے کے دِل کوئی نواسنجِ فغاں کیوں ہو
۶
جہاں اِک بار کھِل کر پھول نذرِ خاک ہو جائیں
وہ میرا گلستاں ہو کیوں، وہ میرا گلستاں کیوں ہو
۷
تڑپنا یوں نہیں اچھا اثرؔ تم حالِ دل کہہ دو
زباں رکھتے ہوئے بھی تم نہ جانے بے زباں کیوں ہو
बे-ज़बां क्यूं हो – बल्देव क्रिष्न सहगल असर
१
मोहब्बत में ग़म-ए पिन्हां का कोई तर्जुमां क्यूं हो
रवां हो अश्क क्यूं आंखौं से, होंटौं पर फ़ोग़ां क्यूं हो
२
वफ़ूर-ए शौक़ से हर दम श’ऊर-ए ज़ब्त कहता है
ये ग़म उन का सही लैकिन, ये उन पर भी अयां क्यूं हो
३
मैं मूसा तो नहीं ताब-ए नज़ारा जो न ला पाऊं
अज़ल से मुन्तज़र हूं, सामने आओ, नेहां क्यूं हो
४
जब इतना ज़र्फ़ है अपना के दुश्मन से गले मील लें
तो फिर बिज्ली की ज़द से दूर अपना आशियां क्यूं हो
५
किसी को दिल ही दे कर तो मता’-ए दर्द मिल्ता है
किसी को दे के दिल कोई नवा-संज-ए फ़ुग़ां क्यूं हो
६
जहां एक बार खिल कर फूल नज़्र-ए ख़ाक हो जाएं
वो मेरा गुल्सितां हो क्यूं, वो मेरा गुल्सितां क्यूं हो
७
तड़पना यूं नहीं अच्छा असर तुम हाल-ए दिल कह दो
ज़बां रखते हुए भी तुम न जाने बेज़बां क्यूं हो
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This is one of a series of Ghazal written as a tribute to Ghalib by the Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! The samiti conducted mushaa’era over two years, each inviting Ghazal modeled after selected Ghazal of Ghalib. The poet, baldev krishn sahgal asar, was the Divisional Manager of the Food Corporation. This series shows the range of occupations of hindu poets who were lovers of urdu even to 1969. Times have changed.
1
mohabbat meN Gham-e pinhaaN1 ka koii tarjumaaN2 kyuN ho
ravaaN3 ho ashk4 kyuN aaNkhoN se, honToN par fuGhaaN5 kyuN ho 1.hidden 2.explanation, reason 3.flow 4.tears 5.wailing
Why should there be any explanation of/reason for the hidden pain of love. Why should tears flow from eyes, why should there by any wailing on lips.
2
vufoor1-e shauq2 se har dam sha’oor3-e zabt4 kahta hai
ye Gham un ka sahi laikin, ye un par bhi ayaaN5 kyuN ho 1.excess 2.passion 3.wisdom 4.self-control 5.revealed
Excess of passion is restrained by the wisdom of self-restraint saying, ‘this may be her pain (caused by her, therefore belonging to her), but why should it be revealed to her’.
3
maiN moosa1 to nahiN taab-e-nazaara2 jo na laa paauN
azal3 se muntazar4 huN, saamne aao, nehaaN5 kyuN ho 1.Moses 2.burden of sight 3.eternity 4.waiting, eager 5.hidden, hiding
This could be addressed to the beloved or to god. It has reference to the story of moosa who is reputed to have gone to the peak of mount tuur and asked to see god, who manifested herself in a lightning flash, but moosa could not bear to see it and fainted. I am not like moosa who could not bear the burden of seeing. I have been eager to see you since eternity. Come out, why do you hide.
4
jab itna zarf1 hai apna ke dushman se gale mil leN
to phir bijli ki zad2 se duur apna aashiyaaN3 kyuN ho 1.capacity, capability 2.range, striking distance 3.nest
In urdu poetic tradition lightning strike is the enemy that strikes the nest of the bird/poet. But he has the capability to embrace the enemy. Therefore why should the enemy (lightning) be far from striking his nest.
