For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.
faarsi
urdu
نہ توان گفت ۔ مرزا غالبؔ
۱
دل بُرد و حق آن است کہ دلبر نہ توان گفت
بیداد توان دید و ستمگر نہ توان گفت
۲
در رزم گہ اش ناچخ و خنجر نہ توان بُرد
در بزم گہ اش بادہ و ساغر نہ توان گفت
۳
رخشندگیِ ساعد و گردن نہ توان جست
زی بندگی یارہ و پرگر نہ توان گفت
۴
پیوستہ دہد بادہ و ساقی نہ توان خواند
ہموارہ تراشد بت و آذر نہ توان گفت
۵
از حوصلہ یاری مطلب صاعقہ تیز است
پروانہ شو اینجا ز سمندر نہ توان گفت
۶
ہنگامہ سر آمد، چہ زنی دم ز تظلّم
گر خود ستمی رفت، بہ محشر نہ توان گفت
۷
در گرم روی سایہ و سرچشمہ نہ جوئیم
باما سخن از طوبیٰ و کوثر نہ توان گفت
۸
آن راز کہ در سینہ نہان است نہ وعظ است
بر دار توان گفت، بہ ممبر نہ توان گفت
۹
کاری عجب افتاد بدین شیفتہ ما را
مومن نہ بود غالبؔ و کافر نہ توان گفت
نہ کہا جائے ۔ سید محمّد شاہد
۱
ہاں دل تو چرایا ہے مگر اُس کو دلبر نہ کہا جائے
صاف ظاہر ہیں ستم اُس کے پہ ستمگر نہ کہا جائے
۲
رزم گہ میں اُس کی تیر و تبر سے نہ چلے کام
بزم میں آنکھوں سے پیو، اُن کو ساغر نہ کہا جائے
۳
در اصل کلائی بھی اور گردن بھی درخشاں ہے
کنگن و گُلُو بند چمکتے ہوے گوہر نہ کہا جائے
۴
نظروں سے پلاتا ہے جو ساقی وہ نہیں ہے
خود تراشیدہ جو بت ہے اُسے آذر نہ کہا جائے
۵
ہے حسن کا جلوہ تپشِ برق سے بھی تیز
جل جائے جو پروانے کی صورت تو سمندر نہ کہا جائے
۶
محبّت ہے اگر ظلم تو کیوں کرتے ہو شکوہ
گر خود ہی ستم چاہو سرِ محشر نہ کہا جائے
۷
گرمِ روش ہوں نے آب نہ سایا مجھے درکار
مجھ سے طوبیٰ کی کہانی و افسانۂ کوثر نہ کہا جائے
۸
سینے میں چھپا راز تیرے وعظ نہیں ہے
سرِ دار ہے جو کہنا، سرِ ممبر نہ کہا جائے
۹
پاگل سے پڑا واسطہ اب جو ہے ہمارا
مومن نہ سہی غالبؔ اُسے کافر نہ کہا جائے
न तवन गुफ़्त – मिर्ज़ा ग़ालिब
उर्दू तर्जुमा – न कहा जाए – सय्यद महोम्मद शाहेद
१
हां दिल तो चुराया है मगर उस को दिल्बर न कहा जाए
साफ़ ज़ाहर हैं सितम उस के प सितमगर न कहा जाए
२
रज़्म गाह में उस की तीर ओ तबर से न चले काम
बज़्म में आंखौं से पियो उन को साग़र न कहा जाए
३
दर-अस्ल कलाई भी और गर्दन भी दरख़्शां है
कंगन ओ गुलू-बन्द चमकते हुए गौहर न कहा जाए
४
नज़्रौं से पिलाता है जो साक़ी वो नहीं है
ख़ुद तराशीदा जो बुत है उसे आज़र नहा जाए
५
है हुस्न का जल्वा तपिश-ए बर्क़ से भी तेज़
जल जाए जो पर्वाने कि सूरत तो समन्दर न कहा जाए
६
मोहब्बत है अगर ज़ुल्म तो क्यूं करते हो शिक्वा
गर ख़ुद ही सितम चाहो सर-ए महशर न कहा जाए
७
गर्म-ए रविश हूं ने आब न साया मुझे दरकार
मुझ से तूबा की कहानी ओ अफ़्साना-ए कौसर न कहा जाए
८
सीने में छुपा राज़ तेरे वा’ज़ नहीं है
सर-ए दार है जो कहना, सर-ए मिम्बर न कहा जाए
९
पागल से पढा वास्ता अब जो है हमारा
मोमिन न सही ग़ालिब, उसे काफ़र न कहा जाए
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869), bard par excellence, thought that his faarsi kalaam was much superior to his urdu verse. This is one of his faarsi Ghazal, rendered as an urdu Ghazal maintaining its own radeef and qaafiya.
