Bajeecha-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage (A ghazal of Ghalib with English translation) -
5th May 2007, 07:29 AM
Bajeecha-e-atfaal hai duniya mere aage
Hota hai shab-oo-roz tamaasha mere aage
Ik khel hai aurangey Suleiman mere nazdeek
Ik baat hai ejaaze maseeha mere aage
Juz naam, nahi surate aalam mujhe manzoor
Juz veham nahi, hasti-e-ashiya mere aage
Hota hai nihaan gardh mein sehra, mere hote
Ghista hai jabin khaak pe dariya mere aage
Mat pooch ke kya haal hai mera tere peechhe
Tu dekh ke kya rang hai tera mere aage
Eemaan mujhe roke hai, jo khechein hai mujhe kufr
Kaaba mere peechhe hai, kaleesa mere aage
Go haath ko jumbish nahin, aakhon mein toh dumh hai
Rehney do abhi saahgar-o-meena mere aage
Humpesha-o-hum masharab –o-humraaz hai mera
‘Ghalib’ ko bura kyoon kaho achha mere aage
-Ghalib
***
The world is but a child's play for me
Every day this show goes on before me
The play of Suleman's throne is near me
The miracle of Messiah goes before me
I do not go for fame nor for worldly life
Life's realisms, not illusions are before me
The desert remains hidden in dust for me
The river rubs its forehead in dust before me
Don't ask me how I feel without you
See how happy you feel before me
Faith stops me though the Kafirs keep on pulling
Kabba I have left behind, the cross lies before me
Though my hands don't move, I keep breathing
Please let the carafe of wine stay before me
With similar craft and moods, he's my confidant
Why do you call 'Ghalib' bad right before me?
-tr. by Ravi Kopra
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