hote jaate haiN – akbar allahabadi

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

ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں  ۔  اکبرؔ  الہٰ  آبادی

۱

حرم  کیا  دیر  کیا  دونوں  یہ  ویراں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

تمہارے  معتقد  گبر  و  مسلماں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۲

الگ  سب  سے  نظر  نیچی  خرام  آہستہ  آہستہ

وہ  مجھ  کو  دفن  کر  کے  اب  پشیماں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۳

سِوا  طِفلی  سے  بھی  ہیں  بھولی  باتیں  اب  جوانی  میں

قیامت  ہے  کہ  دن  پر  دن  وہ  ناداں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۴

کہاں  سے  لاؤں  گا  خونِ  جگر  ان  کے  کھلانے  کو

ہزاروں  طرح  کے  غم  دل  کے  مہماں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۵

خرابی  خانہ  ہائے  عیش  کی  ہے  دورِ  گردوں  میں

جو  باقی  رہ  گئے  ہیں  وہ  بھی  ویراں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۶

بیاں  میں  کیا  کروں  دل  کھول  کر  شوقِ  شہادت  کو

ابھی  سے  آپ  تو  شمشیرِ  عریاں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۷

غضب  کی  یاد  ہیں  عیاریاں  واللہ  تم  کو  بھی

غرض  قائل  تمہارے  ہم  تو  اے  جاں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

۸

اِدھر  ہم  سے  بھی  باتیں  آپ  کرتے  ہیں  لگاوٹ  کی

اُدھر  غیروں  سے  بھی  کچھ  عہد  و  پیماں  ہوتے  جاتے  ہیں

होते जाते हैं – अक्बर इलाह’आबादी

हरम क्या दैर क्या दोनों ये वीराँ होते जाते हैं

तुम्हारे मो’तक़द गब्र ओ मुसलमाँ होते जाते हैं

अलग सब से, नज़र नीची, ख़िराम आहिस्ता आहिस्ता

वो मुझ को दफ़्न कर के अब पशेमाँ होते जाते हैं

सिवा तिफ़्ली से भी हैं भोली बातें अब जवानी में

क़यामत है के दिन पर दिन वो नादाँ होते जाते हैं

कहाँ से लाऊँगा ख़ून-ए जिगर उन के खिलाने को

हज़ारों तरह के ग़म दिल के मेहमाँ होते जाते हैं

ख़राबी ख़ाना-हा-ए ऐश की है दौर-ए गर्दूं में

जो बाक़ी रह गए हैं वो भी वीराँ होते जाते हैं

बयाँ मैं क्या करूँ दिल खोल कर शौक़-ए शहादत को

अभी से आप तो शमशीर-ए उर्यां होते जाते हैं

ग़ज़ब की याद हैं अय्यारियाँ वल्लाह तुम को भी

ग़रज़ क़ाएल तुम्हारे हम तो अए जाँ होते जाते हैं

इधर हम से भी बातें आप करते हैं लगावट की

उधर ग़ैरों से भी कुछ अहद-ओ-पैमाँ होते जाते हैं

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. akbar ilahabadi (1846-1921) is more popularly known for his satirical and humorous compositions. But he has written many serious, sufiyaana and thought provoking Ghazal. This is in a lighter, humorous mode.
1
haram1 kya dair2 kya donoN ye viiraaN3 hote jaate haiN
tumhaare mo’taqad4 gabr5-o-musalmaaN hote jaate haiN    
1.mosque 2.temple 3.desolate, devoid of people 4.believers 5.non-muslim
This is addressed to the beloved. Both the temple and the mosque are getting drained of devotees, are getting desolate. Both muslims and non-muslims are becoming believers in you, are becoming your devotees (O beloved).

2
alag1 sab se, nazar2 niichi3, Khiraam4 aahista aahista
vo mujh ko dafn5 kar ke ab pashemaaN6 hote jaate haiN   
1.separate, removed 2.eyes 3.lowered 4.gait, walk 5.bury 6.regretful
Having buried the poet/lover, the beloved is regretful. What does she regret … she regrets having been so harsh on him as to have killed him. How does the poet know this. Because he can still see this and write about it from his grave! She is walking slowly, apart from the others, her eyes lowered. All proof of her regret.

3
siva1 tifli2 se bhi haiN bholi3 baateN ab javaani meN
qayaamat4 hai keh din par din vo naadaaN5 hote jaate haiN   
1.beyond, more than 2.childhood 3.innocent, simple 4.calamity 5.simpleton
In her youth, she prattles even more innocently than she did during her childhood. It is a great calamity that day by day she (pretends) to be a simpleton.

4
kahaaN se laa’uNga Khoon-e jigar un ke khilaane ko
hazaaroN tarah ke Gham dil ke mehmaaN1 hote jaate haiN    
1.guest, resident of, making a home in
There are thousands of sorrows that make a home in the poet’s heart and he constantly bleeds because of them. So much that he may not have any blood left in his liver to offer to the beloved (the liver is considered to be the place where blood is made, making it the seat of courage and fortitude).

5
Kharaabi1 Khana-ha2-e aish3 ki hai daur4-e gardooN5 meN
jo baaqi6 rah ga’e haiN vo bhi viiraaN7 hote jaate haiN  
1.destruction, ruining 2.houses 3.luxury, comfort 4.rotation, times 5.skies 6.remaining 7.desolate
This is probably a reflection of the disappearance of aristocracy and their lavish ways of supporting/encouraging the arts. ‘daur-e garduuN’ literally the rotation of the skies is used to mean the passage of time. Thus, with the passage of time all houses of nobles are being ruined. Those that remain, are getting desolate.

