For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
تیری آواز ۔ ساحرؔ لدھیانوی
۱
رات سُنسان تھی بوجھل تھیں فضا کی سانسیں
روح پر چھائے تھے بے نام غموں کے سائے
دل کو یہ ضِد تھی کہ تو آئے تسلّی دینے
میری کوشِش تھی کہ کمبخت کو نیند آ جائے
۲
دیر تک آنکھوں میں چُبھتی رہی تاروں کی چمک
دیر تک ذہن سلگتا رہا تنہائی میں
اپنے ٹھکرائے ہوئے دوست کی پُرسِش کے لئے
تو نہ آئی مگر اس رات کی پہنائی میں
۳
یوں اچانک تری آواز کہیں سے آئی
جیسے پربت کا جگر چیر کے جھرنا پھوٹے
یا زمینوں کی محبت میں تڑپ کر ناگاہ
آسمانوں سے کوئی شوخ ستارہ ٹوٹے
۴
شہد سا گھل گیا تلخابۂ تنہائی میں
رنگ سا پھیل گیا دل کے سیہ خانے میں
دیر تک یوں تری مستانہ صدائیں گونجیں
جس طرح پھول چِٹکنے لگیں ویرانے میں
۵
تو بہت دور کسی انجمنِ ناز میں تھی
پھر بھی محسوس کیا میں نے کہ تو آئی ہے
اور نغموں میں چھپا کر مرے کھوئے ہوئے خواب
میری روٹھی ہوئی نیندوں کو منا لائی ہے
۶
رات کی سطح پر اُبھرے ترے چہرے کے نُقُوش
وہی چپ چاپ سی آنکھیں وہی سادہ سی نظر
وہی ڈھلکا ہوا آنچل وہی رفتار کا خم
وہی رہ رہ کے لچکتا ہوا نازک پیکر
۷
تو مرے پاس نہ تھی پھر بھی سحر ہونے تک
تیرا ہر سانس مرے جسم کو چھو کر گزرا
قطرہ قطرہ ترے دیدار کی شبنم ٹپکی
لمحہ لمحہ تری خوشبُو سے معطر گزرا
۸
اب یہی ہے تجھے منظور تو اے جانِ قرار
میں تری راہ نہ دیکھوں گا سیہ راتوں میں
ڈھونڈھ لیں گی مری ترسی ہوئی نظریں تجھ کو
نغمہ و شعر کی امڈی ہوئی برساتوں میں
۹
اب ترا پیار ستائے گا تو میری ہستی
تری مستی بھری آواز میں ڈھل جائے گی
اور یہ روح جو تیرے لئے بے چین سی ہے
گیت بن کر ترے ہونٹوں پہ مچل جائے گی
۱۰
تیرے نغمات ترے حُسن کی ٹھنڈک لے کر
میرے تپتے ہوئے ماحول میں آ جائیں گے
چند گھڑیوں کے لئے ہوں کہ ہمیشہ کے لئے
مری جاگی ہوئی راتوں کو سُلا جائیں گے
तेरी आवाज़ – साहर लुधियानवी
१
रात सुनसान थी बोझल थीं फ़ज़ा की साँसें
रूह पर छाए थे बे-नाम ग़मों के साए
दिल को ये ज़िद थी कि तू आए तसल्ली देने
मेरी कोशिश थी कि कम्बख़्त को नींद आ जाए
२
देर तक आँखौं में चुभती रही तारौं की चमक
देर तक ज़हन सुलग्ता रहा तन्हाई में
अपने ठुकराए हुए दोस्त की पुर्सिश के लिए
तू न आई मगर उस रात की पहनाई में
३
यूँ अचानक तेरी आवाज़ कहीं से आई
जैसे पर्बत का जिगर चीर के झरना फूटे
या ज़मीनों की मोहब्बत में तड़प कर नागाह
आस्मानों से कोई शूख़ सितारा टूटे
४
शहद सा घुल गया तल्ख़ाबा-ए तन्हाई में
रंग सा फैल गया दिल के सियह-ख़ाने में
देर तक यूँ तेरी मस्ताना सदाएँ गूँजीं
जिस तरह फूल चटकने लगें वीराने में
५
तू बहुत दूर किसी अंजुमन-ए नाज़ में थी
फिर भी महसूस किया मैं ने के तू आई है
और नग़्मों में छुपा कर मेरे खोए हुए ख़्वाब
मेरी रूठी हुई नींदों को मना लाई है
६
रात की सतह पर उभरे तेरे चेहरे के नुक़ूश
वही चुप-चाप सी आँखें वही सादा सी नज़र
वही ढलका हुआ आँचल वही रफ़्तार का ख़म
वही रह रह के लचक्ता हुआ नाज़ुक पैकर
७
तू मेरे पास न थी फिर भी सहर होने तक
तेरा हर साँस मेरे जिस्म को छू कर गुज़्रा
क़त्रा क़त्रा तेरे दीदार की शब्नम टपकी
लम्हा लम्हा तेरी ख़ुश्बू से मोअत्तर गुज़्रा
८
अब यही है तुझे मंज़ूर तो अए जान-ए क़रार
मैं तेरी राह न देखूँगा सियह रातों में
ढूँढ लेंगी मेरी तर्सी हुई नज़रें तुझ को
नग़्मा ओ शेर की उम्डी हुई बरसातों में
९
अब तेरा प्यार सताएगा तो मेरी हस्ती
तेरी मस्ती भरी आवाज़ में ढल जाएगी
और ये रूह जो तेरे लिए बेचैन सी है
गीत बन कर तेरे होंटों पे मचल जाएगी
१०
तेरे नग़्मात तेरे हुस्न की ठंडक ले कर
मेरे तपते हुए माहौल में आ जाएँगे
चंद घड़ियों के लिए हों के हमेशा के लिए
