This post is in continuation of my ‘Immortal Ghazals of Shakeel Badayuni – Part I’.
On the 10th of January this year I started a Facebook group ‘Main Shayar To Nahin’ primarily to air my devotion for him and some other Urdu poets. I regularly put up Shakeel’s poetry with meanings so that more and more people can savour his excellence. I call him the King of Irony since no one can write irony better than he did. Just one example:
Na milata gham to barbaadi ke afsaane kahan jaate?
If there was to be no sorrow, where would odes of ruin find a place
Agar duniya chaman hoti to veeraane kahan jaate?
If the world would be just a garden, where would deserts find a place
Chalo achha hua apano mein koi gair to nikala,
It is good that amongst own people there was an outsider too
Agar hote sabhi apane to begaane kahan jaate?
If all people were your own (in the world) where would strangers find a place
My blog already has a number of articles on Shakeel Badayuni (‘Shakeel Badayuni – The King Amongst Lyricist And Poets – Part I’; ‘Shakeel Badayuni – The King Amongst Lyricist And Poets – Part II’, ‘The Best Of Old Hindi Songs – Rafi, Shakeel, Naushad And Dilip Kumar Together’, and ‘Another Tribute To Shakeel Badayuni In The Month Of His Death Anniversary’)
We were a slave nation for 31 years of his 53 that he walked on this earth. All his contemporaries wrote about social inequalities, poverty, slavery and the like. Shakeel wrote about Love, Mohabbat, Ishq, Wafa, Ulfat; it is as if he lived in a different world. In addition, his god faring nature ensured that he also wrote the finest Bhajans in Hindi movies.
Lets restart the journey into his Ghazals:
Ghazal #16
This is not just beautiful; Shakeel has crafted it to perfection with his lament.
Please enjoy: Chandini mein rukh-e-zebaa nahin dekha jaata:
Chandnii mein rukh-e-zebaa nahin dekha jaata
Maah o khurshiid ko yakjaa nahin dekha jaata
In the moonshine you shouldn’t see (her) beautiful face,
(Just as) You can’t see moon-month and sun together.
(rukh-e-zebaa=beautiful face; maah= moonmonth; khurshiid= the sun; yakjaa=together)
Youn to un aankhon se kyaa kyaa nahin dekha jaata
Haan magar apana hi jalwa nahin dekha jaata
Those eyes, they can see this and that and everything,
However, they cannot see their own splendour
(jalwa=display, splendour)
Diida o dil ki tabaahi mujhe manzuur magar
Un kaa utara huaa chehra nahin dekha jaata
I accept the ruining of my sight and heart,
But, I just can’t bear to see her fallen face
(Diida=sight; tabaahi=ruin; manzuur=accepted)
Zabt-e-gham haan ashkon kaa talaatum
Ab to suukhaa huaa dariyaa nahin dekha jaata
Tolerance is necessary to see the upheaval of tears,
Now, it is unbearable to see the river having dried up
(Zabt-e-gham=tolerance; ashkon=tears; talaatum=upheaval)
Zindagi aa tujhe qaatil ke havaale kar duun
Mujhase ab khoon-e-tamanna nahin dekhaa jaata
My life, come I shall offer you to the murderer
I cannot bear to see the murder of my desires
(qaatil=murderer; khoon-e-tamanna=murder of desires)
Ab to jhuutii bhi tasalli ba-sar-o-chashm qubuul
Dil kaa rah rah ke tadapanaa nahin dekha jaata
Now I accept by all means false or fake assurance
I cannot bear to see my heart repeatedly sobbing
(tasalli=assurance, comfort; ba-saro-chashm=by all means; qubuul=consented)
Ghazal #17
This too has been sung by Talat Mahmood and has exquisite lyrics.
Please enjoy: Dil ko behlaane ki tadbeer to hai
Dil ko behlaane ki tadbeer to hai
Tu nahin teri tasveer to hai
I have a solution for amusing my heart
I don’t have you but have your picture
(Tadbeer=solution)
Hamsafar chhod gaye mujhako to kyaa
Saath mere meri taqdeer to hai
So what if fellow travellers abandoned me
I have my destiny to keep me company
(Hamsafar=fellow travellers; taqdeer=destiny)
Qaid se chhoot ke bhi kyaa paaya
Aaj bhi paanv mein zanjeer to hai.
