For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
نذرِ غالب ۔ جگن ناتھ آزاد
۱
ثانی ترا پھر آ نہ سکے گا جہان میں
لوحِ جہاں پہ حرفِ مکرّر نہیں ہے تو
۲
تیرے ہی دم سے خاکِ وطن آسماں ہے آج
رُتبے میں مہر و ماہ سے کمتر نہیں ہے تو
۳
تیرا ہر ایک شعر ستاروں کا کارواں
کیا آسمان کے بھی برابر نہیں ہے تو
۴
نازاں ادب ہے تجھ پہ تفکّر کو تجھ پہ ناز
ہے فلسفی بھی، محض سخنور نہیں ہے تو
۵
ایماں کو جس سے بیر ہو مذہب کو جس سے ضد
بتخانۂ وطن کا وہ آذر نہیں ہے تو
۶
عالم ہے تیرے فکرِ نہاں کی تلاش میں
عرضِ متاعِ عقل و دِل و جاں کئے ہوئے
۷
دُنیا ہے تیرا شعر سمجھنے کے شوق میں
ایماں کو کُفر، کُفر کو ایماں کئے ہوئے
۸
تجھ کو عطا ہوئی تھی ازل سے وہ موجِ فِکر
گُذری جو دشت و در کو گلستاں کئے ہوئے
۹
عالم کے اہلِ فکر کہ تجھ تک پہنچ سکیں
ہیں اپنی بزمِ شوق چراغاں کئے ہوئے
۱۰
تیرا کلام آج بھی پڑھتے ہیں اہلِ دِل
جاں نذرِ دلفریبئی عنواں کئے ہوئے
۱۱
تیرے کلام نے یہ دیا شاعروں کو درس
ہر لمحہ تازہ فِکر نئی بات چاہئیے
۱۲
یہ کہہ رہا ہے تیرا قصیدہ ہے یا غزل
ہر رنگ میں بہار کا اثبات چاہئیے
۱۳
چاہے نشہ خودی کا ہو یا بے خودی کا ہو
عارف ہمیشہ مستِ مئے ذات چاہئیے
۱۴
دِل پھر ہیں بے قرار اُس آواز کے لئے
اک دور اپنے ساتھ جو لے کر گذر گئی
۱۵
وہ مثنوی کی ہے کہ قصیدے کی ہے ادا
جو بھی ادا ہے دل سے جگر تک اُتر گئی
۱۶
دم سے ترے غزل کا مقدّر چمک اُٹھا
تیرے طفیل نظم کی قسمت سنور گئی
۱۷
زندہ ہے تُجھ سے شیوۂ اہلِ نظر کا دور
گو آبروئے شیوۂ اہلِ نظر گئی
۱۸
باقی ہے آج بھی جو ہنر ہے تری عطا
یوں ورنہ قدر و قیمتِ فن و ہنر گئی
۱۹
قطرے میں دجلہ، جُزو میں کُل دیکھتی ہو جو
اِس دور میں وہ چشمِ حقیقت نگر گئی
۲۰
تیرے ادب کی بات کرے تجھ سے کون اب
کل تُو گیا کہ ہم پہ قیامت گذر گئی
۲۱
ہے ابتری کی نذر جہانِ سخن تمام
اُٹھئے بس اب کہ لذّتِ خوابِ سحر گئی
नज़्र-ए ग़ालिब – जगन्नाथ आज़ाद
१
सानी तेरा फिर आ न सकेगा जहान में
लौह-ए जहां पे हर्फ़-ए मुकर्रर नहीं है तू
२
तेरे ही दम से ख़ाक-ए वतन आस्मां है आज
रुत्बे में महर ओ माह से कम्तर नहीं है तू
३
तेरा हर एक शे’र सितारौं का कार्वां
क्या आस्मान के भी बराबर नहीं है तू
४
नाज़ां अदब है तुझ पे तफ़क्कुर को तुझ पे नाज़
है फ़ल्सफ़ी भी, महज़ सुख़न्वर नहीं है तू
५
ईमां को जिस से बैर हो मज़्हब को जिस से ज़िद्द
बुतख़ाना-ए वतन का वो आज़र नहीं है तू
६
आलम है तेरे फ़िक्र-ए नेहां की तलाश में
अर्ज़-ए मता’-ए अक़्ल ओ दिल ओ जां किये हुए
७
दुनिया है तेरा शे’र समझने के शौक़ में
ईमां को कुफ़्र, कुफ़्र को ईमां किये हुए
८
तुझ को अता हुई थी अज़ल से वो मौज-ए फ़िक्र
गुज़्री जो दश्त ओ दर को गुलिस्तां किये हुए
९
आलम के अहल-ए फ़िक्र के तुझ तक पहुंच सकें
हैं अपनी बज़्म-ए शौक़ चराग़ां किये हुए
१०
तेरा कलाम आज भी पढ़ते हैं अहल-ए दिल
जां नज़्र-ए दिल-फ़रेबी-ए उन्वां किये हुए
११
तेरे कलाम ने ये दिया शा’एरौं को दर्स
हर लम्हा ताज़ा फ़िक्र नई बात चाहिये
१२
ये कह रहा है तेरा क़सीदा है या ग़ज़ल
हर रंग में बहार का अस्बात चाहिये
१३
चाहे नशा ख़ुदी का हो या बेख़ुदी का हो