मेरी जागी हुई रातों को सुला जाएँगे
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 appears to be a purely romantic nazm with no social undertones and reflects the unfulfilled love relationships in sahir’s life. There is a (totally unsubstantiated) claim that sahir composed this as a tribute to lata maNgeshkar’s voice, at a time when relations between the two were not bitter. I cannot quite believe this, but upon lata maNgeshkar’s passing, I am quite willing to say that this nazm does reflect sentiments of tribute to a beautiful voice.
1
raat sunsaan1 thi bojhal2 thiiN fazaa3 ki saaNseN4
ruuh5 par chhaaye the be-naam GhamoN ke saaye
dil ko ye zid6 thi ki tu aaye tasalli7 dene
meri koshish8 thi ki kambaKht9 ko niiNd aa jaaye 1.deserted, lonely 2.drooping, subdued 3.air, ambience 4.rhythm (as in breathing) 5.soul, spirit 6.insistence 7.consolation 8.effort 9.unfortunate
The night was lonely and the rhythm of time was slow and subdued. My spirit was overwhelmed by dark shadows of melancholy. The unfortunate heart was insisting that you come to console me and I was trying that it forget its sorrow and sleep.
2
der tak aankhoN meN chubhti rahi taaroN ki chamak
der tak zahn1 sulagtaa2 rahaa tanhaaii3 meN
apne Thukraaye4 hue dost5 ki pursish6 ke liye
to na aaii magar us raat ki pahnaaii7 meN 1.mind, memories 2.burning 3.loneliness 4.rejected 5.friend, admirer, lover 7.extent
For long, the twinkle of the stars pricked my eyes. For long memories burned my heart in my loneliness. But through the extent of the night, you did not come to ask after your rejected admirer.
3
yuuN achaanak1 teri aavaaz kahiiN se aaii
jaise parbat kaa jigar chiir ke jharnaa2 phuTe
yaa zaminoN ki mohabbat meN taRap kar naagaah3
aasmaanoN se koi shooKh4 sitaara TuuTe 1.suddenly, unexpectedly 2.spring, brook 3.unexpected, surprise 4.mischeivous
Suddenly from somewhere I heard your voice, like a gurgling brook bursting forth from a mountain, or like a playful star, impatient to meet its beloved earth, shoots down from the sky.
4
shahd1 saa ghul2 gayaa talKhaaba3-e tanhaaii4 meN
raNg saa phail gayaa dil ke siyah-Khaane5 meN
der tak yuuN teri mastaana6 sadaayeN7 gooNjiN
jis tarah phuul chaTakne8 lageN viraane9 meN 1.honey 2.dissolve 3.bitter drink 4.loneliness 5.dark house 6.intoxicating 7.sounds 8.gentle sound (poetic imagination) of unfolding petals as flowers bloom 9.desolate wilderness
It was as if someone poured honey into the bitter drink of loneliness. Bright colours spread through the darkness of my heart. For long your intoxicating sounds echoed like the clicking of flower petals blooming in desolate wilderness.
5
tu bahut duur kisi anjuman1-e naaz2 meN thi
phir bhi mahsus3 kiyaa maiN ne keh tu aaii hai
aur naGhmoN4 meN chhupaa kar mere khoye hue Khwaab
meri ruThi hui nindoN ko manaa laaii hai 1.gathering, party 2.admirers offering homage 3.felt 4.songs
You were far away, surrounded by admirers, but I felt as if you have come, cloaking my lost dreams in the guise of your songs. You have reconciled/brought back my unhappy slumber/comfort.