What did I obtain by freeing myself from the prison
Even today my feet are shackled
Kyaa majal unaki ke na den khat ka jawaab
Baat kuch baa.is-e-taakheer to hai
How dare she not reply to my epistle?
It is just that there is some cause for delay
(baa.is-e-taakheer=cause of delay)
Purshish-e-haal ko woh aa hi gaye
Kuchh bhi ho ishq mein taaseer to hai
She came just to enquire about my well-being
Whatever happens there is power in Love
(Purshish-e-haal=to enquire about well-being; taaseer=effect)
Gham ki duniyaa rahe aabaad Shakeel
Muflisi mein koi jaagir to hai
The world of sorrows may prosper, Shakeel
There are riches even in poverty
(Muflisi=poverty; jaagir=property)
Ghazal#18
Please enjoy: Hum unaki anjuman ka samaan ban ke reh gaye
Ham unaki anjuman ka samaan ban ke reh gaye
Sar-taa-qadam nigaah o zubaan ban ke reh gaye.
I only remained a scene in her society
From head to foot I remained just eyes and tongue.
(Anjuman=society, party; samaan=scene; Sar-taa-qadam= from head to foot)
Palte muqqadaraat kuchh is taur se ki ham
Tasveer-e-inqilaab-e-jahaan ban ke reh gaye
My destiny turned in such a manner
That I could just become the picture of world’s revolution
(Muqqadaraat= destiny; taur=manner; tasveer-e-inqilaab-e-jahaan= picture of world’s revolution)
Mazloom dil ki talkh-navaayi to dekhna
Naghme to jab taq aaye fugaan ban ke reh gaye
Just have a look at the bitter things said by my oppressed heart
Songs were yet to arrive, I could just become clamour.
(Mazloom= injured, oppressed; talkh-navaayi= saying bitter things; naghme= melodies; fughaan= clamour)
Ab ham hain aur haqeeqat-e-aalam hai ai Shakeel,
Lamhe khushi ke khwaab-e-giraan ban ke reh gaye.
Now I am here and the reality of tragedy, O Shakeel
Hours of happiness were just dream makers.
(Haqeeqat-e-aalam= reality of tragedy; lamhe= moments; khwaab-e-giraan= dream makers)
Ghazal #19
A little difficult but very meaningful.
Please enjoy: Duniya ki rawayat se begaana nahin hoon
Duniya ki rawayat se begaana nahin hoon,
Chhedo naa mujhe main koi deewana nahin hoon.
I am not a stranger to the tradition of the world
Don’t tease me, I am not some mad man
(Rawayat=tradition)
Is kasrat-e-gham pe bhi mujhe hasrat-e-gham hai,
Jo bhar ke chhalak jaaye wo paimaana nahin hoon.
I have a desire for sorrows for this excess of sorrows
It is not a true wine measure that overflows after being full
(kasrat-e-gham=excess of sorrows; hasrat-e-gham=desire for sorrows)
Ruudaad-e-gham hai taaza mere dam se
Unvaan-e-har-fasaana hoon afsaana nahin hoon
Story of sorrows is fresh because of me
I am the beginning of every romance but not the tale of romance
(Ruudaad-e-gham=story of sorrows; taaza=fresh; unvaan-e-har-fasaana=Beginning of romance; afsaana=tale of romance)
Ilzaam-e-junoon den na mujhe ahl-e-mohabbat,
Main khud ye samajhtaa hoon deewana nahin hoon.
People of love shouldn’t accuse me of madness
I consider myself that I am not a mad man
(Ilzaam-e-junoon= Accusation of madness; ahl-e-mohabbat= people of love; deewana=crazy in love)
Main qaayal-e-khud-daari-e-ulfat sahi lekin
Aadaab-e-mohabbat se begaana nahin hoon.
