For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مرزا غالب ۔ جگن ناتھ آزادؔ
۱
شعر و ادب کی دنیا کیا تھی، اک جذبات کی دنیا تھی
فکر و نظر کے رنگ سے خالی محسوسات کی دنیا تھی
۲
تو نے اِس خاکے میں آ کر ذوقِ خِرد کا رنگ بھرا
حسنِ ازل کے سانچے میں انوارِ ابد کا رنگ بھرا
۳
شعر کی سرحد دل سے بڑھ کر فکر و نظر تک پھیل گئی
چاند کی ضو، تاروں کی تجلّی، نورِ سحر تک پھیل گئی
۴
شعر تو کیا، ہر لفظ ہے تیرا روحِ تغزُّل، جانِ سخن
ہر اسلوبِ فکر ہے تیری قِندیلِ ایوان سخن
۵
تو نے ایسے رستے کھولے شعر و سخن کی دنیا میں
آپ بہاریں کھنچ آئیں اس سرو و سمن کی دنیا میں
۶
کہتے ہیں، اشعار ترے یوں فنِ تفریح کا نام نہیں
فن تخیل کی رفعت ہے فن ذکرِ شیشہ و جام نہیں
۷
کہنہ رستوں کو اپنائے فن کی اس میں شان نہیں
رجعت کا ملبوس ہو تن پر فن کی یہ پہچان نہیں
۸
تو نے بتایا فن جِدّت ہے فکر و نظر کا اوج ہے فن
طوفانوں کی موج میں جو رقصندہ ہے وہ موج ہے فن
۹
جن پہ چلے فنکار پرانے تو نے وہ رستے چھوڑ دیے
شعر میں جتنے بھی تقلید کے بت تھے تو نے توڑ دئے
۱۰
تو وہ اہلِ نظر تھا جس کو دینِ بزرگاں بھا نہ سکا
خِضر، وہ رہبر اک دنیا کا، تیری منزل پا نہ سکا
۱۱
تیری نازک بات میں بھی فنکار، کوئی اِبہام نہیں
اس تخریب کے بھونڈے دور میں تیرا فن ناکام نہیں
۱۲
کم ہے جتنا شعر کی شوخی تیرے فن پر ناز کرے
کہہ دے کوئی بادِ سحر سے تیرے چمن پر ناز کرے
۱۳
وہ تیرا اسلوبِ بیاں وہ فکر کی گرمی کیا کہئے
غرقِ فلسفہ وہ تیری گفتار کی نرمی کیا کہئے
۱۴
تیرا فن پیغام بقا ہے، موت کا یہ پیغام نہیں
فکر و عمل کا جام ہے تیرا، خوابِ فنا کا جام نہیں
मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब – जगन्नाथ आज़ाद
१
शे’र ओ अदब की दुनिया क्या थी, एक जज़्बात की दुनिया थी
फ़िक्र ओ नज़र के रंग से ख़ाली, महसूसात की दुनिया थी
२
तू ने इस ख़ाके में आ कर, ज़ौक-ए ख़िरद का रंग भरा
हुस्न-ए अज़ल के साँचे में, अनवार-ए अबद का रंग भरा
३
शे’र कि सरहद दिल से बढ कर फ़िक्र ओ नज़र तक फैल गई
चाँद की ज़ौ, तारौं की तजल्ली, नूर-ए सहर तक फैल गई
४
शे’र तो क्या, हर लफ़्ज़ है तेरा, रूह-ए तग़ज़्ज़ुल, जान-ए सुख़न
हर उस्लूब-ए फ़िक्र है तेरी क़िंदील-ए ऐवान-ए सुख़न
५
तूने ऐसे रस्ते खोले, शे’र ओ सुख़न की दुनिया में है
आप बहारें खिंच आईं इस सर्व ओ समन की दुनिया में
६
कहते हैं, अश’आर तेरे यूं फ़न तफ़्रीह का नाम नहीं
फ़न तख़य्युल की रफ़’अत है, फ़न ज़िक्र-ए शीशा ओ जाम नहीं
७
कोहना रस्तों को अपना’ए फ़न की इस में शान नहीं
रज’अत का मल्बूस हो तन पर, फ़न की ये पहचान नहीं
८
तू ने बताया फ़न जिद्दत है, फ़िक्र ओ नज़र का औज है फ़न
तूफ़ानों की मौज में जो रक़्संदा है वो मौज है फ़न
९
जिन पे चले फ़नकार पुराने, तू ने वो रास्ते छोढ दिए
शे’र में जितने भी तक़्लीद के बुत थे, तू ने तोढ दिये
१०
तू वो अहल-ए नज़र था जिस को दीन-ए बुज़ुर्गां भा न सका
ख़िज़्र, वो रहबर एक दुनिया का, तेरी मंज़िल पा न सका
११
तेरी नाज़ुक बात में भी फ़नकार, कोई इब्हाम नहीं
इस तख़्रीब के भोंडे दौर में तेरा फ़न नाकाम नहीं
१२
