For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
اِنسان کا اِنساں ہونا ۔ مرزا جعفر علی خاں اثرؔ لکلھنوی
۱
عشق میں ننگ ہے شرمندۂ درماں ہونا
حاصلِ درد ہے وقفِ غمِ پنہاں ہونا
۲
مژدہ دیتا ہے دو عالم سے سبکباری کا
میری جمعیتِ خاطر کا پریشاں ہونا
۳
مِژّۂ تر نے مرا خونِ جگر کھینچ لیا
ورنہ ہر زخم سے پیدا تھا گلِستاں ہونا
۴
چشمِ خوں بستہ سے رسنے لگے آنسو ورنہ
انہیں ناسوروں کا ممکن تھا نمکداں ہونا
۵
ابتدا عشق کی کیوںکر ہوئی کچھ یاد نہیں
اِنتہا اِس کی ہے سرگشتہ و حیراں ہونا
۶
یاد آتا ہے وہ عالم شبِ تنہائی کا
کثرتِ داغ سے پہلو میں چراغاں ہونا
۷
جلوۂ گل نے مجھے نقش بہ دیوار کیا
خندۂ گل نے سکھایا مجھے حیراں ہونا
۸
جذبۂ شوق میں تھا خونِ تمنّا مضمر
ورنہ دشوار تھا انسان کا انساں ہونا
۹
ہائے وہ منتظرِ وعدہ کہ سو بار جسے
سوئے در دیکھنا اور دیکھ کے حیراں ہونا
۱۰
دفترِ عشق کا دیباچۂ رنگیں ہے اثرؔ
داغ کا درد کے پردے میں نمایاں ہونا
इंसान का इंसां होना – मिर्ज़ा जाफ़र अली ख़ां असर लखनवी
१
इश्क़ में नंग है शर्मिंदा-ए दरमाँ होना
हासिल-ए दर्द है वक़्फ़-ए ग़म-ए पिन्हाँ होना
२
मुज़्श्दा देता है दो आलम से सुबुकबारी का
मेरी जमीय्यत-ए ख़ातेर का परेशां होना
३
मिज़्शा-ए तर ने मेरा ख़ून-ए जिगर खींच लिया
वर्ना हर ज़ख़्म से पैदा था गुलिस्तां होना
४
चश्म-ए ख़ूं-बस्ता से रिस्ने लगे आंसू वरना
इन्हीं नासूरों का मुम्किन था नमकदां होना
५
इब्तेदा इश्क़ की क्यूंकर हुई कुछ याद नहीं
इंतेहा इस की है सरगश्ता ओ हैरां होना
६
याद आता है वो आलम शब-ए तन्हाई का
कस्रत-ए दाग़ से पहलू में चराग़ां होना
७
जल्वा-ए गुल ने मुझे नक़्श ब-दीवार किया
ख़ंदा-ए गुल ने सिखाया मुझे हैरां होना
८
जज़्बा-ए शौक़ में था ख़ून-ए तमन्ना मुज़्मिर
वर्ना दुश्वार था इंसान का इंसां होना
९
हाए वो मुंतज़िर-ए वादा के सौ बार जिसे
सू-ए दर देखना और देख कै हैरां होना
१०
दफ़्तर-ए इश्क़ का दीबाचा-ए रंगीं है असर
दाग़ का दर्द के पर्दे में नुमायां होना
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza jaafar ali KhaaN asar lakhnavi (1885-1967). Classical education at home until the age of 11, then formal schooling and college to BA. Indulged in MA and LLB but did not finish. Served in the British government as Deputy Collector (1909), Executive Officer and Collector until 1940. Resigned from service. Several collections of his Ghazal and nazm including descriptions of nature in kashmir where he served in the cabinet and also as acting prime minister (until 1945) to the maharaja. He also did a versified translation of the bhagwad-giita. This Ghazal is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
ishq meN naNg1 hai sharminda2-e darmaaN3 hona
haasil4-e dard5 hai vaqf6-e Gham-e pinhaaN7 hona 1.insult, shame 2.obliged to 3.cure 4.essence, main benefit 5.pain, sorrow 6.dedicated to, reserved for 7.hidden
Poetic convention is that the pain of value is of great value and that it should remain hidden. The lover should not seek any remedy for this pain and should bear it stoically. Thus, it is an insult to love for it to be obliged to cure. The essence of pain is to be reserved for the hidden sorrow of love. Said Ghalib …
dard minnat-kash-e davaa na hua
maiN na achchha hua bura na hua
2
muzshda1 deta hai do-aalam2 se subukbaari3 ka
meri jamiyyat-e-Khatir4 ka pareshaaN5 hona 1.good tidings 2.both worlds, here and hereafter 3.relieved of the load of 4.collected/stable mind/thinking 5.scattered
The poet/lover, when he was of collected/stable mind had responsibilities for his actions, for his here and hereafter. But he has encountered the beloved and stable mind has become scattered/spread out i.e., he has lost his senses and is no longer responsible for his actions. This is good news of being relieved of the burden of both worlds.