1
haaN dil to churaaya hai magar us ko dilbar1 na kaha jaaye
saaf zaahir2 haiN sitam3 us ke par us ko sitamgar4 na kaha jaaye 1.literally heart-stealer, beloved 2.apparent 3.cruelty 4.torturer
Yes, it is true that she has stolen my heart but she cannot be called a heart-stealer. This can be for any number of reasons – she does not permit it, the poet/lover cannot bring himself to accuse her or societal convention does not allow it. Her cruelty is clearly apparent, but she cannot be called a torturer.
2
razm-gaah1 meN us ki tiir o tabar2 se na chale kaam
bazm3 meN aaNkhoN se piyo, un ko saaGhar4 na kaha jaaye 1.battlefield 2.hatchet 3.gathering 4.cup, goblet
The beloved conquers her admirers. Thus, it is a battlefield in which she operates. But in this battlefield there is no use of weapons … arrows or hatchets (she conquers with her looks). In her gathering, you can drink (get inebriated) by the intoxication of her eyes, but they cannot be called goblets. There is an urdu she’r of Ghalib …
us saadagi pe kaun na mar jaaye aye Khuda
laRte haiN aur haath meN talvaar bhi nahiN
3
dar-asl1 kalaai2 bhi aur gardan bhi daraKhshaaN3 hai
kaNgan o gulu-band chamkte hue gauhar4 na kaha jaaye 1.in reality 2.wrist 3.shining, brilliant 4.jewels
In reality it is her wrists and neck that shine and glow. You cannot say that it is the brilliance of the jewelry in her bangles and necklace.
4
nazaroN se pilaata hai jo, saaqi vo nahiN hai
Khud-taraasheeda1 jo but hai use aazar2 na kaha jaaye 1.self-sculpted 2.idol maker, father of ibrahim
She offers wine through her intoxicating eyes. She cannot be called a ‘saaqi’ who offers wine in cups. She adorns herself and gives herself the beautiful looks she has, like a self-sculpted idol. ‘aazar’ was a legendary idol carver, father of ibrahim who continued to make and worship idols even after his son declared a monotheistic, formless god. Although, she makes idols (in the sense that she adorns herself in different, intriguing styles), she cannot be called ‘aazar’.
5
hai husn1 ka jalva2 tapish3-e barq4 se bhi tez
jal jaaye jo parvaane ki suurat5 to samandar6 na kaha jaaye 1.beauty 2.face, manifestation 3.heat, fire 4.lightning 5.like, similar to 6.a legendary/imaginary insect that is born and lives in fire
The fire of the beloved’s beauty is even more fierce than the fire of lightning. The poet/lover gets burnt up in that fire like a moth around a candle flame. Thus he cannot be called a ‘samandar’ – fire-insect.
6
hai husn1 ka jalva2 tapish3-e barq4 se bhi tez
jal jaaye jo parvaane ki suurat5 to samandar6 na kaha jaaye 1.beauty 2.face, manifestation 3.heat, fire 4.lightning 5.like, similar to 6.a legendary/imaginary insect that is born and lives in fire
The fire of the beloved’s beauty is even more fierce than the fire of lightning. The poet/lover gets burnt up in that fire like a moth around a candle flame. Thus he cannot be called a ‘samandar’ – fire-insect.
7
mohabbat hai agar zulm1 to kyuN karte ho shikva2
gar3 Khud hi sitam4 chaaho sar5-e mahshar6 na kaha jaaye 1.cruelty 2.complaint 3.if 4.torture 5.openly 6.doomsday
It is generally believed that all humanity will be presented before god on doomsday. They will be asked to give an account of their deeds. urdu poetic convention also suggests that at that time poets/lovers will narrate the toruture that they suffered at the hands of the beloved. But here Ghalib says … love itself is torture, so why complain. If you yourselves have desired this love/torture then how can you openly complain on doomsday.
8
seene meN chhupa raaz1 tere v’aaz2 nahiN hai
sar3-e daar4 hai jo kahna, sar-e mimbar5 na kaha jaaye 1.secret, mystery 2.sermon, conventional preaching 3.at the head/top of 4.gallows, hangman’s platform 5.pulpit
This has an oblique reference to mansoor, who is used as a symbol of defiance in urdu poetry. mansoor was sentenced to death for heresy and offered a chance to retract and save his life. He refused and was killed. Thus, the mystery in your heart is not a conventional sermon. It can only be declared from the top of the gallows not from the pulpit. Ghalib shows disdain for conventional belief systems.
9
paagal se paRa vaasta1 ab jo hai hamaara
momin2 na sahi Ghalib use kaafir3 na kaha jaaye 1.dealings, association 2.virtuous, conventional believer 3.non-believer
We are having to deal/associate with a mad man. Ghalib may not be a conventional believer and he cannot be called a sinner.
mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869), bard par excellence, thought that his faarsi kalaam was much superior to his urdu verse. This is one of his faarsi Ghazal, rendered as an urdu Ghazal maintaining its own radeef and qaafiya.
