For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
سخنِ ناصواب میں ۔ مومن خاں مومنؔ
۱
جلتا ہوں ہِجرِ شاہد و یادِ شراب میں
شوقِ ثواب نے مجھے ڈالا عذاب میں
۲
کہتے ہیں تم کو ہوش نہیں اِضطراب میں
سارے گِلے تمام ہوئے اک جواب میں
۳
پھیلی شمیمِ یار مرے اشکِ سُرخ سے
دل کو غضب فشار ہوا پیچ و تاب میں
۴
چینِ جبیں کو دیکھ کے دل بستہ تر ہوا
کیسی کُشُود کار کشادِ نقاب میں
۵
ہم کچھ تو بد تھے جب نہ کیا یار نے پسند
اے حسرت اس قدر غلطی اِنتخاب میں
۶
رہتے ہیں جمع کوچۂ جاناں میں خاص و عام
آباد ایک گھر ہے جہانِ خراب میں
۷
آنکھ اُس کی پِھر گئی تھی دل اپنا بھی پِھر گیا
یہ اور انقلاب ہوا انقلاب میں
۸
بد نام میرے گریۂ رسوا سے ہو چکے
اب عذر کیا رہا نگہِ بے حجاب میں
۹
مطلب کی جستجُو نے یہ کیا حال کر دیا
حسرت بھی اب نہیں دلِ ناکامیاب میں
۱۰
گویا کہ رو رہا ہوں رقیبوں کی جان کو
آتش زبانہ زن ہوئی طوفانِ آب میں
۱۱
ناکامیوں سے کام رہا عمر بھر ہمیں
پیری میں یاس ہے جو ہوس تھی شباب میں
۱۲
ہے اختیارِ یار میں سود و زیاں مگر
فاضل تھے ہم جہاں سے قضا کے حساب میں
۱۳
ناصح ہے عیب جُو و دل آزار اِس قدر
گویا ثواب ہے سخنِ ناصواب میں
۱۴
دونوں کا ایک حال ہے یہ مدعا ہو کاش
وہ ہی خط اس نے بھیج دیا کیوں جواب میں
۱۵
تقدیر بھی بری مری تقریر بھی بری
بگڑے وہ پُرسِشِ سببِ اِجتناب میں
۱۶
کیا جلوے یاد آئے کہ اپنی خبر نہیں
بے بادہ مست ہوں میں شبِ ماہتاب میں
۱۷
ہے مِنّتوں کا وقت شکایت رہی رہی
آئے تو ہیں منانے کو وہ پر عتاب میں
۱۸
تیری جفا نہ ہو تو ہے سب دشمنوں سے امن
بدمست غیر محوِ دل اور بخت خواب میں
۱۹
پیہم سجود پائے صنم پر دمِ وداع
مومنؔ خدا کو بھول گئے اِضطراب میں
सुख़न-ए ना-सवाब में – मोमिन ख़ां मोमिन
१
जलता हूँ हिज्र-ए शाहेद ओ याद-ए शराब में
शौक़-ए सवाब ने मुझे डाला अज़ाब में
२
कहते हैं तुम को होश नहीं इज़्तेराब में
सारे गिले तमाम हुए एक जवाब में
३
फैली शमीम-ए यार मेरे अश्क-ए सुर्ख़ से
दिल को ग़ज़ब फ़िशार हुआ पेच-ओ-ताब में
४
चीन-ए जबीं को देख के दिल बस्ता-तर हुआ
कैसी कुशूद-ए कार कुशाद-ए नक़ाब में
५
हम कुछ तो बद थे जब न किया यार ने पसंद
अए हस्रत इस क़दर ग़लती इंतेख़ाब में
६
रहते हैं जम’अ कूचा-ए जानाँ में ख़ास ओ आम
आबाद एक घर है जहान-ए ख़राब में
७
आँख उस की फिर गई थी दिल अपना भी फिर गया
ये और इंक़ेलाब हुआ इंक़ेलाब में
८
बदनाम मेरे गिर्या-ए रुस्वा से हो चुके
अब उज़्र क्या रहा निगह-ए बे-हिजाब में
९
मत्लब की जुस्तुजू ने ये क्या हाल कर दिया
हस्रत भी अब नहीं दिल-ए नाकाम्याब में
१०
गोया के रो रहा हूँ रक़ीबों की जान को
आतिश ज़बाना-ज़न हुई तूफ़ान-ए आब में
११
नाकामियौं से काम रहा उम्र भर हमें
पीरी में यास है जो हवस थी शबाब में
१२
है एख़्तियार-ए यार में सूद ओ ज़ियाँ मगर
फ़ाज़िल थे हम जहाँ से क़ज़ा के हिसाब में
१३
नासेह है ऐब-जू ओ दिल-आज़ार इस क़दर
गोया सवाब है सुख़न-ए ना-सवाब में
१४
दोनों का एक हाल है ये मुद्दआ हो काश
वो ही ख़त उस ने भेज दिया क्यूँ जवाब में
१५
तक़्दीर भी बुरी मेरी तक़्रीर भी बुरी
बिगड़े वो पुर्सिश-ए सबब-ए इज्तेनाब में
१६
क्या जल्वे याद आए के अपनी ख़बर नहीं
बे-बादा मस्त हूँ मैं शब-ए माहताब में
१७
है मिन्नतों का वक़्त शिकायत रही रही
आए तो हैं मनाने को वो पर इताब में
१८
तेरी जफ़ा न हो तो है सब दुश्मनों से अम्न
बदमस्त ग़ैर महव दिल और बख़्त ख़्वाब में
१९
पैहम सुजूद पा-ए सनम पर दम-ए विदा
मोमिन ख़ुदा को भूल गए इज़्तेराब में
