# Dahr Juz Jalwa-e-Yaktai-e-Mashooq Nahin

**Urdu title:** دہر جُز جلوۂ یکتائِ معشوق نہیں

**Section:** Noha & Marsiya -- Fatima Zahra Imamia Centre devotional library
**Page:** https://fzic.org/library/noha/dahr-juz-jalwa-e-yaktai-e-mashooq-nahin-50020
**Form:** Manqabat
**Poet:** Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib
**Source: Urdu text: Urdu Wikisource (public domain). Roman Urdu and English: prepared by the Centre.**

## About this text

Mirza Ghalib's second qasida in praise of Imam Ali (a). It opens by reflecting that the world is only the display of the one Beloved, and that knowledge, love and fine words alike are vain; ashamed of such talk, the poet calls on Ali (a). He praises him as the manifestation of God's grace and the heir of the Prophet (s), and closes asking for grief for Shabbir (a), a truthful heart, and Paradise for the friends of Ali (a).

## Text

**Stanza 1**

Urdu:  
دہر جُز جلوۂ یکتائِ معشوق نہیں  
ہم کہاں ہوتے اگر حسن نہ ہوتا خود بیں

Roman Urdu:  
Dahr juz jalwa-e-yaktai-e-mashooq nahin  
Hum kahan hote agar husn na hota khud been

English:  
The world is nothing but the splendour of the Beloved's oneness;  
Where would we be if Beauty did not wish to behold itself?

**Stanza 2**

Urdu:  
بے دلی ہاۓ تماشا کہ نہ عبرت ہے نہ ذوق  
بے کسی ہاۓ تمنّا کہ نہ دنیا ہے نہ دیں

Roman Urdu:  
Be dili haa-e-tamasha ke na ibrat hai na zauq  
Be kasi haa-e-tamanna ke na duniya hai na deen

English:  
Such listless gazing, that it brings neither warning nor delight!  
Such helpless longing, that it has neither the world nor faith!

**Stanza 3**

Urdu:  
ہَرزہ ہے نغمۂ زیروبمِ ہستی و عدم  
لغو ہے آئینۂ فرقِ جنون و تمکیں

Roman Urdu:  
Harza hai naghma-e-zer-o-bam-e-hasti-o-adam  
Laghw hai aaina-e-farq-e-junoon-o-tamkeen

English:  
The song of the highs and lows of being and non-being is idle noise;  
The mirror that tells madness from composure is vain.

**Stanza 4**

Urdu:  
نقشِ معنی ہمہ خمیازۂ عرضِ صورت  
سخنِ حق ہمہ پیمانۂ ذوقِ تحسیں

Roman Urdu:  
Naqsh-e-mani hama khamyaza-e-arz-e-surat  
Sukhan-e-haq hama paimana-e-zauq-e-tahseen

English:  
The image of meaning is all a craving to show itself in form;  
The word of truth is all a cup for the taste of praise.

**Stanza 5**

Urdu:  
لافِ دانش غلط و نفعِ عبارت معلوم!  
دُردِ یک ساغرِ غفلت ہے۔ چہ دنیا و چہ دیں

Roman Urdu:  
Laf-e-danish ghalat-o-nafa-e-ibarat maloom!  
Durd-e-yak saghar-e-ghaflat hai. che duniya-o-che deen

English:  
The boast of knowledge is false, and the gain of fine words is well known!  
Whether this world or faith, each is the dregs of a single cup of heedlessness.

**Stanza 6**

Urdu:  
مثلِ مضمونِ وفا باد بدستِ تسلیم  
صورتِ نقشِ قدم خاک بہ فرقِ تمکیں

Roman Urdu:  
Misl-e-mazmoon-e-wafa baad ba dast-e-taslim  
Surat-e-naqsh-e-qadam khaak ba farq-e-tamkeen

English:  
Like the theme of loyalty, submission holds only wind in its hand;  
Like a footprint, dignity has dust upon its head.

**Stanza 7**

Urdu:  
عشق بے ربطئ شیرازۂ اجزاۓ حواس  
وصل، زنگارِ رخِ آئینۂ حسنِ یقیں

Roman Urdu:  
Ishq be rabti-e-shiraza-e-ajza-e-hawas  
Wasl, zangar-e-rukh-e-aaina-e-husn-e-yaqeen

English:  
Love is the unravelling of the binding that holds the senses together;  
Union is rust on the face of the mirror of certainty's beauty.

