Ghalib Ghazal in translation

First Published in Museindia

(Translated from the original in Urdu)

Why should it not be full of pain,
merely a heart not a hard block of stone?
We shall cry ourselves a thousand times,
take jibes at us, why should anyone?

Not temple nor mosque, the Kaaba or a harem,
neither at a doorway nor a tomb or entrance.
We sit at common trodden pathways,
why remove us O unknown?

She, of the heart warming beauty,
resplendent as the noon sun.
Herself a vision to blast all others,
then why hide in a veil, all alone?

Piercing coquetry, bane of (my) life,
stinging endless arrows of pride.
Why would it come in front of you,
even if the image be your own?

Imprisoned by life or captive of grief,
both of them are one and the same.
Can man before death, in life itself
ever find all his sorrows gone?

Beauty and, with it, self estimation,
saved my lusty rival from indiscretions.
She had confidence on herself,
why then would she try this glutton?

There, she is arrogant and brimming with pride,
here a humble humility about ourselves.
Where do we meet on the streets,
why'd she invite us to meets of her own?

Yes I know she does not believe,
given she is unfaithful even.
Those who prize faith and fidelity,
to her lane, why'd they be shown?

Without the broken Ghalib, this world,
would surely not come to a stop.
Why cry so bitterly then,
why make such a pitiful moan?




The original ghazal in Urdu

Dil hi to hai na sang-o-khisht dard se bhar na aye kyon
royenge hum hazaar baar koi hamein sataye kyon

Dair nahin haram nahin dar nahin aastan nahin
Baithe hain rehguzar pe hum ghair humein uthaye kyon

Jab woh Jamaal-i-dilfaroz, surat-i-mehr-i-neemroz
Aap hi ho nazaarah soz, parde mein munh chhupaye kyun?

Dushnae ghamzah jaansataan, naawike naaz bepanah
Tera hi aqsi rukh sahi, samne tere aye kyun?

Qaid e hayat o band e gham asl mein donon ek hain
Maut se pehle admi gham se nijat paye kyon

Husn aur uspe husn e zan, reh gayi bul hawas ki sharam
Apne pe aitmaad hai, ghair ko aazmayen kyun?

Waan wo ghuroor e azzo naaz, yaan ye hijab e paas e waza
Raah mein hum milen kahaan?bazm mein woh bulaye kyun?
Haan wo nahi kkhuda parast jao wo bewafa sahi
Jisko ho din o dil azeez uski gali mein jaye kyon?

Ghalib e khasta ke baghair kaun se kaam band hain
roiye zar zar kyaa kijiye hai hai kyon?