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Recitation
کروں یا نہ کروں ۔ محمد رفیع سودا
۱
کیوں میں تسکینِ دِل اے یار کروں یا نہ کروں
نالہ جا کر پسِ دیوار کروں یا نہ کروں
۲
سن لے اِک بات مری توُ کہ رَمَق ہے باقی
پھر سخن تجھ سے ستمگار کروں یا نہ کروں
۳
ناصحا اُٹھ میری بالیں سے کہ دم رکتا ہے
نالے دِل کھول کے دو چار کروں یا نہ کروں
۴
سخت مشکل ہے کہ ہر بات کنایہ سمجھو
ہے زباں میرے بھی، گفتار کروں یا نہ کروں
۵
خوابِ شیریں میں وہ اور دِل ہے میرا مائلِ شوق
جی دھڑکتا ہے کہ بیدار کروں یا نہ کروں
۶
موسمِ گُل ہے میں صیّاد سے جا کر یارو
ذِکرِ مُرغانِ گرفتار کروں یا نہ کروں
۷
حال باطن کا نمایاں ہے میرے ظاہر سے
میں زباں اپنی سے اظہار کروں یا نہ کروں
۸
عہد تھا تجھ سے تو بھر عمر وفا کرنے کا
اِن سلوکوں پہ جفا کار کروں یا نہ کروں
۹
آج تو مِل گئے تنہا یہ کہو تو بارے
اب نہ مِلنے کی مکافات کروں یا نہ کروں
۱۰
گھر میں آنے سے کیا منع تو یہ بھی کہئے
راہ کوچے کی ملاقات کروں یا نہ کروں
۱۱
زہد کو چاہئے ہے زور تو عصیاں کو زر
میں بھی یوں ہی بسر اوقات کروں یا نہ کروں
۱۲
کوچۂ یار کو میں رشکِ چمن ائے سودا
جا کے بادیدۂ خوںبار کروں یا نہ کروں
۱۳
دِل سے لب تک سخن آتے ہوئے سودا سو بار
مصلحت یار سے ہے بات کروں یا نہ کروں
करूँ या न करूँ – मोहम्मद रफ़ी सौदा
१
क्यूं मैं तस्कीन-ए दिल अए यार करूँ या न करूँ
नाला जा कर पस-ए दीवार करूँ या न करूँ
२
सुन ले एक बात मेरी तू के रमक़ है बाक़ी
फिर सुख़न तुझ से सितमगार करूँ या न करूँ
३
नासेहा उथ मेरि बालीं से के दम रुकता है
नाले दिल खोल के दो चार करूँ या न करूँ
४
सख़्त मुश्किल है के हर बात किनाया समझो
है ज़बां मेरे भी गुफ़्तार करूँ या न करूँ
५
ख़्वाब-ए शीरीं में वो, और दिल है मेरा मा’एल-ए शौक़
जी धड़कता है के बेदार करूँ या न करूँ
६
मौसम-ए गुल है मैं सय्याद से जा कर यारो
ज़िक्र-ए मुर्ग़ान-ए गिरफ़्तार करूँ या न करूँ
७
हाल बातिल का नुमायाँ है मेरे ज़ाहिर से
मैं ज़बां अपनी से इज़्हार करूँ या न करूँ
८
अहद था तुझ से तो भर-उम्र वफ़ा करने का
इन सुलूकौं पे जफ़ा-कार करूँ या न करूँ
९
आज तो मिल गए तनहा ये कहो तो बारे
अब न मिलने कि मकाफ़ात करूँ या न करूँ
१०
घर में आने से किया मन’अ तो ये भी कहिये
राह कूचे कि मुलाक़ात करूँ या न करूँ
११
ज़ोह्द को चाहिए ज़ोर तो असियाँ को ज़र
मैं भी यूँ ही बसर औक़ात करूँ या न करूँ
१२
कूचा-ए यार को मैं रश्क-ए चमन अए सौदा
जा के बा-दीदा-ए ख़ूं-बार करूँ या न करूँ
१३
दिल से लब तक सुख़न आते हुए सौदा सौ बार
मस्लेहत यार से है, बात करूँ या न करूँ
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. There were slightly differing versions of this Ghazal in different sources. I combined them, which resulted in a slightly longer than usual Ghazal. Also see how beautifully faiz has composed his ‘nazr-e sauda’, borrowing the bahr, radeef and qaafiya and transforming a subject of romance into a potent but subtle political statement.
1
kyuN maiN taskeen1-e dil aye yaar karuN ya na karuN
naala2 jaa kar pas3-e diivaar karuN ya na karuN 1.comfort, give solace 2.wailing 3.behind
Crying out in pain in public is not acceptable. Why should I not go behind the wall and wail to give my heart some comfort.