**Stanza 8**

Urdu:  
کوہکن، گرسنہ مزدورِطرب گاہِ رقیب  
بے ستوں، آئینۂ خوابِ گرانِ شیریں

Roman Urdu:  
Kohkan, gurusna mazdoor-e-tarab gah-e-raqeeb  
Be Sutoon, aaina-e-khwab-e-giran-e-Shireen

English:  
The mountain-digger was a hungry labourer at his rival's house of pleasure;  
Bisutun is a mirror of Shirin's heavy sleep.

**Stanza 9**

Urdu:  
کس نے دیکھا نفسِ اہلِ وفا آتش خیز  
کس نے پایا اثرِ نالۂ دل ہاۓ حزیں!

Roman Urdu:  
Kis ne dekha nafas-e-ahl-e-wafa atish khez  
Kis ne paaya asar-e-nala-e-dil haa-e-hazeen!

English:  
Who has seen the breath of the faithful strike fire?  
Who has found any effect in the laments of grieving hearts?

**Stanza 10**

Urdu:  
سامعِ زمزمۂ اہلِ جہاں ہوں، لیکن  
نہ سرو برگِ ستائش، نہ دماغِ نفریں

Roman Urdu:  
Sami-e-zamzama-e-ahl-e-jahan hoon, lekin  
Na sar-o-barg-e-sitaish, na dimagh-e-nafreen

English:  
I hear the chatter of the people of the world, but  
I have neither the means for praise nor the patience for curses.

**Stanza 11**

Urdu:  
کس قدر ہَرزہ سرا ہوں کہ عیاذاً باللہ  
یک قلم خارجِ آدابِ وقار و تمکیں

Roman Urdu:  
Kis qadar harza sara hoon ke iyazan billah  
Yak qalam kharij-e-aadab-e-waqar-o-tamkeen

English:  
How much idle talk I utter, God preserve us,  
Wholly outside the bounds of dignity and composure!

**Stanza 12**

Urdu:  
نقشِ لاحول لکھ اے خامۂ ہذیاں تحریر  
یا علی عرض کر اے فطرتِ وسواسِ قریں

Roman Urdu:  
Naqsh-e-la haul likh ae khama-e-hazyan tahreer  
Ya Ali arz kar ae fitrat-e-waswas qareen

English:  
O pen that writes ravings, write the words 'There is no power save God's';  
O nature beset by evil whispers, call out, 'O Ali!'

**Stanza 13**

Urdu:  
مظہرِ فیضِ خدا، جان و دلِ ختمِ رسل  
قبلۂ آلِ نبی (ص)، کعبۂ ایجادِ یقیں

Roman Urdu:  
Mazhar-e-faiz-e-Khuda, jaan-o-dil-e-khatm-e-rusul  
Qibla-e-aal-e-nabi, Kaaba-e-ijad-e-yaqeen

English:  
The manifestation of God's grace, the life and heart of the Seal of the Messengers,  
The qibla of the Prophet's (s) family, the Kaaba where certainty was created;

**Stanza 14**

Urdu:  
ہو وہ سرمایۂ ایجاد جہاں گرمِ خرام  
ہر کفِ خاک ہے واں گَردۂ تصویرِ زمیں

Roman Urdu:  
Ho wo sarmaya-e-ijad jahan garm-e-khiram  
Har kaf-e-khaak hai waan garda-e-tasveer-e-zameen

English:  
Wherever that wellspring of creation walks,  
Every handful of dust there becomes the pattern from which the earth is drawn.

**Stanza 15**

Urdu:  
جلوہ پرداز ہو نقشِ قدم اس کا جس جا  
وہ کفِ خاک ہے ناموسِ دو عالم کی امیں

Roman Urdu:  
Jalwa pardaz ho naqsh-e-qadam us ka jis ja  
Wo kaf-e-khaak hai namoos-e-do aalam ki ameen

English:  
Wherever his footprint shines forth,  
That handful of dust holds in trust the honour of both worlds.

