हम जानते तो इश्क़ न करते (Hum Jaante To Ishq Na Karte) -- Mir Taqi Mir

[Urdu Couplet #27]

हम जानते तो इश्क़ न करते किसू के साथ 

ले जाते दिल को ख़ाक में इस आरज़ू के साथ 

Hum jaante to ishq na karte kisu ke saath

Le jaate dil ko khak me iss arzoo ke saath 

Mir Taqi Mir
(1723 - 1810)

इश्क़ (ishq) = love; किसू (kisu) = here it means 'anyone' (kisu is the ancient way of writing किसी kisi); ख़ाक (khak) = dust; ख़ाक में (khak me) = in the dust (it is used in relation to death. The usual usage is 'khak me milna'.); आरज़ू (arzoo) = desire

[English Meaning]

Had I known before, I would have not fallen in love with anyone

I would have taken my heart in the dust (died) with this desire (the desire to fall in love)

Note: Here the poet is repenting to have fallen in love because of the pain and longing it must have brought to him. He feels it is better to have the desires unfulfilled rather than making life miserable by falling in love.

About the Poet

मीर तक़ी मीर  Mir Taqi Mir was one of the most prominent Urdu poets of the 18th century. He was one of the pioneers in  building the Urdu language form and style. He was also a mentor of other prominent poets, one of them was the well-known poet Sauda. Read More 

शग्ले शबे तन्हाई (Shagle Shab-e-Tanhaayi) -- Nawab Mirza Muhammad Taqi Khan 'Hawis'

[Urdu Couplet #25]

शग्ले शबे तन्हाई किससे कहें हम अपना 

दो-चार घड़ी रोकर बहलाते हैं ग़म अपना 

Shagle shab-e-tanhaayi kisse kahen hum apna

Do-chaar ghadi rokar bahaalate hain gam apna

शग्ले शबे तन्हाई (shagle shab-e-tanhaayi) = the way to spend a lonely night; शब (shab) = night; तन्हाई (tanhaayi) = loneliness; रोकर (rokar) = by crying ; बहलाते (bahaalate) = pacifying

[English Meaning]

The way I pass a lonely night whom should I tell

For few moments I cry and pacify my sorrow

or

Who should I tell how I pass a lonely night 

I cry awhile and pacify my sorrow

Note: In this couplet, the poet is talking about the night when he is away from his beloved. He tells about the loneliness that fills his heart with sorrow, which he is unable to share with anyone. The only way he is able to pacify his grieving heart is by shedding tears in the midst of the night.

About the Poet

नवाब मिर्जा मुहम्मदतकी खाँ 'हविस' Nawab Mirza Muhammad Taqi Khan 'Hawis' hailed from Faizabad while he completed his education from Lucknow. He was a disciple of मुसहफ़ी Musahfi. His poetry had the charm like the poems of the great poet मीर Mir. 

आँखोंमे उसकी मैंने जो (Aankhonme Uski Maine Jo) -- Ghulam Hamdani 'Musahfi'

[Urdu Couplet #24]

आँखोंमे उसकी मैंने जो तसवीर खींच ली 

सुरमेने उसकी चश्मके शमशीर खींच ली 

Aankhon me uski maine jo tasveer khich li

Surmene uski chashm ke shamsheer khich li

Ghulam Hamdani 'Musahfi'
(1751 - 1824)

तसवीर (tasveer) = picture; सुरमा (surma) = kohl; चश्म (chashm) = eyes; शमशीर (shamsheer) = sword

[English Meaning]

As I clicked her picture in my eyes

The kohl in her eyes was like a drawn sword

Note: The couplet means 'As I saw her, I felt the kohl in her eyes were like an open sword'. The poet uses the analogy between his beloved's kohl-smeared eyes and a sword to depict that the kohl added to the beauty of the eyes such that they were capable to kill like a sword.

About the Poet

गुलाम हमदानी 'मुसहफ़ी Ghulam Hamdani 'Musahfi' is considered as one of the classic poets of Urdu ghazal. Read more...

दिल थामता कि चश्मपर करता (Dil Thaamta Ki Chashmpar Karta) -- Hakim Sana Ullah 'Firaq'

[Urdu Couplet #23]

दिल थामता कि चश्मपर करता तेरी निगाह 

सागरको देखता कि मैं शीशा सम्हालता 

Dil thaamta ki chashmpar karta teri nigah 

Sagar ko dekhta ki mein shisha samhalta

थामना (thaamna) = to hold, (here, take care); चश्म (chasm) = the eye;  निगाह (nigah) = look, glance सागर (sagar) = ocean; शीशा (shisha) = glass; सम्हालता (samhalta) or संभालता (sambhalta) = would have balanced

[English Meaning]

Should I take care of my heart or look at your eyes

Should I look at the ocean or balance the glass

Note: In the couplet, the poet makes an analogy of his heart with a fragile glass and his lover's eyes with the depth of the ocean. The poet talks about the condition of his heart when he meets his lover. 

