Ghazal
Nahin Hava Mein Ye Bu Nafa-e-khatan Ki Si
nahin hava mein ye bu nafa-e-khatan ki si
Source: Kulliyaat-e-Nazeer Akbarabadi (1922) · HI
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1
नहीं हवा में ये बू नाफ़ा-ए-ख़तन की सी
लपट हो ये तो किसी ज़ुल्फ़-ए-पुर-शिकन की सी
This fragrance in the air is not the musk of Khotan's deer—
if it be flame, it is the flame of some tress coiled and dear.
This scent spreading in the air is not like the musk of Khotan's deer; if it is a flame, then it is the flame of some curled and tangled tress.
2
मैं हँसके इसलिए मुँह चूमता हूँ ग़ुंचे का
कि कुछ लताफ़ी है इसमें तिरे दहन की सी
Smiling, I kiss the rosebud's mouth for this alone—
that something of your lips' sweet grace in it is shown.
I smilingly kiss the rosebud's mouth only because it holds something of the delicate sweetness of your lips.
3
ख़ुदा के वास्ते गुल को न मेरे हाथ से लो
मुझे बू आती हो इसमें किसी बदन की सी
For God's sake, do not take the rose from out my hand—
for in it comes to me the fragrance of some beloved's body.
For God's sake, do not take this flower from my hand, for I sense in it the fragrance of someone's body.
4
हज़ार तन के चलें बांके ख़ूब-रू लेकिन
किसी में आन नहीं तेरे बांकपन की सी
A thousand graceful, handsome ones may walk their jaunty way,
yet none possesses the proud elegance your charm displays.
Though a thousand handsome and graceful people may strut about, none of them has the proud elegance and charm that you possess.
5
मुझे तो उस पे निहायत ही रश्क आता हो
कि जिसके हाथ सने पोशाक तेरे तन की सी
Indeed, I feel the most intense of envy burn in me
For that one whose own hands have sewn the garment of your frame.
I feel intense envy towards the one whose hands have sewn the garment fitted to your body.
6
कहा जो तूने कि मनका ढला तो आऊँगा
हो बात कुछ न कुछ इसमें भी मक्र-ओ-फ़न की सी
You said, 'When the day declines, then I shall come to you'—
Yet in these words there lurks some trace of guile and artful ruse.
You said that you would come when the day declines, yet even in these words of yours there is some trace of deceit and cunning.
7
वगरना सच हो तो ऐ जान इतनी मुद्दत में
यही बस एक कही तूने मेरे मन की सी
Or else, if truth be told, O love, in all this length of time,
This one alone you spoke that matched the longing of my heart.
Or else, to tell the truth, O love, in all this long time you said just this one thing that matched my heart's desire.
8
वो देख शैख़ को ला-हौल पढ़के कहता हो
ये आए देखिए दाढ़ी लगाए सुन की सी
Look there, the Sheikh recites his charm to ward off ill, and sneers:
"Behold, here comes one sporting a beard of flax-like hairs!"
Look there, the Sheikh recites his charm against evil and says: behold, here comes one wearing a beard like flax-fibres.
9
कहाँ तू और कहाँ उस परी का वस्ल नज़ीर
मियाँ तू छोड़ ये बातें दीवाने-पन की सी
Where are you, and where the union with that fairy, Nazeer?
Give up such talk, my friend—it is but the raving of a madman's heart.
Where are you, and where the hope of union with that fairy, Nazeer? Give up such talk, my friend—it is nothing but madness.
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