**Stanza 16**

Urdu:  
نسبتِ نام سے اس کی ہے یہ رُتبہ کہ رہے  
اَبَداً پُشتِ فلک خَم شدۂ نازِ زمیں

Roman Urdu:  
Nisbat-e-naam se us ki hai ye rutba ke rahe  
Abadan pusht-e-falak kham shuda-e-naaz-e-zameen

English:  
Through its link with his name the earth has such rank  
That the back of the sky stays bent for ever beneath the earth's pride.

**Stanza 17**

Urdu:  
فیضِ خُلق اس کا ہی شامل ہے کہ ہوتا ہے سدا  
بوۓ گل سے نفسِ بادِ صبا عطرآگیں

Roman Urdu:  
Faiz-e-khulq us ka hi shamil hai ke hota hai sada  
Boo-e-gul se nafas-e-baad-e-saba itr ageen

English:  
It is the grace of his kindly nature at work that always  
The breath of the morning breeze is perfumed with the scent of the rose.

**Stanza 18**

Urdu:  
بُرّشِ تیغ کا اس کی ہے جہاں میں چرچا  
قطع ہو جاۓ نہ سر رشتۂ ایجاد کہیں

Roman Urdu:  
Burrish-e-tegh ka us ki hai jahan mein charcha  
Qata ho jaaye na sar rishta-e-ijad kahin

English:  
The keenness of his sword is the talk of the world:  
May it not somewhere cut the very thread of creation!

**Stanza 19**

Urdu:  
کُفر سوز اس کا وہ جلوہ ہے کہ جس سے ٹوٹے  
رنگِ عاشق کی طرح رونقِ بت خانۂ چیں

Roman Urdu:  
Kufr soz us ka wo jalwa hai ke jis se toote  
Rang-e-aashiq ki tarah raunaq-e-but khana-e-Cheen

English:  
His splendour so burns away unbelief that before it  
The glory of the idol-temple of China fades like a lover's colour.

**Stanza 20**

Urdu:  
جاں پناہا! دل و جاں فیض رسانا! شاہا!  
وصئِ ختمِ رسُل تو ہے بہ فتواۓ یقیں

Roman Urdu:  
Jaan panaha! dil-o-jaan faiz rasana! shaha!  
Wasi-e-khatm-e-rusul tu hai ba fatwa-e-yaqeen

English:  
O refuge of souls! O giver of grace to heart and soul! O King!  
By the verdict of certainty you are the heir of the Seal of the Messengers.

**Stanza 21**

Urdu:  
جسمِ اطہر کو ترے دوشِ پیمبر منبر  
نامِ نامی کو ترے ناصیۂ عرش نگیں

Roman Urdu:  
Jism-e-athar ko tere dosh-e-payambar minbar  
Naam-e-nami ko tere nasiya-e-arsh nageen

English:  
For your most pure body the Prophet's shoulder was a pulpit;  
For your exalted name the brow of the Throne is the setting of a seal.

**Stanza 22**

Urdu:  
کس سے ممکن ہے تری مدح بغیر از واجب  
شعلۂ شمع مگر شمع پہ باندھے آئیں

Roman Urdu:  
Kis se mumkin hai teri madh baghair az wajib  
Shola-e-shama magar shama pe baandhe aaeen

English:  
Who but the Necessary Being can sing your praise?  
Only the candle's own flame can adorn the candle.

**Stanza 23**

Urdu:  
آستاں پر ہے ترے جوہرِ آئینۂ سنگ  
رَقَمِ بندگئ حضرتِ جبریلِ امیں

Roman Urdu:  
Aastan par hai tere jauhar-e-aaina-e-sang  
Raqam-e-bandagi-e-Hazrat-e-Jibreel-e-ameen

English:  
On your threshold the grain of the polished stone  
Is the written pledge of servitude of Gabriel, the trusted one.

**Stanza 24**

Urdu:  
تیرے در کے لۓ اسبابِ نثار آمادہ  
خاکیوں کو جو خدا نے دیۓ جان و دل و دیں

Roman Urdu:  
Tere dar ke liye asbab-e-nisar aamada  
Khakiyon ko jo Khuda ne diye jaan-o-dil-o-deen

English:  
Ready as offerings to be scattered at your door  
Are the life, heart and faith that God gave to the creatures of dust.

