nazar-e inteKhaab meN – muztar Khairabadi

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

نظَرِ اِنتخاب میں ۔ مضطرؔ خیرآبادی

۱

کھولی جو میں نے آنکھ سرورِ شراب میں

ساقی سما گیا نظَرِ انتخاب میں

۲

مدہوش ہی رہا میں جہانِ خراب میں

گُوندھی گئی تھی کیا مری مٹّی شراب میں

۳

توبہ کو مانگتا ہوں سرورِ شراب میں

ساغر لئے کھڑا ہوں خدا کی جناب میں

۴

اے موجِ عشق دل کو عطا کر مذاقِ مے

ایسی ہوا نہ بھر جو بھری تھی حباب میں

۵

ساقی کے غم میں اشک بھی ضائع نہیں کئے

آنسو ملا ملا کے پئے ہیں شراب میں

۶

مضطرؔ زمانِ رفتن و ذوقِ شرابِ ناب

اب آؤ جتنی پینی تھی پی لی شباب میں

नज़र-ए इंतेख़ाब में – मुज़्तर ख़ैराबादी

खोली जो मैं ने आंख सुरूर-ए शराब में

साक़ी समा गया नज़र-ए इंतेख़ाब में

मदहोश हि रहा मैं जहान-ए ख़राब में

गूंधी गई थी क्या मेरी मिट्टी शराब में

तौबा को मांगता हूं सुरूर-ए शराब में

साग़र लिये खढा हूं ख़ुदा की जनाब में

अए मौज-ए इश्क़ दिल को अता कर मज़ाक़-ए मय

ऐसी हवा न भर जो भरी थी हबाब में

साक़ी के ग़म में अश्क भी ज़ा’ये नहीं किये

आंसू मिला मिला के पिये हैं शराब में

मुज़्तर ज़मान-ए रफ़्तन ओ ज़ौक़-ए शराब-ए नाब

अब आओ जितनी पीनी थी पी ली शबाब में

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ifteKhaar hussain muztar Khairabaadi (1865-1927) grandson of fazl-e haq Khairabadi poet and freedom fighter of the 1857 rebellion and the grandfather of jaaved aKhtar. Considering the lifespan of the poet and dates associated with Ghalib’s history and legacy I place this Ghazal, written in the zamin of Ghalib, probably as a tribute to him, to observe 50 years of his demise, 1919.
1
kholi jo maiN ne aaNkh suroor1-e sharaab meN
saaqi samaa2 gaya nazar3-e inteKhaab4 meN  
1.ecstasy 2.overwhelm 3.sight 4.selection
The poet/lover is intoxicated and, in this ecstasy, has opened his eyes. Before him is the saaqi and seeing her his sense of selection/choice is overwhelmed by her presence.

2
mad’hosh1 hi rahaa maiN jahaan-e-Kharaab2 meN
goondhi3 gayii thi kya meri miTTi sharaab meN   
1.intoxicated, in a trance 2.material world 3.knead (as in kneading dough)
All my life in this material world I have spent intoxicated/in a trance (this could also imply, I have been enamoured by the material attractions of this world). Because of this he wonders if the clay he was made of, was kneeded using wine rather than water.

3
tauba1 ko maaNgta huN suroor2-e sharaab meN
saaGhar3 liye khaRa huN Khuda ki janaab4 meN   
1.used here to mean reward in forgiveness 2.ecstasy 3.cup (of wine) 4.presence, service
Normally, drinking wine is considered a transgression against the commandment of god. But look at me, I am standing the presence of god, in the ecstasy of wine, holding an empty cup of wine in my hand, asking for forgiveness/reward i.e. asking for more wine.

4
aye mauj1-e ishq dil ko ata2 kar mazaaq3-e mai4
aisi hava na bhar jo bhari thi habaab5 meN   
1.wave 2.grant 3.(refined) taste 4.wine 5.bubble
The air that is filled in the bubble, bursts it. The poet does not want such a filling. What he wants is for his heart to be granted the “real” refined taste fo wine. And he is asking the “wave of Love” to grant him this refined taste. Thus all along, he is talking about the wine of devotion to god not egotistical filling of a bubble.

