For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

Recitation

خود داریِ ساحل میں ہے ۔ منوہر لال بہارؔ

یاد بس اک بھولنے والے کی میرے دل میں ہے

ہُو کا عالم ورنہ اس اُجڑی ہوئی منزل میں ہے

ہم جو کرتے ہیں فرشتوں سے بھی یہ ممکن نہیں

سر جھکا کعبہ کے اندر یاد اُن کی دل میں ہے

خود اُبھرتے ہیں مری راہوں میں منزل کے نشاں

یہ اثر اے خضر میرے جذبۂ کامل میں ہے

دیکھنے والے فقط تصویرِ ظاہر پہ نہ جا

زور طوفاں کا نہاں خودداریِ ساحل میں ہے

ہو گئیں دونوں جہاں کی وسعتیں اس پر نثار

درد کہتے ہیں جسے وہ چیز میرے دل میں ہے

کھِنچ رہا ہے ہر قدم پر نقشہ امید و یاس کا

کاروانِ زندگی کیا جانے کس منزل میں ہے

لاکھوں پروانے کبھی کے خاک جل کر ہو گئے

پوچھئے اب شمع کیوں جلتی ہوئی محفل میں ہے

نیمجاں ہو کر رہا میں شامِ غربت میں بہارؔ

اک قدم منزل کے باہر اک قدم منزل میں ہے

ख़ुद-दारी-ए साहिल में है – मनोहर लाल बहार

१

याद बस एक भूलने वाले कि मेरे दिल में है

हू का आलम वरना इस उजढी हुई मंज़िल में है

२

हम जो करते हैं फ़रिश्तौं से भी ये मुमकिन नहीं

सर झुका काबे के अंदर याद उन की दिल में है

३

ख़ुद उभरते हैं मेरी राहौं में मंज़िल के निशां

ये असर अए ख़िज़्र मेरे जज़्बा-ए कामिल में है

४

देखने वाले फ़क़त तस्वीर-ए ज़ाहेर पे न जा

ज़ोर तूफ़ां का नेहां ख़ुद-दारि-ए साहिल में है

५

हो गईं दोनों जहां की वुस’अतें उस पर निसार

दर्द कहते हैं जिसे वो चीज़ मेरे दिल में है

६

खिंच रहा है हर क़दम पर नक़्शा उमीद ओ यास का

कारवान-ए ज़िंदगी क्या जाने किस मंज़िल में है

७

लाखों परवाने कभी के ख़ाक जल कर हो गये

पूछिये अब शम’अ क्यूं जलती हुई महफ़िल में है

८

नीम-जां हो कर रहा मैं शाम-ए ग़ुर्बत में बहार

एक क़दम मंज़िल के बाहर एक क़दम मंज़िल में है

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. manohar lal bahaar (1912-????), whose father, rai shahed lal taught him urdu and farsi at home was invited to mushaa’era in hyderabad regularly. His collection ‘bahaaristan’ was published in 1977. There are at least 4 additional collections of his poetry. He retired as a high-level official in the Department of Agriculture, Andhra Pradesh. This Ghazal is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam along with several others in the same zamin.
1
yaad bas ek bhoolne vaale ki mere dil meN hai
huu¹ ka aalam² varna³ is ujRi hui manzil⁴ meN hai 1.desolation, stillness 2.condition, atmosphere 3.otherwise 4.stage towards the destination, path of love
The poet/lover is on a journey towards his destination/love. It is hopeless and the path is desolate. The only thing that sustains him is the memory of the one who has forgotten him.
2
ham jo karte haiN farishtoN¹ se bhi ye mumkin² nahiN
sar jhuka k’aabe ke andar yaad un ki dil meN hai 1.angels 2.possible
That which we do is not possible even for angels to do. We bow our head at the k’aaba and carry her memories in our heart. The lover elevates the beloved to the same position as the divine.
3
Khud ubharte¹ haiN meri raahoN meN manzil² ke nishaaN³
ye asar⁴ aye Khizr⁵ mere jazba⁶-e kaamil⁷ meN hai 1.rise, emerge 2.destination 3.clues, directions 4.effect 5.legendary old man 6.emotions 7.complete, perfect
The reference to Khizr is because he is supposed to know all the ways/paths of the world and he is the patron saint of all travelers. He is a guide. Thus, O Khizr, my emotions are so perfect/sincere that as I undertake my journey signs pointing towards my destination emerge by themselves. Said bahzad lakhnavi …
aye jazba-e-dil gar maiN chaahuN har chiiz muqaabil aa jaaye
manzil ke liye do gaam chaluN aur saamne manzil aa jaaye
4
dekhne vaale faqat¹ tasviir²-e zaahir³ pe na jaa
zor toofaaN ka nehaaN⁴ Khud-daari⁵-e saahil⁶ meN hai 1.only 2.picture, image 3.apparent, superficial 4.hidden 5.self-reliance 6.shoreline
In poetic convention storms take place in the open sea/ocean. The shoreline is calm. The poet describes this calm as its ‘Khud-daari’. He says – O you who regard this scene, don’t look just at the superficial picture. In the calm of the shoreline is hidden the power of a storm. Perhaps he means this in the spirit of ‘still waters run deep’ – the calm shore carries the power of a storm.
5
ho gaiiN donoN jahaaN ki vus’ateN¹ us par nisaar²dard kahte haiN jise vo chiiz mere dil meN hai 1.expanse, range, realm 2.sacrificial offering
In poetic tradition ‘dard’ is the most important feature of character. This can be a feeling of pain at the suffering of others. This is more valuable than any belief in god or observing of rituals. Because he has this feeling in his heart, the realms of the here and hereafter are both pay tribute to his heart.
6
khiNch¹ raha hai har qadam² par naqsha³ umiid⁴ o yaas⁵ ka
kaarvaan-e zindagi kya jaane kis manzil⁶ meN hai 1.being drawn/written 2.step 3.sketch 4.hope 5.yearning 6.destination
At every step a sketch of hope and yearning is being drawn and presented to the poet/seeker. He muses – I don’t know towards what destination the caravan of life is headed. This appears to be a hopeful development for the seeker.
7
laakhoN parvaane¹ kabhi ke² Khaak³ jal kar ho gaye
poochhiye ab sham’a kyuN jalti hui mahfil⁴ meN hai 1.moths 2.an expression meaning-long ago 3.ashes 4.gathering
In poetic tradition the moth is in love with the candle and sacrifices its life to get to the beloved (gets burnt). Thousands of moths have already been burnt to ashes. Ask why the lamp is still burning in the gathering. Other than this literal meaning, I am at a loss what the poet is trying to say.
8
niim-jaaN¹ ho kar raha maiN shaam-e Ghurbat² meN bahaar³
ek qadam⁴ manzil⁵ ke baahir⁶ ek qadam⁴ manzil⁵ meN hai 1.half-dead 2.exile 3.spring, pen-name of the poet 4.step 5.destination 6.outside
The poet is in exile, away from home. He is missing home and is half-dead just because of that. His manzil/destination is death. He is halfway there … ek qadam andar ek qadam baahir. This is similar to a saying … ...

Khud-daari-e saahil meN hai-manohar lal bahaar