**Stanza 25**

Urdu:  
تیری مدحت کے لۓ ہیں دل و جاں کام و زباں  
تیری تسلیم کو ہیں لَوح و قلم دست و جبیں

Roman Urdu:  
Teri midhat ke liye hain dil-o-jaan kaam-o-zaban  
Teri taslim ko hain lauh-o-qalam dast-o-jabeen

English:  
For your praise there are heart and soul, palate and tongue;  
To salute you, the Tablet and the Pen are hand and brow.

**Stanza 26**

Urdu:  
کس سے ہو سکتی ہے مدّاحئ ممدوحِ خدا  
کس سے ہو سکتی ہے آرائشِ فردوسِ بریں!

Roman Urdu:  
Kis se ho sakti hai maddahi-e-mamdooh-e-Khuda  
Kis se ho sakti hai aaraish-e-firdaus-e-bareen!

English:  
Who can sing the praises of the one whom God has praised?  
Who can adorn the highest Paradise?

**Stanza 27**

Urdu:  
جنسِ بازارِ معاصی اسداللہ اسد  
کہ سوا تیرے کوئی اس کاخریدار نہیں

Roman Urdu:  
Jins-e-bazar-e-maasi Asadullah Asad  
Ke siwa tere koi us ka kharidar nahin

English:  
Asadullah Asad is goods in the market of sins,  
For whom there is no buyer but you;

**Stanza 28**

Urdu:  
شوخئ عرضِ مطالِب میں ہے گستاخِ طلب  
ہے ترے حوصلۂ فضل پہ از بس کہ یقیں

Roman Urdu:  
Shokhi-e-arz-e-matalib mein hai gustakh-e-talab  
Hai tere hausla-e-fazl pe az bas ke yaqeen

English:  
In the boldness of setting out his wishes he is brazen in asking,  
So firm is his faith in the largeness of your grace.

**Stanza 29**

Urdu:  
دے دعا کو مری وہ مرتبۂ حسنِ قبول  
کہ اجابت کہے ہر حرف پہ سو بار آمیں

Roman Urdu:  
De dua ko meri wo martaba-e-husn-e-qubool  
Ke ijabat kahe har harf pe sau baar aameen

English:  
Give my prayer such grace of acceptance  
That Answering itself says 'Amen' a hundred times at every word.

**Stanza 30**

Urdu:  
غمِ شبّیر سے ہو سینہ یہاں تک لبریز  
کہ رہیں خونِ جگر سے مری آنکھیں رنگیں

Roman Urdu:  
Gham-e-Shabbir se ho seena yahan tak labrez  
Ke rahen khoon-e-jigar se meri aankhen rangeen

English:  
May my breast so brim with grief for Shabbir  
That my eyes stay coloured with my heart's blood.

**Stanza 31**

Urdu:  
طبع کو الفتِ دُلدُل میں یہ سرگرمئ شوق  
کہ جہاں تک چلے اس سے قدم اور مجھ سے جبیں

Roman Urdu:  
Taba ko ulfat-e-Duldul mein ye sargarmi-e-shauq  
Ke jahan tak chale us se qadam aur mujh se jabeen

English:  
May my nature burn with such ardent love for Duldul  
That as far as its feet can go, my brow may go after them.

**Stanza 32**

Urdu:  
دلِ الفت نسب و سینۂ توحید فضا  
نگہِ جلوہ پرست و نفسِ صدق گزیں

Roman Urdu:  
Dil-e-ulfat nasab-o-seena-e-tauheed faza  
Nigah-e-jalwa parast-o-nafas-e-sidq guzeen

English:  
A heart whose lineage is love, a breast whose air is the oneness of God,  
An eye that worships the divine splendour, and a breath that chooses truth;

**Stanza 33**

Urdu:  
صَرفِ اعدا اثرِ شعلۂ دودِ دوزخ  
وقف احباب گل و سنبل فردوس بریں

Roman Urdu:  
Sarf-e-aada asar-e-shola-e-dood-e-dozakh  
Waqf-e-ahbab gul-o-sunbul-e-firdaus-e-bareen

English:  
The burning of Hell's flame and smoke spent on the enemies;  
The roses and hyacinths of highest Paradise given to the friends.

---

Published by Fatima Zahra Imamia Centre, North Ipswich QLD, https://fzic.org.
Free to read.