I may be a fan of selfish love, but
I am not a stranger to the norm of Love
(Qaayal-e-khud-daari-e-ulfat= Fan or follower of selfish love; Aadaab-e-mohabbat=ways/norms of love; begaana=stranger)
Hai barq-e-sar-e-toor se dil shola-ba-daaman
Sham-e-sar-e-mahfil hoon parvaana nahin hoon
Because of lightening on Toor mountain, there is fire at the hem of my heart
I am a patron if the evening assembly of poets and not a moth
(barq-e-sar-e-toor=lightening on Toor mountain; shola-ba-daaman= fire at hem of apparel; Sham-e-sar-e-mahfil=Patron of evening assembly of poets; parvaana=moth)
Hai gardish-e-saagar meri taqdeer ka chakker
Mohtaaj-e-tavaaf-e-dar-e-maikhaana nahin hoon
The movement (or revolution) of the wine-glass is the turn of my fate,
(But) I am not a slave of the door knob of the bar
(gardish-e-saagar=movement of glass of wine; taqdeer= fate; Mohtaaj-e-tavaaf-e-dar-e-maikhaana=slave of the door-knob of the bar)
Kaanto se guzr jaata hoon daaman ko bacha kar
Phoolon ki siyaasat se mein begaana nahin hoon.
I pass through the thorns protecting the hem if my apparel
However I am not a stranger to the administration or rule of flowers
(siyaasat=administration)
Lazzat-kash-e-nazraana Shakeel apni nazar hai
Mahruum-e-jamaal-e-rukh-e-jaanaana nahin hoon.
It is in my eye the taste of the pull (like a cigarette) of the gift (or present)
I am not deprived of the beauty of the female face
(Lazzat-kash-e-nazraana=taste of the pull of gift or present; nazar=eye; Mahruum-e-jamaal-e-rukh-e-jaanaana= deprived of the beauty of the female face)
Ghazal #20
This one is so good!
Please enjoy: Jab kabhi ham tere kuche se guzar jaate hain
Jab kabi ham tere kuche se guzr jaate hain
Lauh-e-idraak pe kuchh aur ubhar jaate hain
When I go through your narrow streets
Levels of perception become even higher (than before)
(Lauh-e-idraak = level of perception)
Husn se leejiye tanzeem-e-do-aalam ka sabaq
Subah hoti hai to gessu bhi sanvar jaate hain
Let the Beauty give a lesson in administration of the two worlds
As the morning comes, the tresses are combed too
(tanzeem-e-do-aalam = administration of two worlds; sabaq = lesson; gessu = hair, tresses)
Ham ne paaya hai mohabbat ka khumaar-e-abadi
Kaise hote hain vo nashe ki utar jaate hain?
I have obtained the everlasting intoxication of Love
What kind of intoxications are those that come down?
(Khumaar-e-abadi = everlasting intoxication)
Itne khaaif hain mai-o-mah se janaab-e-vaaiz
Naam-e-kausar bhi jo sunte hain to dar jaate hain
Mister Abstinent is so timid with wine and moon
He hears the name of fountain of wine in paradise and he trembles with fear
(Khaaif = timid, afraid; mai -o-mah = wine and moon; janaab-e-vaaiz = respected abstinent; Naam -e-kausar = name of fountain of wine in paradise)
Maikada band muqaffal hain dar-e-daur-o-haram
Dekhna hai ki Shakeel aaj kidhar jaate hain
The bar is closed and locked are the doors of the temple and mosque
Lets see Shakeel where do the go today
(Maikada = bar; muqaffal = locked; dar-e-daur-o-haram = doors of temple and mosque)
Ghazal #20
This has been sung by both Begum Akhtar and Farida Khanum. At the end of the original ghazal and its translation I am going to give you the version by Farida Khanum.
Please enjoy: Mere ham-nafas, mere ham-navaa, mujhe dost banake dagaa na de…
Mere ham-nafas, mere ham-navaa, mujhe dost banake dagaa na de
Main huu.N dard-e-ishq se jaa.N_valab, mujhe zindagii ki dua na de
My friend, my co-speaker, don’t deceive me after befriending me
I am almost dead with heartache, don’t wish life for me
[ham-nafas=friend; ham-navaa=speaking in unison; dagha=deceit; dard-e-ishq=heart sore; jaa.N_valab=near death, heart/life in mouth]
Mere daag-e-dil se hai raushani, usi raushani se hai zindagi
Mujhe dar hai aye mere chaaraagar, ye charaag tuu hi bujhaa na de
There is light because of my heartache, there is life because of that light
I am afraid my physician, you may not extinguish this lamp
[daag-e-dil=heart sore; chaaraagar=physician]
Mujhe chhod de mere haal par, teraa kyaa bharosaa hai chaaraagar
Ye teri nawaazish-e-muKhtasar, mera dard aur badaa na de
Please leave me on my condition, I have no trust in you physician
This small request of yours may not augment my ache
[nawaazish= request; muKhtasar=brief]
Mera azm itana baland hai ke paraaye sholon kaa dar nahin
Mujhe Khauf aatish-e-gul se hai, ye kahin chaman ko jalaa na de
My conviction is so great that I do not fear the other’s cinders
My fear is with the flame of flower that may burn down the garden
[azm=conviction; baland= high, great; sholo.n=balls of fire; khauf=fear; aatish-e-gul=flame of flower]
Wo uthe hain leke hom-o-subu, arey o ‘Shakeel’ kahaan hai tuu
Tera jaam lene ko bazm mein koi aur haath badaa na de
She has risen holding the wine cup, O Shakeel, where are you?