आरफ़ हमेशा मस्त-ए मय-ए ज़ात चाहिये
१४
दिल फिर हैं बेक़रार उस आवाज़ के लिये
एक दौर अपने साथ जो ले कर गुज़र गई
१५
वो मस्नवी कि है के क़सीदे कि है अदा
जो भी अदा है दिल से जिगर तक उतर गई
१६
दम से तेरे ग़ज़ल का मुक़द्दर चमक उठा
तेरे तुफ़ैल नज़्म की क़िस्मत संवर गई
१७
ज़िंदा है तुझ से शेवा-ए अहल-ए नज़र का दौर
गो आब्रू-ए शेवा-ए अहल-ए नज़र गई
१८
बाक़ी है आज भी जो हुनर, है तेरी अता
यूं वरना क़द्र ओ क़ीमत-ए फ़न ओ हुनर गई
१९
क़त्रे में दज्ला, जुज़्व में कुल देखती हो जो
इस दौर में वो चश्म-ए हक़ीक़त नगर गई
२०
तेरे अदब की बात करे तुझ से कौन अब
कल तू गया के हम पे क़यामत गुज़र गई
२१
है अब्तरी की नज़्र जहान-ए सुख़न तमाम
उठिये बस अब के लज़्ज़त-ए ख़्वाब-ए सहर गई
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. jagan nath azad (1918-2004), born in miyaaNvaali (now in pakistan) was the son of another great poet, tilok chand mahroom. He has written with much passion about hindu-muslim and India-pakistan accord. This is a great tribute to mirza Ghalib.
1
saani1 tera phir aa na sakega jahaan meN
lauh2-e jahaaN pe harf3-e mukarrar4 nahiN hai tu 1.copy, equal 2.page, record, history 3.word 4.repeated, unnecessary
There will not be another one like you in this world. On the page of history, you are not a reduntant word (this is borrowed from Ghalib’s own she’r).
2
tere hi dam5 se Khaak6-e vatan aasmaaN hai aaj
rutbe7 meN mahr8 o maah9 se kamtar10 nahiN hai tu 5.strength 6.dust 7.status, dignity 8.sun 9.moon 10.less than
It is because of your strength/dignity that the dust of the earth rises to the status of the sky. You are no less than the moon and stars in status.
3
tera har ek she’r sitaaroN ka kaarvaaN
kya aasmaan ke bhi baraabar nahiN hai tu Every couplet of yours is like a caravan of stars, a constellation. How can we not say that your status is as high as the sky/heaven.
4
naazaaN1 adab2 hai tujh pe tafakkur3 ko tujh pe naaz4
hai falsafi bhi, mahz5 suKhanvar6 nahiN hai tu 1.proud 2.literature 3.thought, reason 4.pride 5.only, merely 6.poet, wordsmith
Literature is proud of you, Reason takes pleasure. You are a philosopher as well, not merely a wordsmith.
5
eemaaN7 ko jis se bair8 ho mazhab9 ko jis se zidd10
butKhaana11-e vatan ka vo aazar12 nahiN hai tu 7.faith 8.conflict 9.religion 10.opposition 11.idol house 12.name of the father of ibrahim
This she’r has a reference to the story of aazar, the father of ibrahim who declared monotheism. aazar continued to be an idolater and idol-maker. In poetry he is used as a symbol of opposition to faith. Thus jagan nath aazad says that even though Ghalib made/crafted idols with his words, he is an idol-maker to whom faith and religion are not opposed.
