Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. munshi raghunath siNgh haajir dehlavi (1884-1922). Both father and grandfather were poets and scholars of urdu and faarsi. He started composing at the age of 13-14. His father died in 1906 and he moved to bhopal for work and returned to dehli in 1910 to re-start his family practice, establishing a clinic named ‘daar-ul-shifa’. He died in 1922 before he could publish his diivaan, but his son collected his papers and published it. His brother, kaviraj raghunandan singh saahir wrote the preface. In addition to his diivan, there is a collection of his Ghazal called, ‘Ghalib aur haajir’, all composed in the zamin of Ghalib. This Ghazal, composed in the zamin of ‘saaqi ne kuchh mila na diya ho sharaab meN’, is particularly long – about 60 ash’aar. They are posted in 6 segments for easy reading and listening and linked to that category under the icon ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’, on the Theme page.
1
matlab¹ hai is se kya hameN ho izteraab² meN
likha javaab³ yaar⁴ ne Khat ke javaab³ meN    1.concern 2.pain, rejection, confused 3.answer 4.friend, beloved
Of what concern it is to me that it appears to be a confused rejection; at least the beloved has sent me an answer in response to my letter.
2
itnay sitam¹ sahay² keh tamanna³ hi miT⁴ ga’ii
uRti hai Khaak⁵ ab dil-e Khaana-Kharaab⁶ meN    1.cruelty 2.bear, go through 3.desire 4.erased 5.dust 6.destroyed, desolate
I have borne such cruelty that all desire has been wiped out. Only dust blows in my desolate heart now.
3
bijli¹ si kaundti² hai nigaahoN³ kay saamnay
kaisi tajalliyaaN⁴ haiN ruKh⁵-e be-naqaab⁶ meN    1.lightning 2.flash 3.eyes 4.brilliance 5.face 6.unveiled
Lightning flashes before my eyes; such is the brilliance of her unveiled face.
4
haiN be-kashish¹ jahaan² kay jalvay³ meray liye
jab se basay⁴ ho tum nigah⁵-e inteKhaab⁶ meN    1.without attraction 2.world 3.images 4.reside, prosper 5.eyes 6.selection, choice
Ever since you have made a home in my heart, as my eyes selected you, no other scene/image of this world is attractive to me.
5
bismil¹ huay haiN parday hi parday meN saiNkRoN
karti hai kaam teGh²-e nazar³ kya naqaab⁴ meN    1.sacrificed, slaughtered 2.sword 3.glance 4.veil
O how effectively the sword of her glance works from behind the veil. Thousands upon thousands have been slaughtered even from behind the veil.
6
nisbat¹ bahaar²-e aariz³-e raNgiiN se kya usay
yeh shooKhiyaaN⁴ yeh raNg⁵ kahaaN hai gulaab meN    1.association, comparison 2.bloom (of the rose) 3.cheeks 4.mischief 5.colour, style
How can the bloom of a rose compare with her colourful cheeks. Does the rose have the same teasing mischief or style.
7
seekha¹ hai tum ne kis se yeh andaaz²-e dilbari³
jalva⁴ dikha dikha ke lubhaatay⁵ ho Khwaab meN    1.learn 2.style, way 3.friendship 4.image, picture 5.attract, win
From whom have you learnt this style of friendship. You keep showing/displaying your image in my dreams and win over my heart.
8
abruu¹ khiNchay² huay haiN jabiiN³ par bhi hai shikan⁴
dekhay to koi yaar⁵ ka aalam⁶ itaab⁷ meN     1.eyebrows 2.taught, arched 3.forehead 4.wrinkled, frown 5.friend, beloved 6.condition 7.anger, annoyance
Eyebrows arched, frown on her brow; just look at the condition of the beloved in anger.
9
jalvay¹ se duubadu² ho yeh taab³-e nazar⁴ kahaaN
muNh kyuN chhupa rakha hai meri jaaN naqaab⁵ meN    1.image, picture 2.face to face, eye to eye 3.ability, strength 4.eyes 5.veil
How can my sight/eyes come face to face with your glory. What is the need to hide your face behind a veil. At a stretch, this can also apply to the divine beloved.
10
do ghoonT¹ jis ne pii liye madhosh² ho gaya
saaqi ajab³ suroor⁴ hai teri sharaab meN     1.mouthfuls, sips 2.intoxicated 3.unusual 4.exhilaration
Whoever takes a couple of sips, gets intoxicated. O saaqi, there is an unusual exhilaration in your wine.