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aaj ik aur baras biit gayā us ke baġhair

jis ke hote hue hote the zamāne mere

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Akbar Allahabadi

1846 - 1921 | Allahabad, India

The greatest Urdu poet of humour and satire who was a Sessions judge at Allahabad.

The greatest Urdu poet of humour and satire who was a Sessions judge at Allahabad.

Sher of Akbar Allahabadi

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ham aah bhī karte haiñ to ho jaate haiñ badnām

vo qatl bhī karte haiñ to charchā nahīñ hotā

I do suffer slander, when I merely sigh

she gets away with murder, no mention of it nigh

hum aah bhi karte hain to ho jate hain badnam

wo qatl bhi karte hain to charcha nahin hota

I do suffer slander, when I merely sigh

she gets away with murder, no mention of it nigh

ishq nāzuk-mizāj hai behad

aql bojh uThā nahīñ saktā

ishq nazuk-mizaj hai behad

aql ka bojh uTha nahin sakta

duniyā meñ huuñ duniyā talabgār nahīñ huuñ

bāzār se guzrā huuñ ḳharīdār nahīñ huuñ

I live in this world tho for life I do not vie

I pass through the market but I do not wish to buy

duniya mein hun duniya ka talabgar nahin hun

bazar se guzra hun KHaridar nahin hun

I live in this world tho for life I do not vie

I pass through the market but I do not wish to buy

hayā se sar jhukā lenā adā se muskurā denā

hasīnoñ ko bhī kitnā sahl hai bijlī girā denā

how easy is for these maidens to make the lightening fall

haya se sar jhuka lena ada se muskura dena

hasinon ko bhi kitna sahl hai bijli gira dena

how easy is for these maidens to make the lightening fall

jo kahā maiñ ne ki pyaar aatā hai mujh ko tum par

hañs ke kahne lagā aur aap ko aatā kyā hai

laughing, she inquired when, I said I love you

is there anything else at all that you know to do

jo kaha main ne ki pyar aata hai mujh ko tum par

hans ke kahne laga aur aap ko aata kya hai

laughing, she inquired when, I said I love you

is there anything else at all that you know to do

maz.habī bahs maiñ ne nahīñ

fāltū aql mujh meñ thī nahīñ

from sectarian debate refrained

for I was not so scatter-brained

mazhabi bahs main ne ki hi nahin

faltu aql mujh mein thi hi nahin

from sectarian debate refrained

for I was not so scatter-brained

aa.ī hogī kisī ko hijr meñ maut

mujh ko to niiñd bhī nahīñ aatī

aai hogi kisi ko hijr mein maut

mujh ko to nind bhi nahin aati

rahtā hai ibādat meñ hameñ maut khaTkā

ham yād-e-ḳhudā karte haiñ, kar le na ḳhudā yaad

As I pray I am afraid that death should not befall

While I do remember God, he should not recall

rahta hai ibaadat mein hamein maut ka khaTka

hum yaad-e-KHuda karte hain, kar le na KHuda yaad

As I pray I am afraid that death should not befall

While I do remember God, he should not recall

log kahte haiñ badaltā hai zamāna sab ko

mard vo haiñ jo zamāne ko badal dete haiñ

log kahte hain badalta hai zamana sab ko

mard wo hain jo zamane ko badal dete hain

akbar dabe nahīñ kisī sultāñ fauj se

lekin shahīd ho ga.e biivī nauj se

akbar dabe nahin kisi sultan ki fauj se

lekin shahid ho gae biwi ki nauj se

hañgāma hai kyuuñ barpā thoḌī jo hai

Daakā to nahīñ maarā chorī to nahīñ hai

barely have I sipped a bit, why should this uproar be

It's not that I've commited theft or daylight robbery

hangama hai kyun barpa thoDi si jo pi li hai

Daka to nahin mara chori to nahin ki hai

barely have I sipped a bit, why should this uproar be

It's not that I've commited theft or daylight robbery

ilāhī kaisī kaisī sūrateñ ne banā.ī haiñ

ki har sūrat kaleje se lagā lene ke qābil hai

ilahi kaisi kaisi suraten tu ne banai hain

ki har surat kaleje se laga lene ke qabil hai

ishq ke iz.hār meñ har-chand rusvā.ī to hai

par karūñ kyā ab tabī.at aap par aa.ī to hai

ishq ke izhaar mein har-chand ruswai to hai

par karun kya ab tabiat aap par aai to hai

bas jaan gayā maiñ tirī pahchān yahī hai

dil meñ to aatā hai samajh meñ nahīñ aatā

bas jaan gaya main teri pahchan yahi hai

tu dil mein to aata hai samajh mein nahin aata

ham aisī kul kitābeñ qābil-e-zabtī samajhte haiñ

ki jin ko paḌh ke laḌke baap ko ḳhabtī samajhte haiñ

we do deem all those books fit for confiscation

that sons read and think their father

hum aisi kul kitaben qabil-e-zabti samajhte hain

ki jin ko paDh ke laDke bap ko KHabti samajhte hain

we do deem all those books fit for confiscation

that sons read and think their father

ḳhudā se maañg jo kuchh māñgnā hai ai 'akbar'

