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Recitation
مرزا غالب ۔ محمد اقبال
فکرِ انساں پر تری ہستی سے یہ روشن ہوا
ہے پرِ مرغِ تخیل کی رسائ تا کجا
تھا سراپا روح تو, بزمِ سخن پیکر ترا
زیبِ محفل بھی رہا محفل سے پنہاں بھی رہا
دید تیری آنکھ کو اس حسن کی منظور ہے
بن کے سوزِ زندگی ہر شئے میں جو مستور ہے
محفلِ ہستی تری بربط سے ہے سرمایہ دار
جس طرح ندی کے نغموں سے سکوتِ کوہسار
تیرے فردوسِ تخیل سے ہے قدرت کی بہار
تیری کِشتِ فکر سے اُگتے ہیں عالم سبزہ زار
زندگی مضمرہے تیری شوخئ تحریر میں
تابِ گویائ سے جنبش ہے لبِ تصویر میں
نطق کو سو ناز ہیں تیرے لبِ اعجاز پر
محوِ حیرت ہے ثریّا رفعتِ پرواز پر
شاہدِمضموں تصدّق ہے ترے انداز پر
خندہ زن ہے غنچۂ دِلّی گلِ شیراز پر
آہ تو اُجڑی ہوئ دِلّی میں آرامیدہ ہے
گلشنِ ‘ویمر’ میں تیرا ہمنوا خوابیدہ ہے
لطفِ گویائ میں تیری ہمسری ممکن نہیں
ہو تخیل کا نہ جب تک فکرِ کامل ہم نشیں
ہائے! اب کیا ہو گئ ہندوستاں کی سر زمیں
آہ! ائے نظارہ آموزِ نگاہِ نکتہ بیں
گیسوئے اردو ابھی منت پذیرِ شانہ ہے
شمع یہ سودائ دل سوزئ پروانہ ہے
ائے جہان آباد! ائے گہوارۂ علم و ہنر
ہیں سراپہ نالۂ خاموش تیرے بام و در
ذرّے ذرّے میں ترے خوابیدہ ہیں شمس و قمر
یوں تو پوشیدہ ہیں تیری خاک میں لاکھوں گہر
دفن تجھ میں کوئ فخرِ روزگار ایسا بھی ہے
تجھ میں پنہاں کوئ موتی آبدار ایسا بھی ہے
मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब – मोहम्मद इक़्बाल
फ़िक्र-ए इन्सां पर तेरी हस्ती से ये रौशन हुआ
है पर-मुर्ग़-ए तख़य्युल की रसाई ता-कुजा
था सरापा रूह तू बज़्म-ए सुख़न पैकर तेरा
ज़ेब-ए महफ़िल भी रहा महफ़िल से पिन्हां भी रहा
दीद तेरी आंख को उस हुस्न की मंज़ूर है
बन के सोज़-ए ज़िन्दगी हर शै में जो मस्तूर है
महफ़िल-ए हस्ती तेरी बरबत से है सरमाया दार
जिस तरह नद्दी के नग़्मों से सुकूत-ए कोहसार
तेरे फ़िरदौस-ए तख़य्युल से है क़ुदरत की बहार
तेरी किश्त-ए फ़िक्र से उगते हैं आलम सब्ज़ा-ज़ार
ज़िन्दगी मुज़मिर है तेरी शूख़ी-ए तहरीर में
ताब-ए गोयाई से जुम्बिश है लब-ए तस्वीर में
नुत्क़ को सौ नाज़ हैं तेरे लब-ए ए’जाज़ पर
महव-ए हैरत है सुरय्या रफ़’अत-ए परवाज़ पर
शाहिद-मज़्मूं तसदुक़ है तेरे अंदाज़ पर
ख़न्दह-ज़न है ग़ुन्चा-ए दिल्ली गुल-ए शीराज़ पर
आह! तू उजड़ी हुई दिल्ली में अरामीदा है
गुल्शन-ए वीमर में तेरा हमनवा ख़्वाबीदा है
लुत्फ़-ए गोयाई में तेरी हमसरी मुमकिन नहीं
हो तख़य्युल का न जब तक फ़िक्र-ए कामिल हमनशीं
हाए! अब क्या हो गई हिन्दोस्तां की सरज़मीं
आह! अय नज़्ज़ारा आमोज़-ए निगाह-ए नुक्ता-बीं
गेसू-ए उर्दू अभी मिन्नत कश-ए शाना है
शमा ये सौदाई-ए दिल-सोज़ी-ए परवाना है
अय जहानाबाद! अय गहवारा-इ इल्म ओ हुनर
हैं सरापा नाला-ए ख़ामोश तेरे बाम ओ दर
ज़र्रे ज़र्रे में तेरे ख़्वाबीदा हैं शम्स ओ क़मर
यूं तो पोशीदा हैं तेरे ख़ाक में लाखों गोहर
दफ़्न तुझ में कोई फ़ख़्र-ए रोज़गार ऐसा भी है
तुझ में पिन्हां कोई मोती आबदार ऐसा भी है
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed iqbal (1877-1938) is one of the greatest, with his literary compositions, both in urdu and in faarsi. He went through many phases in his thinking and writing – starting with an inclusive, liberal stance to a reactionary, hubristic position. Sprinkled all over are self-reliance/Khudi, sufiyaana and socialist thoughts. This was probably written in 1919 to mark fifty years of Ghalib’s death.
