dard-e dil ka shanaasa kaheN jise-bishweshar parshad munavvar

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

دردِ دل کا شناسا کہیں جسے ۔ بشویشور پرشاد مُنوّرؔ لکھنوی

۱

ہے کون دردِ دل کا شناسا کہیں جسے

کوئی نہیں ہے دہر میں اپنا کہیں جسے

۲

کیوں ہو رہا ہے ایک زمانے سے مشورہ

اچھا وہی ہے آپ خود اچھا کہیں جسے

۳

اربابِ زہد کا عرقِ اِنفعال ہے

رِندوں کی اِصطلاح میں صہبا کہیں جسے

۴

دُنیا کا ہر طلسم سزاوارِ دید ہے

یہ وہ مقام ہے کہ تماشا کہیں جسے

۵

دستِ سخا سے کام مُنوّر مدام لے

وہ دل تجھے نصیب ہو دریا کہیں جسے

दर्द-ए दिल का शनासा कहे जिसे-बिश्वेशवर पर्शाद मुनव्वर लखनवी

है कौन दर्द-ए दिल का शनासा कहें जिसे

कोई नहीं है दहर में अपना कहें जिसे

क्यूं हो रहा है एक ज़माने से मश्वरा

अच्छा वही है आप ख़ुद अच्छा कहें जिसे

अरबाब-ए ज़ोहद का अरक़-ए इन्फ़’आल है

रिन्दौं कि इस्तलाह में सहबा कहें जिसे

दुनिया का हर तिलस्म सज़ावार-ए दीद है

ये वो मक़ाम है के तमाशा कहें जिसे

दस्त-ए सख़ा से काम मुनव्वर मुदाम ले

वो दिल तुझे नसीब हो, दर्या कहें जिसे

 

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.

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.