In this assembly in order to hold that wine cup someone else shouldn’t extend his hand
[hom=burnt offering; subu=wine cup; bazm=assembly, meeting]
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wFpK90fPA3A%3F
The subject of drinking wine from the hands of the beloved is a common subject in Urdu poetry. Shakeel did full justice to it.
Please enjoy: Laa raha hai mai koi sheeshe mein bhar ke saamne….
Laa raha hai mai koi sheeshe mein bhar ke saamne,
Kis kadar pur-kaif hai manzar nazar ke saamne
Someone is bringing wine before me in a glass
How intoxicated the scene is in front of my eyes
(pur-kaif = full of intoxication; manzar = scene, view)
Main to is aalam ko kyaa se kyaa bana deta magar,
Kis ki chalti hai hayaat-e-mukhatsar ke saamne
I could have changed this atmosphere into something, but,
Who is in control in the face of this short-life?
(aalam = atmosphere; hayaat-e-mukhatsar = short-life)
Phir na dena tanaa-e-nakaam-e-zauk-e-nazar
Hausla hai kuchh to aa jaao nazar ke saamne
Again do not rebuke me about the taste of failure
I challenge you if you have courage come face me
(tanaa = rebuke, complaint; nakaam = failure; zauk = taste)
Aah ye rudaad-e-hangaam-e-tarab ai gham-gusaar
Zikr-e-gulshan jaise ik be-baal-o-par ke saamne
O you who comforts, my sigh is that story of happening of music
As the narration of garden is in front of a bird without feathers and wings
(rudaad-e-hangaam-e-tarab = story of happening of music; gham-gusaar = one who comforts or consoles; zikr-e-gulshan = narration of garden; be-baal-o-par = without feathers and wings; helpless)
Ho chukaa jab khaatma saari ummidon ka to phir
Jaa rahe ho kyun Shakeel us fitnagar ke saamne
After the (brutal) end of all your hopes
Why then are you going Shakeel in front of the mischief maker?
(fitnagar = mischief maker)
Ghazal #22
This is so perfect that it is bound to leave you breathless!
Please enjoy: Nigaah-e-naaz ka ik vaar kar ke chhod diya…..
Nigaah-e-naaz ka ik vaar kar ke chhod diya
Dil-e-hareef ko bedaar kar ke chhod diya
She left with after just one attack of her look of love
She left me after awakening my rival heart
(Nigaah-e-naaz=Look of love; vaar=attack; Dil-e-hareef=heart of rival; bedaar = awake, vigilant)
Hui to hai younhi tardeed-e-ahd-e-lutf-o-karam
Dabi zubaan se ikraar kar ke chhod diya
It has happened somehow the refusal to accept the promise of pleasure and favour
With pursed lips she left me after giving consent
(tardeed=to refuse to admit/accept; ahd=promise; lutf=pleasure; karam=favour; ikraar=consent, promise)
Chhupe kuchh aise ki taa-ziist na aaye nazar
Raheen-e-hasrat-e-deedaar kar ke chhod diya
She hid herself such that even the trace of life cannot be seen
She left after making a pledge about the desire to see
(taa-ziist=trace or proof of life; Raheen-e-hasrat-e-deedaar=pledged to the desire to see)
Mujhe to qaid-e-mohabbat azeez thi lekin
Kisi ne mujh ko giraftaar kar ke chhod diya
The prison of love became dear to me, but,
Someone made me a prisoner but then left me
Nazar ko jur.at-e-takmeel-e-bandagii na hui
Tavaaf-e-kucha-e-dildaar kar ke chhod diya
My eyes couldn’t get the courage for completion of devotion
I left after circumambulation of the street of the beloved
(jur.at-e-takmeel-e-bandage=courage for completion of devotion; tavaaf-e-kucha-e-didaar=circumambulation of street of the beloved (just as you circumambulate around the idol of a god/goddess)
Khushaa vo kashmakash-e-rabt-e-baahamii jis ne
Dil-o-dimaag ko bekaar kar ke chhod diya
Blessed is she who through the dilemma of slow sadomasochism
Has left me after making my heart and mind useless
(Khushaa=blessed, fortunate; kashmakash=dilemma; rabt=slow; baahami=sadomasochism. So the meaning of this really excellent couplet is=Fortunate/blessed is she who through the dilemma of slow sadomasochism has made my heart and mind useless!)