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. momin KhaaN momin (1800-1852), was a hakim following the profession of his father and grandfather. momin received education in arabi, faarsi, urdu and in medicine, mathematics, and astrology. momin composed unabashedly about romantic with much witticism on his taKhallus. Considering the lifespans of the two poets it is reasonable to think that both Ghalib (saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN) and momin composed their Ghazal for the same mushaa’era.
1
jalta huN hijr1-e shaahid2 o yaad-e sharaab meN
shauq3-e savaab4 ne mujhe Daalaa azaab5 meN 1.separation 2.beloved 3.desire 4.blessing 5.agony
The poet/lover is burning in the pain of separation from the beloved and in remembering/missing the pleasure of wine. Because of his desire for blessing (reward of heaven) he has given up chasing the beloved and drinking wine, that is why he is burning in pain and is in agony.
2
kahte haiN tum ko hosh1 nahiN izteraab2 meN
saare gile3 tamaam4 hue ek javaab meN 1.senses, sobriety 2.restlessness, pain 3.complaints 4.finished, wiped off
The poet/lover has been complaining to the beloved (about her refusal to reciprocate his love). She replies by telling him that he has lost his senses (gone mad) in his restlessness. With this one answer she has wiped off all his complaints.
3
phaili shamim1-e yaar2 mere ashk3-e surKh4 se
dil ko Ghazab5 fishaar6 hua pech-o-taab7 meN 1.fragrance 2.beloved 3.tears 4.red 5.immense 6.tear, rent 7.restlessness
The poet/lover is so restless/pained that his heart/bosom has been rent apart. This bleeding heart manifests itself as (red) tears of blood. And because the beloved is in the poet/lover’s heart, it is her fragrance that spreads from his tears.
4
chiin-e-jabiN1 ko dekh ke dil basta-tar2 hua
kaisi kushood3-e kaar4 kushaad5-e naqaab6 meN 1.wrinkle on the forehead, frown 2.even more frozen, stilled/stopped 3.opening up, becoming successful 4.effort 5.opening, lifting 6.veil
The beloved has lifted her veil and the poet/lover has dared to look at her. She frowns at him and this simple effort has been successful in freezing his heart.
5
ham kuchh to bad1 the jab na kiya yaar ne pasand2
aye hasrat3 is qadar4 Ghalati inteKhaab5 meN 1.bad 2.like 3.yearning, longing 4.so much 5.choosing, selection
The poet/lover is being sarcastic. Was I so bad that the beloved did not like me. O, longing (for love), such a huge error in selection!
6
rahte haiN jamaa1 koocha2-e jaanaaN3 meN Khaas4 o aam5
aabaad6 ek ghar hai jahaan-e-Kharaab7 meN 1.gathered 2.lane 3.beloved 4.privileged 5.common 6.prosperous, filled 7.wretched world
Whether privileged or common, they all gather in the street of the beloved. At least one place in this wretched world in teeming with people.
7
aaNkh us ki phir gayii1 thi dil apnaa bhi phir gayaa
ye aur inqilaab2 hua inqilaab meN 1.turned away 2.change, revolution, upside down
The beloved turned her eyes away, and now it seems that my heart is also turning away. This shows things getting topsy turvy in an upside down story.
8
badnaam1 mere girya2-e rusvaa3 se ho chuke
ab uzr4 kya rahaa nigah5-e be-hijaab6 meN 1.maligned 2.wailing 3.shame 4.objection 5.glance 6.unveiled, undisguised
You (O, beloved) have already lost your reputation because of my shameful wailing. What objection now remains for you to glance/look at me openly.
