Shivpreet Singh

Mere Shauk Da Nai Aitbar is the Punjabi translation of a Farsi ghazal by Mirza Ghalib that was translated to Punjabi. Punjabi lyrics translated by Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum. I heard today from a historian in Pakistan that it was one of the first songs that made Ghulam Ali popular. The ghazal has been composed in Raag Dhanasri, which seems a raag that Ghulam Ali is one of the few people that has as his favorite. His other famous ghazal, Chupke Chupke is also in the same raag.

Here is the ghazal, its lyrics in punjabi and the original farsi ghazal by Mirza Ghalib. The subject of the ghazal is love; especially being intoxicated in love over following the ways of the world.

Punjabi Translation of Mere Shau Da Nahi

Original lyrics: Mirza Ghalib

Punjabi Translation: Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum

mere shauq da nahiiN aitbaar teN nuuN aa jaa vekh meraa intezaar aa jaa

aiNveN laRan b'haane labhnaa iiN, kii tuu sochanaa iiN sitamgaar aa jaa

bhaaveN hij'r te bhaaveN visaal hove, vakkho vakkh dohaan diiaaN lazttaN neN

mere sohniaa jaa tuu hzaar vaarii, aa jaa piaaria te lakkh vaar aa jaa

eh rivaaz ai masjidaaN maNdiraaN da, othe hastiiaaN te Khud parastiiaaN neN

maiKhaane vicch mastiiaaN ii mastiiaaN neN, hosh kar ban ke hoshiaar aa jaa

tuu saada te tera dil saadaa, teN nuuN aiNveN raqiib kuraah paaia

je tuuN mere janaaze te nahiiN aaia, raah takdaa ii terii m'zaar aa jaa

sukhii vassna je tuuN chauhnaa eN, mere ghaliba ais j'haan andar

aa jaa riNdaaN dii bazam vicch aa beh jaa, aithe baithde neN Khaaksaar aa jaa

Ghalib took great pride in his Farsi poetry as opposed to his

work in Urdu. He has said:

Farsi been ta ba-beeni naqsh-haa'-e- rang rang

ba-guzar az majmoo'-e-Urdu keh be-rang-e-man ast

[Farsi ko dekho ta keh ranga rang naqsh dekho

maire Urdu ke majmoo'e ko chhoRo keh be-rang hai]

Ghalib's Original Ghazal - za man gar-at na-bavad intezaar be'aa

za man gar-at na-bavad intezaar be'aa

bahaana jooe mabaash va sateeza-kaar be'aa

[agar maire intizaar ka yaqeen nahin karta to aa ja

bahaane na banaa aur jaldi aa ja]

be yak do sheva-e-sitam dil nam-me shavad khursand

be marg-e-man keh ba saamaan-e-rozgaar be'aa

[aik do sitam se dil ko tasalli nahiN hoti

meri maut ke liye, jahaan ke saamaan ke saath aa ???????]

bahaana joo'st dar ilzaam mudda'ee shauq-at

yake ba raghm-e-dil-e-naa-umeed vaar be'aa

[teri muhabbat ka daa'va karne vaala (dil) bahaana-joo hai

aik dafa' dil-e-naa-umeedvaar ki hiqaarat (to spite it) meN hi

aa ja]

halaak-e-shevah-e-tamkeen ma-kha(w)aah mastaan raa

'anaan gasastah-tar az baad-e-nau-bahaar be'aa

[yeh na chaah ke tere divaane tere naaz se halaak ho jaa'eN

havaa se zayaadah aazaad (be-lagaam) ho kar aa ja]

za-maa gasasti va ba deegaraan garo basti

be'aa keh 'ehd-e-vafaa neest ustavaar be'aa

[ham se rishta toR kar doosaroN se baaNdh diya hai

aa keh 'ehd-evafaa pakka nahiN hai]

vadaa'-o-vasl judaagaana lazzate daarad

hazaar baar baro, sad hazaar baar be'aa

[vadaa' (goodbye) aur vasl ki lazzat judaa gaana hai

hazaar baar jaa, aur laakh baar aa]

za khoo'-e-tu-st nehaad-e-shakeeb naazuk-tar

be'aa keh dast-o-dil-am me-ravad za-kaar be'aa

[teri khoo se sabr ki tabee'at naazuk tar hai

aa keh mere dast-o-dil kaam se jaane vaale haiN]

hisaar-e'aafiyati gar havas kuni Ghalib

chu maa ba halqa'e'rindaan-e-khaak-saar be'aa

[Ghalib agar tu chaahta hai keh 'aafiat (khairiyyat) ke hisaar

(qil'e) meN rahe

to hamaari tarah rindaan-e-khaaksaar ke halqe meN aa ja].

