Translation: Turn Off
बात करनी मुझे मुश्किल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
जैसी अब है तेरी महफ़िल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
baat karni mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi to na thi
jaisi ab hai teri mehfil kabhi aisi to na thi
Speaking my mind is now so difficult, like this, it had never been before
For your congregation is such now, like this, it had never been before
–
ले गया छीनके कौन आज तेरा सब्र-ओ-क़रार
बेक़रारी तुझे ऐ दिल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
le gaya chheenke kaun aaj tera sabr-o-qaraar
beqaraari tujhe ai dil kabhi aisi to na thi
Who has wrested away your restraint and tranquility, my heart!
Your anxiety and restlesness, like this, it had never been before
–
उसकी आँखों ने ख़ुदा जाने किया क्या जादू
कि तबीयत मेरी माइल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
uski aankhon ne khuda jaane kiya kya jaadu
ki tabiyat meri maa’il kabhi aisi to na thi
O Lord! what spell her bewitching eyes have cast on me
My fixation for her, like this, it had never been before
–
अक्स-ए-रुख़्सार ने किसके है तुझे चमकाया
ताब तुझमें मह-ए-कामिल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
aks-e-rukhsaar ne kiske hai tujhe chamkaaya
taab tujhmein mah-e-kaamil kabhi aisi to na thi
The reflection of whose countenance has made you so resplendent
Your lustre o full moon! like this, it had never been before
–
पा-ए-कूबाँ कोई ज़िंदाँ में नया है मज्नूँ
आती आवाज़-ए-सलासिल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
paa-e-koobaan koyi zindaan mein naya hai majnoon
aati aavaaz-e-salaasil kabhi aisi to na thi
Isn’t that a newly jailed lover, stamping his fettered feet in frenzy
The noise and clamour of chains, like this, it had never been before
–
निगह-ए-यार को अब क्यूँ है तग़ाफ़ुल ऐ दिल
वो तेरे हाल से ग़ाफ़िल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
nigah-e-yaar ko ab kyon hai taghaaful ae dil
vo tere haal se ghaafil kabhi aisi to na thi
Why do my beloved’s glances neglect me so now, my heart?
Her indifference to your plight, like this, it had never been before
–
चश्म-ए-क़ातिल मेरी दुश्मन थी हमेशा लेकिन
जैसी अब हो गई क़ातिल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
chashm-e-qaatil meri dushman thi hamesha lekin
jaisi ab ho gayi qaatil kabhi aisi to na thi
Her enchanting(/hostile) gaze has always been difficult for me to bear
But how lethal it has become now! like this, it had never been before
–
क्या सबब तू जो बिगड़ता है ‘ज़फ़र’ से हर-बार
ख़ू तेरी हूर-शमाइल कभी ऐसी तो न थी
kya sabab tu jo bigadta hai ‘Zafar’ se har-baar
khu teri hoor-shamail kabhi aisi to na thi
What for do you get annoyed with ‘Zafar’ every now and then
O houri-faced beloved! your disposition like this, it had never been before
—
Posted: 30-Jan-2021, Translation: 26-Jan-2021
चुनिंदा शायरी | Selected Urdu Poetry 