About the Poet

हकीम सना उल्लाह 'फ़िराक़' Hakim Sana Ullah 'Firaq' was an 18th-century poet. He was a disciple of the renowned poet Dard.

नातवानीका भी एहसाँ है (Naatvani ka bhi ehsaan hai) -- Hidaayat Ullah Khan 'Hidaayat'

[Urdu Couplet #22]

नातवानीका भी एहसाँ है मिरी गर्दनपर 

कि तेरे पाँवसे सर मुझको उठाने न दिया 

Naatvani ka bhi ehsaan hai miri gardanpar

ki tere panwse sir mujhko uthane na diya

नातवानी (naatvani) = feebleness, weakness; एहसाँ (ehsaan) = favour; गर्दन (gardanpar) = neck; पाँव (panw) = legs (here, it means feet); सर (sir) = head

[English Meaning]

Feebleness too has its favour on my neck

That it didn't allow me to lift my head from your feet

Note: In the 18th century, many poets use to write मिरी Miri instead of मेरी Meri, which means 'my' in English. In this couplet, the poet is being sarcastic about his weakness of being with a lover who ill-treats or doesn't respect him.

About the Poet:
Hidaayat Ullah Khan 'Hidaayat' was a poet from the 18th century. He was a disciple of the renowned poet Dard. Like many other poets of his time, the central theme of his poetry was love, romance and heartbreak.

दश्तमें कर चलनेकी तदबीर (Dasht me kar chalne ki tadbir) -- Mirza Zaafar Ali 'Hasrat'

[Urdu Couplet #21]

दश्तमें कर चलनेकी तदबीर होना हो-सो-हो

तोड़ दीवाने तू अब जंजीर होना हो-सो-हो

Dasht me kar chalne ki tadbir hona ho-so-ho

Tod deewane tu ab zanjeer hona ho-so-ho

दश्त (dasht) = forest; तदबीर (tadbir) = plan; दीवाना (deewana) = madman, maniac, crazy man (in literal sense; however, it is often used to refer to a person who is madly in love); जंजीर (zanjeer) = chain

[English Meaning]

Make a plan to walk in the forest happens what-so-ever

You break madman now the chain happens what-so-ever

Note: In this couplet, the poet intends to tell a lover to get ready to go away from everyone under any circumstance and break free of the shackles of love (probably, false love).

About the Poet
मिर्ज़ा ज़ाफ़र अली 'हसरत' Mirza Zaafar Ali 'Hasrat' was from originally from Luckhnow. He wrote two poetry collections (Dewaans).

देखते ही तुझे हाज़िर हुए (Dekhte Hi Tujhe Hazir Huye) -- Mir Shabir Ali 'Afsos'

[Urdu Couplet #20]

देखते ही तुझे हाज़िर हुए मर जानेको

वही अशखास जो वाँ आये थे समझानेको 

Dekhte hi tujhe haazir huye mar jaane ko

Wohi Ashkhaas jo vaan aaye the samjhane ko

हाज़िर (haazir) = present, ready (in hand), अशखास (Ashkhaas) = people, men, वाँ (vaan) = there (it is more commonly written as वहाँ vahaan)

[English Meaning]

On seeing you they were ready to die

Those people who had come to make me understand

About the Poet
Mir Shabir Ali 'Afsos' was 18th century poet, who primarily hailed from Delhi but in his later days moved to Luckhnow in the service of Nawab Shuja-ud-Daula. The central theme in most of his poems is Love, heartbreak and Separation from a beloved just like the trend in his era. His mentors were the poets हैदर अली 'हैरां' Hyder Ali 'Heyran' and मीर 'सोज' Mir 'Soz'.

