Jalwa Baqadr-e-Zarf-e-Nazar
[By Jigar Moradabadi]
Jalwa baqadr-e-zarf-e-nazar dekhte rahe
Kya dekhte hum unko magar dekhte rahe
Apna hi aks pesh-e-nazar dekhte rahe
Aaina ru-ba-ru tha jidhar dekhte rahe
Unki hareem-e-naaz kahaan aur hum kahaan
Naqsh-o-nigaar-e-parda-e-dar dekhte rahe
Aisi bhi kuch firaaq ki raatein guzar gayin
Jaise unhi ko pesh-e-nazar dekhte rahe
Har lehza shaan-e-husn badalti rahi Jigar
Har aan hum jahaan-e-digar dekhte rahe
---
One of my favorites from Jigar, grows on you slowly but surely...is open to more than one interpretation. It reads so well as poetry sung to an earthly beloved - yet Jigar's verses often seem to imply Sufi angles and the meanings could apply to the Spiritual 'beloved'. In this ghazal in particular, the two layers of meaning flow through so seamlessly. Listen to it rendered by Abida Parveen here.
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10 comments:
Apna hi aks pesh-e-nazar dekhte rahe
Aaina ru-ba-ru tha jidhar dekhte rahe
These lines influenced me the most...
Waiting for the translation!
"Kya dekhte hum unko magar dekhte rahe"- Woww! What an expression. Wonder how the effect of it would be translated in Engish. Waiting!
wow! u really are into GOOD poetry. Thats a rarity these days.
tap: those lines are certainly very reflective...have tried to preserve that aspect throughout the translation
vik: it has been said that a poet's ability to 'wow' his audience comes often from being able to use the particulars of the language in a way that cannot be translated. that's what makes these translations tough!
how do we know: welcome and thanks for the thoughts...trying to preserve my own tastes and share them with the world at large too...
I took that line in a different sense. A rough translation of that would be: "Who am I to look at her (or, how entitled am I to look at her), yet I stared.". But as you say, poetry can have varying interpretations. In this particular case, it's all about where we like to have a pause in the sentence.
The thing you mentioned about a poet's ability is so true! I couldn't agree more.
one of my favourites from Jigar too :)
vik: i like your translation. I should have kept that as well.
illusionist: i think jigar is dominating this space so much because i cant think of anything by him that i dont like...there's something about his content and style that strikes...
Greetings of Peace!
Can i request a translation of this beautiful song pls?
Waah, aapne kuch accha aur behtareen padha diya
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