कम है जितना शे’र की शूख़ी तेरे फ़न पर नाज़ करे
कह दे कोई बाद-स सहर से, तेरे चमन पर नाज़ करे
१३
वो तेरा उस्लूब-ए बयां वो फ़िक्र की गर्मी क्या कहिये
ग़र्क़-ए फ़लसफ़ा वो तेरी गुफ़्तार की नर्मी क्या कहेगी
१४
तेरा फ़न पैग़ाम-ए बक़ा है, मौत का ये पैग़ाम नहीं
फ़िक्र ओ अमल का जाम है तेरा, ख़्वाब-ए फ़ना का जाम नहीं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. jagan nath azad (1918-2004), born in miyaaNvaali (now in pakistan) was the son of another great poet, tilok chand mahroom. He has written with much passion about hindu-muslim and India-pakistan accord. He also composed tributes and several Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. He lived in lahore for a few months after partition before migrating to India. This nazm, a tribute to Ghalib, is linked to Ghalib Khiraaj on the Theme Index page.
1
she’r o adab1 ki duniya kya thi, ek jazbaat2 ki duniya thi
fikr3 o nazar4 ke raNg5 se Khaali, mahsoosaat6 ki duniya thi 1.literature 2.emotions 3.thought, reason 4.viewpoint, farsightedness 5.character 6.feelings
(Before you) what was the world of verse and literature except a world of emotions. Devoid of thought and fasightedness, it was just a world of feelings.
2
tuu ne iss Khaake1 meN aa kar, zauq2-e Khirad3 ka raNg bhara
husn4-e azal5 ke saaNche6 meN, anvaar7-e abad8 ka raNg bhara 1.sketch, outline 2.taste 3.wisdom, reason 4.beauty 5.eternity, beginning 6.mould 7.rays of light 8.eternity, end
In this rough sketch, you filled the colours of reason and wisdom. In the beauty that has existed from the eternal beginning, you filled the colours of eternal rays of light that will exist forever i.e., you made us see the light of eternal truth.
3
she’r ki sarhad1 dil se baRh kar fikr2 o nazar3 tak phail4 ga’ii
chaand ki zau5, taaroN ki tajalli6, noor7-e sahar8 tak phail4 ga’ii 1.boundary 2.thought 3.vision, farsightedness 4.spread 5.brilliance 6.lustre 7.light 8.dawn
Thought and vision spread beyond the boundaries of the heart/feelings. The brilliance of the moon and luster of the stars spread to the light of dawn i.e., you lit up the dark night of ignorance to the light of dawn/knowledge.
4
she’r to kya, har lafz1 hai tera, rooh2-e taGhazzul3, jaan4-e suKhan5
har usloob6-e fikr7 hai teri qindeel8-e aivaan9-e suKhan5 1.word 2.spirit, soul 3.character of Ghazal 4.life, soul 5.versification 6.manner, style, arrangement 7.thought 8.lamp, torch 9.hallway
Why talk of the verse, every word of yours is steeped in the spirit of taGhazzul, it is the soul of versification. Every arrangement/line of your thought is a guiding light in the hallways of versification.