yahī vo dar hai ki zillat nahīñ savāl ke ba.ad

KHuda se mang jo kuchh mangna hai ai 'akbar'

yahi wo dar hai ki zillat nahin sawal ke baad

khīñcho na kamānoñ ko na talvār nikālo

jab top muqābil ho to aḳhbār nikālo

neither bow and arrow nor a sword do you require

pubish a newspaper when faced with cannon fire

khincho na kamanon ko na talwar nikalo

jab top muqabil ho to aKHbar nikalo

neither bow and arrow nor a sword do you require

pubish a newspaper when faced with cannon fire

aah jo dil se nikālī jā.egī

kyā samajhte ho ki ḳhālī jā.egī

those sighs that emerge from this heart so fiiled with pain

do you truly think unanswered these will now remain?

aah jo dil se nikali jaegi

kya samajhte ho ki KHali jaegi

those sighs that emerge from this heart so fiiled with pain

do you truly think unanswered these will now remain?

lipaT bhī na ruk 'akbar' ġhazab beauty hai

nahīñ nahīñ pe na ye hayā duty hai

lipaT bhi ja na ruk 'akbar' ghazab ki beauty hai

nahin nahin pe na ja ye haya ki duty hai

ham kyā kaheñ ahbāb kyā kār-e-numāyāñ kar ga.e

B.A hue naukar hue pension milī phir mar ga.e

hum kya kahen ahbab kya kar-e-numayan kar gae

BA hue naukar hue pension mili phir mar gae

ġhazab hai vo ziddī baḌe ho ga.e

maiñ leTā to uTh ke khaḌe ho ga.e

ghazab hai wo ziddi baDe ho gae

main leTa to uTh ke khaDe ho gae

jab maiñ kahtā huuñ ki allāh merā haal dekh

hukm hotā hai ki apnā nāma-e-āmāl dekh

when I seek to say, O Lord look at my state

he bids me to the account of my deeds to date

jab main kahta hun ki ya allah mera haal dekh

hukm hota hai ki apna nama-e-amal dekh

when I seek to say, O Lord look at my state

he bids me to the account of my deeds to date

vasl ho firāq ho 'akbar'

jāgnā raat bhar musībat hai

whether in blissful union or in separation

staying up all night, is a botheration

wasl ho ya firaq ho 'akbar'