6
aalam1 hai tere fikr2-e nihaaN3 ki talaash4 meN
arz5-e mataa6-e aql o dil o jaaN kiye hue 1.world 2.thought 3.hidden 4.search 5.petition, appeal 6.treasure
The world searches for the hidden/subtle meaning of your thought, by appealing to the treasure house of their mind, heart and soul.
7
duniya hai tera she’r samajhne ke shauq7 meN
eemaaN8 ko kufr9, kufr ko eemaaN kiye hue 7.desire 8.faith 9.non-faith, denial
The world desires to understand your she’r/couplet by mixing up faith and unfaith. This has reference to Ghalib’s wit in making fun of orthodoxy while still professing a higher/universal faith.
8
tujh ko ata1 hui thi azal2 se vo mauj-e-fikr3
guzri4 jo dasht-o-dar5 ko gulistaaN kiye hue 1.granted 2.beginning of time/creation 3.wave/tide of thought/wisdom 4.passed through 5.wilderness and habitation
You have been granted from the beginning of time a tidal wave of wisdom which passed through wilderness as habitation (all over-so you write about nature and about human affairs), creating a beautiful garden.
9
aalam6 ke ahl-e-fikr7 keh8 tujh tak pahuNch sakeN
haiN apni bazm-e-shauq9 charaaGhaaN10 kiye hue 6.world 7.thinking people 8.so that 9.tasteful gathering 10.brightly lit
Thoughtful people of the world, so that they may be able to reach/understand you, get together in festive gatherings to celebrate your verse.
10
tera kalaam11 aaj bhi paRhte haiN ahl-e-dil12
jaaN nazr13-e dil-farebi14-e unvaaN15 kiye hue 11.words, verse 12.people of heart/love/taste 13.offering 14.heart deceiving/fascinating 15.theme
Thoughtful people even today read your verse making an offering of their life to your fascinating themes.
11
tere kalaam1 ne ye diya shaa’eroN ko dars2
har lamha3 taaza4 fikr5, naii baat chaahiye 1.verse, words 2.lesson 3.moment 4.fresh, new 5.thought
Your words have taught poets that every minute, new thinking is needed.
12
ye kah raha hai tera qaseeda6 hai ya Ghazal
har raNg7 meN bahaar ka asbaat8 chaahiye 6.ode 7.condition 8.stability, strength
Be it the ode you have composed or a Ghazal, they say to us that under all conditions the stability of spring (joy/hope) has to be maintained.
13
chaahe nasha Khudi9 ka ho ya be-Khudi10 ka ho
aarif11 hamesha mast12-e mai-e-zaat13 chaahiye 9.ego, self-awareness 10.trance (in love of the divine) 11.mystic 12.intoxication 13.wine of (the divine) being
Be it the trance of self-awareness or of forgetting oneself in the love of the divine, the mystic should always be intoxicated with the wine of the divine.
14
dil phir haiN beqaraar1 us aavaaz ke liye
ek daur2 apne saath jo le kar guzar3 ga’ii 1.restless, eager, waiting 2.age, era, times 3.passed, went by
Our hearts are once again eager to hear that voice which went by taking an era along with it.
15
vo masnavi1 ki hai keh qaseede2 ki hai ada3
jo bhi ada hai dil se jigar tak utar ga’ii 1.epic legend in verse 2.ode 3.style
Be it the style of the epic or the ode, whichever style it is, it pierces through the heart and liver (an expression meaning it touches the deepest feelings).
16
dam1 se tere Ghazal ka muqaddar2 chamak uTha
tere tufail3 nazm ki qismat saNvar4 ga’ii 1.power 2.fate, future 3.because of 4.embellished, adorned
Ghazal and nazm are two different forms of versification. Because of your power the future of Ghazal was re-vitalized. Because of you the nazm remains adorned.
17
zinda hai tujh se sheva1-e ahl-e-nazar2 ka daur3
go4 aabru5-e sheva-e ahl-e nazar ga’ii 1.manner, method, habit 2.people of discerning taste 3.era 4.even though 5.respect, honour
Because of you the era of people of discerning taste is still alive, even though they are no longer respected.
18
baaqi1 hai aaj bhi jo hunar2, hai teri ata3
yuN varna4 qadr5 o qiimat6-e fun7 o hunar2 ga’ii 1.remaining 2.talent 3.grant, benevolence 4.otherwise 5.respect 6.valuve 7.art
Today, whatever talent remains, is because of your benevolence, otherwise there is no value or respect for art and skill.