Translation in English:

Translated by Shivpreet Singh

Come Fast

You appear to doubt the depth of my passion,

Why not witness my fervor firsthand, come fast!

Don't delay with trivial excuses and hesitations,

Such skepticism? Oh, you who hold sway, come fast!

Whether from afar or in close vicinity,

I savor delight in each, individually.

My love, you may leave me a thousand times if you wish,

But my dearest, come a million times, come fast!

In the tradition of mosques and temples,

You will find big figures and egos there

In this realm of wine, only ecstasy reigns,

Show some wisdom, be sober, come fast!

Your purity matches the purity of your heart,

Your unwarranted enmity is unjustified from the start.

Since you didn't attend my final rite,

My grave yearns your presence, come fast!

If you wish to attain bliss,

in this world, O Ghalib

Join the intoxicated souls without delay,

Come sit with the down-to-earth ones, come fast!

Today, I find myself immersed in the enchanting melodies of "Mai ni main kinon aakhaan," a mesmerizing Punjabi Sufi song penned by Shah Hussain. As I listen to this captivating composition, it evokes memories of Guru Gobind Singh's soul-stirring Mittar Pyare Nu. I am also reminded of a couple of poems by Ghulam Fareed and Sultan Bahu mentioned below.

Shah Hussain, a revered poet of the 16th century, is known for his poignant verses that encapsulate the anguish of separation. His poetry delves deep into the human experience of longing and heartache, particularly in the context of love and spiritual connection.

In this poignant poem, Shah Hussain cries out, "O mother, who should I tell this pain of separation?" These words convey a profound sense of despair and helplessness, as the poet grapples with the overwhelming agony caused by separation from a beloved. In this poem, Shah Hussain goes beyond expressing his pain of separation and delves deeper into his emotional state. He articulates the profound sense of isolation that accompanies his suffering, lamenting that there is no one who can truly comprehend the depth of his agony. This realization adds another layer to his anguish.

See Lyrics, translations and videos below.

For another beautiful poem by Shah Hussain, see Man Atakeya Beparvaah De Naal.

Lyrics & Translation - Maye Ni Main Kinu Aakhan

Mai ne main kinon aakhaan,

Dard vichore da hall ni

O mother O mother, who do I tell,

this pain of separation

Dhuan dhukhay mairay murshid wala,

Jaan phoulaan taan laal ni

My Master's fire smoulders,

If I poke, its red hot

Soolan mar dewani keeti,

Birhoun peya saday khayal

Driven mad with spikes,

Pain of separation fills my thoughts

Dukhan di roti, Soolaan da saalan,

Aahen da baalan baal

Bread of sadness, sauce of spikes,

Make a fire of laments

Jungle bailay phiraan

Dhoudaindi ajay na paayo lal

Wandered jungles and deserts,

But not found the ruby

Ranjhan Ranjhan phiraan dhoudaindi,

Ranjhan mairay nal

wander looking for Ranjhan Ranjhan,

But Ranjhan is with me

Kahay Hussain faqeer nimanaa,

Shoh milay taan theevan nihaal

Says Hussain the poor faqeer,

Meeting God would be ecstasy

Lyrics in Punjabi

ਮਾਏਂ ਨੀਂ ਮੈਂ ਕੈਨੂੰ ਆਖਾਂ

ਮਾਏਂ ਨੀਂ ਮੈਂ ਕੈਨੂੰ ਆਖਾਂ,

ਦਰਦੁ ਵਿਛੋੜੇ ਦਾ ਹਾਲਿ ।1।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਧੂੰਆਂ ਧੁਖੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੁਰਸ਼ਦਿ ਵਾਲਾ,

ਜਾਂ ਫੋਲਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਲਾਲ ।1।

ਸੂਲਾਂ ਮਾਰ ਦਿਵਾਨੀ ਕੀਤੀ,

ਬਿਰਹੁੰ ਪਇਆ ਸਾਡੇ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ।2।

ਦੁਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੋਟੀ ਸੂਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਲਣੁ,

