taj mahal – sahir ludhianavi

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

تاج  محل  – ساحر   لدھیانوی

 

تاج تیرے لئے اک مظہرِ اُلفت ہی سہی

تجھ کو اِس وادیِ رنگیں سے عقیدت ہی سہی

میری محبوب کہیں اور ملا کر مجھ سے

 

بزمِ شاہی میں غریبوں کا گزر کیا معنی

ثبت جس راہ میں ہوں سطوتِ شاہی کے نشاں

اُس پہ اُلفت بھری روحوں کا گزر کیا معنی

 

میری محبوب پسِ پردہِ تشہیرِ وفا

تو نے سطوت کے نشانوں کو تو دیکھا ہوتا

مردہ شاہوں کے مقابر سے بہلنے والی

اپنے تاریک مکانوں کو تو دیکھا ہوتا

 

ان گنت لوگوں نے دنیا میں محبت کی ہے

کون کہتا ہے کہ  صادق نہ تھے اُنکے  جذبے

لیکن اُن کے لےٰ تشہیر کا سامان نہیں

کیونکہ وہ لوگ بھی اپنی ہی طرح مفلس تھے

 

یہ عمارات و مقابر، یہ فصیلیں یہ حصار

مطلق الحکم شہنشاہوں کی عظمت کے ستون

سینہِ دہر کے ناسور ہیں کہنہ ناسور

جذب  ہے اِن میں تیرے اور میرے اجداد کا خون

 

میری محبوب اُنہیں بھی تو محبّت ہوگی

جن کی صناّعیٰ نے بخشی ہے اِسے شکلِ جمیل

اُنکے پیاروں کے مقابر رہے بے نام و نمود

آج تک اُن پہ جلایٰ نہ کسی نے قِندیل

 

یہ چمن زار یہ جمنا کا کنارا یہ محل

یہ منقشّ درودیوار، یہ مہراب یہ طاق

اک شہنشاہ نے دولت کا سہارہ لے کر

ہم غریبوں کی محبت کا اُڑایا ہے مزاق

 

میری محبوب کہیں اور ملا کر مجھ سے

ताज महल – साहर लुधियानवी

 

ताज तेरे लिए एक मज़हर ए उल्फ़त ही सही
तुझ को इस वादी ए रंगीं से अक़ीदत ही सही

मेरी महबूब कहीं और मिला कर मुझ से

 

बज़्म ए शाही में ग़रीबों का गुज़र क्या मानी
सब्त जिस राह पे हों सितवत ए शाही के निशां

उस पे उल्फ़त भरी रूहों का सफ़र क्या मानी

 

मेरी महबूब पस ए पर्दा ए तश्हीर ए वफ़ा
तू ने सित्वत के निशानों को तो देखा होता
मुर्दा शाहों के मक़ाबर से बहलने वाली

अपने तारीक मकानों को तो देखा होता

 

अन गिनत लोगों ने दुनिया में मोहब्बत की है
कौन कहता है के सादिक़ न थे जज़्बे उनके
लेकिन उनके लिए तश्हीर का सामान नहीं

क्युंके वो लोग भी अपनी ही तरह मुफ़्लिस थे

 

ये इमारात ओ मक़ाबिर, ये फ़सीलें ये हिसार
मुतलक़ उल हुक्म शहंशाहों की अज़्मत के सुतून
सीना ए दहर के नासूर हैं कुहना नासूर

जज़्ब है इन में तेरे और मेरे अज्दाद का ख़ून

 

मेरी महबूब उन्हें भी तो मोहब्बत होगी
जिनकी सन्नाई ने बख़्शी है इसे शक्ल ए जमील
उनके प्यारों के मक़ाबिर रहे बे नाम ओ नुमूद

आज तक उनपे जलाई न किसी ने क़िंदील

 

ये चमन ज़ार, ये जमना का किनारा, ये महल
ये मुन्नक़श दर ओ दीवार ये मेहराब ये ताक़
एक शहंशाह ने दौलत का सहारा ले कर

हम ग़रीबों की मोहब्बत का उड़ाया है मज़ाक़

 

मेरी महबूब कहीं और मिला कर मुझ से

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion.    sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu. He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level. Supported labour movements. This is his tribute to the labour and craftsmanship that went into creating the taj mahal. My own translations are rather pedestrian and utilitarian. Whenever available, I attach poetic translations too. In this case, Badri Raina’s translation is attached. Of course, Badri Raina has also helped with translations in many other places throughout this website.

taj tere liye ek mazhar1 e ulfat2 hi sahi
tujh ko is vaadi e rangiN3 se aqeedat4 hi sahi
meri mahboob kaheeN aur mila kar mujh se
1.expression 2.love 3.colourful valley 4.faith/belief
O! my beloved, the Taj may be a symbol of love for you, you may have faith in this beautiful valley. (But it signifies something else for me), Oh, my beloved, let us meet somewhere else!