3
mizsha1-e tar2 ne mera Khoon-e jigar3 khiiNch liya
varna4 har zaKhm5 se paida6 tha gulistaaN7 hona 1.eyelashes 2.wet, tearful 3.liver-seat of courage, source of blood 4.otherwise 5.wound 6.born, created, made 7.garden
The poet/lover cries tears of blood in intense sorrow. Also, there are wounds of unrequited love on his bosom/heart and even all over his body. Normally, these wounds would seep blood and ‘look like’ red roses-gulistaaN. But now, his tearful eyes have pulled all the blood out of his liver so the other wounds no longer create a garden. If he had not cried so many tears of blood than every wound would have created a garden.
4
chashm1-e KhooN-basta2 se risnay3 lagay aaNsu4 varna5
inhiiN naasooroN6 ka mumkin7 tha namakdaaN8 hona 1.eye 2.blood containing 3.seeping, leaking 4.tears 5.otherwise 6.festering wounds 7.possible 8.salt container
In poetic convention not only does the poet have wounds of love, but salt is sprinkled on his wound to hurt him even more and try his stoicism. Here his eyes were trying to contain blood, prevent him from crying tears of blood but they got too full and began to seep out, otherwise it was possible that every one of his wounds would have become its own salt container adding to his pain.
5
ibteda1 ishq ki kyuNkar2 hui kuchh yaad nahiN
intehaa3 iss ki hai sargushta4 o hairaaN5 hona 1.beginning 2.how 3.end, result 4.stupefied, bewildered 5.amazed
How love started, I do not remember but the result of it is being bewildered and amazed.
6
yaad aata hai voh aalam1 shab2-e tanhaaii3 ka
kasrat4-e daaGh5 se pehlu6 meN charaaGhaaN7 hona 1.condition 2.night of 3.loneliness 4.numerous, excess 5.wounds 6.side, bosom 7.lamps
Wounds are often referred to as shining – because they are red with fresh blood. This shining can make them be like lamps. Thus, the poet remembers the night of loneliness, when he had so many wounds on his bosom/side that looked like a night of illumination because of all those lamps.
7
jalva1-e gul2 ne mujhe naqsh-ba-deevaar3 kiya
Khanda4-e gul2 ne sikhaaya mujhe hairaaN5 hona 1.manifestation, splendour 2.rose 3.etching on the wall, stunned, stupefied 4.smiling, blossoming 5.amazement, bewilderment
The poet is talking about the rose and it is entirely possible that the whole thought is actually meant for the rose but it is also likely that he may be referring to the beloved as the rose. Thus, the manifestation of the rose left me stunned/stupefied and the its blooming left me amazed and perplexed.
8
jazba1-e shauq2 meN tha Khoon-e-tamanna3 muzmir4
varna5 dushwaar6 tha insaan ka insaaN hona 1.emotion 2.desire, love 3.killing of the desire/longing 4.concealed, contained
By ‘killing of desire/longing’ is meant ‘not being fulfilled’. Thus, the disappointment, the desire not being fulfilled, is built into the emotions of love. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for man to acquire humanity. The implication is that the sorrow of love is necessary to make us human.
9
haae1 voh muntazir2-e vaada3 keh sau baar4 jisay
soo5-e dar6 dekhna aur dekh kay hairaaN7 hona 1.alas 2.waiting 3.promise 4.times 5.towards 6.door 7.perplexed, worried, distracted
The beloved has promised to come. The lover, in spite of his better sense, believes her and is waiting for her. She doesn’t come but he looks towards the door hundreds of times in anticipation only to be worried and perplexed.
10
daftar1-e ishq ka deebaacha2-e raNgiiN3 hai asar4
daaGh5 ka dard kay parday6 meN numaayaaN7 hona 1.accounting, list, book 2.introduction, preamble 3.colourful 4.pen-name of the poet 5.wound 6.disguise 7.appear, emerge
The appearance of the wounds of love in the guise of pain is but a colourful preface to the story of love, O asar.