1
haaN dil to churaaya hai magar us ko dilbar1 na kaha jaaye
saaf zaahir2 haiN sitam3 us ke par us ko sitamgar4 na kaha jaaye
1.literally heart-stealer, beloved 2.apparent 3.cruelty 4.torturer
Yes, it is true that she has stolen my heart but she cannot be called a heart-stealer. This can be for any number of reasons – she does not permit it, the poet/lover cannot bring himself to accuse her or societal convention does not allow it. Her cruelty is clearly apparent, but she cannot be called a torturer.
2
razm-gaah1 meN us ki tiir o tabar2 se na chale kaam
bazm3 meN aaNkhoN se piyo, un ko saaGhar4 na kaha jaaye
1.battlefield 2.hatchet 3.gathering 4.cup, goblet
The beloved conquers her admirers. Thus, it is a battlefield in which she operates. But in this battlefield there is no use of weapons … arrows or hatchets (she conquers with her looks). In her gathering, you can drink (get inebriated) by the intoxication of her eyes, but they cannot be called goblets. There is an urdu she’r of Ghalib …
us saadagi pe kaun na mar jaaye aye Khuda
laRte haiN aur haath meN talvaar bhi nahiN
3
dar-asl1 kalaai2 bhi aur gardan bhi daraKhshaaN3 hai
kaNgan o gulu-band chamkte hue gauhar4 na kaha jaaye
1.in reality 2.wrist 3.shining, brilliant 4.jewels
In reality it is her wrists and neck that shine and glow. You cannot say that it is the brilliance of the jewelry in her bangles and necklace.
4
nazaroN se pilaata hai jo, saaqi vo nahiN hai
Khud-taraasheeda1 jo but hai use aazar2 na kaha jaaye
1.self-sculpted 2.idol maker, father of ibrahim
She offers wine through her intoxicating eyes. She cannot be called a ‘saaqi’ who offers wine in cups. She adorns herself and gives herself the beautiful looks she has, like a self-sculpted idol. ‘aazar’ was a legendary idol carver, father of ibrahim who continued to make and worship idols even after his son declared a monotheistic, formless god. Although, she makes idols (in the sense that she adorns herself in different, intriguing styles), she cannot be called ‘aazar’.
5
hai husn1 ka jalva2 tapish3-e barq4 se bhi tez
jal jaaye jo parvaane ki suurat5 to samandar6 na kaha jaaye
1.beauty 2.face, manifestation 3.heat, fire 4.lightning 5.like, similar to 6.a legendary/imaginary insect that is born and lives in fire
The fire of the beloved’s beauty is even more fierce than the fire of lightning. The poet/lover gets burnt up in that fire like a moth around a candle flame. Thus he cannot be called a ‘samandar’ – fire-insect.
6
mohabbat hai agar zulm1 to kyuN karte ho shikva2
gar3 Khud hi sitam4 chaaho sar5-e mahshar6 na kaha jaaye
1.cruelty 2.complaint 3.if 4.torture 5.openly 6.doomsday
It is generally believed that all humanity will be presented before god on doomsday. They will be asked to give an account of their deeds. urdu poetic convention also suggests that at that time poets/lovers will narrate the toruture that they suffered at the hands of the beloved. But here Ghalib says … love itself is torture, so why complain. If you yourselves have desired this love/torture then how can you openly complain on doomsday.
7
garm1-e ravish2 huN, nay3 aab4 na saaya5 mujhe darkaar6
mujh se tuuba7 ki kahaani, afsaana8-e kausar9 na kaha jaaye
1.enthusiastically engaged in 2.journeying, walking 3.neither 4.water, river 5.shade 6.necessary 7.legendary fruit bearing, shade-tree in heaven 8.legend 9.legendary river in heaven
I am busy on my journey towards my goal, I cannot, do not need to rest in the shade or by the water/river. Don’t tell me stories of the tuuba or legends of kausar i.e. these are mere fiction, my goal is beyond all this. I want to keep going. There is another urdu she’r of Ghalib …
manzar ek balandi par aur hum banaa sakte
arsh se pare hota kaashke makaaN apna
8
seene meN chhupa raaz1 tere v’aaz2 nahiN hai
sar3-e daar4 hai jo kahna, sar-e mimbar5 na kaha jaaye
1.secret, mystery 2.sermon, conventional preaching 3.at the head/top of 4.gallows, hangman’s platform 5.pulpit
This has an oblique reference to mansoor, who is used as a symbol of defiance in urdu poetry. mansoor was sentenced to death for heresy and offered a chance to retract and save his life. He refused and was killed. Thus, the mystery in your heart is not a conventional sermon. It can only be declared from the top of the gallows not from the pulpit. Ghalib shows disdain for conventional belief systems.
9
paagal se paRa vaasta1 ab jo hai hamaara
momin2 na sahi Ghalib use kaafir3 na kaha jaaye
1.dealings, association 2.virtuous, conventional believer 3.non-believer
We are having to deal/associate with a mad man. Ghalib may not be a conventional believer and he cannot be called a sinner.
Key Search Words:
Very deep and even with translation needs many hearings to really understand.
Well recited in both languages.
Thanks