6
raat ki sat’h1 par ubhre2 tere chehre ke nuqoosh3
vahi chup-chaap si aaNhkeN vahi saada si nazar
vahi Dhalkaa huaa aaNchal vahi raftaar4 kaa Kham5
vahi rah rah ke lachaktaa huaa naazuk6 paikar7 1.surface 2.emerge 3.sketch, marks 4.speed, gait 5.curve, swing 6.delicate 7.form
On the black surface of the dark night, emerged a picture of your face. The same silent eyes, the same straight and simple glance, the drooping shawl and same swinging gait. The same hesitant, supple and delicate form.
7
tu mere paas na thi phir bhi sahar1 hone tak
teraa har saaNs mere jism ko chhu kar guzraa2
qatra qatra3 tere didaar4 ki shabnam5 Tapki
lamha lamha6 teri Khushbu se mo’attar7 guzraa2 1.dawn 2.passed 3.drop by drop 4.sight 5.dew 6.minute by minute 7.fragrant
You were not near me, but all through the night, until dawn, your every breath touched my body. Dew dripped, drop by drop, like glimpses of your sight. The minutes passed redolent with your fragrance.
8
ab yahi hai tujhe manzur1 to aye jaan-e-qaraar2
maiN teri raah3 na dekhuNga siyah4 raatoN meN
DhuNDh leNgi meri tarsi5 hui nazreN6 tujh ko
naGhma7 o she’r ki umDi hui barsaatoN meN 1.acceptable, wish 2.soul of my comfort/love 3.path – looking for you coming along the path 4.dark 5.thirsty 6.eyes
If this be your wish, O, soul of my love, then I will not look for you in these dark nights. My thirsty eyes will seek you in clouds raining song and verse.
9
ab tera pyaar sataayegaa to meri hasti1
teri masti2 bhari aavaaz meN Dhal3 jaayegi
aur ye ruuh4 jo tere liye bechain5 si hai
giit ban kar tere hoNToN pe machal jaayegi 1.being, existence 2.intoxication 3.moulded 4.spirit 5.restless, eager
Now, if love for you, makes me lonely, then my very existence will mould itself into your intoxicating sounds. My restless soul, eager for you, will seek comfort in the song that trembles on your lips.
10
tere naGhmaat1 tere husn2 ki ThanDak le kar
mere tapte3 hue maahaul4 meN aa jaayeNge
chand5 ghaRiyoN6 ke liye hoN keh hamesha7 ke liye
meri jaagi hui raatoN ko sulaa jaayeNge 1.songs 2.beauty 3.burning 4.surroundings 5.a few 6.moments 7.forever
Your songs will bring the cool comfort of your beauty and put out the fires that surround me. Perhaps for a few minuts, perhaps forever, they will bring some comfort to my sleepless nights.
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 appears to be a purely romantic nazm with no social undertones and reflects the unfulfilled love relationships in sahir’s life. There is a (totally unsubstantiated) claim that sahir composed this as a tribute to lata maNgeshkar’s voice, at a time when relations between the two were not bitter. I cannot quite believe this, but upon lata maNgeshkar’s passing, I am quite willing to say that this nazm does reflect sentiments of tribute to a beautiful voice.
1
raat sunsaan1 thi bojhal2 thiiN fazaa3 ki saaNseN4
ruuh5 par chhaaye the be-naam GhamoN ke saaye
dil ko ye zid6 thi ki tu aaye tasalli7 dene
meri koshish8 thi ki kambaKht9 ko niiNd aa jaaye
1.deserted, lonely 2.drooping, subdued 3.air, ambience 4.rhythm (as in breathing) 5.soul, spirit 6.insistence 7.consolation 8.effort 9.unfortunate
The night was lonely and the rhythm of time was slow and subdued. My spirit was overwhelmed by dark shadows of melancholy. The unfortunate heart was insisting that you come to console me and I was trying that it forget its sorrow and sleep.
2
der tak aankhoN meN chubhti rahi taaroN ki chamak
der tak zahn1 sulagtaa2 rahaa tanhaaii3 meN
apne Thukraaye4 hue dost5 ki pursish6 ke liye
to na aaii magar us raat ki pahnaaii7 meN
1.mind, memories 2.burning 3.loneliness 4.rejected 5.friend, admirer, lover 7.extent
For long, the twinkle of the stars pricked my eyes. For long memories burned my heart in my loneliness. But through the extent of the night, you did not come to ask after your rejected admirer.
