Ghalib
Page 10
~
MehrbaaN ho ke bula lo mujhe chaaho jis waqt
MaiN gaya waqt nahiN hooN ke phir aa bhi na sakooN
Call me whenever and thus you will learn
I am not spent time that can’t return!
~
Maut ka ek din muayyan hai
Neend kyoN raat bhar nahiN aati
Death is predestined for a specific day
Why then does sleep elude you tonight? Do say.
4
Maqtey
Aate hain ghaib se ye mazaameeN khayaal meiN
Ghalib sareer-e khaama navaa-e sarosh hai
These rare ideas I dare invent
A zephyr from paradise brings,
The sounds of Ghalib’s pen on parchment
Are the flutter of angel wings
~
Ganjeena-e maani ka tilism us ko samajhiye
Jo lafz, ke Ghalib mere ash’aar meiN aave
Think of them as spells that unlock riches of nuance
The words that you will find in Ghalib’s verses perchance
~
Ghalib-e khasta ke baghair kaun se kaam band haiN
Roiye zaar kya, keejiye haai haai kyoN
What has been interrupted since that wretched Ghalib left?
Why howl so? Why shed those tears? Why do you feel bereft?
~
Bana kar faqeeroN ka hum bhes Ghalib
Tamaasha-e ahl-e karam dekhte haiN
Ghalib, I disguise myself and don a beggar’s garment
To watch the sordid spectacle of the ‘munificent’
~
Bekhudi be-sabab nahiN Ghalib
Kuch to hai jis ki parda-daari hai
Ghalib, this disinterest is surely not innocent
Concealed, I’m sure, is a hidden intent
~
Hum ko maaloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin
Dil ke khush rakhne ko Ghalib ye khayaal achchha hai
We know the reality of paradise
Ghalib, let’s admit, these are comforting lies
~
Aaye hai bekasi-e ishq pe rona Ghalib
Kis ke ghar jaayega sailaab-e bala mere baad
At love’s pathetic denouement, Ghalib, let tears flow
After me, to whose house will this malefic storm go?
~
Ishq ne Ghalib nikamma kar diya
Varna hum bhi aadmi the kaam ke
Indeed, Ghalib, love has laid me low
Else I was quite a useful fellow!
~
Dekha Asad ko khilwat-o jalwat meiN baar-ha
Deewana gar nahiN hai to hushiyaar bhi nahiN
Public or private, I’ve seen Asad in every light
Though not totally crazy, he surely isn’t that bright
~
Kuch to padhiye ke log kahte haiN
Aaj Ghalib ghazal-saraa na hua
Declaim something, for I’ve heard people say
Ghalib won’t perform his ghazal today.
5
Matley
Na tha kuch to khuda tha kuch na hota to khuda hota
Duboya mujh ko hone ne na hota maiN to kya hota
When there was nothing, there was god
Had there been nothing, god would be
The act of being was my undoing
What would have been had there been no me?
~
Ishrat-e qatra hai darya meiN fana ho jaana
Dard ka had se guzarna hai dava ho jaana
When the lonesome drop falls into the sea
It finally is consummated
When pain crosses a threshold
The sufferer feels medicated
~
Muddat hui hai yaar ko mehmaaN kiye hue
Josh-e qadah se bazm chiraaghaaN kiye hue
It’s been a while my friend, do accept my invite
With the tumult of wine let us brighten tonight
~
Aaina kyon na dooN ke tamaasha kaheN jise
Aisa kahaaN se laaooN ke tujh sa kaheN jise
If you seek your equal, I must offer a looking glass
Where else can I offer someone equal to you in class?
~
Dard minnat-kash-e dava na hua
Main na achchha hua bura na hua
My ache did not seek redress
I neither healed, nor sickened
~
Hai bus ke har ek un ke ishaare meiN nihaaN aur
Karte haiN mohabbat to guzarta hai gumaaN aur
In his every signal lie hints of another motivation
Thus, when he declaims his love, there’s bound to be suspicion
~
Vo firaaq aur vo visaal kahaaN
Vo shab-o roz-o maah-o saal kahaaN
Where is that separation and that union?
Where are those nights and days and months and years?
[Alternative:
With you my dear
Time has a new dimension
Separation and union
Stand for night, day, month, year]
~
Dil hi to hai na sang-o khisht dard se bhar na aaye kyoN
Royenge hum hazaar baar koi hameN sataaye kyoN
After all, it is a heart, not a stone or brick, how won’t it fill with pain?
I’ll cry a thousand times, why should someone rain torment on me?
~
Kya tang hum sitam-zadagaaN ka jahaan hai
Jis meiN ke aik baiza-e mor aasmaan hai
How limited is the world of us, the oppressed
Where our heaven is as big as an ant’s egg!1
~
Koi din gar zindagaani aur hai
Apne jee meiN hum ne thaani aur hai
Though we have but a few days to live awhile
I have resolved to live it in a new style.