काफ़िर हूँ गर (Kaafir Hun Gar) -- Bayan Ahsanulla Khan

[Urdu Couplet #19]

काफ़िर हूँ गर ज़ियादा कुछ इससे आरजू हो 

इक बेखलल मकाँ हो, बस मैं हूँ और तू हो

Kaafir hun gar jiyada kuch isse arzoo ho

Ik bekhalal makan ho, bas mein hun aur tu ho

काफ़िर (kaafir) = infidel, impious; बेखलल (bekhalal) = no disturbance or no interference (Here, बे 'be' preceding the word खलल 'khalal' forms the word's antonym. खलल (khalal) = disturbance, interference)

[English Meaning]

I am an infidel if I wish for more than this

A house with no disturbance, in there just you and me

Note: Poet Bayan's style of writing was slightly complex than the regular simplicity in a ghazal. In this couplet, the poet presents a very simple thought but the composition and his choice of words are heavy.

About the Poet
ख्वाजा अहसानुल्ला  खान 'बयाँ' Khwaja Ahsanulla Khan 'Bayan' was poet Mirza Mazhar's disciple and a  leading classical poet of his time. He was a contemporary of Mir Taqi Mir. His style of writing was not lucid and simple as expected in a ghazal, thus his style was unique in his era.

वोह खिलवतका जो था (Woh Khilavat Ka Jo Tha) -- Mir Gulaam 'Hasan'

[Urdu Couplet #18]

छुपाये हुए ला बिठाया वहाँ

वोह खिलवतका जो था क़दीमी मकाँ  

Chhupaaye huye la bithaaya vahaan
Woh khilavat ka jo tha kadimi makaan

Mir Gulaam 'Hasan'
(1736 - 1786)

खिलवतका (khilavat) = Solitude, क़दीमी (kadimi) = ancient, old, मकाँ  (makaan) = house

[English Meaning]

Unnoticed (they) were brought and made to sit there (at a place)

That was solitude's ancient house

It also means:

I brought (them) unnoticed at a place

Which was solitude's ancient house

Here, 'solitude's ancient house' means a place that is lying deserted since long.

Note: The couplet is a part of Hasan's masnavi in which he tells a story of a king to whom a child (a boy) is born after being childless for several years. But when the prince turns 13, a fairy kidnaps him. In the fairyland, the prince befriends a princess and starts courting her secretly. When the fairy comes to know about the prince's love affair, she imprisons him in a dark, dry well as a punishment. On the other hand, the love-struck princess sends her vazir (a woman) disguised as a jogan (a female yogi) in search of the prince. On her way, the vazir saves the cruel fairy's son, who eventually falls in love with her and proposes her for a marriage. The vazir agrees on one condition -- freedom of the imprisoned prince. The fairy's son helps her. The vazir then hides both the prince and the fairy's son in a lonely place away from the fairy's reach. The aforesaid couplet is one of her dialogues as she gives an account of her activity to the princess. 

About the Poet

मीर ग़ुलाम 'हसन' Mir Gulaam 'Hasan' was the disciple of Khwaja Dard. His writing style was simple and lyrical. His masnavi's were excellent. Two of his masnavi's 'सहरुलबयान Sahr-ul-bayan' and 'मसनवी मीर हसन Masnavi Mir Hasan' are considered excellent pieces of Urdu poetry. His ghazals too were on par with that of मीर Mir and सोज़ Soj.

सरीरेसल्तनतसे (Sarir-e-Sultanat Se) -- Inamullah Khan 'Yaqeen'

[Urdu Couplet #17]

सरीरेसल्तनतसे आस्तानेयार बहतर था 

हमें जिल्लेहुमासे साययेदीवार बहतर था  

Sarir-e-sultanat se aastaan-e-yaar behtar tha

Hume zill-e-humaa se saaya-e-diiwaar behtar tha 

सरीर (sarir) = throne, सल्तनत (sultanat) = empire, kingdom, सरीरेसल्तनत (sarir-e-sultanat) = throne of the kingdom (kingship), आस्तान (aastaan) = door, threshold, यार (yaar) = beloved, आस्तानेयार (aastaan-e-yaar) = threshold of a beloved, बहतर (behtar ) = better, हुमा (humaa) = phoenix, जिल्लेहुमा (zill-e-humaa) = shadow of phoenix, साययेदीवार (saaya-e-diiwaar) = shadow of a wall

[English Meaning]

Rather than the throne of a kingdom, the threshold of a beloved is better

For me rather than the shadow of a phoenix, the shadow of a wall is better

or

The threshold of a beloved is better than the throne of a kingdom

For me, the shadow of a wall is better than the shadow of a phoenix

Note: The poet uses the analogy of a phoenix because there is a saying that when a phoenix (bird) sits on anyone's head, he becomes a king.