fikr1-e insaaN par teri hasti2 se ye raushan3 hua
hai par4-e murGh5-e taKhayyul6 ki rasai7 ta-kuja8
tha saraapa9 rooh10 tu, bazm11-e suKhan12 paikar13 tera
zeb14-e mahfil15 bhi raha, mahfil se pinhaaN16 bhi raha
deed17 teri aaNkh ko us husn18 ki manzoor19 hai
bun ke soz20-e zindagi har shaye21 meN jo mastoor22 hai1.thought, reason 2.person 3.illuminated, revealed 4.wing of 5.bird of 6.imagination 7.reach 8.how far/high 9.head to toe 10.spirit 11.assembly, party 12.versification, poetry 13.icon, embodiment 14.embellishment, pride 15.gathering 16.hidden 17.vision, point of view 18.that beauty (god) 19.acceptable 20.fire/passion 22.hidden
The person/work (of Ghalib) revealed to human thought that wings/flight of the bird of imagination has great power and can reach high. You (Ghalib) were the embodiment of the spirit (of verse) and the icon of the gathering of poets. You were the pride of the mahfil (of poets) while at the same time hidden from it (not understood by it). iqbal refers to god “as that beauty which is hidden in everything in creation as a passion for live/living”. Ghalib’s vision/point of view was accepted/well received by such a god.
mehfil-e hasti1 teri barbat2 se hai sarmaya-daar3
jis tarah naddi ke naGhmauN se sukoot4-e kohsaar5
tere firdaus6-e taKhayyul7 se hai qudrat8 ki bahaar
teri kisht9-e fikr10 se ugte haiN aalam11 sabza-zaar12
zindagi muzmir13 hai teri shooKhi14-e tahreer15 meN
taab16-e goyaii17 se jumbish18 hai lab-e tasveer meN1.assembly of existence/life, world 2.lute 3.wealthy 4.silence 5.hills 6.heaven/blessing 7.thinking/imagination 8.nature, creation 9.cultivation 10.thought 11.worlds 12.verdant 13.hidden/mysterious 14.mischief 15.writing 16.strength 17.speech, words 18.movement
The world is rich because of your music like the silence of the hills is enriched by the gurgle of mountain streams. The blessing of your imagination is like spring in this world. You cultivate thought to create verdant worlds. Life is mysterious because of the playfulness of your writing. The strength of your words makes pictures talk.
nutq1 ko sau naaz2 haiN tere lab-e ai’jaaz3 par
mahv4-e hairat5 hai surayya6 raf’at7-e parvaaz8 par
shahed9-e mazmuN10 tasadduq11 hai tere andaaz12 par
Khandah-zan13 hai Ghuncha14-e dilli gul-e shiraaz15 par
aah! tu ujRi hui dilli meN arameeda16 hai
gulshan17-e ‘weimar’18 meN tera hamnawa19 Khwabida20 hai1.sound, voice 2.pride 3.miracle 4.engrossed in 5.amazement 6.constellation 7.height 8.flight 9.beauty of 10.subject matter 11.sacrificed, pay homage to 12.style 13.smile, sneer 14.unopened flower bud 15.iranian city 16.resting 17.garden 18. in Germany where Goethe is buried 19.same voice 20.sleeping
iqbal was a great admirer of Goethe and compares Ghalib to him. Also “Ghuncha-e dilli” may be the young, not yet fully blossomed language of dehli i.e. urdu and “gul-e shiraaz” is the more mature, fully opened flower of iran i.e. farsi. Thus, Voice itself is proud of the miracle of your lips. Constellations are engrossed in amazement at the heights of the flight of your thought and imagination. (It is because of your writing) that urdu can smile at farsi. Even as you rest in the ruins of dehli, your equal sleeps in the gardens of Weimar.
