For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مرزا غالب ۔ تلوک چند محرومؔ
۱
رسائی سے پرے ہے فکرِ رفعت آفریں تیری
ہمارے آسمانوں سے بہت اونچی زمیں تیری
۲
تیرا ہر شعر شرحِ دفترِ رمزِ نہانی ہے
نوائے سازِ فطرت ہے صدائے دل نشیں تیری
۳
خسِ ایں بیشہ پہلو می درد آتش سواراں را
رہِ نظمِ سخن میں پیروی آساں نہیں تیری
۴
اگر ہو آسمان شعر پر رخشاں تیری صورت
صفائی پا سکے ممکن نہیں ماہ مبیں تیری
۵
کہاں زیبا ہے تیرے عشق کو عشقِ بتاں کہنا
سمجھ ہی جب نہیں سکتے زباں ہرگز حسیں تیری
۶
نہ وہ ساغر نہ وہ ساقی نہ وہ میخانہ ہے باقی
وہ دلی میں تیری دھومیں وہ بزمِ آخریں تیری
۷
وہ نقشے حسنِ پنہاں کے جو تو نے کھینچ ڈالے ہیں
عجائب خانۂ افکار میں سب سے نرالے ہیں
۸
فلک پیما تخیّل کو ملا جب اوج تاروں کا
ہوا آئینہ عالم آسماں کے پردہ داروں کا
۹
تعجب کیا کہ اُٹھ سکتا نہیں اپنی نزاکت سے
یہ پردہ شاہدِ معنی کے رخ سے استعاروں کا
۱۰
قصیدہ گوئی میں بھی شانِ خودداری رکھی قائم
ستائش گر ہوا اک آن سے تو تاجداروں کا
۱۱
بوئے عشق حقیقی داغِ دل سے تیرے آتی ہے
بظاہر گو نظر آتا ہے سودا ماہ پاروں کا
۱۲
جگر کو کھود کر وہ شاہدِ رعنا تراشے ہیں
ہوا پھر تازہ قِصّہ کوہکن اور کوہساروں کا
۱۳
ادائے خاص سے تو نے صلائے عام دی سب کو
مگر پھر بھی رہا محبوبِ دل معجز نگاروں کا
۱۴
ترا مضمونِ فصلِ گل پڑھے صحرا میں گر کوئی
نظر آئینہ دار آئے ہر ایک ذرہ بہاروں کا
۱۵
ستائش گر ہے واعظ اس قدر جس باغ رضواں کا
وہ اِک گُلدستہ ہے تیرے تخیّل کے گلستاں کا
मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब – तिलोक चंद महरूम
१
रसाई से परे है फ़िक्र-ए रफ़अत आफ़्रीं तेरी
हमारे आसमानों से बहुत ऊँची ज़मीं तेरी
२
तेरा हर शे’र शर’ह दफ़्तर-ए रमज़-ए नेहानी है
नवा-ए साज़-ए फ़ितरत है सदा-ए दिल-नशीं तेरी
३
ख़स-ए ईं बेशा-पहलू मी-दारद आतिश सवारां रा
रह-ए नज़्म-ए सुख़न में पैरवी आसां नहीं तेरी
४
अगर हो आस्मान-ए शे’र पर रक़्शां तेरी सूरत
सफ़ाई पा सके मुमकिन नहीं माह-ए मुबीं तेरी
५
कहाँ ज़ेबा है तेरे इश्क़ को इश्क़-ए बुताँ कहना
समझ ही जब नहीं सकते ज़बां हर्गिज़ हसीं तेरी
६
ना वो साग़र, ना वो साक़ी, ना वो मय-ख़ाना है बाक़ी
वो दिल्ली में तेरी धूमें वो बज़्म-ए आख़िरीं तेरी
७
वो नक़्शे हुस्न-ए पिन्हां के जो तू ने खैन्च डाले हैं
अजा’एब-ख़ाना-ए अफ़्कार में सब से निराले हैं
८
फ़लक-पैमा तख़य्युल को मिला जब औज तारौं का
हुआ आइना आलम आसमां के परदा-दारौं का
९
त’अज्जुब क्या के उठ सकता नहीं अपनी नज़ाकत से
ये पर्दा शाहेद-ए मु’आनी के रुख़ से इस्ते’आरौं का
१०
क़सीदा-गोई में भी शान-ए ख़ुद-दारी रखी क़ा’एम
सताएश-गर हुआ एक आन से तू ताजदारौं का
११
बु-ए इश्क़-ए हक़ीक़ी दाग़-ए दिल से तेरी आती है
बा-ज़ाहिर गो नज़र आता है सौदा माह-पारौं का
१२
जिगर को खोद कर वो शाहेद-ए रा’ना तराशे हैं
हुआ फिर ताज़ा क़िस्सा कोहकन और कोहसारौं का
१३
अदा-ए ख़ास से तू ने सला-ए ‘आम दी सब को
मगर फिर भी रहा महबूब-ए दिल मो’जिज़ निगारौं का
१४
तेरा मज़्मून-ए फ़स्ल-ए गुल पढ़ा सहरा में गर कोई
नज़र आईना-दार आ’ए हर एक ज़र्रा बहारौं का
१५
सताएश-गर है वा’एज़ इस क़दर जिस बाग़-ए रिज़्वां का
वो एक गुलदस्ता है तेरे तख़य्युल के गुलिस्तां का
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. tilok chand mahroom (1887-1955) and his son jagan nath azad are an illustrious father-son team of urdu shu’ara. From miaNvaali (now in pakistan), they migrated to India in 1948, after unsuccessfully trying to remain in lahore. This nazm, a full throated tribute to Ghalib, ‘Ghalib Khiraaj’.
