For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
رہگزر کو میں ۔ جئے کرشن چودھری حبیبؔ
۱
پاتا ہوں سہل زیست کے مشکل سفر کو میں
کیونکر دعا نہ دوں بتِ دیوانہ گر کو میں
۲
اِک اِک قدم پہ جھکتا رہا ہے سرِ نیاز
منزل ہی اپنی سمجھا تری رہگزر کو میں
۳
اب ساغرِ حیات تری تلخیاں قبول
ساقی کے ساتھ پاؤں جو لُطفِ نظر کو میں
۴
پھر بیخودی سے ہوش کی جانب ہوں بڑھ رہا
پھر ڈھونڈھتا ہوں راکھ میں گویا شرر کو میں
रहगुज़र को मैं – जयक्रिषण चौधरी हबीब
१
पाता हुं सहल ज़ीस्त के मुश्किल सफ़र को मैं
क्युंकार दुआ न दूं बुत-ए दीवाना-गर को मैं
२
एक एक क़दम पे झुक्ता रहा है सर-ए नियाज़
मंज़िल हि अपनी समझा तेरी रहगुज़र को मैं
३
अब साग़र-ए हयात तेरी तल्ख़ियां क़ुबूल
साक़ी के साथ पाऊं जो लुत्फ़-ए नज़र को मैं
४
फिर बेख़ुदी से होश कि जानिब हुं बढ़ रहा
फिर ढूंढता हुं राख में गोया शरर को मैं
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. This is one of a series of Ghazal written as a tribute to Ghalib by the Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! The samiti conducted mushaa’era over two years, each inviting Ghazal modeled after selected Ghazal of Ghalib. The poet, chaudhry jai krishn habiib, MA, LLB, IAS (retired), vice-chair of the naagarik samiti. This series shows the range of occupations of hindu poets who were lovers of urdu even to 1969. Times have changed.
1
paata huN sahal1 ziist2 ke mushkil3 safar4 ko maiN
kyuNkar5 dua na duuN but6-e diivaana-gar7 ko maiN 1.easy 2.life 3.difficult 4.journey 5.why not 6.idol, beloved 7.selling madness, maddening
‘but-e diivaana-gar’ is used to mean the beloved who makes the poet/lover mad with passion. She has made him so mad with passion that he is no longer aware of himself, as if in a trance. In this state he finds the difficult journey of life to be easy. So, why should he not be thankful to her.
2
ek-ek1 qadam2 pe jhukta raha hai sar-e niyaaz3
manzil4 hi apni samjha teri rahguzar5 ko maiN 1.every 2.step 3.offering in homage 4.destination 5.path
The poet/lover/seeker is on the path seeking the earthly or divine beloved (or any object of desire). At every step the poet/lover/seeker’s head bows in homage to the beloved/desire. He considers the pathway itself to be his destination. He can never reach the destination but can only get to the path she frequents. He is content with bowing his head there.
3
ab saaGhar1-e hayaat2 teri talKhiyaaN3 qubool4
saaqi ke saath paa’uN jo lutf5-e nazar6 ko maiN 1.cup, goblet 2.life 3.bitterness 4.acceptable 5.kindness, pleasure 6.glance
Normally the saaqi serves wine in the goblet. Here it is serving life. But life is bitter. The poet/lover is happy to accept the bitterness of the cup of life if along with it he receives the pleasure of the saaqi’s kind/loving glance.
4
phir be-Khudi1 se hosh2 ki jaanib3 huN baRh raha
phir DhooDhta huN raakh meN goya4 sharar5 ko maiN 1.trance, loss of awareness 2.awareness 3.towards 4.as if 5.sparks, embers
The poet/lover is so mad with passion that he has lost awareness of himself or his surroundings. But for whatever reason he has been momentarily shaken out of his torpor and is moving towards awareness. But had gotten burnt out a long time ago. So moving towards awareness/sense is like looking for embers in burnt out ashes.
This is one of a series of Ghazal written as a tribute to Ghalib by the Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur. Ghalib Centennial Citizens Committee! The samiti conducted mushaa’era over two years, each inviting Ghazal modeled after selected Ghazal of Ghalib. The poet, chaudhry jai krishn habiib, MA, LLB, IAS (retired), vice-chair of the naagarik samiti. This series shows the range of occupations of hindu poets who were lovers of urdu even to 1969. Times have changed.
1
paata huN sahal1 ziist2 ke mushkil3 safar4 ko maiN
kyuNkar5 dua na duuN but6-e diivaana-gar7 ko maiN
1.easy 2.life 3.difficult 4.journey 5.why not 6.idol, beloved 7.selling madness, maddening
‘but-e diivaana-gar’ is used to mean the beloved who makes the poet/lover mad with passion. She has made him so mad with passion that he is no longer aware of himself, as if in a trance. In this state he finds the difficult journey of life to be easy. So, why should he not be thankful to her.
2
ek-ek1 qadam2 pe jhukta raha hai sar-e niyaaz3
manzil4 hi apni samjha teri rahguzar5 ko maiN
1.every 2.step 3.offering in homage 4.destination 5.path
The poet/lover/seeker is on the path seeking the earthly or divine beloved (or any object of desire). At every step the poet/lover/seeker’s head bows in homage to the beloved/desire. He considers the pathway itself to be his destination. He can never reach the destination but can only get to the path she frequents. He is content with bowing his head there.
3
ab saaGhar1-e hayaat2 teri talKhiyaaN3 qubool4
saaqi ke saath paa’uN jo lutf5-e nazar6 ko maiN
1.cup, goblet 2.life 3.bitterness 4.acceptable 5.kindness, pleasure 6.glance
Normally the saaqi serves wine in the goblet. Here it is serving life. But life is bitter. The poet/lover is happy to accept the bitterness of the cup of life if along with it he receives the pleasure of the saaqi’s kind/loving glance.
4
phir be-Khudi1 se hosh2 ki jaanib3 huN baRh raha
phir DhooDhta huN raakh meN goya4 sharar5 ko maiN
1.trance, loss of awareness 2.awareness 3.towards 4.as if 5.sparks, embers
The poet/lover is so mad with passion that he has lost awareness of himself or his surroundings. But for whatever reason he has been momentarily shaken out of his torpor and is moving towards awareness. But had gotten burnt out a long time ago. So moving towards awareness/sense is like looking for embers in burnt out ashes.