6
Ghazaliyaat
(1)
LAAZIM THA KE DEKHO
Laazim tha ke dekho mera rasta koi din aur
Tanha gaye kyoN, ab raho tanha koi din aur
Mit jaayega sar gar tera patthar na ghisega
HooN dar pe tere naasiya-farsa koi din aur
Aaye ho kal aur aaj hi kahte ho ki jaaooN
Maana ke hamesha nahiN, achchha koi din aur
Jaate hue kahte ho qayaamat ko milenge
Kya khoob qayaamat ka hai goya koi din aur
HaaN ai falak-e-peer javaaN tha abhi Arif
Kya tera bigadta jo na marta koi din aur
LAMENT FOR ARIF1
Appropriate it would be, had you waited for me some more
Why did you depart alone? Now stay solitary some more
May either be destroyed first, my head or your tombstone
Thus I rub my forehead at your grave, melancholy some more
You came but yesterday, and now abruptly take your leave?
I know you won’t stay forever, but do tarry some more
As you go, you seem to say ‘let’s meet on Judgment Day’
Today’s that doomsday, I needn’t wait hopefully some more
Did you not see, O ancient sky, Arif was but a youth?
What would you’ve lost had he died later, stayed with me some more?
Tum maah-e shab-e chaar-dahum the mere ghar ke
Phir kyoN na raha ghar ka vo naqsha koi din aur
Tum kaun se the aise khare daad-o sitad ke
Karta malak-ul maut taqaaza koi din aur
NaadaaN ho jo kahte ho ki kyoN jeete haiN Ghalib?
Qismat meiN hai marne ki tamanna koi din aur.
You had brightened my house like the moon of the fourteenth night2
And now you ask why my house languishes darkly some more?
O angel of death! Why were you such a strict bookkeeper?
Could you not have waited to settle my liability some more?
Foolish are those who ask, ‘why do you keep living, Ghalib?’
It is my destiny to grieve despondently some more.
(2)
AAH KO CHAAH
IYE
Aah ko chaahiye ek umr asar hone tak
Kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak?
Daam-e har mauj meiN hai halqaa-e sadkaam-e nahang
DekheN kya guzre hai qatre pe gohar hone tak
Aashiqi sabr-talab aur tamanna betaab
Dil ka kya rang karooN khoon-e jigar hone tak
Hum ne maana ke taghaaful na karoge lekin
Khaak ho jaayenge hum tum ko khabar hone tak
Partav-e khur se hai shabnam ko fana ki taaleem
MaiN bhi hooN ek inaayat ki nazar hone tak
Ek nazar besh nahiN fursat-e hasti ghaafil
Garmi-e bazm hai ek raqs-e sharar hone tak
Gham-e hasti ka Asad kis se ho juz marg ilaaj
Shama har rang meiN jalti hai sahar hone tak.
A CRY NEEDS
For a cry to lead to redress, it often takes an age
Who can remain alive while you with your stray curls engage?
Each wave of the ocean harbours a hundred crocodiles
What lies in store before the drop achieves a pearly stage?3
Love counsels patience while desire betrays its anxiety
How should I colour my heart, while these dual passions rage?
I know that you won’t shrink from familiarity but
Before you hear of my sad plight, I would have died off-stage
The new sunbeam announces imminent death to dewdrops
I too await the gaze that will both kill and assuage
A mere glance is sufficient for you to complete your task
A spark needs but a moment to kindle a fire’s rage
What is the cure for life’s sorrow save death, my dear Asad?
The taper burns all night, awaits the dawn to be upstaged.
(3)
BAS KE DUSHWAAR HAI
Bas ke dushwaar hai har kaam ka aasaaN hona
Aadmi ko bhi mayassar nahiN insaaN hona
Ishrat-e qatlgah-e ahl-e tamanna mat poochh
Eed-e nazzaara hai shamsheer ka uriyaaN hona
Ki mere qatl ke baad us ne jafa se tauba
Haai us zood-pashemaaN ka pashemaaN hona
Haif us chaar-girah kapde ki qismat Ghalib
Jis ki qismat meiN ho aashiq ka garebaaN hona.
IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
It’s impossible for all tasks to be facile, that’s all
People find it so tough to answer humanity’s call
Measure not the desire for death in the passionate
The sight of the killer’s sword presages the festival4
After killing me, my tormentor forswore all murder
That swift repenter was contrite and rueful, I recall5
Spare a thought for the ill-fated four measures of cloth that
Were destined to become a lover’s shirt, tunic or shawl.6
(4)
SAB KAHAAN? KUCHH
Sab kahaaN, kuch laala-o-gul meiN numaayaaN ho gaeeN
Khaak meiN kyaa soorateiN hongeeN ke pinhaaN ho gaeeN
Yaad thi hum ko bhi rang-a-rang bazm-aaraaiyaaN
Lekin ab naqsh-o nigaar-e taaq-e nisyaaN ho gaeeN
Thi banaatun-naash-e gardooN din ko parde mein nihaaN
Shab ko un ke jee meiN kya aaya ki uriyaaN ho gaeeN
Joo-e khooN aankhoN se bahne do, ke hai shaam-e firaaq
MaiN ye samjhoonga ke sham’eN do farozaaN ho gaeeN
Neend uski hai, dimaagh uska hai, raateiN uski hain
Teri zulfeN jiske baazoo par pareshaaN ho gaeeN
Main chaman mein kya gaya, goya dabistan khul gaya
BulbuleN sun kar mere naale ghazal-khwaaN ho gaeeN
NOT ALL, MERELY A FEW
Not all, merely a few were celebrated in tulips and roses
What faces there must have been, which remain hidden in dust!