Zahe-naseeb ki duniya ne tere gham se mujhe
Masarraton ko talabgaar kar ke chhod diya
The world of the lucky has done to me in your sorrow
That I am left as a seeker of happinesses
(Zahe-naseeb=one who has good luck/lucky; Masarraton=happinesses; talabgaar=seeker, desirous; Another excellent couplet; I am lucky in the world wherein your sorrow has left me after making me a seeker of happinesses)
Karam ki aas mein ab kis ke dar pe jaaye Shakeel
Jab aap hi ne gunaahgaar kar ke chhod diya.
Shakeel, in the hope of kindness (karam) now at whose door should I go
When you yourself has abandoned me as an accused
Ghazal #23
This one is as expressive as it is simple.
Please enjoy: Pehlu mein dard-e-ishq ki duniya liye hue….
Pehlu mein dard-e-ishq ki duniya liye hue,
Baitha hoon zindagi ka sahaara liye hue.
In the flank with the world of pain of love
I sit leaning on life
Dil hai tajalii-e-rukh-e-zebaa liye hue,
Aagosh mein hai chand ko dariya liye hue.
Heart has the lightening of her beautiful face
(As if) The river has moon in its embrace
(tajalii-e-rukh-e-zebaa=lightening of beautiful face; Aagosh=embrace)
Pahunche to dil mein josh-e-tamanna liye hue,
Laute magar lutii hui duniyaa liye hue.
I reached there with heart full of zeal and desire
I returned with my world in shambles
Main jii raha hoon gham-kada-e-rozgaar mein,
Teri mohabbaton ka sahaara liye hue.
I am living in the house of sorrow of livelihood
With the support of your love
(gham-kada-e-rozgaar=house of sorrow of livelihood/employment)
Utha hoon bazm-e-husn se loghzish-ba-paa Shakeel,
Behaki hui ik nazar ka sahaara liye hue.
I have risen from the assembly of beauty having slipped with my feet
But seeking the support of her intoxicating eyes
(bazm-e-husn=assembly of beauty; loghzish-ba-paa=slipping of foot)
Ghazal #24
Irony and despondence are two characteristics of Shakeel Badayuni’s poetry. Here both are seen together. At the end of the translation, please listen to Ustaad Moin Khan and his group.
Please enjoy: Zindagi uanki chaah mein guzari….
Zindagi unaki chaah mein guzari
Mustaqil dard o raah mein guzari
My life was spent desiring her
Permanently spent in the street of pain
(Mustaqil=permanently, firmly)
Rahmaton se nibaah mein guzari
Umr saari gunaah mein guzari
It was spent dealing with blessings
The whole life was spent sinfully
(Rahmaton=blessings; nabaah=dealing)
Haay vo zindagi ki ik saa.at
Jo teri baargaah mein guzari
Alas, those moments in my life
Which were spent in your court
(saa.at=moment; baargaah=audience hall, court)
Sab ki nazaron mein sar-buland rahe
Jab taq unaki nigaah mein guzari
My head was held high in every eye
Until I passed in front of her eyes
Main vo ikraar-e-mohabbat hoon
Jis ki manzil bhi raah mein guzari
I am that consent of love
Whose destination is lost on the way
Ik khushi hamane dil mein chaahi thi
Vo bhi gham ki panaah mein guzari
I sought just one joy, but
That too was at the mercy of (panaah) of her sorrow
Zindagi apani ai Shakeel ab tak
Talkhi-e-rasm-o-raah mein guzari
O Shakeel, my life so far
Was spent in the bitterness of the path of tradition
(Talkhi-e-rasm-o-raah= bitterness of the path of tradition)
Ghazal #25
The subject of wine-glass or goblet again; but, with a difference.
