Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Haazaron kwaashen aisi ke har khwaish pe dam nikle / Thousands of desires, tantalizing one and all

Haazaron kwaashen aisi ke har khwaish pe dam nikle,
Bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin phir bhi dam nikle.

Thousands of desires, tantalizing one and all,
Many a wish have I realised; yet I yearn for more.

Nikalna khuld se aadam, ka sunte aae the lekin,
Bahut be aabroo ho kar tere kuche se ham nikle.

Often have we heard about Adam's exile from Eden,
Humiliating much more was my exit from your door.

Mahabbat mein nahin hai farq jeene aur marne ka,
Usi ko dekh kar jeete hain, jis kaafir pe dam nikle.

There is little difference in life and death when we are in love,
The same infidel sustains our life, for whom we pine to die.

Kahaan maikhana ka darwaaza Ghalib, aur kahaan waiz,
Par itna jante hain kal woh jaata tha ke ham nikle.

The preacher and the tavern door are things wide apart,
Yet yesterday I saw him enter, as I was coming out.


Haazaron kwaashen aisi ke har khwaish pe dam nikle,
Bahut nikle mere armaan, lekin phir bhi dam nikle.

Thousands of desires, tantalizing one and all,
Many a wish have I realised; yet I yearn for more.

-- Mirza AsadUllah Khan 'Ghalib' [translated by Samir]


Friday, March 24, 2006

Zindagi aaee thi kal shaam dastak pe / Life knocked on my door last night

Zindagi aaee thi kal shaam dastak pe,

Shayad kuch uDhaar tha uska,

Ya phir kuch lautane aaee thi.

Chota dil, kam zubaan, mein kya poochta Kyun aaee ho?.

KunDi koli and aur andhar aane ki dawaat di.

Ghareeb ke ghar mein diya nahi hai.

Bas aagan mein chandNi ki chadar hai.

Woh boli shaam sarD hai, thodi se aag jala do ge.

Mein fauran saari poonji aur Unke khat eKKhatta kiye

Aur apne dil ke saath unhe bhi aag laga di.

Ham dono khamoosh baiThe rahe.

Aag subho subho tak jalti rahi,

Subho jab aanKh khuli to aangan mein,

Mein ne sirf raaKh ka Dher aur ek Dil paya.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life knocked on my door last night.

May be I had borrowed something from her,

Or she wanted to return some of mine.

Humble heart, poor peasant, How can I ask “What brings thee here?”

I opened the door, and invited the grace in my abode.

With nothing better to offer, I seated her on terrace, with moonlight as mat.

“Cold breeze is, Will thee lit a fire?” she asked slowly.

I ran inside with all might, brought out all my savings and Her letters to me.

All piled together, I lit the fire on top of my terrace.

And threw my heart into the fire, hoping it will burn longer.

With silence and fire between us we sat there looking into other’s eyes.

Fire burnt till early morning. When Sun said “Good morning”, I woke up.

And found nothing but a pile of ashes and a warm heart.


-- Toufeeq

KaThai aaNkhen teri/ Those brown eyes

KaThai aaNkhen teri
MeeThi baaThen teri

Woh muskurana tera
Aise sharmana tera

Pheli baarish ka paani ho
Ya haseen ek kahani ho

Ek shayer ka qalm ho
Har sufi ka kalaam ho

Oonchi ek tasveer tu
Kissi ki takhdeer tu

Har dil habeeb tera
Koi to naseeb tera

--------------------------------------------

Those brown eyes
And your sweet talk

The way you smile
And your shy walk

First drop of rain you are
Or a beautiful fable you are

A poet’s quill you are
Or a mystic’s chanting you are

Yours a painting hung on the sky
You are the luck whole world can’t buy

Every heart beats with yours
Destiny’s walk ends with yours

-- Toufeeq

[ English version is not exact translation of Urdu’s, but more like inspired version of it]

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

And the people see me and call a dervish.

Laden with my load of misdeeds, I move about in the garb of black garments. And the people see me and call a dervish.

My promise with my love, a long way to go and a muddy lane ahead. If I move I spoil my cloak; if I stay I break my word.