lutf1-e goyaaii2 meN tari hamsari3 mumkin nahiN
ho taKhayyul4 ka na jabtak fikr5-e kaamil6 humnashiN7
haae! ab kya ho gayee hindostaaN ki sarzamiN!
aah! ae nazzara-aamoz8-e nigaah9-e nuktah-beeN10!
gesu11-e urdu abhi minnat-pazeer12-e shaana13 hai
shama’ ye saudaaii14-e dil-sozi15-e parvaana16 hai1.pleasure 2.speaking, reciting poetry 3.match, be equal of 4.thought, imagination 5.reason 6.complete, perfect 7.friend 8.teaching/showing vision 9.eye 10.one who can see fine points 11.hair 12.in need of, desirous of 13.comb 14.wanting to acquire 15.burning/passionate heart/love 16.moth
It is not possible to match the pleasure of your poetry unless imagination and reason can work together (as friends). Alas, what has become of the homeland of hindostan. Alas, (that we have lost the) one who could show us bright vision with an eye that could discriminate fine points. The long beautiful tresses of urdu still need a comb. This lamp still desires passionate moths.
aye jahaanabaad1! aye gahwara2-e ilm-o-hunar3
haiN saraapa4 naala5-e Khamosh tere baam-o-dar6
zarre zarre meN tere Khwaabida7 haiN shams-o-qamar8
yuN to poshida9 haiN teri Khaak meN laakhoN gohar10
dafn11 tujh meN koii faKhr12-e rozgaar13 aisa bhi hai
tujh meN pinhaaN14 koii moti aabdaar15 aisa bhi hai1.old name of dehli 2.cradle 3.knowledge and talent 4.head to toe 5.wailing 6.roof and door, buildings 7.sleeping 8.sun and moon, great people 9.hidden 10.pearl 11.buried 12.pride of 13.daily life, world 14.hidden 15.shine
O dehli, O cradle of talent, your every feature is a silent wail. In your dust sleep great and mighty. Yes, I agree that there are millions of pearls hidden in your dust but is there such a pride of the world (as Ghalib) buried anywhere in your land. Is such a bright pearl (as Ghalib) hidden in your treasures.
mohammed iqbal (1877-1938) is one of the greatest, with his literary compositions, both in urdu and in faarsi. He went through many phases in his thinking and writing – starting with an inclusive, liberal stance to a reactionary, hubristic position. Sprinkled all over are self-reliance/Khudi, sufiyaana and socialist thoughts. This was probably written in 1919 to mark fifty years of Ghalib’s death.
fikr1-e insaaN par teri hasti2 se ye raushan3 hua
hai par4-e murGh5-e taKhayyul6 ki rasai7 ta-kuja8
tha saraapa9 rooh10 tu, bazm11-e suKhan12 paikar13 tera
zeb14-e mahfil15 bhi raha, mahfil se pinhaaN16 bhi raha
deed17 teri aaNkh ko us husn18 ki manzoor19 hai
bun ke soz20-e zindagi har shaye21 meN jo mastoor22 hai
1.thought, reason 2.person 3.illuminated, revealed 4.wing of 5.bird of 6.imagination 7.reach 8.how far/high 9.head to toe 10.spirit 11.assembly, party 12.versification, poetry 13.icon, embodiment 14.embellishment, pride 15.gathering 16.hidden 17.vision, point of view 18.that beauty (god) 19.acceptable 20.fire/passion 22.hidden
The person/work (of Ghalib) revealed to human thought that wings/flight of the bird of imagination has great power and can reach high. You (Ghalib) were the embodiment of the spirit (of verse) and the icon of the gathering of poets. You were the pride of the mahfil (of poets) while at the same time hidden from it (not understood by it). iqbal refers to god “as that beauty which is hidden in everything in creation as a passion for live/living”. Ghalib’s vision/point of view was accepted/well received by such a god.