ਆਹੀਂ ਦਾ ਬਾਲਣੁ ਬਾਲਿ ।3।

ਜੰਗਲਿ ਬੇਲੇ ਫਿਰਾਂ ਢੂੰਢੇਂਦੀ,

ਅਜੇ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਲਾਲ ।4।

ਕਹੈ ਹੁਸੈਨ ਫ਼ਕੀਰ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ,

ਸ਼ਹੁ ਮਿਲੇ ਤਾਂ ਥੀਵਾਂ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ।5।

Related poetry by Ghulaam Fareed

ae tan tandoor

haddan da ballan

asaan aahin naal tapaya

kaalje de vat

pede keete

utte roop palethan laaya

tan haandi

hijar masaala

vich lun sabar da paaya

yaar fareed

mai margai dhola

te tainu aje sawaad na aayaa

Related poetry by Sultan Bahu:

ਇਸ਼ਕ ਦੀ ਭਾਹ ਹੱਡਾਂ ਦਾ ਬਾਲਣ,
ਆਸ਼ਕ ਬਹਿ ਸਕੇਂਦੇ ਹੂ ।
ਘੱਤ ਕੇ ਜਾਨ ਜਿਗਰ ਵਿਚ ਆਰਾ,
ਵੇਖ ਕਬਾਬ ਤਲੇਂਦੇ ਹੂ ।
ਸਰਗਰਦਾਂ ਫਿਰਨ ਹਰ ਵੇਲੇ,
ਖ਼ੂਨ ਜਿਗਰ ਦਾ ਪੀਂਦੇ ਹੂ ।
ਹੋਏ ਹਜ਼ਾਰਾਂ ਆਸ਼ਕ ਬਾਹੂ,
ਇਸ਼ਕ ਨਸੀਬ ਕਹੀਂਦੇ ਹੂ ।

Listening to Shah Hussain today, one of 4 of my favorite punjabi sufi poets - the others being Baba Sheikh Farid, Baba Bulleh Shah and Sultan Bahu. Shah Hussain writes poetry in Lehnda Punjabi, or multani, the kind of punjabi that I grew up hearing in our household. So it appears especially sweet to me.

Shah Hussain was the pioneer of the kafi form of Punjabi poetry. I am reminded one day that I was talking to my friend and collaborator Rajesh Prasanna and I told him of my desire to do some Multani Kafi's in the future. He responded quickly by saying that would be exciting ... and he started playing raag multani. And I had to stop him ... multani kafi is actually a style of singing which is the same as a thumri; it is called kafi in punjab!

Lyrics and translation that I found elsewhere:

