Celebrating the Best of Urdu Poetry Read online

  Falak kee baat bataa dee zameen key mahram ko

  Bhar aaye phool key aansoon payaam-e-shabnam sey

  Kalee ka nanha sa dil khoon ho gayaa gham sey

  Chaman sey rotha hua mausam-e-bahaar gayaa

  Shabaab sair ko aaya thha sogvaar gayaa

  Beauty is transient

  To the Creator did beauty one day complain,

  ‘Why did you make me of that which wanes?’

  ‘The world is like a hall of mirrors’ answered He,

  ‘A tale told to pass the long night of eternity,

  With the clay and hues of change was it made,

  And it is the essence of beauty that it must fade.’

  The moon overheard, for she was not far.

  The news spread in the skies to the morning star

  The star said it to the dawn, dawn to the dew extended,

  The secret of the heavens thus to the earth descended.

  The flower was heavy with tears at what the dew had said

  The bud’s little heart burst with grief and bled

  Spring fled the garden in loud lament

  Youth that had come to sport in sorrow went.

  खुदी

  खुदा को कर बुलंद इतना

  कि हर तक़दीर से पहले

  खुदा बंदे से खुद पूछे

  बता तेरी रज़ा क्या है

  Khudee

  Khudee ko kar buland itna

  Ki har taqdeer sey pehley

  Khuda bandey sey khud poochhey

  Bataa teree razaa kya hai

  सितारों से आगे

  तू शाहीं है परवाज़ है काम तेरा

  तेरे सामने आस्मां और भी हैं

  इसी रोज़-ओ-शब में उलझाकर न रह जा

  कि तेरे ज़मीन-ओ-मक़ां और भी हैं

  सितारों से आगे जहां और भी हैं

  अभी इश्क़ के इम्तेहां और भी हैं

  Sitaaron se aage

  Too shaaheen hai parvaaz hai kaam tera

  Terey saamney aasmaan aur bhee hain

  Isee roz-o-shab mein ulajhkar na reh ja

  Ki terey zameen-o-makaan aur bhee hain

  Sitaaron sey aagey jahaan aur bhee hain

  Abhee ishq key imtehaan aur bhee hain

  Self-Will

  Steel your will with such power

  That at every turn of fate it be so

  That God should ask of his slave,

  ‘Tell me, what is it that pleases you?’

  Beyond the stars

  You are a falcon, it is in your nature to fly

  For you there are other skies beyond this sky

  Don’t let the web of dawns and dusks enmesh you

  For you have other lives, other goals to pursue

  Beyond these stars are worlds yet to unearth

  There are more trials of love to test your worth.

  यकीं, समाल, रहम

  यक़ीं महकम अमल पैहम मोहब्बत फ़ातह-ए-आलम

  जिहाद-ए-ज़िंदगानी में हैं ये मर्दों की शमशीरें

  Yaqeen, amal, raham

  Yaqeen mahkam amal paiham mohabbat faateh-e-aalam

  Jihaad-e-zindgaani mein hain yeh mardon kee shamsheerein

  बंदा दीं का

  निशान-ए-मर्द-ए-मोमिन बा तू गोयम

  चूं मार्ग आयद तबस्सुम बर लब-ए-ओस्त

  Bandaa deen ka

  Nishaan-e-mard-e-Momin ba too goyam

  Choon marg aayad tabassum bar lab-e-ost

  Faith, Conduct, Compassion

  Man’s weapons in life’s battles are three:

  Conviction that his cause is just

  Courage to fight for it till eternity

  Compassion that embraces all humanity.

  Man of Faith

  You ask me for the signs of a man of faith—

  When death comes to him, he has a smile on his lips.

  जमहूरियत

  इस राज़ को तो मर्द-ए-फ़िरंगी ने किया फ़ाश

  हर चंद कि दाना उसे खोला नहीं करते

  जमहूरियत इक तर्ज़-ए-हुकूमत है कि जिसमें

  बंदों को गिना करते हैं टोला नहीं करते

  Jamhooriyat

  Is raaz ko to mard-e-firangee ney kiya faash

  Har chand ki daanaa usey khola naheen kartey

  Jamhooriyat ik tarz-e-hukoomat hai ki jismein

  Bandon ko gina kartey hain tola naheen kartey

  बंदगी सौदा नहीं है

  दयार-ए-मग़रिब के रहने वालो खुदा की बस्ती दुकां नहीं है

  खरा जिसे तुम समझ रहे हो वो अब ज़र-ए-कम आयार होगा

  तुम्हारी तहज़ीब अपने ख़ंजर से आप ही खुदकुशी करेगी

  जो शाख़-ए-नाज़ुक पे आशियाना बनेगा ना-पायदार होगा

  Bandagee sauda naheen hai

  Dayaar-e-maghrib key rehney vaalo khuda kee bastee dukaan naheen hai

  Kharaa jisey tum samajh rahey ho vo ab zar-e-kam ayaar hoga

  Tumhaaree tehzeeb apney khanjar sey aap hee khudkushee karegee

  Jo shaakh-e-naazuk pey aashiyaana banega na-paayedaar hoga

  Democracy

  One myth, at least, the feringhee exploded,

  A secret wise men have never betrayed:

  Democracy is a form of government in which

  Heads are counted, but men never weighed.