1
rasaaii1 se parey2 hai fikr3-e raf’at-aafriiN4 teri
hamaare aasmaanoN se bahut ooNchi zamiiN teri 1.reach 2.beyond 3.thought, imagination 4.peak/excellence creating
Your excellence creating thought is beyond reach. Your floor is above our skies.
2
tera har she’r shar’h1-e daftar2-e ramz3-e nehaani4 hai
navaa5-e saaz6-e fitrat7 hai sadaa8-e dil-nashiiN9 teri 1.explanation 2.ledger, book 3.secret 4.hidden 5.call, sound 6.musical instrument, harp 7.nature, cosmos 8.sound, voice, words 9.making a home in the heart
Your every couplet is a commentary on the book of hidden secrets. Your heart pleasing words are the sound of the music of the cosmos.
3
Khas-e iiN besha-pahlu mii-darad aatish-savaaraaN ra
rah1-e nazm2-e suKhan3 meN pairavi4 aasaaN5 nahiN teri 1.path 2.arrangement, composition 3.words, poetry 4.following, emulating 5.easy
The first misra is probably from a faarsi Ghazal of Ghalib but I could not locate it. It means that the straw and twigs by the side of the grove of trees will tear apart/destroy those who ride on fire. Trying to follow Ghalib in the path of composing verse is not easy. Thus aatish-savaaraaN – those who ride the fire are trying to emulate Ghalib.
4
agar ho aasmaan-e she’r par raKhshaaN1 teri soorat
safaaii2 paa sakay mumkin3 nahiN maah-e-mubiiN4 teri 1.shining 2.clarity 3.possible 4.brilliant moon
If your face were to shine in the sky of verse/shaa’eri, then it is not possible for the brilliant moon to get the same clarity/brilliance.
5
kahaaN zeba1 hai teray ishq ko ishq-e butaaN2 kahna
samajh hi jab nahiN saktay zabaaN3 hargiz hasiiN4 teri 1.befitting, appropriate 2.idols 3.language 4.beautiful
How can it be appropriate to lable your love as love of idols/beauties when cannot/do not understand the beauty of your language.
6
na voh saaGhar1, na voh saaqi, na voh maiKhaana2 hai baaqi3
voh dilli meN teri dhoomeN4 voh bazm5-e aaKhiriiN6 teri 1.cup 2.tavern 3.remaining, surviving 4.celebrations, praise 5.gathering 6.final
Neither that wine cup nor the saaqi nor the tavern remain. No more those celebrations and praises of you or those final gatherings of dehli.
7
voh naqshay1 husn-e-pinhaaN2 ke jo tuu ne khaiNch Daale haiN
ajaa’eb-Khaana3-e afkaar4 meN sab se niraalay5 haiN 1.sketches 2.hidden beauty 3.museum, display house 4.thoughts, imagination 5.distinctive, different
The sketches that you have drawn of hidden beauty stand out as unique in the display house of imagination.
8
falak-paima1 taKhayyul2 ko mila jab auj3 taaroN ka
hua aaiina4 aalam5 aasmaaN ke parda-daaroN6 ka 1.taking a measure of the sky 2.imagination, thought 3.height, dignity 4.mirror, reflection 5.world 6.veiled/hidden beings
When you thoughts, taking a measure of the sky, reached the stars, then the world/earth became a reflection of hidden spirits of the sky/heavens.
9
ta’ajjub1 kya keh uTh sakta nahiN apni nazaakat2 se
yeh parda shaahed3-e mu’aani4 ke ruKh5 se iste’aaroN6 ka 1.surprise 2.frailty 3.beauty, beloved 4.meaning 5.face 6.metaphor, hidden meaning
Why is it a surprise that we cannot lift, because of our frailty, the veil from the face of the beauty of the hidden meaning of your words.