About the Poet:

Inamullah Khan ‘Yaqeen’ was the son of Nawab Zaheerudin and disciple of Mazhar. He was a poet who challenged the ambiguous embellishment in the poetry of his time and brought his own lucid style focusing on emotional profundity. His simplicity and poetic excellence would have taken him to great heights had he lived longer. Sadly, he died very early aged around 28 years. It is said his father killed him for reasons unknown. He was known as rival of Mir Taqi Mir in poetic prowess.

आश्ना हो चुका हू (Aashna Ho Chuka Hu) -- Tabaan

[Urdu Couplet #16]

आश्ना हो चुका हू मैं सबका 

जिसको देखो सो अपने मतलबका 

Aashna ho chuka hu mein sabka

Jisko dekho so apne matlabka

आश्ना (aashna) = acquainted, सबका (sabka) = everyone, मतलब (matlab) = purpose, benefit

[English Meaning]

I am acquainted with everyone (by now)

See anyone they have their own purpose

It also means:

By now, I know everyone

They look for their own benefit

About the Poet
मीर अब्दुल हई 'ताबां ' (Mir Abdul Hayi 'Tabaan') was famous for his extremely good looks along with his poetry. His poetry collection 'Diwan-i-Taban' reflects his prowess as a sensitive poet. It is said he became an alcoholic after a heartbreak, which eventually took a toll on his health leading to early death. Some records say he was in love with a Suleiman boy and many men, including fellow poets and even emperor, were in love with him and thronged to get a glimpse of him. During his time, he had become an epitome of a perfect beloved having the beauty to mesmerize people. Tabaan also ensured that his dressing style and grooming further enhanced his beauty. The exact year of his birth and death differ in various print and online records but the tentative time period in that century is similar.

सर्फ़ेग़म हमने (Sarf-e-Gam Humne) -- Asar

[Urdu Couplet #15]

सर्फ़ेग़म हमने नौजवानी की 

वाह, क्या खूब ज़िन्दगानी की 

Sarf-e-gam humne naujawani ki

Wah, kya khoob zindagani ki

Khwaja Pir Muhammad 'Asar'
18th Century

सर्फ़ेग़म (sarf-e-gam) = gifted to sorrow, given to sorrow; नौजवानी (naujawani) = youth

[English Meaning]

I gifted to sorrow my youth (I gifted my youth to sorrow)

Wow! What a beautiful life I made

Note: This couplet is from a poem by Asar where he is pouring the agony of a heart after being estranged from a beloved. He calls the beloved disloyal and ridicules his own loyalty. In the couplet, he is being satirical about spending his youth for someone who didn't deserve it and eventually wasting his life.

About the Poet
Khwaja Pir Muhammad 'Asar' was the younger brother of poet Dard. He was a poet of great repute and also had mastery in music. He was a sensitive fakir and a great devotee of God. His best work is his poetry collection Khwaab-o-khayal (ख्वाबोंखयाल). Inspite of his mastery as a poet, not much is known about Asar as like his elder brother poet Dard.

दिलबस्तगी क़फ़समें (Dil-bastagii Kafas Mein) -- Ashraf Ali Khan 'Fughan'

[Urdu Couplet #10]

दिलबस्तगी क़फ़समें यहाँतक मुझे हुई 

गोया मेरा चमनमें कभी आशियाँ न था 

Dil-bastagii kafas mein yahantak mujhe huyi

Goya mera chaman mein kabhi aashiyan na tha

दिलबस्तगी (dilbastgi) = love, attachment; क़फ़स (kafas) = cage, prison; गोया (goya) = as if; चमन (chaman) = garden; आशियाँ (aashiyan) = house, nest

[English Meaning]

I felt an attachment with the cage to such an extent

As if I never had a nest in the garden (As if I never had a house in the world outside)

Note: Here, the poet uses the allegory 'caged bird' to depict his state of being in love.

About the Poet
Ashraf Ali Khan known as 'Fughan' (फ़ुग़ाँ) was an 18th-century Dehlvi poet and foster brother of King Ahmad Shah. His deewan is considered the finest example of classical poetry. The key theme of his poetry was pain and agony which was uncommon in that era.

पारसाई और जवानी (Paarsaai Aur Jawani) -- Mustafa Khan 'Yakrang'

[Urdu Couplet #09]

पारसाई और जवानी क्योंके हो 

एक जागा आग और पानी क्योंके हो 

Paarsaai aur jawani kyon ke ho

Ek jaagaa aag aur paani kyon ke ho

पारसाई (paarsaai) = abstinenece, chastity, virtue; जवानी (jawani) = youth

Note: In initial phase of Urdu poetry, Dehlvi shayars (poets) used words like क्योंके (kyon ke) which later became क्योंकर (kyonkar). These words meant 'how' or 'why' basis their context in a sentence or poetic line. These days we say क्यूँ (kyun) for 'why' and कैसे (kaise) for 'how'.

