For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
dilrus beig
نظر سے پہلے ۔ جگر مرادآبادی
۱
یہ راز ہم پر ہوا نہ اِفشا کسی کی خاص اِک نظر سے پہلے
کہ تھی ہماری ہی کم نگاہی، ہمیں تھے کچھ بے خبر سے پہلے
۲
مری طرف سے یہ کوئی کہہ دے مُجاہدِ بے خبر سے پہلے
صفائے قلب و نظر ہے لازم، جہادِ تیغ و تبر سے پہلے
۳
یہ زندگی خاک زندگی تھی، گدازِ قلب و جگر سے پہلے
ہر ایک شے غیر معتبر تھی، ترے غمِ معتبر سے پہلے
۴
تجھے ہو سیرِ چمن مبارک، مگر یہ رازِ چمن بھی سُن لے
کلی کلی خون ہو چکی تھی، شگفتِ گُل ہائے تر سے پہلے
۵
کہاں کہاں اُڑ کے پہنچے شعلے، یہ ہوش کِس کو یہ کون جانے
ہمیں بس اِتنا ہے یاد اب تک، لگی تھی آگ اپنے گھر سے پہلے
۶
قفس کی نازک سی تیلیوں کی، بھی کچھ حقیقت ہے ہم صفیرو
مگر اُلجھنا پڑے گا شائد ،کچھ اپنے ہی بال و پر سے پہلے
۷
کہاں یہ شورش، کہاں یہ مستی، کہاں یہ رنگینیوں کا عالم
زمانہ خواب و خیال سا تھا، ترے فسونِ نظر سے پہلے
۸
خوشا یہ بیماریِ محبّت، زہے یہ خودداریِ طبیعت
وہی ہیں معروفِ دِل نوازی، وہی جو تھے بے خبر سے پہلے
۹
زمانہ مانے نہ مانے لیکن، ہمیں یہی ہے یقینِ کامل
جہاں اُٹھا کوئی تازہ فتنہ، اُٹھا تیری رہگزر سے پہلے
۱۰
اگر چہ ذوقِ نظارہ میں بھی، ہزار سرمستیاں بھری تھیں
مگر یہ بے باکیاں کہاں تھیں، ترے حجابِ نظر سے پہلے
۱۱
اُٹھا جو چہرے سے پردۂ شب، سِمٹ کے مرکز پہ آ گئے سب
تمام جلوہ جو منتشر تھے، طلوعِ حُسنِ بشر سے پہلے
۱۲
میری طبیعت کو حُسنِ فطرت، سے ربطِ باطن نہ جانے کیا ہے
میری نگاہیں کبھی نہ اُٹّھیں، طہارتِ چشمِ تر سے پہلے
۱۳
وہ یادِ آغازِ عشق اب تک، انیسِ جان و دِلِ حزیں ہے
وہ اِک جھجک سی، وہ اِک جھپک سی، ہر اِک اِلتفاتِ نظر سے پہلے
۱۴
ہمیں تھے کیا جُستجو کا حاصل، ہمیں تھے کیا آپ اپنی منزل
وہیں پہ آ کر ٹھہر گیا دِل، چلے تھے جِس رہگزر سے پہلے
۱۵
بس ایک دِل اور کیف و لذّت، بس ایک ہم اور جمالِ فطرت
یہ زندگی کِس قدر حسیں تھی، شعورِ فکر و نظر سے پہلے
۱۶
ہمارے شوقِ جنوں ادا کی، ستم ظریفی تو کوئی دیکھے
کہ نامہ بر کو روانہ کر کے، پہنچ گئے نامہ بر سے پہلے
۱۷
کہاں تھی روح میں یہ لطافت، کہاں تھی کونین میں یہ وسعت
حیات ہی سو رہی تھی جیسے، کسی کی پہلی نظر سے پہلے
۱۸
سفر تو اِک شرطِ جُستجو ہے، مگر جو ہے شرطِ ہمرہی بھی
مرے بہکنے میں ساتھ دے گا، یہ پوچھ لوں راہبر سے پہلے
۱۹
یہ ناز کیوں ہے، یہ نغمہ کیوں ہے، یہ آہ کیسی، یہ واہ کیسی
یہ پوچھ لے آئینے کے دِل سے، نہ پوچھ اپنے جگر سے پہلے
नज़र से पहले – जिगर मुरादाबादी
1
ये राज़ हम पर हुआ ना इफ़्शा, किसी की ख़ास एक नज़र से पहले
के थी हमारी ही कम निगाही, हमीं थे कुच्छ बे-ख़बर से पहले
2
मेरी तरफ़ से ये कोइ कह दे, मुजाहिद-ए बे-ख़बर से पहले
सफ़ा-ए क़ल्ब ओ नज़र है लाज़िम, जिहाद-ए तेग़ ओ तबर से पहले
3
ये ज़िंदगी ख़ाक ज़िंदगी थी, गुदाज़ क़ल्ब ओ जिगर से पहले
