For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تقدیر بنا بھی نہ سکوں ۔ ہیرا لال فلکؔ دہلوی
۱
اشکِ غم وہ ہے جو دنیا کو دکھا بھی نہ سکوں
اور گر جائے زمیں پر تو اٹھا بھی نہ سکوں
۲
یہ مرے غم کا فسانہ ہے رہے گا لب پر
تیری روداد نہیں ہے کہ سنا بھی نہ سکوں
۳
پرتوِ حسن ہوں اس واسطے محدود ہوں میں
حسن ہو جاؤں تو دنیا میں سما بھی نہ سکوں
۴
تیز کچھ وقت کی رفتار نہیں ہے لیکن
تم اگر ساتھ نہ دو پاؤں بڑھا بھی نہ سکوں
۵
اب وہی لوگ بگاڑی ہے جنہوں نے قسمت
چاہتے ہیں کہ میں تقدیر بنا بھی نہ سکوں
۶
آج ناکام سہی کل کا بھروسہ ہے مجھے
عشق پھر کیا جو تجھے اپنا بنا بھی نہ سکوں
۷
دل کہاں ایک سیہ خانہ ہے رنج و غم کا
اس قدر داغ لگے ہیں کہ مٹا بھی نہ سکوں
۸
دل کی گہرائی سے اے دوست ذرا کہہ تو سہی
جان ایسی تو نہیں جس کو گنوا بھی نہ سکوں
۹
عمر گزری کبھی ساقی نے فلکؔ یہ نہ کہا
اتنی پی لے کہ تجھے ہوش میں لا بھی نہ سکوں
तक़्दीर बना भी न सकूँ – हीरा लाल फ़लक देहलवी
१
अश्क-ए ग़म वो है जो दुनिया को दिखा भी न सकूँ
और गिर जाए ज़मीं पर तो उठा भी न सकूँ
२
ये मेरे ग़म का फ़साना है रहेगा लब पर
तेरी रूदाद नहीं है के सुना भी न सकूँ
३
परतव-ए हुस्न हूँ इस वास्ते महदूद हूँ मैं
हुस्न हो जाऊँ तो दुनिया में समा भी न सकूँ
४
तेज़ कुछ वक़्त की रफ़्तार नहीं है लेकिन
तुम अगर साथ न दो पाँव बढ़ा भी न सकूँ
५
अब वही लोग बिगाड़ी है जिन्हों ने क़िस्मत
चाहते हैं के मैं तक़्दीर बना भी न सकूँ
६
आज नाकाम सही कल का भरोसा है मुझे
इश्क़ फिर क्या जो तुझे अपना बना भी न सकूँ
७
दिल कहाँ एक सियह-ख़ाना है रंज-ओ-ग़म का
इस क़दर दाग़ लगे हैं के मिटा भी न सकूँ
८
दिल की गहराई से अए दोस्त ज़रा कह तो सही
जान ऐसी तो नहीं जिस को गँवा भी न सकूँ
९
उम्र गुज़्री कभी साक़ी ने फ़लक ये न कहा
इतनी पी ले कि तुझे होश में ला भी न सकूँ
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. heera lal falak dehlavi (1920?-1982?). I can only make an educated guess about his birth and death. A collection of his Ghazal was published posthumously in 1982 by his shaagird. The book mentions beKhud dehlavi (1863-1955) as his ‘inspirational ustaad’ and dedicates it to him. He was a minor official in the dehli court system. In the book he describes his encounter with beKhud dehlavi when he (falak) was still a young man. The book says that he started composing in 1940. He has several Ghazal composed in the zamin of Ghalib, this is one of a series linked to the corresponding radeef in ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’.
1
ashk1-e Gham vo hai jo duniya ko dikha bhi na sakuN
aur gir jaa’e zamiN par to uTha bhi na sakuN 1.tears
In keeping with conventions, the lover has to remain stoic, not show his pain for fear of maligning the reputation of the beloved. Thus, genuine tears of the sorrow of love are those that I cannot show to the world and if they drop to the ground, I cannot pick them up either.
2
ye mere Gham ka fasaana1 hai rahega lab2 par
teri ruudaad3 nahiN hai keh suna bhi na sakuN 1.legend, story 2.lips 3.narrative, story
In this she’r there is a bit of a contradition compared to the previous one. Here he appears to be willing to share the story of his pain, but without involving the name of the beloved. He almost defiantly tells the beloved – this is the story of the pain of my love, it will remain on my lips. It is not your narrative that I cannot tell the world.
3
partav1-e husn2 huN is vaaste3 mahduud4 huN maiN
husn ho jaauN to duniya meN sama5 bhi na sakuN 1.reflection 2.(divine) beauty, god 3.this is why 4.limited, restricted 5.fit into, contained into
This is based on sufiyaana thoughts of ‘vahdat-ul-vujood’ and that one day we will be able to achieve ‘fana’ – obliteration, loss of individual identity with merger with the divine. Thus, today I am a mere reflection of divine glory, that is why I am confined. When I merge with (become) divine glory, then even this world will not be able to contain me.
4
tez kuchh vaqt ki raftaar1 nahiN hai laikin
tum agar2 saath3 na do paauN baRha bhi na sakuN 1.speed 2.if 3.be with, help
The pace of time is not too fast but if you don’t help me, I will not be able to take any steps forward. Most likely, this is addressed to god.