jagna raat bhar musibat hai

whether in blissful union or in separation

staying up all night, is a botheration

haqīqī aur majāzī shā.erī meñ farq ye paayā

ki vo jaame se bāhar hai ye pājāme se bāhar hai

haqiqi aur majazi shaeri mein farq ye paya

ki wo jame se bahar hai ye pajame se bahar hai

jo vaqt-e-ḳhatna maiñ chīḳhā to naa.ī ne kahā hañs kar

musalmānī meñ tāqat ḳhuun bahne se aatī hai

jo waqt-e-KHatna main chiKHa to nai ne kaha hans kar

musalmani mein taqat KHun hi bahne se aati hai

is qadar thā khaTmaloñ chārpā.ī meñ hujūm

vasl dil se mire armān ruḳhsat ho gayā

is qadar tha khaTmalon ka chaarpai mein hujum

wasl ka dil se mere arman ruKHsat ho gaya

mohabbat tum se asar kyā kahūñ

nazar mil ga.ī dil dhaḌakne lagā

mohabbat ka tum se asar kya kahun

nazar mil gai dil dhaDakne laga

batā.ūñ aap ko marne ke ba.ad kyā hogā

polāo khā.eñge ahbāb fātiha hogā

bataun aap ko marne ke baad kya hoga

polao khaenge ahbab fatiha hoga

dhamkā ke bose lūñgā ruḳh-e-rashk-e-māh

chandā vasūl hotā hai sāhab dabāv se

dhamka ke bose lunga ruKH-e-rashk-e-mah ka

chanda wasul hota hai sahab dabaw se

coat aur patlūn jab pahnā to mister ban gayā

jab koī taqrīr jalse meñ leader ban gayā

donning fancy clothes beame a gentlean avowed

and turned into a leader on speaking to a crowd,

coat aur patlun jab pahna to mister ban gaya

jab koi taqrir ki jalse mein leader ban gaya

donning fancy clothes beame a gentlean avowed

and turned into a leader on speaking to a crowd,

mai bhī hotel meñ piyo chanda bhī do masjid meñ

shaiḳh bhī ḳhush raheñ shaitān bhī be-zār na ho

mai bhi hotel mein piyo chanda bhi do masjid mein

shaiKH bhi KHush rahen shaitan bhi be-zar na ho

tayyār the namāz pe ham sun ke zikr-e-hūr

jalva butoñ dekh ke nīyat badal ga.ī

tayyar the namaz pe hum sun ke zikr-e-hur

jalwa buton ka dekh ke niyat badal gai

raqīboñ ne rapaT likhvā.ī hai ke thāne meñ

ki 'akbar' naam letā hai ḳhudā is zamāne meñ

raqibon ne rapaT likhwai hai ja ja ke thane mein

ki 'akbar' nam leta hai KHuda ka is zamane mein

qaum ke ġham meñ dinner khāte haiñ hukkām ke saath

rañj leader ko bahut hai magar ārām ke saath

qaum ke gham mein dinner khate hain hukkaam ke sath

ranj leader ko bahut hai magar aaram ke sath

ishva bhī hai shoḳhī bhī tabassum bhī hayā bhī

zālim meñ aur ik baat hai is sab ke sivā bhī

ishwa bhi hai shoKHi bhi tabassum bhi haya bhi

zalim mein aur ek baat hai is sab ke siwa bhi

leaderoñ dhuum hai aur follower koī nahīñ

sab to general haiñ yahāñ āḳhir sipāhī kaun hai

leaderon ki dhum hai aur follower koi nahin

sab to general hain yahan aaKHir sipahi kaun hai

jab ġham huā chaḌhā liiñ do botaleñ ikaTThī

mullā dauḌ masjid 'akbar' dauḌ bhaTTī

jab gham hua chaDha lin do botalen ikaTThi

mulla ki dauD masjid 'akbar' ki dauD bhaTTi

naaz kyā is pe jo badlā hai zamāne ne tumheñ

mard haiñ vo jo zamāne ko badal dete haiñ

naz kya is pe jo badla hai zamane ne tumhein

mard hain wo jo zamane ko badal dete hain

ye dilbarī ye naaz ye andāz ye jamāl

insāñ kare agar na tirī chaah kyā kare

this loveliness, this mischief, this style this beauty too

what can a person do save fall in love with you

ye dilbari ye naz ye andaz ye jamal

insan kare agar na teri chah kya kare

this loveliness, this mischief, this style this beauty too

what can a person do save fall in love with you

siine se lagā.eñ tumheñ armān yahī hai

jiine mazā hai to mirī jaan yahī hai

sine se lagaen tumhein arman yahi hai

jine ka maza hai to meri jaan yahi hai

sau jaan se ho jā.ūñgā raazī maiñ sazā par

pahle vo mujhe apnā gunahgār to kar le

sau jaan se ho jaunga raazi main saza par

pahle wo mujhe apna gunahgar to kar le

shaiḳh apnī rag ko kyā kareñ reshe ko kyā kareñ

maz.hab ke jhagḌe chhoḌeñ to peshe ko kyā kareñ

shaiKH apni rag ko kya karen reshe ko kya karen

mazhab ke jhagDe chhoDen to peshe ko kya karen

dil vo hai ki fariyād se labrez hai har vaqt

ham vo haiñ ki kuchh muñh se nikalne nahīñ dete

dil wo hai ki fariyaad se labrez hai har waqt

hum wo hain ki kuchh munh se nikalne nahin dete

aql meñ jo ghir gayā lā-intihā kyūñkar huā

jo samā meñ aa gayā phir vo ḳhudā kyūñkar huā

aql mein jo ghir gaya la-intiha kyunkar hua

jo sama mein aa gaya phir wo KHuda kyunkar hua

lagāvaT adā se un kahnā paan hāzir hai

qayāmat hai sitam hai dil fidā hai jaan hāzir hai

lagawaT ki ada se un ka kahna pan hazir hai

qayamat hai sitam hai dil fida hai jaan hazir hai

har zarra chamaktā hai anvār-e-ilāhī se

har saañs ye kahtī hai ham haiñ to ḳhudā bhī hai

each speck does glitter with heavens brilliant glare

each breath proclaims if I, exist God too is there

har zarra chamakta hai anwar-e-ilahi se

har sans ye kahti hai hum hain to KHuda bhi hai

each speck does glitter with heavens brilliant glare

each breath proclaims if I, exist God too is there

log kahte haiñ ki bad-nāmī se bachnā chāhiye

kah do be is ke javānī mazā miltā nahīñ

log kahte hain ki bad-nami se bachna chahiye

kah do be is ke jawani ka maza milta nahin

ab to hai ishq-e-butāñ meñ zindagānī maza

jab ḳhudā sāmnā hogā to dekhā jā.egā

ab to hai ishq-e-butan mein zindagani ka maza

jab KHuda ka samna hoga to dekha jaega

āshiqī ho burā us ne bigāḌe saare kaam

ham to a.b meñ rahe aġhyār b.a ho ga.e

aashiqi ka ho bura us ne bigaDe sare kaam

hum to ab mein rahe aghyar ba ho gae

hue is qadar mohazzab kabhī ghar muñh na dekhā

kaTī umr hoTaloñ meñ mare aspatāl kar

stayed away from home, on being so gentrified

spent ones life in hotels, in hospitals then died

hue is qadar mohazzab kabhi ghar ka munh na dekha

kaTi umr hoTalon mein mare aspatal ja kar

stayed away from home, on being so gentrified

spent ones life in hotels, in hospitals then died

Recitation

Jashn-e-Rekhta | 13-14-15 December 2024 - Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium , Gate No. 1, New Delhi

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