I remembered for a long time those colourful decorations
But now they are consigned to the shelf of forgotten memories
The starry beauties of the constellation stayed hidden in the mist of the day
At night, wonder what came over them, they revealed themselves, disrobed7
Blood flows from my eyes; let it, for it’s the night of separation
I will think that two candles that were thus lit
Sleep, and wisdom, and the nights all belong to that one
On whose shoulder you choose to rest, with your tresses scattered
As I entered the garden, it was like school had commenced
The nightingales became poets, when they heard me declaim8
Hum muvahhid hain, hamaara kaish hai tark-e rusoom
MillateiN jab mit gaeeN ajzaa-e eemaaN ho gaeeN
Ranj se khoogar hua insaaN to mit jaata hai ranj
MushkileN mujh par padi itni ke aasaaN ho gaeeN
Yoon hi gar rota raha Ghalib to ai ahl-e jahaaN
Dekhna in bastiyoN ko tum ke veeraaN ho gaeeN.
I believe in the oneness of god, the disavowal of rituals is my creed
For when religions fade away, they will become part of true faith
When one makes friends with grief, it miraculously disappears
I faced so many privations, that they eventually became facile
If Ghalib keeps up his lament, mark my words, O people
These neighbourhoods of yours will turn into wilderness.
(5)
HAZAARON KHWAAHISHEIN AISI
HazaaroN khwaahisheiN aisi ke har khwaahish pe dam nikle
Bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle
Dare kyoN mera qaatil kya rahega us ki gardan par
Vo kyoN jo chashm-e tar se umr bhar yooN dam-ba-dam nikle
Nikalna khuld se Aadam ka sunte aaye haiN lekin
Bahut be-aabroo ho kar tere kooche se hum nikle
Bharam khul jaaye zaalim teri qaamat ki daraazi ka
Agar us turra-e pur-pech-o-kham ka pech-o-kham nikle
Magar likhvaaye koi us ko khat to hum se likhvaaye
Hui subh aur ghar se kaan par rakh kar qalam nikle
Hui is daur meiN mansoob mujh se baada-aashaami
Phir aaya vo zamaana jo jahaan mein jaam-e-jam nikle
Hui jin se tawaqqo khastagi ki daad paane ki
Vo ham se bhi ziyaada khasta-e tegh-e sitam nikle
THOUSANDS OF DESIRES
Thousands of desires, and each one worth dying for
Many of my desires were fulfilled, but yet, I feel unrequited
Why should my killer worry, no blame need accrue for my blood
That which flowed from my neck would have ebbed from my eyes
We have heard often of the expulsion of Adam from Eden
But that is nothing compared to my shamed exit from your street
The secret of your tall stature would be out, my tyrant
Should the twists and turns of your tresses be unfurled9
If anyone wishes to write my love a letter, then I am available
Every morning, I set out, with a pen tucked behind my ear10
In this age it is I who has become associated with inebriation
Through me has emerged a second age of Jamshed11
The one whose solace I sought for my wounded self
Turned out to be wounded worse by the sword of tyranny
Mohabbat mein nahiN hai farq jeene aur marne ka
Usi ko dekh kar jeete haiN jis kaafir pe dam nikle
Khuda ke vaaste parda na Kaabe se uthaa, zaalimKahin aisa na ho yaaN bhi vahi kaafir sanam nikle
KahaaN maikhaane ka darvaza Ghalib aur kahaaN vaaiz
Par itnaa jaante haiN kal vo jaata thha, ke hum nikle.
In love, there is no difference between living and dying
For I find my will live by gazing at the infidel who kills me12
For god’s sake, keep the black cloth on the Kaaba
I do not want to find that it harbours yet another infidel idol13
Whither the tavern door, Ghalib, and whither the holy man?
But I swear, as I left the tavern
last night, I saw him enter.
(6)
BAAZEECHA-E ATFAAL
Baazeecha-e atfaal hai duniya mere aage
Hota hai shab-o-roz tamaasha mere aage
Hota hai nihaaN gard mein sahra mere hote
Ghista hai jabeeN khaak pe dariya mere aage
Mat poochh ke kya haal hai mera tere peechhe
Tu dekh ke kya rang hai tera mere aage
EemaaN mujhe roke hai jo khenche hai mujhe kufr
Kaaba mere peechhe hai, kaleesa mere aage
Go haath ko jumbish nahiN aankhoN mein to dam hai
Rehne do abhi saaghar-o-meena mere aage
Hum-pesha o hum-mashrab o humraaz hai mera
Ghalib ko bura kyoN kaho achha mere aage.