5
tuu ne aise raste1 kholay, she’r o suKhan2 ki duniya meN
aap3 bahaareN4 khiNch5 aaiiN iss sarv-o-saman6 ki duniya meN 1.pathways 2.verse 3.short for apnay-aap, by themselves, spontaneously 4.spring-symbolic of growth, fertility, beauty, love 5.pulled, attracted 6.cypress and jasmine-symbolic of grace and fragrance
You opened up such pathways in the world of poetry that love and beauty were attracted spontaneously to this world of grace and fragrance.
6
kahte haiN ash’aar1 teray yuN fan2 tafreeh3 ka naam nahiN
fan2 taKhayyul4 ki raf’at5 hai fan zikr6-e shiisha-o-jaam7 nahiN 1.couplets, poetry 2.skill, art 3.shallow pleasure 4.thought 5.heights, peak 6.description, narration 7.bottle and cup (of wine)
They say that your poetry is not merely the skill of pleasure; that skill is the peak of thinking not merely a narration of wine and drinking.
7
kohna1 rastoN2 ko apnaa’e3 fan4 ki iss meN shaan5 nahiiN
raj’at6 ka malboos7 ho tan8 par, fan4 ki yeh pahchaan9 nahiiN 1.ancient 2.pathways 3.to make your own, to adopt/follow 4.art, skill 5.dignity 6.retrogress, return 7.garments 8.body 9.identity, recognition
The dignity of skill/art does not lie in adopting/following acient ways. Skill is not identified/recognized by wearing a garment of retrogression.
8
tu ne bataaya1 fan2 jiddat3 hai, fikr4 o nazar5 ka auj6 hai fan
toofaanoN ki mauj7 meN jo raqsanda8 hai voh mauj hai fan2 1.showed 2.skill, art 3.innovation, creativity 4.thought 5.vision 6.peak 7.wave 8.dancing
You showed that skill lies in innovation, that the peak of skill is achieved through thought and vision; that skill is that which can dance on the waves of storm.
9
jin peh chalay fankaar1 puraane, tu ne vo rastay2 chhoR diye
she’r meN jitne bhi taqliid3 ke but4 thay, tuu ne toR diye 1.artist, poet 2.pathways 3.imitation, conformity 4.idols
The breaking of idols is symbolic of rejecting old traditions. You left/rejected the pathways on which earlier poets had walked; you broke all idols of conformity in the field of poetry.
10
tu voh ahl-e-nazar1 tha jis ko diin2-e buzurgaaN3 bhaa4 na saka
Khizr5, voh rahbar6 ek duniya ka, teri manzil7 paa na saka 1.person of vision, visionary 2.traditions 3.elders 4.suit, agreeable 5.legendary old man 6.guide 7.destination, status
Khizr is a Biblical/qur’aanic figure who discovered the nectar of life and drank it. He is immortal. He also travels a lot and knows all the pathways of the world. He is the patron saint/guide of all travelers/seekers. Thus, you were a visionary to whom the tradition of the elders were not agreeable. Even a guide like Khizr could not find his way to/guide us to the destination that you reached.
11
teri naazuk1 baat meN bhi fankaar2, koii ib’haam3 nahiiN
is taKhriib4 ke bhonDay5 daur6 meN tera fan7 nakaam8 nahiiN 1.tender, delicate, fine 2.artist, poet 3.confusion 4.awkward, ugly 6.period, times 7.skill, art 8.unsuccessful, useless
Even in your most fragile words O great artist, there is no confusion of meaning. In these times of ugly destructiveness, your verse has not lost its utility/vitality.
12
kam hai jitna she’r ki shooKhi1 teray fan2 par naaz3 karay
kah de koii baad4-e sahr5 se, teray chaman par naaz3 karay 1.playfulness, mischief 2.skill, art 3.pride 4.breeze 5.dawn
However much the playfulness/mischief of poetry is proud of skill/art, it is not enough. Someone tell the morning breeze that it can feel proud of your garden.
