Translation: Turn Off

हर एक बात पे कहते हो तुम कि तू क्या है
तुम्हीं कहो कि ये अंदाज़-ए-गुफ़्तगू क्या है

har ek baat pe kehte ho tum ki tu kya hai
tumheen kaho ki ye andaaz-e-guftagu kya hai

Whenever I speak to you, you condescend
Say, is this the way to converse, my friend?

–

चिपक रहा है बदन पर लहू से पैराहन
हमारे जैब को अब हाजत-ए-रफ़ू क्या है

chipak raha hai badan par lahu se pairaahan
hamaare jaib ko ab haajat-e-rafu kya hai

My shirt sticks on to the body with blood
What is the need to darn the torn collar then, to mend?

–

जला है जिस्म जहाँ दिल भी जल गया होगा
कुरेदते हो जो अब राख जुस्तजू क्या है

jala hai jism jahaan dil bhi jal gaya hoga
kuredte ho jo ab raakh justaju kya hai

The body has completely burned, so the heart must have too
Why do you rake through the ashes, what do you intend?

–

रगों में दौड़ते फिरने के हम नहीं क़ाइल
जब आँख-ही से न टपका तो फिर लहू क्या है

ragon mein daudte phirne ke hum nahin qaa’il
jab aankh-hi se na yapka to phir lahu kya hai

What is blood if it does not trickle from the eyes
Just flowing around in the veins serves what end?

–

रही न ताक़त-ए-गुफ़्तार और अगर हो भी
तो किस उमीद पे कहिए कि आरज़ू क्या है

rahi na taaqat-e-guftaar aur agar ho bhi
to kis ummeed pe kahiye ki aarzu kya hai

I am too weak to speak, but even if I had the strength
Why express any desire when there’s no hope (of fulfilment), to what end?

–

हुआ है शह का मुसाहिब फिरे है इतराता
वगर्ना शहर में ‘ग़ालिब’ की आबरू क्या है

hua hai shah ka musaahib phire hai itaraata
vagarna shahar mein ‘Ghalib’ ki aabru kya hai

How ‘Ghalib’ has put on airs since he became the Shah’s associate
Otherwise who would respect him in this town, who would commend?

—

Posted: 25-Apr-2021, Translation: 24-Apr-2021

Translation: Turn Off

बाज़ीचा-ए-अत्फ़ाल है दुनिया मेरे आगे
होता है शब-ओ-रोज़ तमाशा मेरे आगे

baazeecha-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage
hota hai shab-o-roz tamaasha mere aage

The world is but a children’s playground/stage, it appears to me
And an act is played out day and night, it appears to me

–

एक खेल है औरंग-ए-सुलैमाँ मेरे नज़दीक
एक बात है एजाज़-ए-मसीहा मेरे आगे

ek khel hai aurang-e-sulaimaan mere nazdeek
ek baat hai ejaaz-e-maseeha mere aage

The magnificent throne of Solomon seems to me but a triviality
The miracles of the Messiah are but ordinary incidents to me

–

जुज़ नाम नहीं सूरत-ए-आलम मुझे मंज़ूर
जुज़ वहम नहीं हस्ती-ए-आशिया मेरे आगे

juz naam naheen soorat-e-aalam mujhe manzoor
juz vaham naheen hasti-e-aashiya mere aage

The universe exists but only in name (/one’s imagination) as I see it
All these wordly things are illusory, as far as I can see

–

मत पूछ कि क्या हाल है मेरा तेरे पीछे
तू देख कि क्या रंग है तेरा मेरे आगे

mat poochh ki kya haal hai mera tere peechhe
tu dekh ki kya rang hai tera mere aage

Worry not about my condition when you are not with me
Your sanguine mood in my company is all that matters to me

–

सच कहते हो ख़ुदबीन-ओ-ख़ुदारा हूँ न क्यूँ हूँ
बैठा है बुत-ए-आईना-सीमा मेरे आगे

sach kehte ho khudbeen-o-khudaara hoon na kyoon hoon
baitha hai but-e-aa’eena-seema mere aage

Yes it’s true, I am proud and narcissistic and why wouldn’t I be
My reflection on my beloved’s mirror-like countenance when I see

–

फिर देखिए अंदाज़-ए-गुलअफ़्शानी-ए-गुफ़्तार
रख दे कोई पैमाना-ए-सहबा मेरे आगे

phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul’afshaani-e-guftaar
rakh de koyi paimaana-e-sehba mere aage

Keep a goblet full of wine in front of me, and then
My elegant eloquence will be on display for you to see

–

ईमाँ मुझे रोके है जो खींचे है मुझे कुफ़्र
काबा मेरे पीछे है कलीसा मेरे आगे

eemaan mujhe roke hai jo kheenche hai mujhe kufr
kaaba mere peechhe hai kaleesa mere aage