Drenched and smirched be the cloak; let God's cloud pour out all the waters: Go I must; I go to keep my word of love.

--
Baba Farid

Bullaya Ki Jaana Main Kaun/ Says Bullaya who knows who I am!

Bullaya Ki Jaana Main Kaun
Bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
na mein momin wich maseetein
na mein wich kufr di reetan
na mein paakan wich paleet aan
na mein moosa na firoan
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun

aawwal aakhir aap nun jaanan
ne mein koi dooja aur pichaanan
mein tu wadd naa koi siyana
bulleya ho bulleya
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
na mein aabi na mein khaki
na mein aatish na mein poun
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun
na mein paakan wich paleet aan
na mein moosa na firoan
bulleya ki jaanan mein kaun

Listen to 'Junoon' version of this song here

=======================================
Says Bullaya,
who knows who I am!
I am not in the mosque of the believer,
Nor in false rites.
I am not in the pure or the impure.
Neither Moses nor Pharaoh.
Says Bullaya, who knows who I am!

I am not in the vedas or holy books,
Not in drug or wine.
Not in the drunkards wasted intoxication,
Not in wakefulness or sleep.
Says Bullaya, who knows who I am!

I am not in sorrow nor in joy,
Neither in clean nor unclean.
I am not water, I am not earth,
I am not fire, I am not air.
Says Bullaya, who knows who I am!

I am not from Arabia or Lahore,
Nor from India or Nagaur.
Neither a hindu or muslim from Peshawar,
Nor do I live in Nadaun.
Says Bullaya, who knows who I am!
I cannot be unearthed in the mysteries of religion.

I was not born of Adam and Eve.
I am not the name I assume.
I am not in stillness, not in movement.
Finally, I only know myself.
I cannot know any other.
Who could be wiser than I?
Bullaya asks, who then, stands here?
Says Bullaya, who knows who I am!
-- Bulleh Shah [translated by Kartar Singh Duggal??]

Friday, March 17, 2006

Until

I think we are frightened every

Moment of our lives

Until we


Know

Him


-- Hafiz

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Come to the orchard in spring

Come to the orchard in spring

There is light and wine

And sweethearts

In the pomegranate flowers

If you do not come

These do not matter

If you do come

These do not matter

----Rumi

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Main Pal Do Pal Ka Shaayar / I'm a poet only for a second or two


mai.n pal do pal ka shaayar huu.n I'm a poet only for a second or two;
pal do pal merii kahaanii hai my story will be over in a few seconds.
pal do pal merii ha.nstii hai My laughter is only for a moment or two;
pal do pal merii jawaanii hai my youth will be over in a few moments.
mai.n pal do pal ka shaayar huu.n I'm a poet only for a second or two.
mujhse pahale kitne shaayar aaye aur aakar chale gaye Many poets came before me, and after coming, departed;
kuchh aahe.n bharkar lauT gaye some went filled with sighs,
kuchh nagme gaakar chale gaye and some went singing songs.
voh bhii ek pal ka qissa tha They were only the story of a moment in time;
mai.n bhii ek pal ka qissa huu.n I too am only the story of a moment.
kal tumse judaa ho jaa'uu.nga Tomorrow I will be separated from you,
voh aaj tumhaara hissa huu.n but for today, I'm a part of you.
mai.n pal do pal ka shaayar huu.n I'm a poet of a moment or two, no more.
kal aur aa'e.nge nagmo.n kii Tomorrow new songs will arrive,
khiltii kaliyaa.n chunnevaale freshly bloomed blossoms to be plucked.
mujhse behatar kahanevaale There will be better storytellers than me,
tumse behatar sunnevaale and better listeners than you.
kal koii mujhko yaad kare Tomorrow, someone might remember me;
kyo.n koii mujhko yaad kare but why should anyone remember me?
masaruuf zamaana mere li'e For my sake, why should this busy world
kyo.n vaqt apna barbaad kare waste its time?
mai.n pal do pal ka shaayar huu.n I'm a poet only for a moment or two.

-- Sahir Ludianvi (One of the greatest poet of last century) , translation : unknown, Picture is from Movie "Kabhie Kabhie" in which this song was featured. Amitabh signs autograph for Rakhi, after this song.