For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مجھ کو گنہگار دیکھ کر ۔ پنڈت لبھورام جوشؔ ملسیانی
۱
حیرت زدہ ہے خلق یہ اَصرار دیکھ کر
رحمت جھکی ہے مجھ کو گنہگار دیکھ کر
۲
دامن کے چاک ہوتے ہی ابھرے ہیں دل کے داغ
چونکے ہیں یہ بھی صبح کے آثار دیکھ کر
۳
تیغِ قضا کے آگے بھی آخر میں جھک گیا
گردن کمندِ غم میں گرفتار دیکھ کر
۴
میدانِ ہست و بود میں ہر ذرّے کی نگاہ
خِجلت زدہ ہے مجھ کو گنہگار دیکھ کر
۵
دنیائے عشق صیدِ زُبُوں ہو کے رہ گئی
دستِ نگاہِ ناز میں تلوار دیکھ کر
۶
رِندوں نے جھوم جھوم کے میرے قدم لیے
محفل میں بے پیے مجھے سرشار دیکھ کر
۷
اُڑ کر تو ناؤ پار پہنچنی محال ہے
جی ڈوبتا ہے کیوں تیرا منجدھار دیکھ کر
۸
اُٹھتا نہیں حجابِ نظر اے حریمِ ناز
دیوار بن گیا ہوں یہ دیوار دیکھ کر
۹
منزل طویل راہِ طلب مُشکلوں سے پُر
دل بیٹھتا ہے عمر کی رفتار دیکھ کر
۱۰
اے جوشؔ اُن کے جَور کا شکوہ نہیں رہا
سارے جہاں کو در پئے آزار دیکھ کر
मुझको गुनहगार देख कर – पंडित लभुराम जोश मल्सियानी
१
हैरत-ज़दा है ख़ल्क़ ये अस्रार देख कर
रहमत झुकी है मुझको गुनहगार देख कर
२
दामन के चाक होते ही उभरे हैं दिल के दाग़
चौंके हैं ये भी सब’ह का आसार देख कर
३
तेग़-ए क़ज़ा के आगे भी आख़ेर में झुक गया
गर्दन कमंद-ए ग़म में गिरफ़्तार देख कर
४
मैदान-ए हस्त-ओ-बूद में हर ज़र्रे की निगाह
ख़िज्लत-ज़दा है मुझको गुनहगार देख कर
५
दुनिया-ए इश्क़ सैद-ए ज़ुबूं हो के रह गई
दस्त-ए निगाह-ए नाज़ में तलवार देख कर
६
रिंदौं ने झूम झूम के मेरे क़दम लिए
महफ़िल में बे-पिये मुझे सरशार देख कर
७
उढ कर तो नाऊ पार पहूंचना महाल है
जी डूबता है क्यूं तेरा मंजधार देख कर
८
उठता नहीं हिजाब-ए नज़र अए हरीम-ए नाज़
दीवार बन गया हुं ये दीवार देख कर
९
मंज़िल तवील, राह-ए तलब मुश्किलों से पुर
दिल बैठता है उम्र की रफ़्तार देख कर
१०
अए जोश उन के जौर का शिक्वा नहीं रहा
सारे जहां को दर-पय-ए आज़ार देख कर
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. panDit labhuram josh malsiani (1884-1976) from malsian in the now pakistani side of punjab, migrated to India a little before partition/independence. He has written with great feeling about communal harmony and about the loss of his homeland – pakistan. His son, baalmukund arsh malsiani was also a well recognized poet. This Ghazal is linked to ‘zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar’ under Ghalib naqsh-e qadam on the Theme Index.
1
hairat-zada1 hai Khalq2 yeh asraar3 dekh kar
rahmat4 jhuki hai mujh ko gunahgaar5 dekh kar 1.struck by amazement 2.creation, humanity 3.mysteries 4.kindness, forgiveness 5.sinner
It is implied that while the poet has been a sinner, he is repenting and has begged forgiveness. It is the day of judgement, and all humanity is witness to what is going on. When the poet is presented, divine forgiveness descends on him. The whole world is amazed at the mystery.
2
daaman1 ke chaak2 hotay hi ubhray3 haiN dil ke daaGh4
chauNkay5 haiN yeh bhi sub’h6 ke aasaar7 dekh kar 1.hem of the garment 2.tear, rip 3.emerged, prominent 4.wounds 5.startled 6.dawn 7.signs
The poet/lover is distressed and in his passionate madness he rips his robe from the collar down to the hem. The ripping of the collar all the way down exposes his bosom to light. It is as if his bosom is experiencing dawn. The wounds of his heart, controlled and dormant, suddenly are startled and emerge, clearly visible.