हर एक शै ग़ैर मो’तबर थी, तेरे ग़म-ए मो’तबर से पहले
4
तुझे हो सैर-ए चमन मुबारक, मगर ये राज़-ए चमन भी सुन ले
कली कली ख़ून हो चुकी थी, शगुफ़्त-ए गुल-हा-ए तर से पहले
5
कहां कहां उड़ के पहुंचे शोले, ये होश किस को ये कौन जाने
हमें बस इतना है याद अब तक, लगी थी आग अपने घर से पहले
6
क़फ़स की नाज़ुक से तीलियों की, भी कुच्छ हक़ीक़त है हम-सफ़ीरो
मगर उलझना पड़ेगा शाएद, कुच्छ अपने ही बाल ओ पर से पहले
7
कहां यह शोरिश, कहां ये मस्ती, कहां ये रंगीनियों का आलम
ज़माना ख्व़ाब ओ ख़याल सा था, तेरे फ़ुसून-ए नज़र से पहले
8
ख़ुशा ये बीमारी-ए मोहब्बत, ज़हे ये ख़ुद-दारी-ए तबी’यत
वही हैं म’अरूफ़-ए दिल-नवाज़ी, वही जो थे बे-ख़बर से पहले
9
ज़माना माने ना माने लैकिन, हमें यही है यक़ीन-ए कामिल
जहां उठा कोइ ताज़ा फ़ित्ना, उठा तेरी रहगुज़र से पहले
10
अगरचे ज़ौक़-ए नज़ारा में भी, हज़ार सरमस्तियां भरी थीं
मगर ये बे-बेबाकियां कहां थीं, तेरे हिजाब-ए नज़र से पहले
11
उठा जो चेहरे से परदा-ए शब, सिमट के मरकज़ पे आ गये सब
तमाम जलवे जो मुंतशीर थे, तुलु-ए हुसन-ए बशर से पहले
12
मेरी तबी’यत को हुसन-ए फ़ितरत, से रब्त-ए बातिन ना जाने क्या है
मेरी निग़ाहें कभी ना उट्ठीं, तहारत-ए चश्म-ए तर से पहले
13
वो याद-ए आग़ाज़-ए इश्क़ अब तक, अनीस-ए जान ओ दिल-ए हज़ीं है
वो एक झिजक सी, वो एक झपक सी, हर एक इल्तेफ़ात-ए नज़र से पहले
14
हमीं थे क्या जुस्तजू का हासिल, हमी थे क्या आप अपनी मंज़िल
वहीं पे आ कर ठहर गया दिल, चले थे जिस रहगुज़र से पहले
15
बस एक दिल और कैफ़ ओ लज़्ज़त, बस एक हम और जमाल-ए फ़ितरत
ये ज़िंदगी किस क़दर हंसीं थी, श’ऊर-ए फ़िक्र ओ नज़र से पहले
16
हमारे शौक़-ए जुनूं-अदा की, सितम ज़रीफ़ी तो कोइ देखे
के नामा-बर को रवाना कर के, पहुंच गये नामा-बर से पहले
17
कहां थी रूह में लताफ़त, कहां थी कौनेन में ये वुस’अत
हयात ही सो रही थी जैसे, किसी की पहली नज़र से पहले
18
सफ़र तो एक शर्त-ए जुस्तजू है, मगर जो है शर्त-ए हमरही भी
मेरे बहकने में साथ दे गा, ये पूछ लूं राहबर से पहले
19
ये नाज़ क्यूँ है, यह नग़मा क्यूं है, ये आह कैसी, ये वाह कैसी
ये पूछ ले आइने के दिल से, ना पूछ अपने जिगर से पहले
Click here for overall comments and on any she’r for word meanings and discussion. jigar muradabadi (1890-1961) was a profilic poet of sufiyaana, romantic and musical Ghazal. Many of his compositions have been put to music and sung by great singers. This Ghazal was first suggested/sent by dilrus beig who has made many other contributions to urdushahkar. She came across it in her personal collection resulting from jigar muradabadi’s visits to her parental home as she was growing up. Later I found a print version which was somewhat longer but did not have two beautiful asha’ar which her personal collection had. I have included those too. Thus, this is a unique full version – a combination of print and personal collections, thanks to dilrus beig.