Mai ne main kinon aakhaan,

Dard vichore da haal ni

O mother O mother, who do I tell,

this pain of separation

Dhuan dhukhay mairay murshid wala,

Jaan phoulaan taan laal ni

My Master's fire smoulders,

If I poke, its red hot

Soolan mar dewani keeti,

Birhoun peya saday khayali

Driven mad with spikes,

Pain of separation fills my thoughts

Dukhan di roti, Soolaan da saalan,

Aahen da baalan baal

Bread of sadness, sauce of spikes,

Make a fire of laments

Jungle bailay phiraan main Dhoudaindi

ajay na paayo laal

Wandered jungles and deserts,

But not found the ruby

Ranjhan Ranjhan phiraan dhoudaindi,

Ranjhan mairay nal

wander looking for Ranjhan Ranjhan,

But Ranjhan is with me

Kahay Hussain faqeer nimanaa,

Shoh milay taan theevan nihaal

Says Hussain the poor faqeer,

Meeting love would be ecstatic

Lyrics in Punjabi

ਮਾਏਂ ਨੀਂ ਮੈਂ ਕੈਨੂੰ ਆਖਾਂ

ਮਾਏਂ ਨੀਂ ਮੈਂ ਕੈਨੂੰ ਆਖਾਂ,

ਦਰਦੁ ਵਿਛੋੜੇ ਦਾ ਹਾਲਿ ।1।ਰਹਾਉ।

ਧੂੰਆਂ ਧੁਖੇ ਮੇਰੇ ਮੁਰਸ਼ਦਿ ਵਾਲਾ,

ਜਾਂ ਫੋਲਾਂ ਤਾਂ ਲਾਲ ।1।

ਸੂਲਾਂ ਮਾਰ ਦਿਵਾਨੀ ਕੀਤੀ,

ਬਿਰਹੁੰ ਪਇਆ ਸਾਡੇ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ।2।

ਦੁਖਾਂ ਦੀ ਰੋਟੀ ਸੂਲਾਂ ਦਾ ਸਾਲਣੁ,

ਆਹੀਂ ਦਾ ਬਾਲਣੁ ਬਾਲਿ ।3।

ਜੰਗਲਿ ਬੇਲੇ ਫਿਰਾਂ ਢੂੰਢੇਂਦੀ,

ਅਜੇ ਨ ਪਾਇਓ ਲਾਲ ।4।

ਕਹੈ ਹੁਸੈਨ ਫ਼ਕੀਰ ਨਿਮਾਣਾ,

ਸ਼ਹੁ ਮਿਲੇ ਤਾਂ ਥੀਵਾਂ ਨਿਹਾਲਿ ।5।

Guru Gobind Singh's Mittar Pyare Nu Video

Mittar Pyare Nu - Guru Gobind Singh

Recorded at SpacePepper Studios (http://www.spacepepper.com/)

Bansuri - Pt. Ajay Prasanna:

Video - Aman Kakkar:

Correction to the video: The year given in inscription in the start of the Shabad that is 1699 is incorrect. The correct date is Dec 1704. My apologies for the mistake. - Shivpreet (May, 2020)

Historical Backgroud for Mittar Pyare Nu

‘Mittar Pyare Nu’ is a shabad, by the tenth guru Guru Gobind Singh ji, who has said to have recited it in the Machivara Forest when separated from everyone after the Mughal's attacked Anandpur Sahib. The Guru had lost his mother, two elder sons in battle, two younger sons by execution and faced further hardships in battle facing an army of 100,000 against his fearless 40. Despite all the losses, the Guru is only concerned about his separation from Waheguru, not from his family, friends or property.

Lyrics - Punjabi/English/Alternative Translations

ਮਿੱਤਰ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਲ ਮੁਰੀਦਾ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਤੁਧੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਰੋਗੁ ਰਜਾਈਆ ਦਾ ਓਢਣ ਨਾਗ ਨਿਵਾਸਾ ਦੇ ਹਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਸੂਲ ਸੁਰਾਹੀ ਖੰਜਰ ਪਿਆਲਾ ਬਿੰਗ ਕਸਾਈਆਂ ਦਾ ਸਹਿਣਾ ॥

ਯਾਰੜੇ ਦਾ ਸਾਨੂੰ ਸੱਥਰੁ ਚੰਗਾ ਭਠ ਖੇੜਿਆ ਦਾ ਰਹਿਣਾ ॥

mithr piaarae noo(n) haal mureedhaa dhaa kehinaa ॥

thudhh bin rog rajaaeeaa dhaa oudtan naag nivaasaa dhae hehinaa ॥

sool suraahee kha(n)jar piaalaa bi(n)g kasaaeeaaa(n) dhaa sehinaa ॥

yaararrae dhaa saanoo(n) saathhar cha(n)gaa bhat(h) khaerriaa dhaa rehinaa ॥

Alternative Translation 1

Tell the beloved friend (the Lord) the plight of his disciples.

Without You, rich blankets are a disease and the comfort of the house is like living with snakes.

.... Our water pitchers are stakes, our cups have edges like daggers.

....Like the suffering of animals at the hands of butchers.

Our Beloved Lord's straw bed is more pleasing to us than living in costly furnace-like mansions.

Alternative Translation 2

Tell the condition of the believers to my Beloved friend.

[Tell Him that] Without You, using bed sheets is like a sickness and like living as being wrapped by snakes.

The pitcher is a thorn and the glass is a dagger which are like tolerating being butchered.

Death bed with my Beloved is better than body burning [living with vice] without Him.