mehfil-e hasti1 teri barbat2 se hai sarmaya-daar3
jis tarah naddi ke naGhmauN se sukoot4-e kohsaar5
tere firdaus6-e taKhayyul7 se hai qudrat8 ki bahaar
teri kisht9-e fikr10 se ugte haiN aalam11 sabza-zaar12
zindagi muzmir13 hai teri shooKhi14-e tahreer15 meN
taab16-e goyaii17 se jumbish18 hai lab-e tasveer meN
1.assembly of existence/life, world 2.lute 3.wealthy 4.silence 5.hills 6.heaven/blessing 7.thinking/imagination 8.nature, creation 9.cultivation 10.thought 11.worlds 12.verdant 13.hidden/mysterious 14.mischief 15.writing 16.strength 17.speech, words 18.movement
The world is rich because of your music like the silence of the hills is enriched by the gurgle of mountain streams. The blessing of your imagination is like spring in this world. You cultivate thought to create verdant worlds. Life is mysterious because of the playfulness of your writing. The strength of your words makes pictures talk.
nutq1 ko sau naaz2 haiN tere lab-e ai’jaaz3 par
mahv4-e hairat5 hai surayya6 raf’at7-e parvaaz8 par
shahed9-e mazmuN10 tasadduq11 hai tere andaaz12 par
Khandah-zan13 hai Ghuncha14-e dilli gul-e shiraaz15 par
aah! tu ujRi hui dilli meN arameeda16 hai
gulshan17-e ‘weimar’18 meN tera hamnawa19 Khwabida20 hai
1.sound, voice 2.pride 3.miracle 4.engrossed in 5.amazement 6.constellation 7.height 8.flight 9.beauty of 10.subject matter 11.sacrificed, pay homage to 12.style 13.smile, sneer 14.unopened flower bud 15.iranian city 16.resting 17.garden 18. in Germany where Goethe is buried 19.same voice 20.sleeping
iqbal was a great admirer of Goethe and compares Ghalib to him. Also “Ghuncha-e dilli” may be the young, not yet fully blossomed language of dehli i.e. urdu and “gul-e shiraaz” is the more mature, fully opened flower of iran i.e. farsi. Thus, Voice itself is proud of the miracle of your lips. Constellations are engrossed in amazement at the heights of the flight of your thought and imagination. (It is because of your writing) that urdu can smile at farsi. Even as you rest in the ruins of dehli, your equal sleeps in the gardens of Weimar.
lutf1-e goyaaii2 meN tari hamsari3 mumkin nahiN
ho taKhayyul4 ka na jabtak fikr5-e kaamil6 humnashiN7
haae! ab kya ho gayee hindostaaN ki sarzamiN!
aah! ae nazzara-aamoz8-e nigaah9-e nuktah-beeN10!
gesu11-e urdu abhi minnat-pazeer12-e shaana13 hai
shama’ ye saudaaii14-e dil-sozi15-e parvaana16 hai
1.pleasure 2.speaking, reciting poetry 3.match, be equal of 4.thought, imagination 5.reason 6.complete, perfect 7.friend 8.teaching/showing vision 9.eye 10.one who can see fine points 11.hair 12.in need of, desirous of 13.comb 14.wanting to acquire 15.burning/passionate heart/love 16.moth
It is not possible to match the pleasure of your poetry unless imagination and reason can work together (as friends). Alas, what has become of the homeland of hindostan. Alas, (that we have lost the) one who could show us bright vision with an eye that could discriminate fine points. The long beautiful tresses of urdu still need a comb. This lamp still desires passionate moths.
aye jahaanabaad1! aye gahwara2-e ilm-o-hunar3
haiN saraapa4 naala5-e Khamosh tere baam-o-dar6
zarre zarre meN tere Khwaabida7 haiN shams-o-qamar8
yuN to poshida9 haiN teri Khaak meN laakhoN gohar10
dafn11 tujh meN koii faKhr12-e rozgaar13 aisa bhi hai
tujh meN pinhaaN14 koii moti aabdaar15 aisa bhi hai
1.old name of dehli 2.cradle 3.knowledge and talent 4.head to toe 5.wailing 6.roof and door, buildings 7.sleeping 8.sun and moon, great people 9.hidden 10.pearl 11.buried 12.pride of 13.daily life, world 14.hidden 15.shine
O dehli, O cradle of talent, your every feature is a silent wail. In your dust sleep great and mighty. Yes, I agree that there are millions of pearls hidden in your dust but is there such a pride of the world (as Ghalib) buried anywhere in your land. Is such a bright pearl (as Ghalib) hidden in your treasures.