Please enjoy: Naa paimaane chhalakte hain naa daur-e-jam chalta hai….
Naa paimaane khanakte hain naa daur-e-jaam chalta hai,
Nayi duniya ki rindon mein khuda ka naam chalta hai.
Neither there is tinkle of peg-measures nor there is round of wine drinking
In the world of the drunkards the name of God is prevalent
(rindon=drunkards)
Gham-e-ishq se hain gham-e-hasti ke hungaame judaa lekin,
Vahan bhi din guzarte hain yahaan bhi kaam chalta hai.
The commotion (hungama) of sorrow of existence (gham-e-hasti) is separate from sorrow of love (gham-e-ishq)
There too days pass, here too work goes on
Chhupe hain laakh haq ke marhale gumnaam hontho par,
Usi ki baat chal jaati hai jiska naam chalta hai.
Lakhs of stages of right are hidden on unnamed lips
He who has a name is able to dictate terms
Junoon-e-rah-ravii-e-waqt ki raftaar se poochho,
Koi manzil nahin lekin yeh subah o shaam chalta hai.
Enquire from the speed of the madness of time’s journey
It has no destination but it goes on morning and evening (meaning all the time)
(Junoon-e-rah-ravii-e-waqt=madness of time’s journey in orbit)
Shakeel-e-mast ko masti main jo kehna hai kehne do,
Ye maikhaana hai ai vaaiz yahan sab kaam chalta hai.
Let Shakeel who is fun-filled say whatever he wants to say in fun
This is a tavern O preacher, here anything is acceptable
(vaaiz=preacher)
Ghazal #26
There wasn’t a poet and lyricist like him. Probably, there won’t ever be. He used words as a goldsmith uses gold to make beautiful ornaments.
Here is his second most popular ghazal sung by Shanti Heranand.
Please enjoy: Nazar Nawaz nazaron mein ji nahin lagata….
Nazar nawaaz nazaron mein ji nahin lagata,
Woh kyaa gaye ki bahaaron mein ji nahin lagata.
My heart cannot find joy in sights that are pleasing to the eye
She left and now spring cannot amuse me
(Nazar nawaaz=Pleasing to the eye)
Shab-e-firaaq ko ai chaand aa ke chamka de,
Nazar udaas hai taaron mein ji nahin lagata.
Only moon (her) can come and brighten the night of separation
My sight is sad, stars cannot amuse me
(Shab-e-firaaq=Night of separation/longing)
Gham-e-hayaat ke maare to ham bhi hain lekin,
Gham-e-hayaat ke maaron mein ji nahin lagata.
Even I am a victim of sorrow of life, but
I do not find amusement in the midst of other victims of sorrow of life.
(Gham-e-hayaat=Sorrow of life)
Na poochh mujhase tere gham mein kyaa guzarti hai,
Yahi kahunga hazaaron mein ji nahin lagata.
Don’t ask me how I spend my time in your sorrow
I shall say only this that I don’t find amusement in the midst of thousands
Kuchh is qadar hai gham-e-zindagi se dil maayus,
Khizaan gayi to bahaaron mein ji nahin lagata.
In this manner is the heart saddened by sorrow of life
That when autumn was over, spring doesn’t amuse me
Fasaana-e-shab-e-gham khatm hone waala hai,
Shakeel chand sitaaron mein ji nahin lagata.
Story of the night of grief is about to end now
Shakeel, (now) moon and the stars don’t amuse me anymore
(Fasaana-e-shab-e-gham=Story of the night of grief)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=WYQRvcaU8FA%3F
Ghazal #27
One wonders how Shakeel was able to write one after the other beautiful ghazal!
Please enjoy: Shikwe tere huzoor kiye jaa raha hoon main….
Shikwe tere huzoor kiye jaa raha hoon main,
Jo kuchh bhi ho qusoor kiye jaa raha hoon main.