13
voh tera usloob1-e bayaaN2 voh fikr3 ki garmi4 kya kahiye
Gharq5-e falsafa6 voh teri guftaar7 ki narmi8 kya kahiye 1.manner, style, arrangement 2.speaking, reciting 3.thought 4.warmth, passion, effecct 5.drowned, drenched 6.philosophy 7.speech, words 8.softness, subtlety
The style and manner of your composition; the immense effect of your thought; your words, drenched in philosophy; and the subtlety of your words.
14
tera fun1 paiGhaam2-e baqaa3 hai, maut4 ka yeh paiGhaam nahiiN
fikr5 o amal6 ka jaam7 hai tera, Khwaab8-e fana9 ka jaam nahiiN 1.skill, art 2.message 3.eternal, immortality 4.death 5.thought 6.action 7.cup 8.dream 9.annihilation, erasure, non-existence
Your art/creation is a message for all time, it is not a message that can die. It serves thought and action in its cup; it is not a cup of non-existence.
jagan nath azad (1918-2004), born in miyaaNvaali (now in pakistan) was the son of another great poet, tilok chand mahroom. He has written with much passion about hindu-muslim and India-pakistan accord. He also composed tributes and several Ghazal in the style of Ghalib. He lived in lahore for a few months after partition before migrating to India. This nazm, a tribute to Ghalib, is linked to Ghalib Khiraaj on the Theme Index page.
1
she’r o adab1 ki duniya kya thi, ek jazbaat2 ki duniya thi
fikr3 o nazar4 ke raNg5 se Khaali, mahsoosaat6 ki duniya thi
1.literature 2.emotions 3.thought, reason 4.viewpoint, farsightedness 5.character 6.feelings
(Before you) what was the world of verse and literature except a world of emotions. Devoid of thought and fasightedness, it was just a world of feelings.
2
tuu ne iss Khaake1 meN aa kar, zauq2-e Khirad3 ka raNg bhara
husn4-e azal5 ke saaNche6 meN, anvaar7-e abad8 ka raNg bhara
1.sketch, outline 2.taste 3.wisdom, reason 4.beauty 5.eternity, beginning 6.mould 7.rays of light 8.eternity, end
In this rough sketch, you filled the colours of reason and wisdom. In the beauty that has existed from the eternal beginning, you filled the colours of eternal rays of light that will exist forever i.e., you made us see the light of eternal truth.
3
she’r ki sarhad1 dil se baRh kar fikr2 o nazar3 tak phail4 ga’ii
chaand ki zau5, taaroN ki tajalli6, noor7-e sahar8 tak phail4 ga’ii
1.boundary 2.thought 3.vision, farsightedness 4.spread 5.brilliance 6.lustre 7.light 8.dawn
Thought and vision spread beyond the boundaries of the heart/feelings. The brilliance of the moon and luster of the stars spread to the light of dawn i.e., you lit up the dark night of ignorance to the light of dawn/knowledge.
4
she’r to kya, har lafz1 hai tera, rooh2-e taGhazzul3, jaan4-e suKhan5
har usloob6-e fikr7 hai teri qindeel8-e aivaan9-e suKhan5
1.word 2.spirit, soul 3.character of Ghazal 4.life, soul 5.versification 6.manner, style, arrangement 7.thought 8.lamp, torch 9.hallway
Why talk of the verse, every word of yours is steeped in the spirit of taGhazzul, it is the soul of versification. Every arrangement/line of your thought is a guiding light in the hallways of versification.
5
tuu ne aise raste1 kholay, she’r o suKhan2 ki duniya meN
aap3 bahaareN4 khiNch5 aaiiN iss sarv-o-saman6 ki duniya meN
1.pathways 2.verse 3.short for apnay-aap, by themselves, spontaneously 4.spring-symbolic of growth, fertility, beauty, love 5.pulled, attracted 6.cypress and jasmine-symbolic of grace and fragrance
You opened up such pathways in the world of poetry that love and beauty were attracted spontaneously to this world of grace and fragrance.
6
kahte haiN ash’aar1 teray yuN fan2 tafreeh3 ka naam nahiN
fan2 taKhayyul4 ki raf’at5 hai fan zikr6-e shiisha-o-jaam7 nahiN
1.couplets, poetry 2.skill, art 3.shallow pleasure 4.thought 5.heights, peak 6.description, narration 7.bottle and cup (of wine)
They say that your poetry is not merely the skill of pleasure; that skill is the peak of thinking not merely a narration of wine and drinking.