6
bayaaN1 maiN kya karuN dil khol kar shauq2-e shahaadat3 ko
abhi se aap to shamshiir4-e uryaaN5 hote jaate haiN   
1.narrate, describe 2.wish, desire 3.martyrdom (at the hands of the beloved) 4.sword 5.naked, unsheathed
The poet/lover wants to present his wish/desire hoping to be killed at the hands of the beloved. But she is alread drawn her sword and is ready to chop his head off. Under such conditions, ‘how can I related my desire to my heart’s content’, he protests.

7
Ghazab1 ki yaad haiN ayyaariyaaN2 vallaah3 tum ko bhi
Gharaz4 qaa’el5 tumhaare ham to aye jaaN6 hote jaate haiN    
1.devastating 2.sly, crafty, cunning 3.by god 4.in summary 5.convinced 6.used here to mean ‘my dear’
You remember such devastating, cunning, and crafty characteristics that at last I am convinced of your abilities, my dear.

8
idhar ham se bhi baateN aap karte haiN lagaavaT1 ki
udhar GhairoN2 se bhi kuchh ahd-o-paimaaN3 hote jaate haiN   
1.attraction 2.others, rivals 3.promises and plans
On the one hand you tell me that you are attracted to me and on the other hand you make promises and plans with the rival.

akbar ilahabadi (1846-1921) is more popularly known for his satirical and humorous compositions.  But he has written many serious, sufiyaana and thought provoking Ghazal.  This is in a lighter, humorous mode.
1
haram1 kya dair2 kya donoN ye viiraaN3 hote jaate haiN
tumhaare mo’taqad4 gabr5-o-musalmaaN hote jaate haiN

1.mosque 2.temple 3.desolate, devoid of people 4.believers 5.non-muslim

This is addressed to the beloved.  Both the temple and the mosque are getting drained of devotees, are getting desolate.  Both muslims and non-muslims are becoming believers in you, are becoming your devotees (O beloved).
2
alag1 sab se, nazar2 niichi3, Khiraam4 aahista aahista
vo mujh ko dafn5 kar ke ab pashemaaN6 hote jaate haiN

1.separate, removed 2.eyes 3.lowered 4.gait, walk 5.bury 6.regretful

Having buried the poet/lover, the beloved is regretful.  What does she regret … she regrets having been so harsh on him as to have killed him.  How does the poet know this.  Because he can still see this and write about it from his grave!  She is walking slowly, apart from the others, her eyes lowered.  All proof of her regret.
3
siva1 tifli2 se bhi haiN bholi3 baateN ab javaani meN
qayaamat4 hai keh din par din vo naadaaN5 hote jaate haiN

1.beyond, more than 2.childhood 3.innocent, simple 4.calamity 5.simpleton

In her youth, she prattles even more innocently than she did during her childhood.  It is a great calamity that day by day she (pretends) to be a simpleton.
4
kahaaN se laa’uNga Khoon-e jigar un ke khilaane ko
hazaaroN tarah ke Gham dil ke mehmaaN1 hote jaate haiN

1.guest, resident of, making a home in

There are thousands of sorrows that make a home in the poet’s heart and he constantly bleeds because of them.  So much that he may not have any blood left in his liver to offer to the beloved (the liver is considered to be the place where blood is made, making it the seat of courage and fortitude).
5
Kharaabi1 Khana-ha2-e aish3 ki hai daur4-e gardooN5 meN
jo baaqi6 rah ga’e haiN vo bhi viiraaN7 hote jaate haiN

1.destruction, ruining 2.houses 3.luxury, comfort 4.rotation, times 5.skies 6.remaining 7.desolate

This is probably a reflection of the disappearance of aristocracy and their lavish ways of supporting/encouraging the arts.  ‘daur-e garduuN’ literally the rotation of the skies is used to mean the passage of time.  Thus, with the passage of time all houses of nobles are being ruined.  Those that remain, are getting desolate.
6
bayaaN1 maiN kya karuN dil khol kar shauq2-e shahaadat3 ko
abhi se aap to shamshiir4-e uryaaN5 hote jaate haiN

1.narrate, describe 2.wish, desire 3.martyrdom (at the hands of the beloved) 4.sword 5.naked, unsheathed

The poet/lover wants to present his wish/desire hoping to be killed at the hands of the beloved.  But she is alread drawn her sword and is ready to chop his head off.  Under such conditions, ‘how can I related my desire to my heart’s content’, he protests.
7
Ghazab1 ki yaad haiN ayyaariyaaN2 vallaah3 tum ko bhi
Gharaz4 qaa’el5 tumhaare ham to aye jaaN6 hote jaate haiN

1.devastating 2.sly, crafty, cunning 3.by god 4.in summary 5.convinced 6.used here to mean ‘my dear’

You remember such devastating, cunning, and crafty characteristics that at last I am convinced of your abilities, my dear.
8
idhar ham se bhi baateN aap karte haiN lagaavaT1 ki
udhar GhairoN2 se bhi kuchh ahd-o-paimaaN3 hote jaate haiN

1.attraction 2.others, rivals 3.promises and plans

On the one hand you tell me that you are attracted to me and on the other hand you make promises and plans with the rival.