9
matlab1 ki justuju2 ne ye kya haal3 kar diya
hasrat4 bhi ab nahiN dil-e naakaam-yaab5 meN 1.objective, goal 2.search, trying 3.condition 4.yearning, hope 5.unsuccessful
What condition has this search for the goal (beloved) brought me to. Now there not even a shred of hope left in this defeated heart.
10
goya1 ke ro rahaa huN raqiboN2 ki jaan ko
aatish3 zabaana-zan4 hui toofaan5-e aab6 meN 1.as if 2.rivals 3.fire 4.flame throwing 5.storm, rain 6.water
The poet/lover is crying as if there is a rainstorm. But this rainstorm also contains the fire of his passion. This combination of water and fire is as if he is crying for/about/at the trickery of his rivals. Passion of sorrow/anger/rivalry all together.
11
naakaamiyoN1 se kaam rahaa umr bhar hameN
piiri2 meN yaas3 hai jo havas4 thi shabaab5 meN 1.failures 2.old age 3.yearning, hope 4.lust 5.youth
The poet/lover spent his youth lusting for the beloved and failed. Now in his old age, he entertains a hopeless yearning in his heart. Thus, he has faced/undergone failures all his life.
12
hai eKhtiyaar1-e yaar2 meN suud3 o ziyaaN4 magar
faazil5 the ham jahaaN se, qazaa6 ke hisaab7 meN 1.discretion, power 2.beloved 3.gain, success 4.loss, failure 5.from ‘fuzool’ i.e. useless, superfluous 6.fate 7.reckoning
The poet/lover’s success or failure is in the hands of the beloved. But fate has not even considered him, not even taken him into account because it has considered him to be superfluous, just extra baggage.
13
naaseh1 hai aib-juu2 o dil-aazaar3 is qadar4
goyaa5 savaab6 hai suKhan7-e naa-savaab8 meN 1.censor, preacher 2.fault-finding 3.heart-breaking 4.so much 5.as if 6.reward 7.talk, conversation 8.untrue
The preacher is constantly looking for defects of others and breaking their hearts so much so that it seems like he thinks that there is blessing/reward in untruthful words/accusation.
14
donoN ka ek haal1 hai ye muddu’aa2 ho kaash3
vo hi Khat4 us ne bhej diya kyuN javaab5 meN 1.condition, meaning 2.desire, intention 3.I wish 4.letter 5.answer
The poet/lover has sent a letter to the beloved and she has returned it. Of course, the letter of the poet/lover had declarations of love. Now that he has received the same letter back he indulges in a bit of wishful thinking … oh, how I wish she means the same thing i.e. she reciprocates my declarations of love, so it is easy for to send back the same message to me.
15
taqdiir1 bhi buri meri taqriir2 bhi buri
bigRe3 vo pursish4-e sabab5-e ijtenaab6 meN 1.fate 2.speech 3.annoyed 4.inquiry 5.reason 6.ignoring, neglecting
The beloved has been ignoring the poet/lover i.e. his fate is bad. He asks her about the reason for such neglect and she gets annoyed with him i.e. now his words are also bad. He has lost out on both counts.
16
kya jalve1 yaad aaye ke apni Khabar2 nahiN
be-baada3 mast4 huN maiN shab5-e maahtaab6 meN 1.images, pictures 2.awareness, knowledge 3.without wine 4.intoxicated 5.night 6.full moon
What wonderful images/memories came to mind that I have lost awareness. Even without wine I am intoxicated during this full moon night.
17
hai minnatoN1 ka vaqt shikaayat2 rahi-rahi3
aaye to haiN manaane4 ko vo par itaab5 meN 1.pleading 2.complaint 3.let it remain, set it aside 4.to make up, to console 5.anger, annoyance
This is the time for pleading, complaints should be set aside. After all she has come to make up even if she is angry.
18
teri jafaa1 na ho to hai sab dushmanoN se amn2
badmast3 Ghair4 mahv5 dil aur baKht6 Khwaab7 meN 1.torture, cruelty 2.peace 3.stone drunk 4.other, rival 5.engrossed, obsessed 6.fortune 7.sleep
The beloved is always cruel to her admirers/lovers. That is considered a favour to the lover. When she tortures them, it is thought that she is showing favours. That makes the rival jealous. So, if she does not torture the poet/lover, there is peace with enemies/rivals because they also ignore him. In this situation, the rival is carefree and gets stone drunk; the poet/lover’s heart is obsessed with thoughts of the beloved; and his fortune is asleep i.e., ignores him.
