For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
سہارا کہیں جسے ۔ بہزادؔ لکھنوی
۱
ناز و ادا و غمزہ و عشوہ کہیں جسے
وہ دیکھنا پڑا کہ تماشا کہیں جسے
۲
دل بھی ہے بے قرار جگر بھی ہے بے قرار
اُس کو کہاں سے لاؤں کہ اپنا کہیں جسے
۳
تیرے لیے لُٹا کے خردمندیوں کی شان
وہ مل گیا کہ عشق کا سودا کہیں جسے
۴
تجھ کو مری قسم نگہِ عاشقی نواز
وہ اضطراب دے کہ تڑپنا کہیں جسے
۵
کس کی نظر لگی ہے کہ برباد ہو گئی
میرے دلِ غریب کی دنیا کہیں جسے
۶
یوں تو دل حزیں میں ہیں یاس و ملال و غم
ایک چیز ہی نہیں ہے تمنا کہیں جسے
۷
اے چشمِ التفات کبھی تو ادھر بھی ہو
وہ جنبشِ لطیف، اشارا کہیں جسے
۸
اللہ جانتا ہے کہ مجبورِ درد ہوں
اب تو زباں پہ وہ ہے کہ شکوہ کہیں جسے
۹
ہم کو تو اس جہاں میں کہیں بھی نہ مل سکا
بہزادؔ زندگی کا سہارا کہیں جسے
सहारा कहें जिसे – बहज़ाद लखनवी
१
नाज़ ओ अदा ओ ग़म्ज़ा ओ ईश्वा कहें जिसे
वो देखना पढा के तमाशा कहें जिसे
२
दिल भी है बेक़रार, जिगर भी है बेक़रार
उस को कहाँ से लाऊँ के अपना कहें जिसे
३
तेरे लिये लुटा के ख़िरदमंदियौं की शान
वो मिल गया के इश्क़ का सौदा कहें जिसे
४
तुझ को मेरी क़सम निगह-ए आशक़ी-नवाज़
वो इज़्तेराब दे के तढपना कहें जिसे
५
किस की नज़र लगी है के बरबाद हो गई
मेरे दिल-ए ग़रीब की दुनिया कहें जिसे
६
यूँ तो दिल-ए हज़ीं में हैं यास ओ मलाल ओ ग़म
एक चीज़ ही नहीं है तमन्ना कहें जसे
७
अए चश्म-ए इल्तेफ़ात कभी तो इधर भी हो
वो जुम्बिश-ए लतीफ़, इशारा कहें जिसे
८
अल्लाह जानता है के मज्बूर-ए दर्द हूं
अब तो ज़बां पे वो है के शिक्वा कहें जिसे
९
हम को तो इस जहां में कहीं भी न मिल सका
बहज़ाद ज़िन्दगी का सहारा कहें जिसे
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sardar ahmad KhaaN bahzaad lakhnavi (1900-1974) wrote sufiyaana and aashiqaana Ghazal as well folk songs and lyrics. He was a devout, observant muslim and wrote geet/bhajan to ram and krishn as well. This Ghazal composed in the style of Ghalib’s ‘aisa kahaaN se laauN keh tujh sa kaheN jise’ is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
naaz1 o ada2 o Ghamza3 o ishva4 kaheN jisay
vo dekhna paRa keh tamaasha5 kaheN jisay 1.coquetry, aloof pride 2.style 3.wink, amorous glance 4.amorous mischief 5.spectacle
The beloved has been coquettish, showing off her style, making amorous glances and mischief. It is implied that she has been doing all this with the rival because the poet complains that he has been forced to see all this, that can be called a spectacle. The best scenario is that she is doing this only to test him and that she truly loves him and not the rival.
2
dil bhi hai be-qaraar1, jigar2 bhi hai be-qaraar
uss ko kahaaN se laauN keh apna kaheN jisay 1.restless 2.liver-the seat of fortitude
In poetic convention the heart is the seat of love and the liver is the seat of fortitude and courage. Both are restless because he is deeply in love and his fortitude is being put to the test by the beloved’s indifference. Where can I find her that I can call mine – meaning what can I do to claim her as mine so that my heart and liver may find some peace.
3
teray liye luTa1 ke KhiradmanidyoN2 ki shaan3
voh mil gaya keh ishq ka sauda4 kaheN jisay 1.give away, lose 2.reason, knowledge 3.dignity 4.trade, purchase
The poet/lover has lost his senses/reason because of love for the beloved. What has he gotten in trade … that which is called love. The implication is that he is happy with the bargain.
4
tujh ko meri qasam1 nig’h2-e aashiqi-navaaz3
voh izteraab4 de keh taRapna5 kaheN jisay 1.swear by my life 2.glance 3.love-nurturing 4.restlessness 5.thrashing in pain
The restlessness and pain of love are highly valued in the poetic tradition. Thus, I swear by my life, O love-nurturing glance, grant me such restlessness as can be called thrashing about in pain.
5
kis ki nazar1 lagii hai keh barbaad2 ho gaii
meray dil-e Ghariib ki duniya kaheN jisay 1.evil eye, curse 2.destroy
Whose evil eye/curse is it that has destroyed that which could be called the world of my heart i.e., the love of his heart.
