This timeless Ghazal, one of my favorite non Ghalib verse, was written by Bahadur Shah 'Zafar' , the last Mughal King। The mood truly captures the despondency and helplessness. It goes like this
Baat Karni Mujhe Mushkil Kabhi Aisi Tou Na Thee,
Jaisii Ab Hai Teri Mehfil Kabhi Aisii tou Na thee
Le gaya Chhiin Ke aaj kaun tera sabr-o-qarar,
Beqarai tujhe ai dil kabhi aisii tou na thee
Un kii aankhon ne khuda jaane kia kya jaadu,
Ke tabiyat meri maa_il Kabhi aisi tou na thee
chashm-e-qaatil merii dushman thii hameshaa lekin,
jaise ab ho ga_ii qaatil kabhii aisii to na thii
aks-e-rukh-e-yaar ne kis se hai tujh ko chamakayaa,
taab mein maah-e-kaamil kabhi aisis tou na thee
Kya sabab hai tu jo bigata hai zafar se har baar,
Khuu teri huur-e-shamaail kabhi aisi tou na thee
I Know that a lot of the feelings and emotions will be lost in translation but still I am making a vague attempt to translate it in the hope that people who don’t understand the above will at least come a bit closer to ‘Zafar’- the poet. For those who understood it can read the original again.
It was never so difficult for me to converse as it is now
Your party never was like this as it is now
Who has usurped you patience and peace
You never were as restless as you are now
Her eyes, my lord, cast what a spell on me
I never was as intoxicated as I am now
Those killer eyes were always my enemy,
but never were as fatal as it is now
What has made the face of beloved bright?
Shine in you, O Moon, never was as it is now
What is the reason that you are annoyed with ‘Zafar’,
Your habit, O blazing fairy, never was like as it is now
16 comments:
Hey PD,
great work..
mant thanks for the translation, otherwise i wld have surely misunderstood it...
What has made the face of beloved bright?
Shine in you, O Moon, never was as it is now
.......This is a great composition!
Dear Pooja,
Thanks for you comment. I'll try to post more such compositions in future. I wish I could be as diligent as you in puting up a post.
Thanks
PD
PD is again trying to be so modest, ( something that he quite a lot already is..)
This is one of my all time favourites and you have translated it so well! Kudos buddy!
Hi Prashant,
Thanks a lot for the translation.I am sure many must have found this helpful.Hope u will post more translations so we can appreciate the poetry.
Hi Prashant,
Thanks a lot for the translation. I was able to understand and appreciate the ghazal because of the translation. Hope u will post more translations in the future.
thanks Anupam
Hi Dear! Urs Selection of word is as romantic as in urdu. r u a poet. If not start writing dost. God bless u.
Sanjeev MAKEN
I was looking for English translation and I must say your lines are the finest I came across so far..Hats off my friend. ..great work and thanks for sharing. ..
Wow
I didn't get the meaning of last Sher right till I read ur translation. Great work
Great Gazal by Zafar.
PD nice translation without causing harm to the feelings expressed in it.Urdu to English is sometime loses its charm but you have done a great job
Wha..... Great translation.... How does one translate Wha... Encore ..Na Na
Thanks for easy and excellent translation
Good work, there...
What matters in a poetic translation is the essence of the work along with the aesthetics of the presentation, rather than a robotic conversion of language.
Thanks for your efforts...
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