3
teGh1-e qaza2 ke aagay3 bhi aaKhir4 meN jhuk gaya
gardan kamand5-e Gham meN giraftaar6 dekh kar 1.sword 2.fate 3.before, in front of 4.at last, finally 5.noose 6.caught, confined
This is about helplessness in the face of fate. The poet’s neck is caught in a noose. Seeming this, he succumbs, gives up his struggle and finally bows down before the sword of fate.
4
maidaan1-e hast-o-buud2 meN har zarre3 ki nigaah4
Khijlat-zada5 hai mujh ko gunahgaar6 dekh kar 1.field 2.all that is and was, all creation, existence 3.particle 4.eyes 5.stricken by shame, ashamed 6.sinner
In the field of creation i.e., in this material world, every particle looks at you and sees you and your actions, and is ashamed at my transgressions.
5
duniya-e ishq sayd1-e zubuuN2 ho ke rah gaii
dast3-e nigaah-e-naaz4 meN talvaar dekh kar 1.target, prey 2.weak, helpless 3.hand 4.glance of coquetry
The beloved looks at the lover with her coquettish glance. It is as if this glance is carrying a sword to slay him. The lover is totally helpless and falls prey to the sword of her glance.
6
rindoN1 ne jhoom jhoom ke meray qadam liye2
mahfil3 meN be-piye mujhe sarshaar4 dekh kar 1.wine drinkers 2.qadam lena-to touch feet as a mark of respect 3.gathering 4.satiated
This is a gathering of wine-drinkers and the saaqi is serving wine. Everyone drinks and gets satiated/intoxicated with wine. The poet/wine-lover does not drink but is still satiated because he drinks from the eyes of the saaqi/beloved. This ability marks him as worthy of respect, hence they all touch his feet in great joy.
7
uR kar to naau1 paar pahuNchna mahaal2 hai
jii Doobta hai kyuN tera manjdhaar3 dekh kar 1.boat 2.difficult 3.whirlpool
The poet/seeker is ready to launch his boat to cross the river. That is the path towards his goal. But he sees a whirlpool i.e., difficulties in his path and his heart sinks in fear. Why this fear, he asks, this is a part of the deal of taking the path towards the goal. It is difficult for the boat to fly across.
8
uThta nahiN hijaab1-e nazar2 aye hariim-e-naaz3
diivaar ban gaya huN yeh diivaar dekh kar 1.veil 2.glance 3.sanctuary of coquetry, beloved
The poet/lover approaches the sanctuary/home of the beloved. There is a wall and he sees it but he cannot lift his eyes. It is as if there is a veil over his glance. He himself has become an obstacle/wall in his own path.
9
manzil1 taviil2, raah3-e talab4 mushkiloN se pur5
dil baiThta6 hai umr7 ki raftaar8 dekh kar 1.destination 2.long, far away 3.path 4.desire 5.filled 6.sits/sinks 7.life 8.speed
The destination is far away and the path towards it is full of difficulties. The heart sinks seeing the speed of life. Said sahir ludhianavi …
go ham se bhaagti rahi yeh tez-gaam umr
KhwaaboN ke aasre peh kaTi hai tamaam umr
10
aye josh1 un ke jaur2 ka shikva3 nahiN raha
saaray jahaaN4 ko dar-pae5-e aazaar6 dekh kar 1.pen-name of the poet 2.cruelty, tyranny 3.complaint 4.world 5.bent upon 6.tormenting
The poetic convention is that the beloved tortures the lover. But this poet/loverr stops complaining about the beloved’s cruely upon seeing the whole world bent upon tormenting him.
panDit labhuram josh malsiani (1884-1976) from malsian in the now pakistani side of punjab, migrated to India a little before partition/independence. He has written with great feeling about communal harmony and about the loss of his homeland – pakistan. His son, baalmukund arsh malsiani was also a well recognized poet. This Ghazal is linked to ‘zarf-e qadah-Khwaar dekh kar’ under Ghalib naqsh-e qadam on the Theme Index.
