Ghazal
सुब्हा है ज़ुन्नार क्यूँ कैसी कही
This ghazal satirizes religious hypocrisy and orthodoxy through sharp irony and playful skepticism. By questioning conventional symbols of piety and confronting the deceit of the ascetic, it establishes a witty yet defiant tone.
Source: rekhta · HI
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1
सुब्हा है ज़ुन्नार क्यूँ कैसी कही
ज़ाहिद-ए-अय्यार क्यूँ कैसी कही
The rosary is but an infidel’s sacred thread—well, how was that said? / O sly, scheming ascetic, tell me now—how was that said?
I have called your rosary a sacred thread, so tell me, how do you like what I said? Tell me, O cunning ascetic, wasn't that well said?
2
कट गए अग़्यार क्यूँ कैसी कही
छा गई हर बार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Why were the rivals cut adrift? Ah, how well said! / Why did she triumph every time? Ah, how well said!
Why were the rivals outdone, what a brilliant remark was made; and how did she dominate every single time, what a wonderful thing to say!
3
हैं ये सब इक़रार झूटे या नहीं
कीजिए इक़रार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Are all these pledges false, or are they not? / But why would you confess—what foolish words I spoke!
The speaker asks whether all these promises are false or not, but then immediately questions why the beloved would ever admit it, calling their own question absurd.
4
रूठने से आप का मतलब ये है
इस को आए प्यार क्यूँ कैसी कही
So this is what you mean by sulking in disdain: / 'Why should he feel love for me?'—how absurd to maintain!
Does your being upset mean asking why I should feel love for you? What a strange and absurd thing to say!
5
कह दिया मैं ने सहर है झूट-मूट
हो गए बेदार क्यूँ कैसी कही
I said in playful jest, 'The dawn is here!' / Why did you wake? How well I tricked you so!
I just falsely claimed in jest that morning had arrived; why did you wake up, and how did you like my clever trick?
6
एक तो कहते हैं सदहा भपतियाँ
और फिर इसरार क्यूँ कैसी कही
First, they shower a hundred mocking quips, and then press on, insisting: 'How well was that said?'
First they throw hundreds of mocking remarks at me, and then they stubbornly insist on asking, 'So, how well was that said?'
7
नासेहा ये बहस दीवानों के साथ
अक़्ल की है मार क्यूँ कैसी कही
O preacher, this debate with the mad / Is a blow to reason itself—tell me, wasn't that well said?
O counselor, engaging in an argument with madmen is a blow to intellect itself; tell me, haven't I said it well?
8
या ख़फ़ा थे या ज़रा सी बात पर
हो गई बौछार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Were you already displeased, or did a trifling thing provoke / Such a sudden shower of taunts, so sharp and fiercely spoke?
Were you already upset, or did such a sudden downpour of sharp words and questions erupt over just a minor matter?
9
मुझ से बैअत कर ले तू भी वाइज़ा
हाथ लाना यार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Take the oath of allegiance to me as well, O preacher! / Give me your hand, my friend—well, what say you to that?
O preacher, you too should pledge allegiance to me; give me your hand, friend, and tell me how you liked what I said.
10
सुर्मा दे कर दिल के लेने का है क़स्द
आँख तो कर चार क्यूँ कैसी कही
With kohl-lined eyes you intend to steal hearts away; come, lock your gaze with mine—tell me now, what do you say?
If your intention is to steal hearts by lining your eyes with kohl, then simply lock eyes with me; tell me, what do you say to that?
11
जान दे दे चल के दर पर यार के
ओ दिल-ए-बीमार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Go, surrender your life at the beloved's threshold; O ailing heart, tell me, what say you to that?
Go and surrender your life at the beloved's doorstep; tell me, O ailing heart, how do you like this suggestion?
12
क्या ही बिगड़े हो पत्ते की बात पर
हो गए बेज़ार क्यूँ कैसी कही
How furious you have grown at a truth that struck so true! / Why this sudden exasperation—did my remark sting you?
You have gotten so furious over an accurate and truthful remark; why have you become so exasperated, did what I said hurt you that much?
13
अब तो 'हैदर' और ही कुछ रंग हैं
मानता हूँ यार क्यूँ कैसी कही
Now, O Haidar, the world has taken quite another hue;
I grant it, my friend—tell me, wasn't that well said to you?
Now, O Haidar, the circumstances have taken on a completely different color; I admit it, my friend, so tell me, wasn't it well said?
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