10
qaseeda-goi1 meN bhi shaan2-e Khud-daari3 rakhi qaa’em4
sataa’esh-gar5 hua ek aan6 se tu taajdaari7 ka 1.writing/reciting eulogy 2.dignity 3.self-respect 4.maintain 5.praising 6.dignity, honour 7.crown-bearers
Even in reciting eulogies you maintained your dignity/self-respect. Whenever you offered praise, even to kings and lords, you remained honourable.
11
bu1-e ishq-e-haqiiqi2 daaGh3-e dil se teray aati hai
ba-zaahir4 go5 nazar6 aata hai sauda7 maah-paaroN8 ka 1.fragrance-pronounced here with short ‘u’ to comform to meter 2.spiritual/divine love 3.wound 4.in appearance 5.even though 6.visible 7.trade, wish 8.literally-pieces of the moon, beauties, beloved
Even though in appearance, your words looked like they were wishing for earthly beauties, the fragrance of spiritual love emanated from the wounds of your heart.
12
jigar1 ko khod2 kar voh shaahed3-e ra’ana4 taraashay5 haiN
hua phir taaza6 qissa7 kohkan8 aur kohsaaroN9 ka 1.liver/heart 2.dig 3.beauty, beloved 4.glorious 5.sculpted 6.fresh 7.story 8.farhaad 9.hills
This has reference to the story of shiriN-farhaad in which farhaad was set a task to dig a river of milk through the mountain i.e., to perform an impossible task. Here it implies that Ghalib also performed similar impossible tasks by digging into his heart and scupting glorious beauties – his verse.
13
adaa1-e Khaas2 se tu ne salaa3-e ‘aam4 di sab ko
magar phir bhi raha mahboob5-e dil mo’jiz-nigaaroN6 ka 1.style 2.special 3.call 4.common, public 5.beloved 6.excellent/expressive writers
With a special style you a gave a call to one and all but remained a the beloved of the best writers of the time.
14
tera mazmoon1-e fasl2-e gul3 paRhay sahra4 meN gar5 koii
nazar6 aaiina-daar7 aa’e har ek zarra8 bahaaroN9 ka 1.subject, theme 2.season 3.flowering 4.desert 5.if 6.appear 7.mirror-holding, reflecting 8.particle/grain of sand 9.spring
If someone were to read your theme of the flowering season in the desert, then every grain of sand would appear to be a reflection of spring.
15
sataa’esh-gar1 hai vaa’ez2 iss qadar3 jis baaGh-e-rizvaaN4 ka
voh ek guldastaa5 hai teray taKhayyul6 ke gulistaaN7 ka 1.praise giving 2.preacher 3.so much 4.garden of heaven 5.bouquet 6.thinking, imagination 7.garden
The garden of heaven, which the preacher sings praises of so much, is but a bouquet of flowers of the garden of your thoughts.
tilok chand mahroom (1887-1955) and his son jagan nath azad are an illustrious father-son team of urdu shu’ara. From miaNvaali (now in pakistan), they migrated to India in 1948, after unsuccessfully trying to remain in lahore. This nazm, a full throated tribute to Ghalib, ‘Ghalib Khiraaj’.
1
rasaaii1 se parey2 hai fikr3-e raf’at-aafriiN4 teri
hamaare aasmaanoN se bahut ooNchi zamiiN teri
1.reach 2.beyond 3.thought, imagination 4.peak/excellence creating
Your excellence creating thought is beyond reach. Your floor is above our skies.
2
tera har she’r shar’h1-e daftar2-e ramz3-e nehaani4 hai
navaa5-e saaz6-e fitrat7 hai sadaa8-e dil-nashiiN9 teri
1.explanation 2.ledger, book 3.secret 4.hidden 5.call, sound 6.musical instrument, harp 7.nature, cosmos 8.sound, voice, words 9.making a home in the heart
Your every couplet is a commentary on the book of hidden secrets. Your heart pleasing words are the sound of the music of the cosmos.
3
Khas-e iiN besha-pahlu mii-darad aatish-savaaraaN ra
rah1-e nazm2-e suKhan3 meN pairavi4 aasaaN5 nahiN teri
1.path 2.arrangement, composition 3.words, poetry 4.following, emulating 5.easy
The first misra is probably from a faarsi Ghazal of Ghalib but I could not locate it. It means that the straw and twigs by the side of the grove of trees will tear apart/destroy those who ride on fire. Trying to follow Ghalib in the path of composing verse is not easy. Thus aatish-savaaraaN – those who ride the fire are trying to emulate Ghalib.
4
agar ho aasmaan-e she’r par raKhshaaN1 teri soorat
safaaii2 paa sakay mumkin3 nahiN maah-e-mubiiN4 teri
1.shining 2.clarity 3.possible 4.brilliant moon
If your face were to shine in the sky of verse/shaa’eri, then it is not possible for the brilliant moon to get the same clarity/brilliance.