Going through the words of Mittar Pyare Nu

Punjabi	Roman representation	English
ਮਿੱਤਰ	Mittar	friend
ਪਿਆਰੇ	piaya	dear, loving
ਨੂੰ	noo	him, them
ਹਾਲ	haal	well being of; condition
ਮੁਰੀਦਾ	mureedhaa	disciple, student
ਦਾ	dhaa	of
ਕਹਿਣਾ	kehina	to tell, narrate
ਤੁਧੁ	thudhh	you, they
ਬਿਨੁ	bin	without
ਰੋਗੁ	rog	pain, disease;
ਰਜਾਈਆ	rajaaeea	quilt
ਓਢਣ	oudtan	wearing
ਨਾਗ	naag	snake, cobra
ਨਿਵਾਸਾ	nivaasaa	in the company; together
ਦੇ	dhae	with
ਹਹਿਣਾ	hehinaa	stay; reside; live
ਸੂਲ	sool	Thorn, spike
ਸੁਰਾਹੀ	suraahee	long-necked small pitcher, decanter, flagon, flask
ਖੰਜਰ	kha(n)jar	dagger
ਪਿਆਲਾ	piaalaa	cup; saucer
ਬਿੰਗ	bi(n)g	as same; is just like
ਕਸਾਈਆਂ	kasaaeeaaa(n)	Butcher is Kasaee; at the butcher's hand
ਸਹਿਣਾ	sehinaa	To bear, to suffer, to endure, to sustain, to have patience.
ਯਾਰੜੇ	yaararrae	yaar is friend; friend's
ਸਾਨੂੰ	saanoo(n)	me; us
ਸੱਥਰੁ	saathhar	Death bed usually on ground.
ਚੰਗਾ	cha(n)gaa	is good; preferred; better
ਭਠ	bhat(h)	Furnace, distillery
ਖੇੜਿਆ	khaerriaa	Village and second meaning Body
ਰਹਿਣਾ	rehinaa	life; living

yeh hum jo hijr mai

- Mirza Ghalib

yeh hum jo hijr mai deewar-o-dar ko dekhte hain

kabhi saaba ko kabhi nama’bar ko dekhte hain

wo aaein ghar mai hamare khuda ki qudrat hai

kabhi hum un ko kabhi apne ghar ko dekhte hain

nazar lage na kahin us ke dast-o-bazaboo ko

yeh log kiyu mere zakhm-e-jigar ko dekhte hain

tere jawahir-e-taraf-e-kala ko kiya dekhen

hum auj-e-talaa-e-laal-o-gohar ko dekhte hain

References used by Rahat:

Aah ko chahiye ik umr asar hone tak

Kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sar hone tak

Humne maana ke tagaaful na karoge lekin

khaak ho jayenge hum tumko khabar hone tak

Ghazal

sar phoḌnā vo 'ġhālib'-e-shorīda haal kā

yaad aa gayā mujhe tirī dīvār dekh kar

Ghazal

bas-ki dushvār hai har kaam kā āsāñ honā

aadmī ko bhī mayassar nahīñ insāñ honā

girya chāhe hai ḳharābī mire kāshāne kī

dar o dīvār se Tapke hai bayābāñ honā

Ghazal

Translation by Farhana Sharmin

yeh hum jo hijr mai deewar-o-dar ko dekhte hain

kabhi saaba ko kabhi nama’bar ko dekhte hain

Line 1/2 - In the times of this separation from you, I keep looking absent minded at the doors and walls of my home. Sometimes I wait in anticipation of the messenger and sometimes for the wind coming from your direction for the winds coming may have some hint of you.

wo aaein ghar mai hamare khuda ki qudrat hai

kabhi hum un ko kabhi apne ghar ko dekhte hain

Line 3/4 - My lover has come to my house; it's a miracle from the God. I sometimes look at her, and sometimes I look at the ruins that are my only abode. Such beauty amid the desolation and ruins! How do I get to deserve this luck? This has to be a miracle from God.

nazar lage na kahin us ke dast-o-bazaboo ko

yeh log kiyu mere zakhm-e-jigar ko dekhte hain

Line 5/6 - May I not cast an evil eye looking at the lovely hand and shoulder of my beloved? Why do people look at my tortured heart (due to this unflinching love) and gossip about it? The poet says that he has been cautious to not stare at his beloved so as not to cast an evil eye and also catch the society's attention. Yet why do people not let me live peacefully?

tere jawahir-e-taraf-e-kala ko kiya dekhen

hum auj-e-talaa-e-laal-o-gohar ko dekhte hain

Line 7/8 - What to see/say about your jewelry and your golden belt and that crown of yours? The poet laments on the stark social differences between them and says that I see my luck and my position (lowly existence) on one hand and your opulent string of pearls and diamonds on the other.

Punjabi Translation of Mere Shau Da Nahi

Ghalib's Original Ghazal - za man gar-at na-bavad intezaar be'aa

Lyrics & Translation - Maye Ni Main Kinu Aakhan

Lyrics in Punjabi

Related poetry by Ghulaam Fareed

Related poetry by Sultan Bahu:

Guru Gobind Singh's Mittar Pyare Nu Video

Going through the words of Mittar Pyare Nu

yeh hum jo hijr mai

References used by Rahat:

Translation by Farhana Sharmin

SHIVPREET SINGH

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