1
yeh raaz1 hum par hua na ifsha2 kisi ki Khaas3 ek nazar4 se pahle
keh thi hamaari hi kam-nigaahi5, hamiN the kuchh be-Khabar6 se pahle1.secret, puzzle 2.disclosed, revealed 3.special 4.glance 5.inability to see/understand 6.unaware, insensitive
The beloved sent a glance towards the poet/lover. Before this glance he was somewhat unaware of his own feelings. The glance revealed the secret of love to him and showed him that it was his limited vision that prevented him from experiencing the passion of love. At another level this seems to have sufi undertones. If the beloved is replaced by god … then god glancing at the poet/sufi, showing some aspect of his love – and the ‘secret’ is revealed.
2
meri taraf se ye koii kah de, mujaahid1-e be-Khabar2 se pahle
safa3-e qalb4 o nazar5 hai laazim6, jihaad7-e teGh-o-tabar8 se pahle1.one who struggles, wages ‘holy’ war 2.unaware, ignorant 3.purification 4.heart 5.point of view used here to mean soul 6.necessary, required 7.struggle, ‘holy’ war 8.sword and mace
jigar implies that the all too willing fighter of the ‘holy war’ is not aware that he needs to stop and purify his own heart and soul before engaging in a war with weapons. If he were to do that he would find (sufi) love.
3
yeh zindagi Khaak1 zindagi thi, gudaaz2 qalb-o-jigar3 se pahle
har ek shai4 Ghair-mo’tabar5 thi, tere Gham6-e mo’tabar7 se pahle1.dust, useless 2.dissolved, melted, soft 3.heart and liver, feelings 4.thing 5.without credibility 6.pain 7.credible
The poet/lover values that reliability/stability of the pain of love (the beloved always gives pain). Nothing was dependable before he acquired this pain. His life was useless until after his “heart and liver” melted with love.
4
tujhe ho sair1-e chaman mubarak, magar yeh raaz2-e chaman bhi sun le
kali kali Khoon ho chuki thi, shaguft3-e gul-haa4-e tar5 se pahle1.walk, saunter 2.secret of 3.blossoming 4.flowers 5.moist, fresh
The beloved (or someone else) is walking through the garden enjoying looking at fresh flowers in bloom. But a lot went into getting flowers to bloom. That is the secret of the garden. Every bud gave up its blood/life before flowers could bloom. There is a lot of pain hidden behind every pleasure.
