For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
انصاف کا ترازو ۔ ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
انصاف کا ترازو جو ہاتھ میں اٹھائے
جرموں کو ٹھیک تولے
ایسا نہ ہو کہ کل کا اتہاس کار بولے
مجرم سے بھی زیادہ
منصف نے ظلم ڈھایا
۲
کیں پیش اُس کے آگے غم کی گواہیاں بھی
رکھیں نظر کے آگے دل کی تباہیاں بھی
اُس کو یقیں نہ آیا
اِنصاف کر نہ پایا
اور اپنے اس عمل سے
بد کار مجرموں کے ناپاک حوصلوں کو
کچھ اور بھی بڑھایا
۳
انصاف کا ترازو جو ہاتھ میں اٹھاتے
یہ بات یاد رکھے
سب منصفوں سے اوپر
اِک اور بھی ہے مُنصف
وہ دو جہاں کا مالک
سب حال جانتا ہے
نیکی کے اور بدی کے
احوال جانتا ہے
۴
دنیا کے فیصلوں سے
مایوس جانے والا
ایسا نہ ہو کہ اُس کے دربار میں پکارے
ایسا نہ ہو کہ اُس کے اِنصاف کا ترازو
اک بار پھر سے تولے
۵
مجرم کے ظلم کو بھی
مُنصف کی بھول کو بھی
اور اپنا فیصلہ دے
وہ فیصلہ کہ جس سے
یہ روح کانپ اُٹّھے!
इंसाफ़ का तराज़ू – साहर लुधियानवी
१
इंसाफ़ का तराज़ू जो हाथ में उठाए
जुर्मों को ठीक तोले
ऐसा न हो के कल का इतिहास-कार बोले
मुज्रिम से भी ज़ियादा
मुंसिफ़ ने ज़ुल्म ढाया
२
कीं पेश उस के आगे ग़म की गवाहियाँ भी
रक्खीं नज़र के आगे दिल की तबाहियाँ भी
उस को यक़ीं न आया
इंसाफ़ कर न पाया
और अपने उस अमल से
बद-कार मुज्रिमों के नापाक हौसलों को
कुछ और भी बढ़ाया
३
इंसाफ़ का तराज़ू जो हाथ में उठाए
ये बात याद रक्खे
सब मुंसिफ़ों से ऊपर
एक और भी है मुंसिफ़
वो दो जहां का मालिक
सब हाल जांता है
नेकी के और बदी के
अहवाल जांता है
४
दुनिया के फ़ैस्लौं से
मायूस जाने वाला
ऐसा न हो के उस के दरबार में पुकारे
ऐसा न हो के उस के इंसाफ़ का तराज़ू
एक बार फिर से तोले
५
मुज्रीम के ज़ुल्म को भी
मुंसिफ़ की भुल को भी
और अपना फ़ैस्ला दे
वो फ़ैस्ला के जिस से
ये रूह कांप उट्ठे!
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. This is a very unusual nazm for sahir. No wonder he never published it. It is unusual because instead of his usual defiant self, he, an avowed atheist (see Khayaal-e Khaam hai saaqi), is invoking god’s justice.
1
insaaf1 kaa taraazuu2 jo haath meN uThaaye
jurmoN3 ko Thiik tole
aisaa na ho keh kal kaa itihaas-kaar4 bole
mujrim5 se bhii ziyaada
munsif6 ne zulm Dhaayaa7 1.justice 2.scales, balance 3.crimes, transgression 4.historian 5.criminal 6.judge 7.brought down
Whoever picks up the scales of justice, had better weigh crimes properly. Let it not be that tomorrow, the historian may say that even more than the criminal, the judge was culpable, bringing down even more injustice.
2
kiiN pesh1 us ke aage Gham kii gavaahiyaaN2 bhii
rakkhiiN nazar3 ke aage dil kii tabaahiyaaN4 bhii
us ko yaqiiN5 na aayaa
insaaf6 kar na paayaa
aur apne us amal7 se
bad-kaar8 mujrimoN ke naapaak9 hausloN10 ko
kuchh aur bhii baRhaayaa 1.present, offer 2.testimony 3.eyes 4.destruction, ruination 5.believe 6.judgement 7.action 8.bad actors 9.evil 10.determination, plans
The testimony of wrongs was presented before him. The ruination of hearts/desires was shown for him to see. He did not believe it and by this act, he encouraged the evil plans of those bad actors. Without saying clearly sahir implicates politicians and capitalists.