3
yuuN achaanak1 teri aavaaz kahiiN se aaii
jaise parbat kaa jigar chiir ke jharnaa2 phuTe
yaa zaminoN ki mohabbat meN taRap kar naagaah3
aasmaanoN se koi shooKh4 sitaara TuuTe
1.suddenly, unexpectedly 2.spring, brook 3.unexpected, surprise 4.mischeivous
Suddenly from somewhere I heard your voice, like a gurgling brook bursting forth from a mountain, or like a playful star, impatient to meet its beloved earth, shoots down from the sky.
4
shahd1 saa ghul2 gayaa talKhaaba3-e tanhaaii4 meN
raNg saa phail gayaa dil ke siyah-Khaane5 meN
der tak yuuN teri mastaana6 sadaayeN7 gooNjiN
jis tarah phuul chaTakne8 lageN viraane9 meN
1.honey 2.dissolve 3.bitter drink 4.loneliness 5.dark house 6.intoxicating 7.sounds 8.gentle sound (poetic imagination) of unfolding petals as flowers bloom 9.desolate wilderness
It was as if someone poured honey into the bitter drink of loneliness. Bright colours spread through the darkness of my heart. For long your intoxicating sounds echoed like the clicking of flower petals blooming in desolate wilderness.
5
tu bahut duur kisi anjuman1-e naaz2 meN thi
phir bhi mahsus3 kiyaa maiN ne keh tu aaii hai
aur naGhmoN4 meN chhupaa kar mere khoye hue Khwaab
meri ruThi hui nindoN ko manaa laaii hai
1.gathering, party 2.admirers offering homage 3.felt 4.songs
You were far away, surrounded by admirers, but I felt as if you have come, cloaking my lost dreams in the guise of your songs. You have reconciled/brought back my unhappy slumber/comfort.
6
raat ki sat’h1 par ubhre2 tere chehre ke nuqoosh3
vahi chup-chaap si aaNhkeN vahi saada si nazar
vahi Dhalkaa huaa aaNchal vahi raftaar4 kaa Kham5
vahi rah rah ke lachaktaa huaa naazuk6 paikar7
1.surface 2.emerge 3.sketch, marks 4.speed, gait 5.curve, swing 6.delicate 7.form
On the black surface of the dark night, emerged a picture of your face. The same silent eyes, the same straight and simple glance, the drooping shawl and same swinging gait. The same hesitant, supple and delicate form.
7
tu mere paas na thi phir bhi sahar1 hone tak
teraa har saaNs mere jism ko chhu kar guzraa2
qatra qatra3 tere didaar4 ki shabnam5 Tapki
lamha lamha6 teri Khushbu se mo’attar7 guzraa2
1.dawn 2.passed 3.drop by drop 4.sight 5.dew 6.minute by minute 7.fragrant
You were not near me, but all through the night, until dawn, your every breath touched my body. Dew dripped, drop by drop, like glimpses of your sight. The minutes passed redolent with your fragrance.
8
ab yahi hai tujhe manzur1 to aye jaan-e-qaraar2
maiN teri raah3 na dekhuNga siyah4 raatoN meN
DhuNDh leNgi meri tarsi5 hui nazreN6 tujh ko
naGhma7 o she’r ki umDi hui barsaatoN meN
1.acceptable, wish 2.soul of my comfort/love 3.path – looking for you coming along the path 4.dark 5.thirsty 6.eyes
If this be your wish, O, soul of my love, then I will not look for you in these dark nights. My thirsty eyes will seek you in clouds raining song and verse.
9
ab tera pyaar sataayegaa to meri hasti1
teri masti2 bhari aavaaz meN Dhal3 jaayegi
aur ye ruuh4 jo tere liye bechain5 si hai
giit ban kar tere hoNToN pe machal jaayegi
1.being, existence 2.intoxication 3.moulded 4.spirit 5.restless, eager
Now, if love for you, makes me lonely, then my very existence will mould itself into your intoxicating sounds. My restless soul, eager for you, will seek comfort in the song that trembles on your lips.
10
tere naGhmaat1 tere husn2 ki ThanDak le kar
mere tapte3 hue maahaul4 meN aa jaayeNge
chand5 ghaRiyoN6 ke liye hoN keh hamesha7 ke liye
meri jaagi hui raatoN ko sulaa jaayeNge
1.songs 2.beauty 3.burning 4.surroundings 5.a few 6.moments 7.forever
Your songs will bring the cool comfort of your beauty and put out the fires that surround me. Perhaps for a few minuts, perhaps forever, they will bring some comfort to my sleepless nights.