5
kahaaN zeba1 hai teray ishq ko ishq-e butaaN2 kahna
samajh hi jab nahiN saktay zabaaN3 hargiz hasiiN4 teri
1.befitting, appropriate 2.idols 3.language 4.beautiful
How can it be appropriate to lable your love as love of idols/beauties when cannot/do not understand the beauty of your language.
6
na voh saaGhar1, na voh saaqi, na voh maiKhaana2 hai baaqi3
voh dilli meN teri dhoomeN4 voh bazm5-e aaKhiriiN6 teri
1.cup 2.tavern 3.remaining, surviving 4.celebrations, praise 5.gathering 6.final
Neither that wine cup nor the saaqi nor the tavern remain. No more those celebrations and praises of you or those final gatherings of dehli.
7
voh naqshay1 husn-e-pinhaaN2 ke jo tuu ne khaiNch Daale haiN
ajaa’eb-Khaana3-e afkaar4 meN sab se niraalay5 haiN
1.sketches 2.hidden beauty 3.museum, display house 4.thoughts, imagination 5.distinctive, different
The sketches that you have drawn of hidden beauty stand out as unique in the display house of imagination.
8
falak-paima1 taKhayyul2 ko mila jab auj3 taaroN ka
hua aaiina4 aalam5 aasmaaN ke parda-daaroN6 ka
1.taking a measure of the sky 2.imagination, thought 3.height, dignity 4.mirror, reflection 5.world 6.veiled/hidden beings
When you thoughts, taking a measure of the sky, reached the stars, then the world/earth became a reflection of hidden spirits of the sky/heavens.
9
ta’ajjub1 kya keh uTh sakta nahiN apni nazaakat2 se
yeh parda shaahed3-e mu’aani4 ke ruKh5 se iste’aaroN6 ka
1.surprise 2.frailty 3.beauty, beloved 4.meaning 5.face 6.metaphor, hidden meaning
Why is it a surprise that we cannot lift, because of our frailty, the veil from the face of the beauty of the hidden meaning of your words.
10
qaseeda-goi1 meN bhi shaan2-e Khud-daari3 rakhi qaa’em4
sataa’esh-gar5 hua ek aan6 se tu taajdaari7 ka
1.writing/reciting eulogy 2.dignity 3.self-respect 4.maintain 5.praising 6.dignity, honour 7.crown-bearers
Even in reciting eulogies you maintained your dignity/self-respect. Whenever you offered praise, even to kings and lords, you remained honourable.
11
bu1-e ishq-e-haqiiqi2 daaGh3-e dil se teray aati hai
ba-zaahir4 go5 nazar6 aata hai sauda7 maah-paaroN8 ka
1.fragrance-pronounced here with short ‘u’ to comform to meter 2.spiritual/divine love 3.wound 4.in appearance 5.even though 6.visible 7.trade, wish 8.literally-pieces of the moon, beauties, beloved
Even though in appearance, your words looked like they were wishing for earthly beauties, the fragrance of spiritual love emanated from the wounds of your heart.
12
jigar1 ko khod2 kar voh shaahed3-e ra’ana4 taraashay5 haiN
hua phir taaza6 qissa7 kohkan8 aur kohsaaroN9 ka
1.liver/heart 2.dig 3.beauty, beloved 4.glorious 5.sculpted 6.fresh 7.story 8.farhaad 9.hills
This has reference to the story of shiriN-farhaad in which farhaad was set a task to dig a river of milk through the mountain i.e., to perform an impossible task. Here it implies that Ghalib also performed similar impossible tasks by digging into his heart and scupting glorious beauties – his verse.
13
adaa1-e Khaas2 se tu ne salaa3-e ‘aam4 di sab ko
magar phir bhi raha mahboob5-e dil mo’jiz-nigaaroN6 ka
1.style 2.special 3.call 4.common, public 5.beloved 6.excellent/expressive writers
With a special style you a gave a call to one and all but remained a the beloved of the best writers of the time.
14
tera mazmoon1-e fasl2-e gul3 paRhay sahra4 meN gar5 koii
nazar6 aaiina-daar7 aa’e har ek zarra8 bahaaroN9 ka
1.subject, theme 2.season 3.flowering 4.desert 5.if 6.appear 7.mirror-holding, reflecting 8.particle/grain of sand 9.spring
If someone were to read your theme of the flowering season in the desert, then every grain of sand would appear to be a reflection of spring.
15
sataa’esh-gar1 hai vaa’ez2 iss qadar3 jis baaGh-e-rizvaaN4 ka
voh ek guldastaa5 hai teray taKhayyul6 ke gulistaaN7 ka
1.praise giving 2.preacher 3.so much 4.garden of heaven 5.bouquet 6.thinking, imagination 7.garden
The garden of heaven, which the preacher sings praises of so much, is but a bouquet of flowers of the garden of your thoughts.