7
kohna1 rastoN2 ko apnaa’e3 fan4 ki iss meN shaan5 nahiiN
raj’at6 ka malboos7 ho tan8 par, fan4 ki yeh pahchaan9 nahiiN
1.ancient 2.pathways 3.to make your own, to adopt/follow 4.art, skill 5.dignity 6.retrogress, return 7.garments 8.body 9.identity, recognition
The dignity of skill/art does not lie in adopting/following acient ways. Skill is not identified/recognized by wearing a garment of retrogression.
8
tu ne bataaya1 fan2 jiddat3 hai, fikr4 o nazar5 ka auj6 hai fan
toofaanoN ki mauj7 meN jo raqsanda8 hai voh mauj hai fan2
1.showed 2.skill, art 3.innovation, creativity 4.thought 5.vision 6.peak 7.wave 8.dancing
You showed that skill lies in innovation, that the peak of skill is achieved through thought and vision; that skill is that which can dance on the waves of storm.
9
jin peh chalay fankaar1 puraane, tu ne vo rastay2 chhoR diye
she’r meN jitne bhi taqliid3 ke but4 thay, tuu ne toR diye
1.artist, poet 2.pathways 3.imitation, conformity 4.idols
The breaking of idols is symbolic of rejecting old traditions. You left/rejected the pathways on which earlier poets had walked; you broke all idols of conformity in the field of poetry.
10
tu voh ahl-e-nazar1 tha jis ko diin2-e buzurgaaN3 bhaa4 na saka
Khizr5, voh rahbar6 ek duniya ka, teri manzil7 paa na saka
1.person of vision, visionary 2.traditions 3.elders 4.suit, agreeable 5.legendary old man 6.guide 7.destination, status
Khizr is a Biblical/qur’aanic figure who discovered the nectar of life and drank it. He is immortal. He also travels a lot and knows all the pathways of the world. He is the patron saint/guide of all travelers/seekers. Thus, you were a visionary to whom the tradition of the elders were not agreeable. Even a guide like Khizr could not find his way to/guide us to the destination that you reached.
11
teri naazuk1 baat meN bhi fankaar2, koii ib’haam3 nahiiN
is taKhriib4 ke bhonDay5 daur6 meN tera fan7 nakaam8 nahiiN
1.tender, delicate, fine 2.artist, poet 3.confusion 4.awkward, ugly 6.period, times 7.skill, art 8.unsuccessful, useless
Even in your most fragile words O great artist, there is no confusion of meaning. In these times of ugly destructiveness, your verse has not lost its utility/vitality.
12
kam hai jitna she’r ki shooKhi1 teray fan2 par naaz3 karay
kah de koii baad4-e sahr5 se, teray chaman par naaz3 karay
1.playfulness, mischief 2.skill, art 3.pride 4.breeze 5.dawn
However much the playfulness/mischief of poetry is proud of skill/art, it is not enough. Someone tell the morning breeze that it can feel proud of your garden.
13
voh tera usloob1-e bayaaN2 voh fikr3 ki garmi4 kya kahiye
Gharq5-e falsafa6 voh teri guftaar7 ki narmi8 kya kahiye
1.manner, style, arrangement 2.speaking, reciting 3.thought 4.warmth, passion, effecct 5.drowned, drenched 6.philosophy 7.speech, words 8.softness, subtlety
The style and manner of your composition; the immense effect of your thought; your words, drenched in philosophy; and the subtlety of your words.
14
tera fun1 paiGhaam2-e baqaa3 hai, maut4 ka yeh paiGhaam nahiiN
fikr5 o amal6 ka jaam7 hai tera, Khwaab8-e fana9 ka jaam nahiiN
1.skill, art 2.message 3.eternal, immortality 4.death 5.thought 6.action 7.cup 8.dream 9.annihilation, erasure, non-existence
Your art/creation is a message for all time, it is not a message that can die. It serves thought and action in its cup; it is not a cup of non-existence.