5
kisi ko dil hi de kar to mataa1-e dard2 milta hai
kisi ko de ke dil koii navaa-sanj3-e fuGhaaN4 kyuN ho 1.treasure 2.pain/sorrow of love 3.selected/sophisticated sound 4.wailing
You acquire the treasure of the pain of love only when you give your heart to someone. Having given away your heart then why should anyone cry out in pain.
6
jahaaN ek baar khil kar phool nazr1-e Khaak2 ho jaayeN
vo mera gulsitaaN ho kyuN, vo mera gulsitaaN kyuN ho 1.offering, sacrificed 2.dust
Where a flower after blooming once, is offered to the dust, why should it be my garden, oh, why should it be my garden.
7
taRapna1 yuN nahiN achchha asar2 tum haal3-e dil kah do
zabaaN rakhte hue bhi tum na jaane be-zabaaN4 kyuN ho 1.painful writhing 2.pen name of poet 3.condition of 4.silent, speechless
It is not good to keep writhing in pain, O, asar. Speak out and tell her the condition of your heart. You have a tongue, then I don’t know why you are speechless.
This is one of a series of Ghazal written as a tribute to Ghalib by the Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! The samiti conducted mushaa’era over two years, each inviting Ghazal modeled after selected Ghazal of Ghalib. The poet, baldev krishn sahgal asar, was the Divisional Manager of the Food Corporation. This selection shows the range of occupations of hindu poets who were lovers of urdu even to 1969. Times have changed.
1
mohabbat meN Gham-e pinhaaN1 ka koii tarjumaaN2 kyuN ho
ravaaN3 ho ashk4 kyuN aaNkhoN se, honToN par fuGhaaN5 kyuN ho
1.hidden 2.explanation, reason 3.flow 4.tears 5.wailing
Why should there be any explanation of/reason for the hidden pain of love. Why should tears flow from eyes, why should there by any wailing on lips.
2
vufoor1-e shauq2 se har dam sha’oor3-e zabt4 kahta hai
ye Gham un ka sahi laikin, ye un par bhi ayaaN5 kyuN ho
1.excess 2.passion 3.wisdom 4.self-control 5.revealed
Excess of passion is restrained by the wisdom of self-restraint saying, ‘this may be her pain (caused by her, therefore belonging to her), but why should it be revealed to her’.
3
maiN moosa1 to nahiN taab-e-nazaara2 jo na laa paauN
azal3 se muntazar4 huN, saamne aao, nehaaN5 kyuN ho
1.Moses 2.burden of sight 3.eternity 4.waiting, eager 5.hidden, hiding
This could be addressed to the beloved or to god. It has reference to the story of moosa who is reputed to have gone to the peak of mount tuur and asked to see god, who manifested herself in a lightning flash, but moosa could not bear to see it and fainted. I am not like moosa who could not bear the burden of seeing. I have been eager to see you since eternity. Come out, why do you hide.
4
jab itna zarf1 hai apna ke dushman se gale mil leN
to phir bijli ki zad2 se duur apna aashiyaaN3 kyuN ho
1.capacity, capability 2.range, striking distance 3.nest
In urdu poetic tradition lightning strike is the enemy that strikes the nest of the bird/poet. But he has the capability to embrace the enemy. Therefore why should the enemy (lightning) be far from striking his nest.
5
kisi ko dil hi de kar to mataa1-e dard2 milta hai
kisi ko de ke dil koii navaa-sanj3-e fuGhaaN4 kyuN ho
1.treasure 2.pain/sorrow of love 3.selected/sophisticated sound 4.wailing
You acquire the treasure of the pain of love only when you give your heart to someone. Having given away your heart then why should anyone cry out in pain.
6
jahaaN ek baar khil kar phool nazr1-e Khaak2 ho jaayeN
vo mera gulsitaaN ho kyuN, vo mera gulsitaaN kyuN ho
1.offering, sacrificed 2.dust
Where a flower after blooming once, is offered to the dust, why should it be my garden, oh, why should it be my garden.
7
taRapna1 yuN nahiN achchha asar2 tum haal3-e dil kah do
zabaaN rakhte hue bhi tum na jaane be-zabaaN4 kyuN ho
1.painful writhing 2.pen name of poet 3.condition of 4.silent, speechless
It is not good to keep writhing in pain, O, asar. Speak out and tell her the condition of your heart. You have a tongue, then I don’t know why you are speechless.