5
ab vahi log bigaaRi1 hai jinhoN ne qismat
chaahte2 haiN keh maiN taqdiir bana3 bhi na sakuN 1.spoil, break, destroyed 2.wish 3.repair, re-make
The very same people who destroyed my faith, now wish that I not be able to re-make it.
6
aaj nakaam1 sahi2 kal ka bharosa3 hai mujhe
ishq phir kya jo tujhe apna bana bhi na sakuN 1.unsuccessful 2.may be 3.faith, belief
Today I may have been unsuccessful but I believe that I will succeed tomorrow. What is sincere love that cannot win you over.
7
dil kahaaN ek siyah-Khaana1 hai ranj-o-Gham2 ka
is qadar3 daaGh4 lage haiN keh miTa5 bhi na sakuN 1.house of darkness 2.pain and sorrow 3.so many 4.wounds, scars 5.erase
What is this heart except an abode of the darkness of pain and sorrow. There are so many scars that I cannot even erase/clean them.
8
dil ki gahraaii1 se aye dost zara kah to sahi
jaan2 aisi to nahiN jis ko gaNva3 bhi na sakuN 1.depth 2.life 3.lose, give up
This could well be a bit introspection phrased as addressing a friend. O friend, look into the depths of your heart and say if you can, that you are willing to lose your life.
9
umr1 guzri2 kabhi saaqi ne falak3 ye na kaha
itni pii le keh tujhe hosh4 meN laa bhi na sakuN 1.life 2.passed 3.pen-name of the poet 4.senses, awareness
O saaqi, I have spent my life going to the tavern but the saaqi never asked me to drink so much that she could not be able to bring me back to my senses i.e., drink in moderation.
heera lal falak dehlavi (1920?-1982?). I can only make an educated guess about his birth and death. A collection of his Ghazal was published posthumously in 1982 by his shaagird. The book mentions beKhud dehlavi (1863-1955) as his ‘inspirational ustaad’ and dedicates it to him. He was a minor official in the dehli court system. In the book he describes his encounter with beKhud dehlavi when he (falak) was still a young man. The book says that he started composing in 1940. He has several Ghazal composed in the zamin of Ghalib, this is one of a series linked to the corresponding radeef in ‘Ghalib naqsh-e qadam’.
1
ashk1-e Gham vo hai jo duniya ko dikha bhi na sakuN
aur gir jaa’e zamiN par to uTha bhi na sakuN
1.tears
In keeping with conventions, the lover has to remain stoic, not show his pain for fear of maligning the reputation of the beloved. Thus, genuine tears of the sorrow of love are those that I cannot show to the world and if they drop to the ground, I cannot pick them up either.
2
ye mere Gham ka fasaana1 hai rahega lab2 par
teri ruudaad3 nahiN hai keh suna bhi na sakuN
1.legend, story 2.lips 3.narrative, story
In this she’r there is a bit of a contradition compared to the previous one. Here he appears to be willing to share the story of his pain, but without involving the name of the beloved. He almost defiantly tells the beloved – this is the story of the pain of my love, it will remain on my lips. It is not your narrative that I cannot tell the world.
3
partav1-e husn2 huN is vaaste3 mahduud4 huN maiN
husn ho jaauN to duniya meN sama5 bhi na sakuN
1.reflection 2.(divine) beauty, god 3.this is why 4.limited, restricted 5.fit into, contained into
This is based on sufiyaana thoughts of ‘vahdat-ul-vujood’ and that one day we will be able to achieve ‘fana’ – obliteration, loss of individual identity with merger with the divine. Thus, today I am a mere reflection of divine glory, that is why I am confined. When I merge with (become) divine glory, then even this world will not be able to contain me.
4
tez kuchh vaqt ki raftaar1 nahiN hai laikin
tum agar2 saath3 na do paauN baRha bhi na sakuN
1.speed 2.if 3.be with, help
The pace of time is not too fast but if you don’t help me, I will not be able to take any steps forward. Most likely, this is addressed to god.
5
ab vahi log bigaaRi1 hai jinhoN ne qismat
chaahte2 haiN keh maiN taqdiir bana3 bhi na sakuN
1.spoil, break, destroyed 2.wish 3.repair, re-make
The very same people who destroyed my faith, now wish that I not be able to re-make it.
6
aaj nakaam1 sahi2 kal ka bharosa3 hai mujhe
ishq phir kya jo tujhe apna bana bhi na sakuN
1.unsuccessful 2.may be 3.faith, belief
Today I may have been unsuccessful but I believe that I will succeed tomorrow. What is sincere love that cannot win you over.
7
dil kahaaN ek siyah-Khaana1 hai ranj-o-Gham2 ka
is qadar3 daaGh4 lage haiN keh miTa5 bhi na sakuN
1.house of darkness 2.pain and sorrow 3.so many 4.wounds, scars 5.erase
What is this heart except an abode of the darkness of pain and sorrow. There are so many scars that I cannot even erase/clean them.
8
dil ki gahraaii1 se aye dost zara kah to sahi
jaan2 aisi to nahiN jis ko gaNva3 bhi na sakuN
1.depth 2.life 3.lose, give up
This could well be a bit introspection phrased as addressing a friend. O friend, look into the depths of your heart and say if you can, that you are willing to lose your life.
9
umr1 guzri2 kabhi saaqi ne falak3 ye na kaha
itni pii le keh tujhe hosh4 meN laa bhi na sakuN
1.life 2.passed 3.pen-name of the poet 4.senses, awareness
O saaqi, I have spent my life going to the tavern but the saaqi never asked me to drink so much that she could not be able to bring me back to my senses i.e., drink in moderation.