Respected Sir, I keep complaining to you
Whatever happens I keep doing wrong
(Shikwe=Complaints)
Vahm-e-ta.ayyunaat ka anjaam dekhna,
Nazdeekiyon ko door kiye jaa raha hoon main.
Look for the result of the whim of fixtures
I keep converting nearness into distances
(Vahm-e-ta.ayyunaat=Whim of fixtures)
Mahv-e-tavaaf koocha-e-hasti mein rahmaten,
Shayad koi qusoor kiye jaa raha hoon main.
I seek mercies through being busy in circumambulation of street of life
Perhaps I am committing some wrong somewhere
(Mahv-e-tavaaf=Busy in circumambulation; Koocha-e-hasti=Street of life; Rahmaten=Mercies)
Rakhi hui hai sang-e-dar-e-yaar par jabeen,
Is ijz par ghurur kiye jaa raha hoon main.
My forehead is kept at the stone of my beloved’s doorstep
This modesty of mine fills me with pride
(Sang-e-dar-e-yaar=Stone of beloved’s doorstep; Jabeen=Forehead; Ijz=Modesty; Ghurur=Pride)
Nazar-e-nigaah-e-naaz hain dil ki nazaakten,
Sheeshe ko choor choor kiye jaa raha hoon main.
Offerings of beloved’s glance are the delicacies of heart
I am smashing into fragments the wine-glass
(Nazar-e-nigaah-e-naaz=Offering of beloved’s glance; Nazaakten=Delicacies)
Rabt-e-niyaaz-o-naaz ka aalam to dekhna,
Naadim hain vo qusoor kiye jaa raha hoon main.
Just look at the contact of love and coquetry
She is sorry for the wrongs that I am committing
(Rabt-e-niyaaz-o-naaz=Contact of love and coquetry; Naadim=Sorry)
Socha kabhi na hazrat-e-vaa.iz ne ye Shakeel,
Rindon mein zikr-e-hoor kiye jaa raha hoon main.
The master preacher never thought of this, O Shakeel
In the midst of drunkards I am describing a beautiful angelic woman
(Hazrat-e-vaa.iz=Master preacher; Rindon=Drunkards; Zikr-e-hoor=Description of beautiful woman)
Ghazal #28
Please enjoy Gayatri Gaekwad sing this beautiful ghazal: Unake bagair hum jo gulistaan mein aa gaye…..
Unake bagair ham jo gulistaan mein aa gaye,
Mehsoos ye hua ke bayabaan mein aa gaye.
Without her when I entered the flower-garden
It felt like I entered some wilderness
(Bayabaan=wilderness)
Tash.heer-e-dil-giraftagi-e-husn ho gayi,
Aansu chhalak ke chashm-e-pashemaan mein aa gaye.
Her heart-ravishing beauty was publicised when
My tears dropped from my repentant eyes
(Tash.heer-e-dil-giraftagi-e-husn=publicity of captivating or heart ravishing beauty; Chashm-e-pashemaan=repentant eyes)
Ham tark-e-rabt-o-zabt-e-mohabbat ke baavjuud,
Sau baar khinch ke kuucha-e-jaanan mein aa gaye.
I, in spite of the renunciation of contact with and control over love
Hundreds of times fell victim to the pull of beloved’s street
(Tark-e-rabt-o-zabt-e-mohabbat=Renunciation of contact with and control over Love; Kuucha-e-jaanan=beloved’s street)
Phuulon ko raas aaya na jab arsa-e-bahaar,
Gulshan se hat ke gosha-e-daaman mein aa gaye.
Flowers didn’t find alright the duration of spring
Abandoning the garden they came to the piece of her hem
(Gosha-e-daaman=piece of the hem)
Har-chand ahl-e-hosh the arbaab-e-zindagi,
Lekin fareb-e-gardish-e-dauraan mein aa gaye.
Although people of reason were the ambassadors (ardaab) of life
But they fell victim to the deception of movement of times
(Har-chand=although; Ahl-e-hosh=people of reason; Fareb-e-gardish-e-dauraan=deception of movement of times)
Aaya meri zubaan pe yaka yak jo unka naam,
Kis kis ke haath mere garebaan pe aa gaye.
When suddenly her name came on my tongue
Whose all hands held my collar (in anger)
(Garebaan=collar)
Chhup kar nigaah-e-shauk se dil mein panaah li,
Dil mein naa chhup sake to rag-e-jaan mein aa gaye.