5
saaqi ke Gham meN ashk1 bhi zaa’ye2 nahiN kiye
aaNsu mila mila ke piye haiN sharaab meN   
1.tears 2.waste
The poet/lover is sorrowful in separation from the saaqi/beloved. But he does not let these tears of mourning to go to waste. They are mixed with wine as he drinks. Thus, tears of regret or tears of longing (praying for union with god) are a valuable thing.

6
muztar1 zamaan-e-raftan2 o zauq3-e sharaab-e naab4
ab aao jitni piini thi pii li shabaab5 meN    
1.pen name of the poet 2.past times 3.pure, strong 5.youth
O, muztar, your past life (of debauchery) and taste for strong wine is gone. Come now, you have had enough drinking in your youth. This is a call for a return to the straight path.

ifteKhaar hussain muztar Khairabaadi (1865-1927) grandson of fazl-e haq Khairabadi poet and freedom fighter of the 1857 rebellion and the grandfather of jaaved aKhtar. Considering the lifespan of the poet and dates associated with Ghalib’s history and legacy I place this Ghazal, written in the zamin of Ghalib, probably as a tribute to him, to observe 50 years of his demise, 1919.
1
kholi jo maiN ne aaNkh suroor1-e sharaab meN
saaqi samaa2 gaya nazar3-e inteKhaab4 meN

1.ecstasy 2.overwhelm 3.sight 4.selection

The poet/lover is intoxicated and, in this ecstasy, has opened his eyes.  Before him is the saaqi and seeing her his sense of selection/choice is overwhelmed by her presence.
2
mad’hosh1 hi rahaa maiN jahaan-e-Kharaab2 meN
goondhi3 gayii thi kya meri miTTi sharaab meN

1.intoxicated, in a trance 2.material world 3.knead (as in kneading dough)

All my life in this material world I have spent intoxicated/in a trance (this could also imply, I have been enamoured by the material attractions of this world).  Because of this he wonders if the clay he was made of, was kneeded using wine rather than water (as was done for other humans).
3
tauba1 ko maaNgta huN suroor2-e sharaab meN
saaGhar3 liye khaRa huN Khuda ki janaab4 meN

1.used here to mean reward in forgiveness 2.ecstasy 3.cup (of wine) 4.presence, service

Normally, drinking wine is considered a transgression against the commandment of god.  But look at me, I am standing the presence of god, in the ecstasy of wine, holding an empty cup of wine in my hand, asking for forgiveness/reward i.e. asking for more wine.
4
aye mauj1-e ishq dil ko ata2 kar mazaaq3-e mai4
aisi hava na bhar jo bhari thi habaab5 meN

1.wave 2.grant 3.(refined) taste 4.wine 5.bubble

The air that is filled in the bubble, bursts it.  The poet does not want such a filling.  What he wants is for his heart to be granted the “real” refined taste fo wine.  And he is asking the “wave of Love” to grant him this refined taste.  Thus, all along, he is talking about the wine of devotion to god not egotistical filling of a bubble.
5
saaqi ke Gham meN ashk1 bhi zaa’ye2 nahiN kiye
aaNsu mila mila ke piye haiN sharaab meN

1.tears 2.waste

The poet/lover is sorrowful in separation from the saaqi/beloved.  But he does not let these tears of mourning to go to waste.  They are mixed with wine as he drinks.  Thus, tears of regret or tears of longing (praying for union with god) are a valuable thing.
6
muztar1 zamaan-e-raftan2 o zauq3-e sharaab-e naab4
ab aao jitni piini thi pii li shabaab5 meN

1.pen name of the poet 2.past times 3.pure, strong 5.youth

O, muztar, your past life (of debauchery) and taste for strong wine is gone.  Come now, you have had enough drinking in your youth.  This is a call for a return to the straight path.