Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. munshi bishweshwar prasad munavvar lakhnavi (1897-1970). He was a scholar of arabi, faarsi, urdu, and hindi. His father, munshi dwarka prasad ufaq was also a great poet who recomposed the ramayan in urdu using the same qaafiya for more than 6000 ash’aar. He himself re-composed the bhagwad gita in chaste urdu. He credits urdu with “saving the hindu religion” because of the many translations of hindu religious texts into urdu because that was the language that more north Indian hindus could relate to, rather than avadhi or sanskrit. This is one of several Ghazal that he composed in the zamin of Ghalib. This one of ‘aisa kahaaN se laa’uN ke tujh sa kaheN jise’.
1
hai kaun dard-e dil ka shanaasa¹ kaheN jise
koii nahiN hai dahr² meN apna kaheN jise 1.familiar, intimate 2.world
Who is it that understands the pain/sorrow in the heart (of others). There is no one in this world that we can call our (friend, sympathizer).
2
kyuN ho raha hai ek zamaane se mashvara
achcha vahi hai aap Khud achchha kaheN jise   1.long time 2.consultation, discussion, analysis
Someone is taking a long time to decide. Why are you going through this charade of consultation/discussion. Ultimately, you will decide/like what you want. This could well be directed at the beloved, orthodoxy or politicians. Alternatively, the shaa’er could well be addressing himself saying, you are responsible for making your decisions. Whatever you decide is good, is what you have to consider good.
3
arbaab¹-e zoh’d² ka araq³-e infe’aal⁴ hai
rindoN⁵ ki istelaah⁶ meN sahba⁷ kaheN jise    1.owners, friends 2.piety, observant 3.juice, essence 4.shame, guilt, regret 5.wine lovers 6.terminology, idiom, words 7.wine
Either the observant and pious have been drinking on the sly or they regret missing out. Both meanings are implied. In one case it causes them to blush with guilt in the other case with regret. The juice of the guilt (or regret) is what wine-lovers call wine.
4
duniya ka har tilasm¹ sazaavaar²-e diid³ hai
ye vo maqaam⁴ hai keh tamaasha⁵ kaheN jise     1.magic, enchantment, attraction 2.deserving of 3.sight, seeing 4.place 5.spectacle, display, exhibition
This is a warning to fellow humans. This material world entraps you. Its enchantment is worth looking at. This world is a place that can be a spectacle, a display of attractions. Watch out and stay away.
5
dast¹-e saKha² se kaam munavvar³ mudaam⁴ le
vo dil tujhe nasiib⁵ ho, darya⁶ kaheN jise    1.hand 2.kindness, generosity 3.pen-name of poet 4.always 5.grant, gift 6.sea
O munavvar, always deal with an open hand of kindness and generosity. May you be granted a heart that is wide/big/open like the sea.