2
sun le ek baat meri tu ke ramaq1 hai baaqi2
phir suKhan3 tujh se sitamgaar4 karuN ya na karuN 1.life, the last minutes of life 2.remain 3.conversation, appeal 4.cruel
The beloved has been cruel to the poet/lover. He is near death and finally she has come to visit. He still has some life left and wants to know if should speak (of his love) or not.
3
naaseha1 uTh meri baaliiN2 se ke dam3 rukta hai
naale4 dil khol ke do chaar karuN ya na karuN 1.preacher, prude, prig 2.head 3.breath 4.wailing
The preacher/prude has been monitoring the poet/lover. Get off my head, you are suffocating me. He feels the need to let off a few long wails to relieve his pain.
4
saKht1 mushkil2 hai ke har baat kinaaya3 samjho
hai zabaaN mere bhi, guftaar karuN ya na karuN 1.hard, very 2.difficulty 3.metaphorical, hidden meaning, ulterior motive
The poet/lover talks to the beloved and she looks for an ulterior motive in everything he says. This presents a great difficulty. He wants the chance of a straightforward conversation.
5
Khwaab-e shiriN1 meN vo, aur dil hai mera maa’el2-e shauq3
ji dhaRakta hai ke bedaar4 karuN ya na karuN 1.sweet 2.inclined towards 3.desire 4.wake up
She is sleeping, dreaming sweet dreams and he has something else on his mind. His heart beats with trepidation, should I wake her up or not.
6
mausam-e-gul1 hai maiN sayyaad2 se jaa kar yaaro
zikr3-e murGhaan4-e giraftaar5 karuN ya na karuN 1.flowering season/spring 2.bird catcher 3.mention, narration 4.birds 5.imprisoned/caged
It is spring and birds would like to sing their love songs to the rose. But they are caged. Should I go to the bird catcher and tell him their sorry condition.
7
haal1 baatin2 ka numaayaaN3 hai mere zaahir4 se
maiN zabaaN apni se izhaar5 karuN ya na karuN 1.condition 2.hidden, inner feelings 3.apparent 4.outward appearance 5.express
The condition of my inner feelings is apparent from my outward appearance. Should I express my feelings in words, or not.
8
ahd1 tha tujh se to bhar-umr vafa2 karne ka
in sulookauN3 pe jafakaar4, karuN ya na karuN 1.promise, agreement 2.keep faith, love 3.treatment 4.purveyor of cruelty, beloved
The poet/lover had an agreement with the beloved to keep faith all life long. But she has been cruel and has treated him badly. Should he still believe that she will keep faith, or not.
9
aaj to mil gaye tanha1 ye kaho to baare2
ab na milne ki makaafaat3 karuN ya na karuN 1.alone 2.finally 3.retribution, revenge
The poet/lover has managed to catch the beloved alone and wonders if he should/can get retribution for past times when she refused to meet him.
10
aaj to mil gaye tanha1 ye kaho to baare2
ab na milne ki makaafaat3 karuN ya na karuN 1.alone 2.finally 3.retribution, revenge
The poet/lover has managed to catch the beloved alone and wonders if he should/can get retribution for past times when she refused to meet him.
11
zohd1 ko chaahiye zor2 to isiyaaN3 ko zar4
maiN bhi yuN hi basar5 auqaat6 karuN ya na karuN 1.abstinence, virtue 2.strength, forbearance 3.transgression, sinning 4.wealth, means 5.spend 6.time/life
Virtue requires strength (of character) and transgression requires means (to be able to do it). Should I spend my life like this … it is interesting that he does not say which way … like saying ‘if you come to a fork in the road, take it’.
12
koocha1-e yaar2 ko maiN rashk3-e chaman4 aye sauda
jaa ke ba-deeda5-e KhooN-baar6 karuN ya na karuN 1.street 2.beloved 3.envy 4.garden 5.with eyeballs 6.blood raining
The garden is beautiful with red roses. The poet/lover is crying tears of blood. If he goes into the street of the beloved and cries then the street will become all red and the garden will get envious.
13
dil se lab1 tak suKhan2 aate hue sauda sau baar
maslehat3 yaar4 se hai, baat karuN ya na karuN 1.lips 2.words 3.purpose, intent 4.beloved
Words rise from his heart to the lips again and again (a hundred times). But the intent is about the beloved. Should he then express those words or not.
There were slightly differing versions of this Ghazal in different sources. I combined them, which resulted in a slightly longer than usual Ghazal. Also see how beautifully faiz has composed his ‘nazr-e sauda’, borrowing the bahr, radeef and qaafiya and transforming a subject of romance into a potent but subtle political statement.