bazm e shahi5 meN GhariboN ka guzar6 kya maani
sabt7 jis rah pe hoN sitwat e shahi8 ke nishaN
us pe ulfat bhari roohon9 ka safar10 kya maani
5.royal assembly 6.passage 7.stamped/engraved 8.royal grandeur 9.loving soul 10.sojourn
How can the halls of royalty be a soujourn of the poor. Symbols of grandeur engraved on these pathways, how can loving souls tread here.

meri mahboob pas e parda11 e tashhir12 e vafa13
tu ne sitwat14 ke nishaanon ko to dekha hota
murda shahon ke maqabar15 se bahalne vaali16
apne tareek17 makaanon ko to dekha hota
11.behind the veil 12.advertisement 13.faith/love 14.grandeur 15.graves 16.one who gets consoled, mollified 17.dark O my beloved, behind the veil of declaration of love, don’t you see the display of royal pomp. Mollified by the tombs of dead kings, don’t you see the darkness of our own hovels.

an ginat18 logoN ne duniya meN mohabbat ki hai
kaun kahta hai ke sadiq19 na the jazbe20 unke
laikin unke liye tashhir21 ka saman nahiN
kyuNke vo log bhi apni hi tarah muflis22 the
18.countless 19.sincere/truthful 20.sentiments 21.display, declare, announce 22.pauper Countless people in this world have loved. Who says that their love was not true. But they did not have the means to advertize it, because they were paupers like us.

ye imaraat23 o maqaabir24, ye fasileN ye hisaar25
mutlaq ul hukm26 shahanshahoN ki azmat27 ke sutoon28
seena e dahr29 ke nasoor30 hain kuhna31 nasoor
jazb32 hai in men tere aur mere ajdad33 ka Khoon
23.buildings 24.graves 25. boundary walls, parapets 26.absolute power 27.greatness 28.columns 29.world, earth 30.sores/tumors 31.ancient 32.absorbed 33.forebears
These buildings, tombs and parapets, are the pillars of the grandeur of absolute monarchs. Sores, cancerous sores on the bosom of this earth, colored with the blood of our forebears.

meri mahboob unheN bhi to mohabbat hogi
jinki sannai34 ne baKhshi35 hai ise shakl e jamil36
unke pyaroN ke maqabir rahe be naam o numood37
aaj tak unpe jalaai na kisi ne qindeel38 
34.craftsmanship 35.bestowed 36.beautiful face 37.name or marker 38.lamp
O! my beloved, they too must have loved, whose craft has granted this its beautiful shape. The graves of their loved ones remain unmarked and unknown. No one lights a lamp to commemorate their love.

ye chaman zaar, ye Jamna ka kinaara, ye mahal
ye munaqqash39 dar o divar40 ye mehrab41 ye taaq42
ek shahanshah ne daulat ka sahara43 le kar
hum GariboN ki mohabbat ka uRaya hai mazaaq
39.carved/engraved 40.doors and walls 41.central arch 42.alcove 43.support
These lush lawns, the bank of the Jamna, this palace, these engraved walls and doors, arches and alcoves – an emperor’s use of his wealth is an arrogant taunt since we, the poor, are no less capable of love.

meri mahboob kaheeN aur mila kar mujh seOh, my beloved, let us meet somewhere else!

taj mahal – sahir ludhianavi

sahir ludhianavi (1921-1980) progressive poet writing in chaste yet relatively easily understood urdu.  He brought the quality of urdu nazm to movie songs and raised the standards to a high level.  Supported labour movements.  This is his tribute to the labour and craftsmanship that went into creating the taj mahal.  My own translations are rather pedestrian and utilitarian.  Whenever available, I attach poetic translations too.  In this case, Badri Raina’s translation is attached.  Of course, Badri Raina has also helped with translations in many other places throughout this website.

taj tere liye ek mazhar1 e ulfat2 hi sahi
tujh ko is vaadi e rangiN3 se aqeedat4 hi sahi
meri mahboob kaheeN aur mila kar mujh se

1.expression 2.love 3.colourful valley 4.faith/belief

­­O! my beloved, the Taj may be a symbol of love for you, you may have faith in this beautiful valley.  (But it signifies something else for me), Oh, my beloved, let us meet somewhere else!

bazm e shahi5 meN GhariboN ka guzar6 kya maani
sabt7 jis rah pe hoN sitwat e shahi8 ke nishaN
us pe ulfat bhari roohon9 ka safar10 kya maani

5.royal assembly 6.passage 7.stamped/engraved 8.royal grandeur 9.loving soul 10.sojourn

How can the halls of royalty be a soujourn of the poor.  Symbols of grandeur engraved on these pathways, how can loving souls tread here.