  Worship is Not a Trade

  You who dwell in the West should know that God’s earth is not a shop for trade

  Gold you value so much as pure will prove to be of lower grade

  With your own hand and dagger, your culture will be slain;

  A nest built on a weak branch will forever infirm remain.

  लीडर की खुसूसियत

  निगह बुलंद सुख़न दिलनवाज़ जां पुर सोज़

  यही है रख़्त-ए-सफ़र मीर-ए-कारवां के लिए

  Leader kee khusoosiyat

  Nigah buland sukhan dilnavaaz jaan pur soz

  Yahee hai rakht-e-safar meer-e-kaarvaan key liye

  तूफ़ान और ज़िंदगी

  ख़ुदा तुझे किसी तूफ़ां से आशना कर दे

  कि तेरे बहर की मौजों में इज़तिराब नहीं

  Toofaan aur zindagee

  Khuda tujhey kisee toofaan sey aashnaa kar dey

  Ki terey behr kee maujon mein iztiraab naheen

  Leadership Qualities

  Lofty vision, heart-warming speech and a soul on fire

  Of the leader of a caravan this is all we require.

  Stormy Life

  May God grant you the experience of a storm:

  The waves of your life’s ocean are too calm.

  बनती-उजड़ती सल्तनतें

  मैं तुझको बताता हूं तक़्दीर-ए-उमम क्या है

  शमशीर-ओ-सिना अव्वल ताऊस-ओ-रबाब आख़िर

  Bantee ujartee saltanatein

  Main tujh
ko bataata hoon taqdeer-e-umam kya hai

  Shamsheer-o-sina avval taoos-o-rabaab aakhir

  मज़हब और सियासत

  जलाल-ए-बादशाही हो या जमहूरी तमाशा हो

  जुदा हो दींन सियासत से तो रह जाती है चंगेज़ी

  Mazhab aur siyaasat

  Jalaal-e-baadshaahee ho ya jamhooree tamaasha ho

  Juda ho deen siyaasat sey to reh jaatee hai Changezee

  Rise and Fall of Nations

  Let me tell you of the rise and fall of nations

  With swords, bows and arrows they rise

  With the music of lute and viol they perish.

  Faith and Politics

  Whether it is the splendour of monarchy or the spectacle of democracy,

  If politics is separated from religion all that remains is tyranny and anarchy.

  इश्क-ए-वतन

  पत्थर की मूर्ति में समझा है तू खुदा है

  ख़ाक-ए-वतन का मुझको हर ज़र्रा देवता है

  Ishq-e-vatan

  Patthar kee moorti mein samjha hai too khuda hai

  Khaak-e-vatan ka mujhko har zarra devta hai

  खुदा और बंदा

  तू शब आफ़रीदी चिराग़ आफ़रीदम

  सिफ़ाल आफ़रीदी अयाग़ आफ़रीदम

  बियाबान-ओ-कुहसार-ओ-राग़ आफ़रीदी

  ख़्याबान-ओ-गुलज़ार-ओ-बाग़ आफ़रीदम

  मन आनम के अज़ संग आईना साज़म

  मन आनम के अज़ ज़हर हर शीना साज़म

  Khudaa aur bandaa

  Too shab aafreedee chiragh aafreedam

  Sifal aafreedee ayaagh aafreedam

  Biyaabaan-o-kuhsar-o-raagh aafreedee

  Khayabaan-o-gulzaar-o-baagh aafreedam

  Man aanam key az sang aaeena saazam

  Man aanam key az zehr har sheena saazam

  Love of the Homeland

  You believe that an idol made of stone is God

  For me, every speck of the dust of my homeland is a god.

  Man and God

  You made the night, I lit the lamp in it

  You made the clay, I moulded it into a goblet.

  In the wild wastes, mountains and forests that you made

  Orchards, flower beds and gardens have I laid.

  It is I who ground stones and turned them into mirrors,

  It is I who out of poison extracted its antidote.

  हुस्न का नज़ारा

  तू खुर्शीदी ओ मन सय्यारा-ए-तू

  सरापा नूरम अज़ नज़्ज़ारा-ए-तू

  Husn ka nazaara

  Too khursheedee au man sayyaara-e-too

  Saraapa nooram az nazzaara-e-too

  बेचैन जवानी

  शबाब आह कहां ऊमीदवार रहे

  वो ऐश ऐश नहीं जिसका इंतज़ार रहे

  Bechaen javanee

  Shabaab aah kahaan tak umeedvaar rahey

  Vo aish aish naheen jiska intizaar rahey

  Ode to Beauty

  You are the sun, I spin around you as a planet

  One sight of you and I am lit from head to foot.