5
kahaaN kahaaN uR ke pahuNche shole1, yeh hosh2 kis ko, ye kaun jaane
hameN bus itna hai yaad ab tak, lagi thi aag apne ghar se pahle1.flames 2.awareness
The fire has spread. No one knows how far the flames will travel. All that the poet remembers is the first thing to catch fire was his home … in other words he is the most unfortunate of them all.
6
qafas1 ki naazuk2 si teeliyauN3 ki, bhi kuchh haqiqat4 hai hum-safeero5
magar ulajhna6 paRega shaaed7, kuchh apne hi baal-o-par8 se pahle1.cage 2.delicate 3.bars 4.reality, truth 5.friends 6.tangle with, deal with 7.perhaps 8.feathers and wings
The poet is like a caged bird. In order to seek his freedom he has to break through the bars of the cage. The bars are not very strong (they are delicate) and he may be able to break through. But he discovers that his own feathers and wings are not strong enough for flight/escape. Thus, he will have to deal with his own inabilities first.
7
kahaaN yeh shorish1, kahaaN yeh masti2, kahaaN ye raNginiyauN ka aalam3
zamaana Khwaab-o-Khyaal4 sa tha, tere fusoon5-e nazar6 se pahle1.restlessness, eagerness 2.intoxication (of love) 3.colourful status 4.dream and imagination 5.enchantment 6.glance
The beloved has cast an enchanting glance at the poet/lover. Before this glance, the poet lover was not in this state of eagerness, intoxication of love, colourful thoughts. Life was rather bland.
8
Khusha1 yeh beemaari-e-mohabbat2, zahe3 yeh Khud-daari4-e tabi’yat5
vahi haiN ma’aroof6-e dil-navaazi7, vahi jo the be-Khabar8 se pahle1.blessed 2.pain of love 3.congratulations 4.self-respect 5.nature, character 6.knowledgeable of 7.love 8.not aware (of self), in a trance (sufi concept)
The poet/lover considers the pain of love to be a blessing. His self-respect enables him to bear the pain with subtle or no exhibition of distress. Only they know/understand (selfless) love, who have lost themselves and become one with the beloved (sufi trance).
9
zamaana maane na maane laikin, hameN yahi hai yaqin-e-kaamil1
jahaaN uTha koii taaza2 fitna3, uTha teri rahguzar4 se pahle1.complete/strong belief 2.fresh/new 3.mischief 4.path
The beloved has a favourite path. Anticipating her walk on this path all lovers throng on it to a catch a sight of her. The poet lover is convinced, whether anyone else believes it or not, that all mischief starts here – either because of the rivalry among her many lovers or because she has started something.
10
agarche1 zauq2-e nazaara3 meN bhi, hazaar sarmastiyaaN4 bhari thiiN
magar ye be-baakiyaaN5 kahaaN thiiN, tere hijaab6-e nazar se pahle1.even though 2.taste for, desire of 3.sighting (of the beloved) 4.intoxication, joy 5.daring 6.curtain, hiding
The beloved has withdrawn into seclusion. This has increased the poet/lover’s eagerness. Even though he had a great desire to see her, and was even intoxicated with this idea, he did not have the same daring that he now has, now that she is behind a curtain.
11
uTha jo chehre1 se parda-e-shab2, simaT3 ke markaz4 pe aa gaye sub
tamaam5 jalve6 jo muntashir7 the, tulu8-e husn9-e bashar10 se pahle1.face 2.curtain of night/darkness 3.gathered, congealed 4.focus 5.all 6.manifestations 7.scattered 8.dawn, emergence 9.beauty of 10.humans
Before humans were created all manifestations of god were scattered. But when humans emerged, the curtain of darkness was lifted and all manifestations of god congealed into a single focus. My editorial comment is that humans put themselves in the centre/epitome of all universe/creation … “dil ke bahlaane ko Ghalib yeh Khyaal achha hai”.
12
meri tabi’yat1 ko husn-e-fitrat2, se rabt-e-baatin3 na jaane kya hai
meri nigaaheN kabhi na uTThiiN, tahaarat4-e chashm-e-tar5 se pahle1.nature/character 2.beauty of nature/creation, creator, god 3.inner/hidden connection 4.ablution, ritual purification 5.tearful eye
Before offering prayers, ritual cleansing, ablutions are necessary. To lift his eyes and look at the beloved (or creator) is akin to offering prayers! The poet/lover claims an inner connection with the beauty of creation (could this be god or possibly the beloved). This inner connection made him keenly aware of the requirement to cleanse himself. His weeping/wet eyes were the ritual cleansing before he raised them to see her.
13
vo yaad1-e aaGhaaz2-e ishq3 ab tak, anis4-e jaan o dil-e haziN5 hai
vo ek jhijak6 si, vo ek jhapak7 si, har ek iltefaat8-e nazar9 se pahle1.memory of 2.beginning of 3.love 4.companion, friend 5.sorrowful 6.hesitation 7.wink, instant 8.favour, attention 9.glance
When the poet/lover first saw the beloved, he saw a slight hesitation/coyness, a momentary sight, a favour of a glance. All these are sweet memories of the beginning of love. These sweet memories are constant companions of his life and his sorrowful heart.
14
hamiN the kya justaju1 ka haasil2, hamiN the kya aap apni manzil
vahiN pe aa kar Thahr gaya dil, chale the jis rahguzar3 se pahle1.effort 2.product, result, essence 3.path
This has sufi undertones. Humans have been searching for god. But it turns out that god is inside us … so we ourselves were the essence of our search, we ourselves were our goal. The heart went all around and came back to where it started from.
15
bus ek dil aur kaif-o-lazzat1, bus ek hum aur jamaal-e fitrat2
yeh zindagi kis qadar hasiN thi, sha’oor3-e fikr4 o nazar5 se pahle1.pleasure and delight 2.beauty of nature 3.consiousness, discretion 4.reason 5.ability to see/distinguish
The poet/lover does not want to deal with reason and thought, does not want to be burdened with the process of distinguishing between true and untrue. He would rather deal with instinct, the beauty of nature and derive pleasure from that thought. Life was simple and beautiful then.
16
hamaare shauq1-e junuN-ada2 ki, sitam-zareefi3 to koii dekhe
keh naama-bar4 ko ravaana5 kar ke, pahuNch gaye naama-bar se pahle1.desire of, taste for 2.passion creating 3.cruelty masquerading as pleasantry, irony 4.messenger 5.dispatch
The poet/lover is eager and passionate. The irony is that he dispatches a messenger to the beloved but then gets so eager that he himself show up at her door before the messenger.
17
kahaaN thi yeh rooh1 meN lataafat2, kahaaN thi kaunen3 meN ye vus’at4
hayaat5 hi so rahi thi jaise, kisi ki pahli nazar se pahle1.soul 2.elegance 3.two worlds – here and hereafter 4.expanse 5.life
The beloved cast her first glance at the poet/lover and it completely changed his life. Before this there was not that elegance of the soul, the feeling of vastness of creation. It was as if life was asleep.
18
safar1 to ek shart-e-justaju2 hai, magar jo hai shart-e-hamrahi3 bhi
mere bahakne4 meN saath de ga, yeh pooch luN raahbar5 se pahle1.journey 2.requirement of effort 3.requirement of companionship 4.wander/stumble/get intoxicated 5.guide
The poet/lover is on a journey and realizes that effort is required. But he also thinks that companionship is a condition in undertaking the journey. He wants to ask his guide if he will be with him if he goes astray (or gets drunk).
19
yeh naaz1 kyuN hai, yeh naGhma kyuN hai, yeh aah2 kaisi, yeh vaah3 kaisi
yeh poochh le aaiine ke dil se, na poochh apne jigar se pahle 1.conceit, pride 2.sigh, sorrow 3.praise, happiness
Here ‘dil’ – heart is used as the centre of emotions/love and ‘jigar’ – liver is used as the centre of life. Why get entangled in all these ‘other’ emotions associated with conceit, song/merriment, sigh/sorrow, praise/pleasure. Just look into your own heart (to see the primacy of the emotion of love), do not worry about the other aspects of (jigar) life.
jigar muradabadi (1890-1961) was a profilic poet of sufiyaana, romantic and musical Ghazal. Many of his compositions have been put to music and sung by great singers. This Ghazal was first suggested/sent by dilrus beig who has made many other contributions to urdushahkar. She came across it in her personal collection resulting from jigar muradabadi’s visits to her parental home as she was growing up. Later I found a print version which was somewhat longer but did not have two beautiful asha’ar which her personal collection had. I have included those too. Thus, this is a unique full version – a combination of print and personal collections, thanks to dilrus beig.
1
yeh raaz1 hum par hua na ifsha2 kisi ki Khaas3 ek nazar4 se pahle
keh thi hamaari hi kam-nigaahi5, hamiN the kuchh be-Khabar6 se pahle
1.secret, puzzle 2.disclosed, revealed 3.special 4.glance 5.inability to see/understand 6.unaware, insensitive
The beloved sent a glance towards the poet/lover. Before this glance he was somewhat unaware of his own feelings. The glance revealed the secret of love to him and showed him that it was his limited vision that prevented him from experiencing the passion of love. At another level this seems to have sufi undertones. If the beloved is replaced by god … then god glancing at the poet/sufi, showing some aspect of his love – and the ‘secret’ is revealed.
2
meri taraf se ye koii kah de, mujaahid1-e be-Khabar2 se pahle
safa3-e qalb4 o nazar5 hai laazim6, jihaad7-e teGh-o-tabar8 se pahle
1.one who struggles, wages ‘holy’ war 2.unaware, ignorant 3.purification 4.heart 5.point of view used here to mean soul 6.necessary, required 7.struggle, ‘holy’ war 8.sword and mace
jigar implies that the all too willing fighter of the ‘holy war’ is not aware that he needs to stop and purify his own heart and soul before engaging in a war with weapons. If he were to do that he would find (sufi) love.
3
yeh zindagi Khaak1 zindagi thi, gudaaz2 qalb-o-jigar3 se pahle
har ek shai4 Ghair-mo’tabar5 thi, tere Gham6-e mo’tabar7 se pahle
1.dust, useless 2.dissolved, melted, soft 3.heart and liver, feelings 4.thing 5.without credibility 6.pain 7.credible
The poet/lover values that reliability/stability of the pain of love (the beloved always gives pain). Nothing was dependable before he acquired this pain. His life was useless until after his “heart and liver” melted with love.
4
tujhe ho sair1-e chaman mubarak, magar yeh raaz2-e chaman bhi sun le
kali kali Khoon ho chuki thi, shaguft3-e gul-haa4-e tar5 se pahle
1.walk, saunter 2.secret of 3.blossoming 4.flowers 5.moist, fresh
The beloved (or someone else) is walking through the garden enjoying looking at fresh flowers in bloom. But a lot went into getting flowers to bloom. That is the secret of the garden. Every bud gave up its blood/life before flowers could bloom. There is a lot of pain hidden behind every pleasure.
5
kahaaN kahaaN uR ke pahuNche shole1, yeh hosh2 kis ko, ye kaun jaane
hameN bus itna hai yaad ab tak, lagi thi aag apne ghar se pahle
1.flames 2.awareness
The fire has spread. No one knows how far the flames will travel. All that the poet remembers is the first thing to catch fire was his home … in other words he is the most unfortunate of them all.
6
qafas1 ki naazuk2 si teeliyauN3 ki, bhi kuchh haqiqat4 hai hum-safeero5
magar ulajhna6 paRega shaaed7, kuchh apne hi baal-o-par8 se pahle
1.cage 2.delicate 3.bars 4.reality, truth 5.friends 6.tangle with, deal with 7.perhaps 8.feathers and wings
The poet is like a caged bird. In order to seek his freedom he has to break through the bars of the cage. The bars are not very strong (they are delicate) and he may be able to break through. But he discovers that his own feathers and wings are not strong enough for flight/escape. Thus, he will have to deal with his own inabilities first.
7
kahaaN yeh shorish1, kahaaN yeh masti2, kahaaN ye raNginiyauN ka aalam3
zamaana Khwaab-o-Khyaal4 sa tha, tere fusoon5-e nazar6 se pahle
1.restlessness, eagerness 2.intoxication (of love) 3.colourful status 4.dream and imagination 5.enchantment 6.glance
The beloved has cast an enchanting glance at the poet/lover. Before this glance, the poet lover was not in this state of eagerness, intoxication of love, colourful thoughts. Life was rather bland.
8
Khusha1 yeh beemaari-e-mohabbat2, zahe3 yeh Khud-daari4-e tabi’yat5
vahi haiN ma’aroof6-e dil-navaazi7, vahi jo the be-Khabar8 se pahle
1.blessed 2.pain of love 3.congratulations 4.self-respect 5.nature, character 6.knowledgeable of 7.love 8.not aware (of self), in a trance (sufi concept)
The poet/lover considers the pain of love to be a blessing. His self-respect enables him to bear the pain with subtle or no exhibition of distress. Only they know/understand (selfless) love, who have lost themselves and become one with the beloved (sufi trance).
9
zamaana maane na maane laikin, hameN yahi hai yaqin-e-kaamil1
jahaaN uTha koii taaza2 fitna3, uTha teri rahguzar4 se pahle
1.complete/strong belief 2.fresh/new 3.mischief 4.path
The beloved has a favourite path. Anticipating her walk on this path all lovers throng on it to a catch a sight of her. The poet lover is convinced, whether anyone else believes it or not, that all mischief starts here – either because of the rivalry among her many lovers or because she has started something.
10
agarche1 zauq2-e nazaara3 meN bhi, hazaar sarmastiyaaN4 bhari thiiN
magar ye be-baakiyaaN5 kahaaN thiiN, tere hijaab6-e nazar se pahle
1.even though 2.taste for, desire of 3.sighting (of the beloved) 4.intoxication, joy 5.daring 6.curtain, hiding
The beloved has withdrawn into seclusion. This has increased the poet/lover’s eagerness. Even though he had a great desire to see her, and was even intoxicated with this idea, he did not have the same daring that he now has, now that she is behind a curtain.
11
uTha jo chehre1 se parda-e-shab2, simaT3 ke markaz4 pe aa gaye sub
tamaam5 jalve6 jo muntashir7 the, tulu8-e husn9-e bashar10 se pahle
1.face 2.curtain of night/darkness 3.gathered, congealed 4.focus 5.all 6.manifestations 7.scattered 8.dawn, emergence 9.beauty of 10.humans
Before humans were created all manifestations of god were scattered. But when humans emerged, the curtain of darkness was lifted and all manifestations of god congealed into a single focus. My editorial comment is that humans put themselves in the centre/epitome of all universe/creation … “dil ke bahlaane ko Ghalib yeh Khyaal achha hai”.
12
meri tabi’yat1 ko husn-e-fitrat2, se rabt-e-baatin3 na jaane kya hai
meri nigaaheN kabhi na uTThiiN, tahaarat4-e chashm-e-tar5 se pahle
1.nature/character 2.beauty of nature/creation, creator, god 3.inner/hidden connection 4.ablution, ritual purification 5.tearful eye
Before offering prayers, ritual cleansing, ablutions are necessary. To lift his eyes and look at the beloved (or creator) is akin to offering prayers! The poet/lover claims an inner connection with the beauty of creation (could this be god or possibly the beloved). This inner connection made him keenly aware of the requirement to cleanse himself. His weeping/wet eyes were the ritual cleansing before he raised them to see her.
13
vo yaad1-e aaGhaaz2-e ishq3 ab tak, anis4-e jaan o dil-e haziN5 hai
vo ek jhijak6 si, vo ek jhapak7 si, har ek iltefaat8-e nazar9 se pahle
1.memory of 2.beginning of 3.love 4.companion, friend 5.sorrowful 6.hesitation 7.wink, instant 8.favour, attention 9.glance
When the poet/lover first saw the beloved, he saw a slight hesitation/coyness, a momentary sight, a favour of a glance. All these are sweet memories of the beginning of love. These sweet memories are constant companions of his life and his sorrowful heart.
14
hamiN the kya justaju1 ka haasil2, hamiN the kya aap apni manzil
vahiN pe aa kar Thahr gaya dil, chale the jis rahguzar3 se pahle
1.effort 2.product, result, essence 3.path
This has sufi undertones. Humans have been searching for god. But it turns out that god is inside us … so we ourselves were the essence of our search, we ourselves were our goal. The heart went all around and came back to where it started from.
15
bus ek dil aur kaif-o-lazzat1, bus ek hum aur jamaal-e fitrat2
yeh zindagi kis qadar hasiN thi, sha’oor3-e fikr4 o nazar5 se pahle
1.pleasure and delight 2.beauty of nature 3.consiousness, discretion 4.reason 5.ability to see/distinguish
The poet/lover does not want to deal with reason and thought, does not want to be burdened with the process of distinguishing between true and untrue. He would rather deal with instinct, the beauty of nature and derive pleasure from that thought. Life was simple and beautiful then.
16
hamaare shauq1-e junuN-ada2 ki, sitam-zareefi3 to koii dekhe
keh naama-bar4 ko ravaana5 kar ke, pahuNch gaye naama-bar se pahle
1.desire of, taste for 2.passion creating 3.cruelty masquerading as pleasantry, irony 4.messenger 5.dispatch
The poet/lover is eager and passionate. The irony is that he dispatches a messenger to the beloved but then gets so eager that he himself show up at her door before the messenger.
17
kahaaN thi yeh rooh1 meN lataafat2, kahaaN thi kaunen3 meN ye vus’at4
hayaat5 hi so rahi thi jaise, kisi ki pahli nazar se pahle
1.soul 2.elegance 3.two worlds – here and hereafter 4.expanse 5.life
The beloved cast her first glance at the poet/lover and it completely changed his life. Before this there was not that elegance of the soul, the feeling of vastness of creation. It was as if life was asleep.
18
safar1 to ek shart-e-justaju2 hai, magar jo hai shart-e-hamrahi3 bhi
mere bahakne4 meN saath de ga, yeh pooch luN raahbar5 se pahle
1.journey 2.requirement of effort 3.requirement of companionship 4.wander/stumble/get intoxicated 5.guide
The poet/lover is on a journey and realizes that effort is required. But he also thinks that companionship is a condition in undertaking the journey. He wants to ask his guide if he will be with him if he goes astray (or gets drunk).
19
yeh naaz1 kyuN hai, yeh naGhma kyuN hai, yeh aah2 kaisi, yeh vaah3 kaisi
yeh poochh le aaiine ke dil se, na poochh apne jigar se pahle
1.conceit, pride 2.sigh, sorrow 3.praise, happiness
Here ‘dil’ – heart is used as the centre of emotions/love and ‘jigar’ – liver is used as the centre of life. Why get entangled in all these ‘other’ emotions associated with conceit, song/merriment, sigh/sorrow, praise/pleasure. Just look into your own heart (to see the primacy of the emotion of love), do not worry about the other aspects of (jigar) life.