meri mahboob pas e parda11 e tashhir12 e vafa13
tu ne sitwat14 ke nishaanon ko to dekha hota
murda shahon ke maqabar15 se bahalne vaali16
apne tareek17 makaanon ko to dekha hota

11.behind the veil 12.advertisement 13.faith/love 14.grandeur 15.graves 16.one who gets consoled, mollified 17.dark

O my beloved, behind the veil of declaration of love, don’t you see the display of royal pomp.  Mollified by the tombs of dead kings, don’t you see the darkness of our own hovels.

an ginat18 logoN ne duniya meN mohabbat ki hai
kaun kahta hai ke sadiq19 na the jazbe20 unke
laikin unke liye tashhir21 ka saman nahiN
kyuNke vo log bhi apni hi tarah muflis22 the

18.countless 19.sincere/truthful 20.sentiments 21.display, declare, announce 22.pauper

Countless people in this world have loved.  Who says that their love was not true.  But they did not have the means to advertize it, because they were paupers like us.

ye imaraat23 o maqaabir24, ye fasileN ye hisaar25
mutlaq ul hukm26 shahanshahoN ki azmat27 ke sutoon28
seena e dahr29 ke nasoor30 hain kuhna31 nasoor
jazb32 hai in men tere aur mere ajdad33 ka Khoon

23.buildings 24.graves 25. boundary walls, parapets 26.absolute power 27.greatness 28.columns 29.world, earth 30.sores/tumors 31.ancient 32.absorbed 33.forebears

These buildings, tombs and parapets, are the pillars of the grandeur of absolute monarchs.  Sores, cancerous sores on the bosom of this earth, colored with the blood of our forebears.

meri mahboob unheN bhi to mohabbat hogi
jinki sannai34 ne baKhshi35 hai ise shakl e jamil36
unke pyaroN ke maqabir rahe be naam o numood37
aaj tak unpe jalaai na kisi ne qindeel38 

34.craftsmanship 35.bestowed 36.beautiful face 37.name or marker 38.lamp

O! my beloved, they too must have loved, whose craft has granted this its beautiful shape.  The graves of their loved ones remain unmarked and unknown.  No one lights a lamp to commemorate their love.

ye chaman zaar, ye Jamna ka kinaara, ye mahal
ye munaqqash39 dar o divar40 ye mehrab41 ye taaq42
ek shahanshah ne daulat ka sahara43 le kar
hum GariboN ki mohabbat ka uRaya hai mazaaq

39.carved/engraved 40.doors and walls 41.central arch 42.alcove 43.support

These lush lawns, the bank of the Jamna, this palace, these engraved walls and doors, arches and alcoves – an emperor’s use of his wealth is an arrogant taunt since we, the poor, are no less capable of love.

meri mahboob kaheeN aur mila kar mujh se

Oh, my beloved, let us meet somewhere else!

Taj Mahal – Sahir Ludhianawi
Translated by Badri Raina

I do not care
If the Taj means to you
The great symbol of love;
I do not care
If perchance
You should bear
Towards its aura of colourful romance
A reverence deep and true:
Love, not here, not here
But elsewhere
Must be our rendezvous.

What sense does it make
For the poor to be
Frequenting
These haunts of royalty?
What sense does it make
For soulful lovers
To traverse
A pathway
So rudely dense
With the imprint of an imperial day?

Past the trappings
And the frill work of romance
You must have peeped, ah Love,
And noticed how
Behind the elaborate song and dance
Lie evidences of less lovely things.
Into the dark and cheerless interiors
Of our own houses
You must have looked—
You whom
The icy tombs
Of dead kings
Divert to ecstasy.
Countless are the people
Who have loved;
Nor were their vows contracted
With less faith,
Less intensity.
All that they lacked
Were the instruments of pomp,
Because like you and I
They too were underlings.

These awesome monuments,
These tombs,
These ramparts,
These fortifications—
Testimonies to the grandeur of willful emperors—
Oh, what are they
But festering ulcers
In the rotten womb of time?
And into these have poured
The common sweat and blood
Of our common ancestors.

Even they must have loved, ah Love,
Whose deft fingerwork
Has given to the Taj
Its beautiful splendour:
Yet
Their nameless loves lie buried
Under nameless graves,
And no one did ever light a lamp
Upon their rough and jagged headstones.

These lush lawns,
This pensive river bank,
And the palace fair,
These filligreed walls and arches
Soaring high,
These shapely minarets
And these squares of subtle art—
Oh, in all these
I can hear the monstrous laughter
Of a wanton emperor
Reverberating with a monstrous insult
Full in the face of our forlorn loves.
This is no place for us, ah Love,
This cannot be our rendezvous;
Elsewhere must we go,
Elsewhere remove.