19
paiham1 sujood2 paa-e-sanam3 par dam-e-vida4
momin Khuda ko bhool gaye izteraab5 meN 1.repeatedly 2.prostrations 3.feet of the beloved 4.time parting, good-bye 5.anxiety, restlessness
Bowing, prostrating to anyone/anything other than god is like forgetting god or divine edicts. The word ‘momin’ applies to the poet, an orthodox person or to all orthodox people. Thus, in the broadest interpretation – all orthodox (or otherwise) men forget god in the face of the beloved. In their extreme agitation at the prospect of being separated from her they offer prostrations again and again.
momin KhaaN momin (1800-1852), was a hakim following the profession of his father and grandfather. momin received education in arabi, faarsi, urdu and in medicine, mathematics, and astrology. momin composed unabashedly about romantic with much witticism on his taKhallus. Considering the lifespans of the two poets it is reasonable to think that both Ghalib (saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN) and momin composed their Ghazal for the same mushaa’era.
1
jalta huN hijr1-e shaahid2 o yaad-e sharaab meN
shauq3-e savaab4 ne mujhe Daalaa azaab5 meN
1.separation 2.beloved 3.desire 4.blessing 5.agony
The poet/lover is burning in the pain of separation from the beloved and in remembering/missing the pleasure of wine. Because of his desire for blessing (reward of heaven) he has given up chasing the beloved and drinking wine, that is why he is burning in pain and is in agony.
2
kahte haiN tum ko hosh1 nahiN izteraab2 meN
saare gile3 tamaam4 hue ek javaab meN
1.senses, sobriety 2.restlessness, pain 3.complaints 4.finished, wiped off
The poet/lover has been complaining to the beloved (about her refusal to reciprocate his love). She replies by telling him that he has lost his senses (gone mad) in his restlessness. With this one answer she has wiped off all his complaints.
3
phaili shamim1-e yaar2 mere ashk3-e surKh4 se
dil ko Ghazab5 fishaar6 hua pech-o-taab7 meN
1.fragrance 2.beloved 3.tears 4.red 5.immense 6.tear, rent 7.restlessness
The poet/lover is so restless/pained that his heart/bosom has been rent apart. This bleeding heart manifests itself as (red) tears of blood. And because the beloved is in the poet/lover’s heart, it is her fragrance that spreads from his tears.
4
chiin-e-jabiN1 ko dekh ke dil basta-tar2 hua
kaisi kushood3-e kaar4 kushaad5-e naqaab6 meN
1.wrinkle on the forehead, frown 2.even more frozen, stilled/stopped 3.opening up, becoming successful 4.effort 5.opening, lifting 6.veil
The beloved has lifted her veil and the poet/lover has dared to look at her. She frowns at him and this simple effort has been successful in freezing his heart.
5
ham kuchh to bad1 the jab na kiya yaar ne pasand2
aye hasrat3 is qadar4 Ghalati inteKhaab5 meN
1.bad 2.like 3.yearning, longing 4.so much 5.choosing, selection
The poet/lover is being sarcastic. Was I so bad that the beloved did not like me. O, longing (for love), such a huge error in selection!
6
rahte haiN jamaa1 koocha2-e jaanaaN3 meN Khaas4 o aam5
aabaad6 ek ghar hai jahaan-e-Kharaab7 meN
1.gathered 2.lane 3.beloved 4.privileged 5.common 6.prosperous, filled 7.wretched world
Whether privileged or common, they all gather in the street of the beloved. At least one place in this wretched world in teeming with people.
7
aaNkh us ki phir gayii1 thi dil apnaa bhi phir gayaa
ye aur inqilaab2 hua inqilaab meN
1.turned away 2.change, revolution, upside down
The beloved turned her eyes away, and now it seems that my heart is also turning away. This shows things getting topsy turvy in an upside down story.
8
badnaam1 mere girya2-e rusvaa3 se ho chuke
ab uzr4 kya rahaa nigah5-e be-hijaab6 meN
1.maligned 2.wailing 3.shame 4.objection 5.glance 6.unveiled, undisguised
You (O, beloved) have already lost your reputation because of my shameful wailing. What objection now remains for you to glance/look at me openly.
9
matlab1 ki justuju2 ne ye kya haal3 kar diya
hasrat4 bhi ab nahiN dil-e naakaam-yaab5 meN
1.objective, goal 2.search, trying 3.condition 4.yearning, hope 5.unsuccessful
What condition has this search for the goal (beloved) brought me to. Now there not even a shred of hope left in this defeated heart.