19
qatre1 meN dajla2, juzv3 meN kul4 dekhti ho jo
is daur5 meN vo chashm6-e haqiiqat-nigar7 ga’ii 1.drop 2.Tigris, river 3.part 4.whole 5.era, age 6.eye 7.truth-seeing/discerning
The truth discerning eye that sees a river in a drop, whole in the part, is gone from this era i.e., there is no one like you anymore.
20
tere adab1 ki baat kare tujh se kaun ab
kal tuu gaya ke hum pe qayaamat2 guzar3 ga’ii 1.literature, words, traditions 2.doomsday 3.passed over, happened
Who can talk to you now about your words, asking for explanations. Your passing has been like the passing of doomsday over our heads.
21
hai abtari1 ki nazr2 jahaan3-e suKhan4 tamaam5
uThiye bas ab ke lazzat6-e Khwaab7-e sahr8 ga’ii 1.disorder, confusion 2.sacrificial offering 3.world of 4.versification 5.all, total 6.pleasure 7.sleep 8.morning
All the world of versification has been sacrificed to confusion. Wake up (O Ghalib) that the time of pleasure of sleeping late into the morning is gone.
jagan nath azad (1918-2004), born in miyaaNvaali (now in pakistan) was the son of another great poet, tilok chand mahroom. He has written with much passion about hindu-muslim and India-pakistan accord. This is a great tribute to mirza Ghalib.
1
saani1 tera phir aa na sakega jahaan meN
lauh2-e jahaaN pe harf3-e mukarrar4 nahiN hai tu
1.copy, equal 2.page, record, history 3.word 4.repeated, unnecessary
There will not be another one like you in this world. On the page of history, you are not a reduntant word (this is borrowed from Ghalib’s own she’r).
2
tere hi dam5 se Khaak6-e vatan aasmaaN hai aaj
rutbe7 meN mahr8 o maah9 se kamtar10 nahiN hai tu
5.strength 6.dust 7.status, dignity 8.sun 9.moon 10.less than
It is because of your strength/dignity that the dust of the earth rises to the status of the sky. You are no less than the moon and stars in status.
3
tera har ek she’r sitaaroN ka kaarvaaN
kya aasmaan ke bhi baraabar nahiN hai tu
Every couplet of yours is like a caravan of stars, a constellation. How can we not say that your status is as high as the sky/heaven.
4
naazaaN1 adab2 hai tujh pe tafakkur3 ko tujh pe naaz4
hai falsafi bhi, mahz5 suKhanvar6 nahiN hai tu
1.proud 2.literature 3.thought, reason 4.pride 5.only, merely 6.poet, wordsmith
Literature is proud of you, Reason takes pleasure. You are a philosopher as well, not merely a wordsmith.
5
eemaaN7 ko jis se bair8 ho mazhab9 ko jis se zidd10
butKhaana11-e vatan ka vo aazar12 nahiN hai tu
7.faith 8.conflict 9.religion 10.opposition 11.idol house 12.name of the father of ibrahim
This she’r has a reference to the story of aazar, the father of ibrahim who declared monotheism. aazar continued to be an idolater and idol-maker. In poetry he is used as a symbol of opposition to faith. Thus jagan nath aazad says that even though Ghalib made/crafted idols with his words, he is an idol-maker to whom faith and religion are not opposed.
6
aalam1 hai tere fikr2-e nihaaN3 ki talaash4 meN
arz5-e mataa6-e aql o dil o jaaN kiye hue
1.world 2.thought 3.hidden 4.search 5.petition, appeal 6.treasure
The world searches for the hidden/subtle meaning of your thought, by appealing to the treasure house of their mind, heart and soul.
7
duniya hai tera she’r samajhne ke shauq7 meN
eemaaN8 ko kufr9, kufr ko eemaaN kiye hue
7.desire 8.faith 9.non-faith, denial
The world desires to understand your she’r/couplet by mixing up faith and unfaith. This has reference to Ghalib’s wit in making fun of orthodoxy while still professing a higher/universal faith.
8
tujh ko ata1 hui thi azal2 se vo mauj-e-fikr3
guzri4 jo dasht-o-dar5 ko gulistaaN kiye hue
1.granted 2.beginning of time/creation 3.wave/tide of thought/wisdom 4.passed through 5.wilderness and habitation
You have been granted from the beginning of time a tidal wave of wisdom which passed through wilderness as habitation (all over-so you write about nature and about human affairs), creating a beautiful garden.
