Taaj Mahal
Sahir Ludhianvi

taaj tere liye ik mazahar-e-ulfat hii sahii
tum ko is vaadii-e-rangii.n se aqiidat hii sahii

[mazahar-e-ulfat=symbol of love; vaadii-e-rangii.n=beautiful spot; aqiidat=respect/preference?]

mere mahabuub kahii.n aur milaa kar mujh se!

bazm-e-shaahii me.n Gariibo.n kaa guzar kyaa maanii
sabt jis raah pe ho.n satavat-e-shaahii ke nishaa.N
us pe ulfat bharii ruuho.n kaa safar kyaa maanii

[bazm-e-shaahii=royal court; sabt=etched]
[satavat-e-shaahii=royal grandeur; ulfat bharii ruuh=lovers]

merii mahabuub pas-e-pardaa-e-tashhiir-e-vafaa
tuu ne satavat ke nishaano.n ko to dekhaa hotaa
murdaa shaaho.n ke maqaabir se bahalevaalii
apane taariik makaano.n ko to dekhaa hotaa

[pas-e-pardaa-e-tashhiir-e-vafaa=behind the veil of this advertisement of faith/love]
[satavat=wealth/grandeur; maqaabir(maqabaraa)=tomb; taariik=dark]

anaginat logo.n ne duniyaa me.n muhabbat kii hai
kaun kahataa hai ki saadiq na the jazbe un ke
lekin un ke liye tashhiir kaa saamaan nahii.n
kyuu.N ke vo log bhii apanii hii tarah mufalis the

[saadiq=true; tashhiir=advertisement; mufalis=poor]

ye imaaraat-o-maqaabir ye fasiile.n, ye hisaar
mutal-qulhukm shahanashaaho.n kii azamat ke sutuu.N
daaman-e-dahar pe us rang kii gulakaarii hai
jis me.n shaamil hai tere aur mere ajadaad kaa Khuu.N

[hisaar=forts; mutal-qulhukm=unthinking/arrogant; azamat= greatness; sutuu.N=symbol]
[daaman-e-dahar=on the face of this world; gulakaarii=flowers and vines; ajadaad=ancestors]

merii mahabuub! u.nhe.n bhii to muhabbat hogii
jinakii sannaa_ii ne baKhshii hai ise shakl-e-jamiil
un ke pyaaro.n ke maqaabir rahe benaam-o-namuud
aaj tak un pe jalaa_ii na kisii ne qa.ndiil

[sannaa_ii=artistry; shakl-e-jamiil=beautiful form]
[benaam-o-namuud=without name or even a trace; qa.ndiil=candle]

ye chamanazaar ye jamunaa kaa kinaaraa ye mahal
ye munaqqash dar-o-diivaar, ye maharaab ye taaq
ik shahanashaah ne daulat kaa sahaaraa le kar
ham Gariibo.n kii muhabbat kaa u.Daayaa hai mazaak

[chamanazaar=garden; munaqqash=picturesque]

mere mahabuub kahii.n aur milaa kar mujhase!

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Last updated on 15th August, 1998