10
goya1 ke ro rahaa huN raqiboN2 ki jaan ko
aatish3 zabaana-zan4 hui toofaan5-e aab6 meN
1.as if 2.rivals 3.fire 4.flame throwing 5.storm, rain 6.water
The poet/lover is crying as if there is a rainstorm. But this rainstorm also contains the fire of his passion. This combination of water and fire is as if he is crying for/about/at the trickery of his rivals. Passion of sorrow/anger/rivalry all together.
11
naakaamiyoN1 se kaam rahaa umr bhar hameN
piiri2 meN yaas3 hai jo havas4 thi shabaab5 meN
1.failures 2.old age 3.yearning, hope 4.lust 5.youth
The poet/lover spent his youth lusting for the beloved and failed. Now in his old age, he entertains a hopeless yearning in his heart. Thus, he has faced/undergone failures all his life.
12
hai eKhtiyaar1-e yaar2 meN suud3 o ziyaaN4 magar
faazil5 the ham jahaaN se, qazaa6 ke hisaab7 meN
1.discretion, power 2.beloved 3.gain, success 4.loss, failure 5.from ‘fuzool’ i.e. useless, superfluous 6.fate 7.reckoning
The poet/lover’s success or failure is in the hands of the beloved. But fate has not even considered him, not even taken him into account because it has considered him to be superfluous, just extra baggage.
13
naaseh1 hai aib-juu2 o dil-aazaar3 is qadar4
goyaa5 savaab6 hai suKhan7-e naa-savaab8 meN
1.censor, preacher 2.fault-finding 3.heart-breaking 4.so much 5.as if 6.reward 7.talk, conversation 8.untrue
The preacher is constantly looking for defects of others and breaking their hearts so much so that it seems like he thinks that there is blessing/reward in untruthful words/accusation.
14
donoN ka ek haal1 hai ye muddu’aa2 ho kaash3
vo hi Khat4 us ne bhej diya kyuN javaab5 meN
1.condition, meaning 2.desire, intention 3.I wish 4.letter 5.answer
The poet/lover has sent a letter to the beloved and she has returned it. Of course, the letter of the poet/lover had declarations of love. Now that he has received the same letter back he indulges in a bit of wishful thinking … oh, how I wish she means the same thing i.e. she reciprocates my declarations of love, so it is easy for to send back the same message to me.
15
taqdiir1 bhi buri meri taqriir2 bhi buri
bigRe3 vo pursish4-e sabab5-e ijtenaab6 meN
1.fate 2.speech 3.annoyed 4.inquiry 5.reason 6.ignoring, neglecting
The beloved has been ignoring the poet/lover i.e. his fate is bad. He asks her about the reason for such neglect and she gets annoyed with him i.e. now his words are also bad. He has lost out on both counts.
16
kya jalve1 yaad aaye ke apni Khabar2 nahiN
be-baada3 mast4 huN maiN shab5-e maahtaab6 meN
1.images, pictures 2.awareness, knowledge 3.without wine 4.intoxicated 5.night 6.full moon
What wonderful images/memories came to mind that I have lost awareness. Even without wine I am intoxicated during this full moon night.
17
hai minnatoN1 ka vaqt shikaayat2 rahi-rahi3
aaye to haiN manaane4 ko vo par itaab5 meN
1.pleading 2.complaint 3.let it remain, set it aside 4.to make up, to console 5.anger, annoyance
This is the time for pleading, complaints should be set aside. After all she has come to make up even if she is angry.
18
teri jafaa1 na ho to hai sab dushmanoN se amn2
badmast3 Ghair4 mahv5 dil aur baKht6 Khwaab7 meN
1.torture, cruelty 2.peace 3.stone drunk 4.other, rival 5.engrossed, obsessed 6.fortune 7.sleep
The beloved is always cruel to her admirers/lovers. That is considered a favour to the lover. When she tortures them, it is thought that she is showing favours. That makes the rival jealous. So, if she does not torture the poet/lover, there is peace with enemies/rivals because they also ignore him. In this situation, the rival is carefree and gets stone drunk; the poet/lover’s heart is obsessed with thoughts of the beloved; and his fortune is asleep i.e., ignores him.
19
paiham1 sujood2 paa-e-sanam3 par dam-e-vida4
momin Khuda ko bhool gaye izteraab5 meN
1.repeatedly 2.prostrations 3.feet of the beloved 4.time parting, good-bye 5.anxiety, restlessness
Bowing, prostrating to anyone/anything other than god is like forgetting god or divine edicts. The word ‘momin’ applies to the poet, an orthodox person or to all orthodox people. Thus, in the broadest interpretation – all orthodox (or otherwise) men forget god in the face of the beloved. In their extreme agitation at the prospect of being separated from her they offer prostrations again and again.