9
aalam6 ke ahl-e-fikr7 keh8 tujh tak pahuNch sakeN
haiN apni bazm-e-shauq9 charaaGhaaN10 kiye hue
6.world 7.thinking people 8.so that 9.tasteful gathering 10.brightly lit
Thoughtful people of the world, so that they may be able to reach/understand you, get together in festive gatherings to celebrate your verse.
10
tera kalaam11 aaj bhi paRhte haiN ahl-e-dil12
jaaN nazr13-e dil-farebi14-e unvaaN15 kiye hue
11.words, verse 12.people of heart/love/taste 13.offering 14.heart deceiving/fascinating 15.theme
Thoughtful people even today read your verse making an offering of their life to your fascinating themes.
11
tere kalaam1 ne ye diya shaa’eroN ko dars2
har lamha3 taaza4 fikr5, naii baat chaahiye
1.verse, words 2.lesson 3.moment 4.fresh, new 5.thought
Your words have taught poets that every minute, new thinking is needed.
12
ye kah raha hai tera qaseeda6 hai ya Ghazal
har raNg7 meN bahaar ka asbaat8 chaahiye
6.ode 7.condition 8.stability, strength
Be it the ode you have composed or a Ghazal, they say to us that under all conditions the stability of spring (joy/hope) has to be maintained.
13
chaahe nasha Khudi9 ka ho ya be-Khudi10 ka ho
aarif11 hamesha mast12-e mai-e-zaat13 chaahiye
9.ego, self-awareness 10.trance (in love of the divine) 11.mystic 12.intoxication 13.wine of (the divine) being
Be it the trance of self-awareness or of forgetting oneself in the love of the divine, the mystic should always be intoxicated with the wine of the divine.
14
dil phir haiN beqaraar1 us aavaaz ke liye
ek daur2 apne saath jo le kar guzar3 ga’ii
1.restless, eager, waiting 2.age, era, times 3.passed, went by
Our hearts are once again eager to hear that voice which went by taking an era along with it.
15
vo masnavi1 ki hai keh qaseede2 ki hai ada3
jo bhi ada hai dil se jigar tak utar ga’ii
1.epic legend in verse 2.ode 3.style
Be it the style of the epic or the ode, whichever style it is, it pierces through the heart and liver (an expression meaning it touches the deepest feelings).
16
dam1 se tere Ghazal ka muqaddar2 chamak uTha
tere tufail3 nazm ki qismat saNvar4 ga’ii
1.power 2.fate, future 3.because of 4.embellished, adorned
Ghazal and nazm are two different forms of versification. Because of your power the future of Ghazal was re-vitalized. Because of you the nazm remains adorned.
17
zinda hai tujh se sheva1-e ahl-e-nazar2 ka daur3
go4 aabru5-e sheva-e ahl-e nazar ga’ii
1.manner, method, habit 2.people of discerning taste 3.era 4.even though 5.respect, honour
Because of you the era of people of discerning taste is still alive, even though they are no longer respected.
18
baaqi1 hai aaj bhi jo hunar2, hai teri ata3
yuN varna4 qadr5 o qiimat6-e fun7 o hunar2 ga’ii
1.remaining 2.talent 3.grant, benevolence 4.otherwise 5.respect 6.valuve 7.art
Today, whatever talent remains, is because of your benevolence, otherwise there is no value or respect for art and skill.
19
qatre1 meN dajla2, juzv3 meN kul4 dekhti ho jo
is daur5 meN vo chashm6-e haqiiqat-nigar7 ga’ii
1.drop 2.Tigris, river 3.part 4.whole 5.era, age 6.eye 7.truth-seeing/discerning
The truth discerning eye that sees a river in a drop, whole in the part, is gone from this era i.e., there is no one like you anymore.
20
tere adab1 ki baat kare tujh se kaun ab
kal tuu gaya ke hum pe qayaamat2 guzar3 ga’ii
1.literature, words, traditions 2.doomsday 3.passed over, happened
Who can talk to you now about your words, asking for explanations. Your passing has been like the passing of doomsday over our heads.
21
hai abtari1 ki nazr2 jahaan3-e suKhan4 tamaam5
uThiye bas ab ke lazzat6-e Khwaab7-e sahr8 ga’ii
1.disorder, confusion 2.sacrificial offering 3.world of 4.versification 5.all, total 6.pleasure 7.sleep 8.morning
All the world of versification has been sacrificed to confusion. Wake up (O Ghalib) that the time of pleasure of sleeping late into the morning is gone.