1
hairat-zada1 hai Khalq2 yeh asraar3 dekh kar
rahmat4 jhuki hai mujh ko gunahgaar5 dekh kar
1.struck by amazement 2.creation, humanity 3.mysteries 4.kindness, forgiveness 5.sinner
It is implied that while the poet has been a sinner, he is repenting and has begged forgiveness. It is the day of judgement, and all humanity is witness to what is going on. When the poet is presented, divine forgiveness descends on him. The whole world is amazed at the mystery.
2
daaman1 ke chaak2 hotay hi ubhray3 haiN dil ke daaGh4
chauNkay5 haiN yeh bhi sub’h6 ke aasaar7 dekh kar
1.hem of the garment 2.tear, rip 3.emerged, prominent 4.wounds 5.startled 6.dawn 7.signs
The poet/lover is distressed and in his passionate madness he rips his robe from the collar down to the hem. The ripping of the collar all the way down exposes his bosom to light. It is as if his bosom is experiencing dawn. The wounds of his heart, controlled and dormant, suddenly are startled and emerge, clearly visible.
3
teGh1-e qaza2 ke aagay3 bhi aaKhir4 meN jhuk gaya
gardan kamand5-e Gham meN giraftaar6 dekh kar
1.sword 2.fate 3.before, in front of 4.at last, finally 5.noose 6.caught, confined
This is about helplessness in the face of fate. The poet’s neck is caught in a noose. Seeming this, he succumbs, gives up his struggle and finally bows down before the sword of fate.
4
maidaan1-e hast-o-buud2 meN har zarre3 ki nigaah4
Khijlat-zada5 hai mujh ko gunahgaar6 dekh kar
1.field 2.all that is and was, all creation, existence 3.particle 4.eyes 5.stricken by shame, ashamed 6.sinner
In the field of creation i.e., in this material world, every particle looks at you and sees you and your actions, and is ashamed at my transgressions.
5
duniya-e ishq sayd1-e zubuuN2 ho ke rah gaii
dast3-e nigaah-e-naaz4 meN talvaar dekh kar
1.target, prey 2.weak, helpless 3.hand 4.glance of coquetry
The beloved looks at the lover with her coquettish glance. It is as if this glance is carrying a sword to slay him. The lover is totally helpless and falls prey to the sword of her glance.
6
rindoN1 ne jhoom jhoom ke meray qadam liye2
mahfil3 meN be-piye mujhe sarshaar4 dekh kar
1.wine drinkers 2.qadam lena-to touch feet as a mark of respect 3.gathering 4.satiated
This is a gathering of wine-drinkers and the saaqi is serving wine. Everyone drinks and gets satiated/intoxicated with wine. The poet/wine-lover does not drink but is still satiated because he drinks from the eyes of the saaqi/beloved. This ability marks him as worthy of respect, hence they all touch his feet in great joy.
7
uR kar to naau1 paar pahuNchna mahaal2 hai
jii Doobta hai kyuN tera manjdhaar3 dekh kar
1.boat 2.difficult 3.whirlpool
The poet/seeker is ready to launch his boat to cross the river. That is the path towards his goal. But he sees a whirlpool i.e., difficulties in his path and his heart sinks in fear. Why this fear, he asks, this is a part of the deal of taking the path towards the goal. It is difficult for the boat to fly across.
8
uThta nahiN hijaab1-e nazar2 aye hariim-e-naaz3
diivaar ban gaya huN yeh diivaar dekh kar
1.veil 2.glance 3.sanctuary of coquetry, beloved
The poet/lover approaches the sanctuary/home of the beloved. There is a wall and he sees it but he cannot lift his eyes. It is as if there is a veil over his glance. He himself has become an obstacle/wall in his own path.
9
manzil1 taviil2, raah3-e talab4 mushkiloN se pur5
dil baiThta6 hai umr7 ki raftaar8 dekh kar
1.destination 2.long, far away 3.path 4.desire 5.filled 6.sits/sinks 7.life 8.speed
The destination is far away and the path towards it is full of difficulties. The heart sinks seeing the speed of life. Said sahir ludhianavi …
go ham se bhaagti rahi yeh tez-gaam umr
KhwaaboN ke aasre peh kaTi hai tamaam umr
10
aye josh1 un ke jaur2 ka shikva3 nahiN raha
saaray jahaaN4 ko dar-pae5-e aazaar6 dekh kar
1.pen-name of the poet 2.cruelty, tyranny 3.complaint 4.world 5.bent upon 6.tormenting
The poetic convention is that the beloved tortures the lover. But this poet/loverr stops complaining about the beloved’s cruely upon seeing the whole world bent upon tormenting him.
