Ghazal
गो जवानी में थी कज-राई बहुत
In this reflective ghazal, the poet looks back at youth with wistful nostalgia, acknowledging its reckless missteps while still yearning for its lost vitality. The verses capture the enduring allure of beauty and the lingering intensity of past desires with poignant tenderness.
Source: rekhta · HI
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1
गो जवानी में थी कज-राई बहुत
पर जवानी हम को याद आई बहुत
Though youth was marked by wayward ways, / How deeply still we miss those days!
Although there was much waywardness and straying in youth, yet we miss our youth very much.
2
ज़ेर-ए-बुर्क़ा तू ने क्या दिखला दिया
जम्अ हैं हर सू तमाशाई बहुत
What wonder did you reveal from beneath your veil? A crowd of onlookers has gathered on every side.
What have you revealed from beneath the veil that so many spectators have gathered on every side?
3
हट पे इस की और पिस जाते हैं दिल
रास है कुछ उस को ख़ुद-राई बहुत
Beneath her stubbornness, hearts are crushed even more; being so willful seems to suit her remarkably well.
Hearts are crushed even more by her stubbornness, as willful self-centeredness seems to suit her very well.
4
सर्व या गुल आँख में जचते नहीं
दिल पे है नक़्श उस की रानाई बहुत
Neither cypress nor rose can charm my sight; so deeply etched upon my heart is the splendour of her grace.
Neither the cypress nor the rose appeals to my eyes, because the beauty and grace of my beloved are deeply imprinted upon my heart.
5
चूर था ज़ख़्मों में और कहता था दिल
राहत इस तकलीफ़ में पाई बहुत
Crushed beneath its wounds, yet still my heart would say: in this very torment, profound solace lay.
My heart was completely battered by wounds, yet it kept saying that it found immense comfort and relief in this very pain.
6
आ रही है चाह-ए-यूसुफ़ से सदा
दोस्त याँ थोड़े हैं और भाई बहुत
From Joseph’s well, a voice echoes clear: / Friends are few here, and brothers far too many.
A voice is coming from Joseph's well calling out that true friends are few here, but brothers are plenty.
7
वस्ल के हो हो के सामाँ रह गए
मेंह न बरसा और घटा छाई बहुत
Again and again the stage for union was set, yet came to naught; the dark clouds gathered thick and deep, but never fell the rain.
Preparations for the lovers' union were made again and again but came to nothing; dark clouds gathered heavily, yet it never rained.
8
जाँ-निसारी पर वो बोल उट्ठे मिरी
हैं फ़िदाई कम तमाशाई बहुत
Witnessing my willingness to sacrifice my life, they exclaimed: 'Devotees ready to die are few, spectators are many.'
Seeing my willingness to sacrifice my life, they remarked that true devotees ready to lay down their lives are few, while mere spectators are many.
9
हम ने हर अदना को आला कर दिया
ख़ाकसारी अपनी काम आई बहुत
We exalted every lowly soul to noble heights; our self-effacing humility served us exceedingly well.
We elevated every lowly and humble person to great heights; our modesty and humility proved very beneficial to us.
10
कर दिया चुप वाक़िआत-ए-दहर ने
थी कभी हम में भी गोयाई बहुत
The trials of the world have rendered me silent; there was a time when I, too, possessed great eloquence.
The events and experiences of the world have made me silent, though once I too possessed the power to speak a great deal.
11
घट गईं ख़ुद तल्ख़ियाँ अय्याम की
या गई कुछ बढ़ शकेबाई बहुत
Did the bitter sorrow of the days soften on its own, or has my patience simply grown beyond all bounds unknown?
Did the bitterness of life diminish on its own, or has my patience and endurance grown immensely?
12
हम न कहते थे कि 'हाली' चुप रहो
रास्त-गोई में है रुस्वाई बहुत
Did we not warn you, 'Hali, hold your peace'? / For speaking the truth brings only great disgrace.
Didn't we tell you, Hali, to remain silent? Speaking the truth brings great disgrace and humiliation.
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