mirza jaafar ali KhaaN asar lakhnavi (1885-1967). Classical education at home until the age of 11, then formal schooling and college to BA. Indulged in MA and LLB but did not finish. Served in the British government as Deputy Collector (1909), Executive Officer and Collector until 1940. Resigned from service. Several collections of his Ghazal and nazm including descriptions of nature in kashmir where he served in the cabinet and also as acting prime minister (until 1945) to the maharaja. He also did a versified translation of the bhagwad-giita. This Ghazal is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
ishq meN naNg1 hai sharminda2-e darmaaN3 hona
haasil4-e dard5 hai vaqf6-e Gham-e pinhaaN7 hona
1.insult, shame 2.obliged to 3.cure 4.essence, main benefit 5.pain, sorrow 6.dedicated to, reserved for 7.hidden
Poetic convention is that the pain of value is of great value and that it should remain hidden. The lover should not seek any remedy for this pain and should bear it stoically. Thus, it is an insult to love for it to be obliged to cure. The essence of pain is to be reserved for the hidden sorrow of love. Said Ghalib …
dard minnat-kash-e davaa na hua
maiN na achchha hua bura na hua
2
muzshda1 deta hai do-aalam2 se subukbaari3 ka
meri jamiyyat-e-Khatir4 ka pareshaaN5 hona
1.good tidings 2.both worlds, here and hereafter 3.relieved of the load of 4.collected/stable mind/thinking 5.scattered
The poet/lover, when he was of collected/stable mind had responsibilities for his actions, for his here and hereafter. But he has encountered the beloved and stable mind has become scattered/spread out i.e., he has lost his senses and is no longer responsible for his actions. This is good news of being relieved of the burden of both worlds.
3
mizsha1-e tar2 ne mera Khoon-e jigar3 khiiNch liya
varna4 har zaKhm5 se paida6 tha gulistaaN7 hona
1.eyelashes 2.wet, tearful 3.liver-seat of courage, source of blood 4.otherwise 5.wound 6.born, created, made 7.garden
The poet/lover cries tears of blood in intense sorrow. Also, there are wounds of unrequited love on his bosom/heart and even all over his body. Normally, these wounds would seep blood and ‘look like’ red roses-gulistaaN. But now, his tearful eyes have pulled all the blood out of his liver so the other wounds no longer create a garden. If he had not cried so many tears of blood than every wound would have created a garden.
4
chashm1-e KhooN-basta2 se risnay3 lagay aaNsu4 varna5
inhiiN naasooroN6 ka mumkin7 tha namakdaaN8 hona
1.eye 2.blood containing 3.seeping, leaking 4.tears 5.otherwise 6.festering wounds 7.possible 8.salt container
In poetic convention not only does the poet have wounds of love, but salt is sprinkled on his wound to hurt him even more and try his stoicism. Here his eyes were trying to contain blood, prevent him from crying tears of blood but they got too full and began to seep out, otherwise it was possible that every one of his wounds would have become its own salt container adding to his pain.
5
ibteda1 ishq ki kyuNkar2 hui kuchh yaad nahiN
intehaa3 iss ki hai sargushta4 o hairaaN5 hona
1.beginning 2.how 3.end, result 4.stupefied, bewildered 5.amazed
How love started, I do not remember but the result of it is being bewildered and amazed.
6
yaad aata hai voh aalam1 shab2-e tanhaaii3 ka
kasrat4-e daaGh5 se pehlu6 meN charaaGhaaN7 hona
1.condition 2.night of 3.loneliness 4.numerous, excess 5.wounds 6.side, bosom 7.lamps
Wounds are often referred to as shining – because they are red with fresh blood. This shining can make them be like lamps. Thus, the poet remembers the night of loneliness, when he had so many wounds on his bosom/side that looked like a night of illumination because of all those lamps.
7
jalva1-e gul2 ne mujhe naqsh-ba-deevaar3 kiya
Khanda4-e gul2 ne sikhaaya mujhe hairaaN5 hona
1.manifestation, splendour 2.rose 3.etching on the wall, stunned, stupefied 4.smiling, blossoming 5.amazement, bewilderment
The poet is talking about the rose and it is entirely possible that the whole thought is actually meant for the rose but it is also likely that he may be referring to the beloved as the rose. Thus, the manifestation of the rose left me stunned/stupefied and the its blooming left me amazed and perplexed.
8
jazba1-e shauq2 meN tha Khoon-e-tamanna3 muzmir4
varna5 dushwaar6 tha insaan ka insaaN hona
1.emotion 2.desire, love 3.killing of the desire/longing 4.concealed, contained
By ‘killing of desire/longing’ is meant ‘not being fulfilled’. Thus, the disappointment, the desire not being fulfilled, is built into the emotions of love. Otherwise it would have been very difficult for man to acquire humanity. The implication is that the sorrow of love is necessary to make us human.
9
haae1 voh muntazir2-e vaada3 keh sau baar4 jisay
soo5-e dar6 dekhna aur dekh kay hairaaN7 hona
1.alas 2.waiting 3.promise 4.times 5.towards 6.door 7.perplexed, worried, distracted
The beloved has promised to come. The lover, in spite of his better sense, believes her and is waiting for her. She doesn’t come but he looks towards the door hundreds of times in anticipation only to be worried and perplexed.
10
daftar1-e ishq ka deebaacha2-e raNgiiN3 hai asar4
daaGh5 ka dard kay parday6 meN numaayaaN7 hona
1.accounting, list, book 2.introduction, preamble 3.colourful 4.pen-name of the poet 5.wound 6.disguise 7.appear, emerge
The appearance of the wounds of love in the guise of pain is but a colourful preface to the story of love, O asar.