Faith forbids me as I am drawn towards unbelief (/belief in a different faith)
The Kaaba is behind me, and a church in front of me I see

–

आशिक़ हूँ प माशूक़-फ़रेबी है मेरा काम
मज्नूँ को बुरा कहती है लैला मेरे आगे

aashiq hoon pa maashooq-farebi hai mera kaam
majnoon ko bura kehti hai laila mere aage

A lover I am, and beguiling the beloved is my nature
I can make Laila criticize Majnun, such is my charm you see

–

गो हाथ को जुम्बिश नहीं आँखों में तो दम है
रहने दो अभी साग़र-ओ-मीना मेरे आगे

go haath ko jumbish naheen aankhon mein to dam hai
rehne do abhi saaghar-o-meena mere aage

My hands can’t move anymore but there’s strength yet in my eyes
Leave the filled-up goblet and flask here now for me to see

–

हमपेशा-ओ-हममशरब-ओ-हमराज़ है मेरा
‘ग़ालिब’ को बुरा क्यूँ कहो अच्छा मेरे आगे

ham’pesha-o-ham’mashrab-o-ham’raaz hai mera
‘Ghalib’ ko bura kyoon kaho achchha mere aage

He has his vices, but why malign ‘Ghalib’ in my presence
He’s my co-worker, co-drinker and confidant, don’t you see?

—

Posted: 28-Mar-2021, Translation: 27-Mar-2021

Translation: Turn Off

इब्न-ए-मरियम हुआ करे कोई
मेरे दुख की दवा करे कोई

ibn-e-mariyam hua kare koyi
mere dukh ki dava kare koyi

Be (like) the son of Maryam, can anyone?
And alleviate my suffering, can anyone?

–

बात पर वाँ ज़बान कटती है
वो कहें और सुना करे कोई

baat par vaan zabaan katati hai
vo kahein aur suna kare koyi

Speak not much lest you be silenced forever
Only they are privileged to speak, not anyone

–

बक रहा हूँ जुनूँ में क्या-क्या कुछ
कुछ न समझे ख़ुदा करे कोई

bak raha hoon junoon mein kya-kya kuchh
kuchh na samjhe khuda kare koyi

My raves and rants in this fit of frenzy
O Lord! may none comprehend, I pray, noone

–

न सुनो गर बुरा कहे कोई
न कहो गर बुरा करे कोई

na suno gar bura kahe koyi
na kaho gar bura kare koyi

Turn a deaf ear to one speaking ill of another
And gossip not about the bad deeds of anyone

–

कौन है जो नहीं है हाजतमंद
किसकी हाजत रवा करे कोई

kaun hai jo nahin hai haajatmand
kiski haajat rava kare koyi

Not only I, everyone has needs and wants
Whose wish does he fulfil then, that someone

–

जब तवक़्क़ो ही उठ गई ‘ग़ालिब’
क्यों किसीका गिला करे कोई

jab tawaqqo hi uth gayi ‘Ghalib’
kyon kiseeka gila kare koyi

Now that you have given up all hope, Ghalib
What reason then, to complain or blame anyone

—

Posted: 25-Dec-2020, Translation: 12-Oct-2020

Translation: Turn Off

कोई उम्मीद बर नहीं आती
कोई सूरत नज़र नहीं आती

koi ummeed bar naheen aati
koi soorat nazar naheen aati

All hope to no avail, nor a chance slight
No way out of here, there is no respite

–

मौत का एक दिन मुअय्यन है
नींद क्यूँ रातभर नहीं आती

maut ka ek din muayyan hai
neend kyon raatbhar naheen aati

Death will arrive one day, it is but certain
Why does then one lie sleepless all night?

–

आगे आती थी हाल-ए-दिल पे हँसी
अब किसी बात पर नहीं आती

aage aati thi haal-e-dil pe hansi
ab kisi baat par naheen aati

Alas! there is nothing that amuses me now
Erst, I could jest at my own heart’s plight

–

है कुछ ऐसी-ही बात जो चुप हूँ
वर्ना क्या बात कर नहीं आती

hai kuchh aisi-hi baat jo chup hoon
varna kya baat kar naheen aati

Such is the matter that it compels my silence
Else, haven’t I been always very forthright?

–

मरते हैं आरज़ू में मरने की
मौत आती है पर नहीं आती

marte hain aarzu mein marne ki
maut aati hai par naheen aati

This constant longing for death that I have
Is almost like death, yet not death quite

–

काबा किस मुँह से जाओगे ‘ग़ालिब’
शर्म तुमको मगर नहीं आती

kaaba kis munh se jaaoge ‘Ghalib’
sharm tumko magar naheen aati

How might you ever face the Kaaba, ‘Ghalib’?
You’ve had no faith, neither are you contrite

—

Posted: 23-Dec-2020, Translation: 09-Oct-2019