1
kyuN maiN taskeen1-e dil aye yaar karuN ya na karuN
naala2 jaa kar pas3-e diivaar karuN ya na karuN
1.comfort, give solace 2.wailing 3.behind
Crying out in pain in public is not acceptable. Why should I not go behind the wall and wail to give my heart some comfort.
2
sun le ek baat meri tu ke ramaq1 hai baaqi2
phir suKhan3 tujh se sitamgaar4 karuN ya na karuN
1.life, the last minutes of life 2.remain 3.conversation, appeal 4.cruel
The beloved has been cruel to the poet/lover. He is near death and finally she has come to visit. He still has some life left and wants to know if should speak (of his love) or not.
3
naaseha1 uTh meri baaliiN2 se ke dam3 rukta hai
naale4 dil khol ke do chaar karuN ya na karuN
1.preacher, prude, prig 2.head 3.breath 4.wailing
The preacher/prude has been monitoring the poet/lover. Get off my head, you are suffocating me. He feels the need to let off a few long wails to relieve his pain.
4
saKht1 mushkil2 hai ke har baat kinaaya3 samjho
hai zabaaN mere bhi, guftaar karuN ya na karuN
1.hard, very 2.difficulty 3.metaphorical, hidden meaning, ulterior motive
The poet/lover talks to the beloved and she looks for an ulterior motive in everything he says. This presents a great difficulty. He wants the chance of a straightforward conversation.
5
Khwaab-e shiriN1 meN vo, aur dil hai mera maa’el2-e shauq3
ji dhaRakta hai ke bedaar4 karuN ya na karuN
1.sweet 2.inclined towards 3.desire 4.wake up
She is sleeping, dreaming sweet dreams and he has something else on his mind. His heart beats with trepidation, should I wake her up or not.
6
mausam-e-gul1 hai maiN sayyaad2 se jaa kar yaaro
zikr3-e murGhaan4-e giraftaar5 karuN ya na karuN
1.flowering season/spring 2.bird catcher 3.mention, narration 4.birds 5.imprisoned/caged
It is spring and birds would like to sing their love songs to the rose. But they are caged. Should I go to the bird catcher and tell him their sorry condition.
7
haal1 baatin2 ka numaayaaN3 hai mere zaahir4 se
maiN zabaaN apni se izhaar5 karuN ya na karuN
1.condition 2.hidden, inner feelings 3.apparent 4.outward appearance 5.express
The condition of my inner feelings is apparent from my outward appearance. Should I express my feelings in words, or not.
8
ahd1 tha tujh se to bhar-umr vafa2 karne ka
in sulookauN3 pe jafakaar4, karuN ya na karuN
1.promise, agreement 2.keep faith, love 3.treatment 4.purveyor of cruelty, beloved
The poet/lover had an agreement with the beloved to keep faith all life long. But she has been cruel and has treated him badly. Should he still believe that she will keep faith, or not.
9
aaj to mil gaye tanha1 ye kaho to baare2
ab na milne ki makaafaat3 karuN ya na karuN
1.alone 2.finally 3.retribution, revenge
The poet/lover has managed to catch the beloved alone and wonders if he should/can get retribution for past times when she refused to meet him.
10
ghar meN aane se kiya man’a1 to ye bhi kahye
raah2 kooche3 ki mulaaqaat4 karuN ya na karuN
1.forbid 2.way 3.street 4.meeting
The beloved has forbidden him from coming to her house. He wants to know if he should meet/approach her if he were to encounter her in the street.
11
zohd1 ko chaahiye zor2 to isiyaaN3 ko zar4
maiN bhi yuN hi basar5 auqaat6 karuN ya na karuN
1.abstinence, virtue 2.strength, forbearance 3.transgression, sinning 4.wealth, means 5.spend 6.time/life
Virtue requires strength (of character) and transgression requires means (to be able to do it). Should I spend my life like this … it is interesting that he does not say which way … like saying ‘if you come to a fork in the road, take it’.
12
koocha1-e yaar2 ko maiN rashk3-e chaman4 aye sauda
jaa ke ba-deeda5-e KhooN-baar6 karuN ya na karuN
1.street 2.beloved 3.envy 4.garden 5.with eyeballs 6.blood raining
The garden is beautiful with red roses. The poet/lover is crying tears of blood. If he goes into the street of the beloved and cries then the street will become all red and the garden will get envious.
13
dil se lab1 tak suKhan2 aate hue sauda sau baar
maslehat3 yaar4 se hai, baat karuN ya na karuN
1.lips 2.words 3.purpose, intent 4.beloved
Words rise from his heart to the lips again and again (a hundred times). But the intent is about the beloved. Should he then express those words or not.
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