[English Meaning]

How can there be virtue and youth

How can there be fire and water at the same place

About the Poet

Mustafa Khan 'Yakrang' was a Dehlvi poet from the late 18th century and a disciple of the poet Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Jaana.

हिज्रकी जिंदगीसे (Hijr ki zindagi se) -- Shah Hatim

[Urdu Couplet #08]

हिज्रकी जिंदगीसे मौत भली 

कि जहाँ सब कहें विसाल हुआ 

Hijr ki zindagi se maut bhali

ki jahan sab kahen visaal hua

हिज्रकी (Hijr) = separation from the beloved; मौत (maut) = death; विसाल (visaal) = union (related to the lovers)

[English Meaning]

Rather than the life of separation (from my beloved) death is better

Where everyone says the union (with the beloved) happened

About the Poet
Shaikh Zahuruddin Hatim, known by the pen name Shah Hatim, was a Dehlvi poet working as a Sepoy. He wrote two Deewans (collection of poetry). He was a very cultured person who worked towards improving the Urdu language, hence considered as one of the key literary personalities. The great poet Mirza Soda was one of his disciples. The prime themes in his poetry (or ghazals) were romance and self-reflection.

गरचे इलताफ़के क़ाबिल (Garche Eltaf Ke Kaabil) -- Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan

[Urdu Couplet #07]

गरचे इलताफ़के क़ाबिल यह दिलेजार न था

लेकिन इस जोरोज़फ़ाका भी सजावार न था

Garche eltaf ke kaabil yeh dil-e-zaar na tha

Lekin iss jor-o-zafa ka bhi sajawaar na tha

गरचे (garche) = though; इलताफ़ (eltaf) = favour; क़ाबिल (kaabil) = worthy; दिलेजार (dil-e-zaar) = afflicted heart; जोरोज़फ़ा (jor-o-zafa) = atrocity, torture; सजावार (sajawaar) = someone who deserves punishment

[English Meaning]

Though this afflicted heart was not worthy of a favour

But it also didn't deserve the punishment of this torture

About the Poet
Shamsuddin Jan-e-Janaan 'Mazhar' (also called Mirza Mazhar Jan-e-Janaan) is considered as one of the four pillars of Urdu poetry. He was one of the best and honest poets of his time.

दिलफ़रेबीकी अदा (Dil Farebi Ki Ada) -- Faayiz Dehlvi

[Urdu Couplet #06]

दिलफ़रेबीकी अदा उसकी अनूप 

रूपमें थी राधिकासूँ भी सरूप

Dil farebi ki adaa uski anoop

Roop mein thi Radhikasoon bhi saroop

दिलफ़रेब (Dil fareb) = enticing; अदा (adaa) =  coquetry, gesture; अनूप (anoop) = unique; सरूप (Saroop) = beautiful, beauteous (in poetry)

[English Meaning]

Her enticing gesture was unique

Her looks were beautiful than Radhika

About the Poet
Faayiz was a Dehlvi poet from the pre-Mir era (early 18th century). Not much is known about him but he was a contemporary of the poet Wali Deccani. His ghazals were highly influenced by Wali's poetry collection (Deewan). He was primarily a Persian poet, however, adapted Wali's Deccani style of Urdu (which has many local Hindi dialect words) as seen in the couplet presented in this post. 

आता है हर सहर (Aata Hai Har Sahar) -- Siraj-ud-Din Ali Khan 'Arzoo'

[Urdu Couplet #05]

आता है हर सहर उठ तेरी बराबरीको  

क्या दिन लगे है देखो खुरशीदेखावरीको

Aata hai har sahar uth teri barabariko

kya din lage hai dekho khurashid-e-khavri ko

सहर (sahar) = morning; बराबरी (barabari) = competition; खुरशीदेखावरी{khurashid-e-khavri) = the Sun

[English Meaning]

Every morning it comes to compete with you

See what days have come for the Sun

About the Poet
Siraj-ud-Din 'Arzoo' was a poet from early 18th century. He originally hailed from Agra, however, settled in Delhi and later in Lucknow till his death. Most of his creations are in the Persian language but he did write few poems in Urdu. He was the maternal uncle of the poet Mir-Taqi-Mir, and attracted many disciples including Mir.