  Impatient Youth

  Impatient youth! How long in hope can it go on living?

  What joy is left in pleasure that takes so long in coming?

  फ़रमान-ए-खुदा

  उट्ठो मेरी दुनिया के ग़रीबों को जगा दो

  काख़-ए-उमरा के दरो-दीवार हिला दो

  गर्माओ ग़ुलामों का लहू यकीं सोज़-ए-यकीं से

  कुंजश्क-ए-फ़रोमाया को शाहीं से लड़ा दो

  सुल्तानी-ए-जम्हूर का आता है ज़माना

  जो नक़्श-ए-कुहन तुमको नज़र आए मिटा दो

  जिस खेत से दहक़ां को मयस्सर न हो रोज़ी

  उस खेत के हर गोशा-ए-गुंदुम को जला दो

  क्यों ख़ालिक़ों-मुख़लूक में हाइल रहें पर्दे

  पीराने-कलीसा को कलीसा से उठा दो

  Farmaan-e-khuda

  Uttho meree duniyaa key ghareebon ko jagaa do

  Kaankh-e-umaraa key dar-o-deevaar hila do

  Garmao ghulaamon ka lahu soz-e-yaqeen sey

  Kunjashk-e-faromaaya ko shaaheen sey laraa do

  Sultaanee-e-jamhoor ka aata hai zamaana

  Jo naqsh-e-kuhan tumko nazar aaye mita do

  Jis khet sey dehqaan ko mayassar na ho rozee

  Us khet key har goshaa-e-gandum ko jalaa do

  Kyon khaaliq-o-makhlooq mein haail rahen pardey

  Peeran-e-kaleesa ko kaleesa sey uttha do

  Heavenly Ordinance

  Rise and get the poor of my world ready for battle

  Shake the mansions of the rich, till their doors and walls rattle.

  With conviction of victory the blood of the poor ignite

  Get the timid sparrow to take on the falcon in a fight.

  Comes a time for the masses to rule for sure

  Rub out what is now too old and obscure,

  Land that does not yield enough for the tiller to eat

  Burn every inch of that field, set fire to every stalk of wheat.

  Why these curtains between the Sustainer and those that he sustains?

  Throw out those old godmen from the house of God; let not one remain!

  ‘शिकवा’ से

  क्यों जियां-कार बनूं सूद-फ़रामोश राहूं

  फ़िक्र-ए-फ़रदा न करूं महव-ए-ग़म-ए-दोश रहूं

  नाले बुलबुल के सुनूं और हमातन गोश रहूं

  हम नवा मैं भी कोई गुल हूं कि ख़ामोश रहूं

  जुर्अत-आमोज़ मेरी ताब-ए-सुख़न है मुझको

  शिकवा अल्लाह से ख़ाकम-बदहन है मुझको

  ‘Shikva’ sey

  Kyon ziyaan-kaar banoon sood-faraamosh rahoon

  Fikr-e-fardaa na karoon mahv-e-gham-e-dosh rahoon

  Naaley bulbul ke sunoon aur hamaatan gosh rahoon

  Ham navaa main bhee koi gul hoon ki khaamosh rahoon

  Jurat-aamoz meree taab-e-sukhan hai mujhko

  Shikva Allah sey khaakam-badhan hai mujhko

  From ‘Shikva’ *

  (The Mortal’s Complaint to Allah)

  Why must I forever lose, forever forgo profit that is my due,

  Sunk in the gloom of evenings past, no plans for the morrow pursue?

  Why must I always remain attentive to the nightingale’s lament,

  Friend, am I as dumb as a flower? Must I always remain silent?

  My theme makes me bold, makes my tongue more eloquent

  Dust be in my mouth, against Allah I make complaint !

  *The verses from page 113 to 133 are from Khushwant Singh’s translation of Iqbal’s long poems ‘Shikva’ and ‘Javaab-e-Shikva’. The verses chosen here are not in the sequence in which they appear in the original poem.

  हमसे पहले था अजब तेरे जहां का मंज़र

  कहीं मस्जूद
थे पत्थर कहीं माबूद शजर

  ख़ूगर-ए-पैकर-ए-महसूस थी इंसां की नज़र

  मानता फिर कोई अनदेखे खुदा को क्योंकर

  तुझको मालूम है लेता था कोई नाम तेरा

  क़ुव्वत-ए-बाज़ू-ए-मुस्लिम ने किया काम तेरा

  Humsey pehley thha ajab terey jahaan ka manzar

  Kaheen masjood thhey patthar kaheen maabood shajar

  Khoogar-e-paikar-e-mahsoos thhee insaan kee nazar

  Maanta phir koee andekhey khuda ko kyonkar

  Tujhko maaloom hai leta thha koi naam tera

  Quwwat-e-baazoo-e-muslim ney kiya kaam tera

  Before our time, a strange sight was the worl You had made: