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
चुनिंदा शायरी | Selected Urdu Poetry 