6
yuN to dil-e haziiN1 meN haiN yaas2 o malaal3 o Gham4
ek chiiz hi nahiN hai tamanna5 kaheN jisay 1.grieving, mourning 2.despair, despondency 3.melancholy, anguish 4.sorrow, pain 5.desire, yearning
The poet/lover’s heart does not have just one thing that can be called yearning (for the beloved). His heart is also burdened with despair, melancholy and sorrow.
7
aye chashm1-e iltefaat2 kabhi to idhar bhi ho
voh jumbish3-e lateef4, ishaara5 kaheN jisay 1.glance 2.attention, civility, kindness 3.movement 4.delicate, benevolent 5.sign
O glance of kindness, at least sometime towards me that delicate movement that might be considered a sign (that you love me).
8
allaah jaanta hai keh majboor1-e dard2 huN
ab to zabaaN peh voh hai keh shikva3 kaheN jisay 1.bound, forced 2.pain 3.complaint
Normally, the poet/lovers bears all the pain of indifference with fortitude without showing any distress to the world for fear that it may malign the beloved’s reputation. But he is under intense pain and is forced to bring to his lips that which might be considered a complaint.
9
ham ko to iss jahaaN1 meN kahiiN bhi na mil saka
bahzaad2 zindagi ka sahaara3 kaheN jisay 1.world, life 2.pen-name of the poet 3.support, help
O bahzaad, I did not find anytime in this life, that which might be called support/help.
sardar ahmad KhaaN bahzaad lakhnavi (1900-1974) wrote sufiyaana and aashiqaana Ghazal as well folk songs and lyrics. He was a devout, observant muslim and wrote geet/bhajan to ram and krishn as well. This Ghazal composed in the style of Ghalib’s ‘aisa kahaaN se laauN keh tujh sa kaheN jise’ is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
naaz1 o ada2 o Ghamza3 o ishva4 kaheN jisay
vo dekhna paRa keh tamaasha5 kaheN jisay
1.coquetry, aloof pride 2.style 3.wink, amorous glance 4.amorous mischief 5.spectacle
The beloved has been coquettish, showing off her style, making amorous glances and mischief. It is implied that she has been doing all this with the rival because the poet complains that he has been forced to see all this, that can be called a spectacle. The best scenario is that she is doing this only to test him and that she truly loves him and not the rival.
2
dil bhi hai be-qaraar1, jigar2 bhi hai be-qaraar
uss ko kahaaN se laauN keh apna kaheN jisay
1.restless 2.liver-the seat of fortitude
In poetic convention the heart is the seat of love and the liver is the seat of fortitude and courage. Both are restless because he is deeply in love and his fortitude is being put to the test by the beloved’s indifference. Where can I find her that I can call mine – meaning what can I do to claim her as mine so that my heart and liver may find some peace.
3
teray liye luTa1 ke KhiradmanidyoN2 ki shaan3
voh mil gaya keh ishq ka sauda4 kaheN jisay
1.give away, lose 2.reason, knowledge 3.dignity 4.trade, purchase
The poet/lover has lost his senses/reason because of love for the beloved. What has he gotten in trade … that which is called love. The implication is that he is happy with the bargain.
4
tujh ko meri qasam1 nig’h2-e aashiqi-navaaz3
voh izteraab4 de keh taRapna5 kaheN jisay
1.swear by my life 2.glance 3.love-nurturing 4.restlessness 5.thrashing in pain
The restlessness and pain of love are highly valued in the poetic tradition. Thus, I swear by my life, O love-nurturing glance, grant me such restlessness as can be called thrashing about in pain.
5
kis ki nazar1 lagii hai keh barbaad2 ho gaii
meray dil-e Ghariib ki duniya kaheN jisay
1.evil eye, curse 2.destroy
Whose evil eye/curse is it that has destroyed that which could be called the world of my heart i.e., the love of his heart.
6
yuN to dil-e haziiN1 meN haiN yaas2 o malaal3 o Gham4
ek chiiz hi nahiN hai tamanna5 kaheN jisay
1.grieving, mourning 2.despair, despondency 3.melancholy, anguish 4.sorrow, pain 5.desire, yearning
The poet/lover’s heart does not have just one thing that can be called yearning (for the beloved). His heart is also burdened with despair, melancholy and sorrow.
7
aye chashm1-e iltefaat2 kabhi to idhar bhi ho
voh jumbish3-e lateef4, ishaara5 kaheN jisay
1.glance 2.attention, civility, kindness 3.movement 4.delicate, benevolent 5.sign
O glance of kindness, at least sometime towards me that delicate movement that might be considered a sign (that you love me).
8
allaah jaanta hai keh majboor1-e dard2 huN
ab to zabaaN peh voh hai keh shikva3 kaheN jisay
1.bound, forced 2.pain 3.complaint
Normally, the poet/lovers bears all the pain of indifference with fortitude without showing any distress to the world for fear that it may malign the beloved’s reputation. But he is under intense pain and is forced to bring to his lips that which might be considered a complaint.
9
ham ko to iss jahaaN1 meN kahiiN bhi na mil saka
bahzaad2 zindagi ka sahaara3 kaheN jisay
1.world, life 2.pen-name of the poet 3.support, help
O bahzaad, I did not find anytime in this life, that which might be called support/help.
