Ghazal
काबे की है हवस कभी कू-ए-बुताँ की है
This ghazal reflects the restless duality of the human spirit, torn between spiritual yearning (the Kaaba) and earthly affection (the lane of idols). With characteristic wit and subtle melancholy, the poet muses on the fickle nature of desire, unrequited love, and the mystery of human fate.
Source: rekhta · HI
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1
काबे की है हवस कभी कू-ए-बुताँ की है
मुझ को ख़बर नहीं मिरी मिट्टी कहाँ की है
Sometimes I yearn for the Kaaba, sometimes for the street of idols; I do not know from what soil the clay of my being was drawn.
Sometimes I desire to visit the Kaaba and sometimes the street of idols; I do not know from what land the clay of my existence was taken.
2
सुन के मिरा फ़साना उन्हें लुत्फ़ आ गया
सुनता हूँ अब कि रोज़ तलब क़िस्सा-ख़्वाँ की है
Hearing my tale of sorrow, they found such great delight; I hear that every day now, the storyteller is summoned to their sight.
They enjoyed listening to my story so much that I now hear the storyteller is summoned every day.
3
पैग़ाम-बर की बात पर आपस में रंज क्या
मेरी ज़बान की है न तुम्हारी ज़बाँ की है
Why hold a grievance between ourselves over the envoy's word? The tongue is neither mine nor yours in what was said and heard.
Why should we hold a grudge against each other over the messenger's words? What has been spoken belongs neither to my tongue nor to yours.
4
कुछ ताज़गी हो लज़्ज़त-ए-आज़ार के लिए
हर दम मुझे तलाश नए आसमाँ की है
To bring some freshness to the sweet relish of pain, / At every breath I search for an untried, newer sky.
So that there may be some freshness in the pleasure of pain, I am in search of a new sky at every moment.
5
जाँ-बर भी हो गए हैं बहुत मुझ से नीम-जाँ
क्या ग़म है ऐ तबीब जो पूरी वहाँ की है
Many half-dead like me have rallied and survived; what grief, O physician, if fate has reached the other side?
Many half-dead people like me have managed to recover and survive; so O physician, why grieve if my destined lifespan from the heavens has come to an end?
6
हसरत बरस रही है हमारे मज़ार पर
कहते हैं सब ये क़ब्र किसी नौजवाँ की है
Unfulfilled longing rains upon my grave; seeing it, all declare this must be the tomb of a youth.
Unfulfilled desires and sorrow rain down upon my grave, so much so that everyone looking at it says this must be the tomb of a young person.
7
वक़्त-ए-ख़िराम-ए-नाज़ दिखा दो जुदा जुदा
ये चाल हश्र की ये रविश आसमाँ की है
When walking in your graceful pride, show each distinctly clear: this stride belongs to Judgment Day, that to the turning sphere.
While walking with graceful pride, show distinctly which gait belongs to the Day of Judgment and which manner belongs to the sky.
8
फ़ुर्सत कहाँ कि हम से किसी वक़्त तू मिले
दिन ग़ैर का है रात तिरे पासबाँ की है
When would you find the leisure to meet with me a while? / The day belongs to rivals, the night unto your guard.
You have no spare time to meet me at all, because your day is occupied by rivals and your night belongs to your guard.
9
क़ासिद की गुफ़्तुगू से तसल्ली हो किस तरह
छुपती नहीं वो बात जो तेरी ज़बाँ की है
How could the courier's words ever bring solace to my heart? That which belongs to your own tongue can never stay concealed.
How can the messenger's words bring any comfort? That which truly belongs to your own tongue can never remain hidden.
10
जौर-ए-रक़ीब ओ ज़ुल्म-ए-फ़लक का नहीं ख़याल
तशवीश एक ख़ातिर-ए-ना-मेहरबाँ की है
The rival's malice and the cruelty of fate cause me no despair; my only anxiety is that unkind heart which shows no care.
I do not care about the cruelty of my rival or the tyranny of fate. My only anxiety and concern is for the unkind heart of the beloved.
11
सुन कर मिरा फ़साना-ए-ग़म उस ने ये कहा
हो जाए झूट सच यही ख़ूबी बयाँ की है
Hearing my tale of sorrow, she had only this to reply: the art of eloquence lies in making truth of a lie.
Upon hearing my tale of sorrow, they remarked that the true excellence of storytelling lies in making a lie seem like the truth.
12
दामन संभाल बाँध कमर आस्तीं चढ़ा
ख़ंजर निकाल दिल में अगर इम्तिहाँ की है
Gather your hem, gird your waist, and roll up your sleeves; draw forth the dagger, if your heart truly desires a trial.
Gather your hem, gird your waist, and roll up your sleeves; draw out your dagger if your heart truly desires a trial.
13
हर हर नफ़स में दिल से निकलने लगा ग़ुबार
क्या जाने गर्द-ए-राह ये किस कारवाँ की है
With every single breath, a cloud of dust rises from the heart; who knows of which passing caravan this road-dust is a part?
With every single breath, dust has begun rising from the heart; who knows which caravan's road-dust this actually is.
14
क्यूँकि न आते ख़ुल्द से आदम ज़मीन पर
मौज़ूँ वहीं वो ख़ूब है जो सुनते जहाँ की है
Why would Adam not descend from Paradise to this earthly sphere? For what is spoken of this mortal world is only truly fitting here.
Why would Adam not descend from Paradise to Earth? A story that is heard about this world is only fitting and appropriate right here.
15
तक़दीर से ये पूछ रहा हूँ कि इश्क़ में
तदबीर कोई भी सितम-ए-ना-गहाँ की है
I ask of fate: in love, is there any remedy / Against the sudden, unforeseen strokes of cruelty?
I am asking fate whether there is any remedy or solution against the sudden afflictions and cruelties faced in love.
16
उर्दू है जिस का नाम हमीं जानते हैं 'दाग़'
हिन्दोस्ताँ में धूम हमारी ज़बाँ की है
We alone truly know the essence of what is called Urdu, O Dagh; across all of Hindustan, it is our tongue whose fame resounds.
O Dagh, we alone truly know the reality of what is called Urdu, for across all of Hindustan, it is our language whose fame resounds.
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