My heart sought refuge hidden from the eye that seeks pleasure
When it couldn’t hide in the heart, it came into the jugular vein
(Rag-e-jaan=jugular vein)
The muntashar azal mein jo zarraat-e-kuu-e-dost,
Insaan ban ke aalam-e-imkaan mein aa gaye.
The particles from the street of the beloved were disorderly
They became human and entered the world of possibilities
(Muntashar=disorderly; Azal=beginning; Zarraat-e-kuu-e-dost=particles from the street of the beloved; Aalam-e-imkaan=world of possibilities)
Jinaki adaa adaa mein hain raanaayiyan Shakeel,
Ash.aar ban ke vo mere deevaan mein aa gaye.
In whose grace are beauties, Shakeel
They entered my royal court after becoming couplets
(Raanaayiyan=beauties; Ash.aar=couplets; deevaan=royal court)
Ghazal #29
A relatively simpler one sung by the Ghazal King Talat Mehmood.
Please enjoy: Koi aarzu nahin hai, koi mudda nahin hai…
Koi aarzu bahin hai, koi mudda nahin hai,
Tera gham rahe salaamat, mere dil mein kyaa nahin hai.
There is no desire (aarzu), there is no issue (mudda)
Long live your sorrow, what is not there in my heart?
Kahaan jaam-e-gham ki talkhi kahaan zindagi kaa darmaan,
Mujhe vo dawa mili hai jo meri dawa nahin hai.
Where is bitterness of goblet of sorrow, where is remedy for life
I have got that medicine, which is not my medicine
(Jaam-e-gham=goblet of sorrow; Talkhi=bitterness; Darmaan=remedy)
Tu bachaaye laakh daaman mera phir bhi hai ye vaada,
Tere dil mein main hi main hoon koi doosra nahin hai.
You may take your hem of dress away, but I still make that promise
In your heart only I am there, no one else resides there
Tujhe keh diya sitamgar ye qusoor tha zabaan kaa,
Mujhe tum muaaf kar do meraa dil bura nahin hai.
I called you a tyrant (sitamgar), it was guilt of my tongue
Please forgive me, my heart is not bad
Mujhe dost kehne waale zaraa dosti nibha de,
Ye mutaalba hai haq kaa koi iltija nahin hai.
You who calls me friend, you come a little equal to friendship
This is a demand of right and not a request
(Mutaalba=demand; Iltija=request)
Ye udaas udaas chehre ye haseen haseen tabassum,
Tere anjuman mein shayad koi aainaa nahin hai.
These sad faces, these beautiful smiles
Perhaps there is no mirror in your society
(Anjuman=society or gathering)
Meri aankh ne tujhe bhi bakhudaa Shakeel paaya,
Main samajh raha tha mujh sa koi doosra nahin hai.
My eyes found you too, Shakeel swears by God
(Before that) I thought there is no one like me
(Bakhudaa=swear by God)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E12S5MsrpO4%3F
Ghazal #30
This is the last one in this Part II (wait for Part III for the remaining ghazals)
Please enjoy: Jazbaat ki rau mein beh gaya hoon….
Jazbaat ki rau mein beh gaya hoon,
Kehna jo naa tha wo keh gaya hoon.
I have flown in the flow of emotions (Jazbaat)
What I didn’t want to say I have said
Har lamha-e-sar khushi mein aksar,
Do ashq baha ke reh gaya hoon.
Often in every moment of ecstasy
I couldn’t help shedding two tears
(Lamha-e-sar-khushi=moment of ecstasy)
Thaa jin pe gumaan tere sitam kaa,
Kuchh aise karam bhi seh gaya hoon.
Those that were suspiciously your tyrannies
Even those mercies I have tolerated
(Gumaan=suspicion; Sitam=tyranny)
Shayad vo ise junoon samajh lein,
Ik baat pate ki keh gaya hoon.
Perhaps she may think of this as my madness (junoon)
(But) one thing of substance I have said
Ab kyaa gham-e-saahil-o-talaatum,
Ik mauj ke haath beh gaya hoon.
Now what is the sorrow of shore and storm
I have flown at the hands of a wave
(Gham-e-saahil-o-talaatum=sorrow of shore or storm; Mauj=wave)