3
insaaf1 kaa taraazuu2 jo haath meN uThaaye
ye baat yaad rakkhe
sab munsifoN3 se uupar
ek aur bhi hai munsif3
vo do jahaaN ka maalik
sub haal jaanta hai
neki4 ke aur badi5 ke
ahvaal6 jaanta hai 1.justice 2.scales 3.judges 4.right 5.wrong 6.conditions
Those who pick up the scales of justice, had better remember that above all judges is another judge, the lord of the here and the hereafter. He knows all that is going on, the conditions of right and wrong, truth and falsehood.
4
duniya ke faisloN1 se
maayuus2 jaane vaala
aisa na ho keh us ke darbaar meN pukaare
aisa na ho keh us ke insaaf3 ka taraazu4
ek baar phir se tole 1.decisions, judgements 2.disappointed, dissatisfied 3.justice 4.scales
Let it not be that the one departing this world, dissatisfied with its judgements, appeal in his court and maybe his scales of justice weigh once again …
5
mujrim1 ke zulm2 ko bhi
munsif3 ki bhool4 ko bhi
aur apna faisla5 de
vo faisla keh jis se
ye rooh6 kaaNp uTThe! 1.criminal, accused 2.wrong 3.judge 4.error 5.judgement 6.soul
… the crime of the accused and error of the judge and pronounce his own judgement, a judgement that makes this soul shudder.
sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. This is a very unusual nazm for sahir. No wonder he never published it. It is unusual because instead of his usual defiant self, he, an avowed atheist (see Khayaal-e Khaam hai saaqi), is invoking god’s justice.
1
insaaf1 kaa taraazuu2 jo haath meN uThaaye
jurmoN3 ko Thiik tole
aisaa na ho keh kal kaa itihaas-kaar4 bole
mujrim5 se bhii ziyaada
munsif6 ne zulm Dhaayaa7
1.justice 2.scales, balance 3.crimes, transgression 4.historian 5.criminal 6.judge 7.brought down
Whoever picks up the scales of justice, had better weigh crimes properly. Let it not be that tomorrow, the historian may say that even more than the criminal, the judge was culpable, bringing down even more injustice.
2
kiiN pesh1 us ke aage Gham kii gavaahiyaaN2 bhii
rakkhiiN nazar3 ke aage dil kii tabaahiyaaN4 bhii
us ko yaqiiN5 na aayaa
insaaf6 kar na paayaa
aur apne us amal7 se
bad-kaar8 mujrimoN ke naapaak9 hausloN10 ko
kuchh aur bhii baRhaayaa
1.present, offer 2.testimony 3.eyes 4.destruction, ruination 5.believe 6.judgement 7.action 8.bad actors 9.evil 10.determination, plans
The testimony of wrongs was presented before him. The ruination of hearts/desires was shown for him to see. He did not believe it and by this act, he encouraged the evil plans of those bad actors. Without saying clearly sahir implicates politicians and capitalists.
3
insaaf1 kaa taraazuu2 jo haath meN uThaaye
ye baat yaad rakkhe
sab munsifoN3 se uupar
ek aur bhi hai munsif3
vo do jahaaN ka maalik
sub haal jaanta hai
neki4 ke aur badi5 ke
ahvaal6 jaanta hai
1.justice 2.scales 3.judges 4.right 5.wrong 6.conditions
Those who pick up the scales of justice, had better remember that above all judges is another judge, the lord of the here and the hereafter. He knows all that is going on, the conditions of right and wrong, truth and falsehood.
4
duniya ke faisloN1 se
maayuus2 jaane vaala
aisa na ho keh us ke darbaar meN pukaare
aisa na ho keh us ke insaaf3 ka taraazu4
ek baar phir se tole
1.decisions, judgements 2.disappointed, dissatisfied 3.justice 4.scales
Let it not be that the one departing this world, dissatisfied with its judgements, appeal in his court and maybe his scales of justice weigh once again …
5
mujrim1 ke zulm2 ko bhi
munsif3 ki bhool4 ko bhi
aur apna faisla5 de
vo faisla keh jis se
ye rooh6 kaaNp uTThe!
1.criminal, accused 2.wrong 3.judge 4.error 5.judgement 6.soul
… the crime of the accused and error of the judge and pronounce his own judgement, a judgement that makes this soul shudder.
