Zihaal-e-miskin

I was trying to decipher the meaning of this song that "sounded" very beautiful "Zihaal-e-Miskin" from the film Ghulami (music Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyrics Gulzar) when I discovered the original one by Amir Khusro.

Here is the song as adapted by Gulzar with his own antara’s followed by the original composition by Amir Khusro –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYiTtuwJzTQ

ज़िहाल – To notice or look upon

मिस्कीं – Poor (Metaphorically) or लाचार

मकूं – Not or Do not

बा रंजिश – With ill will or hatred

बहाल-ए-हिज्र – Fresh from separation

(Loosely translated - Do not look upon my poor heart with enmity

The wounds of separation are still fresh)

ज़िहाल-ए-मिस्कीं मकूं बा रंजिश

बेहाल-ए-हिज्र बेचारा दिल है

सुनाई देती है जिसकी धडकन

तुम्हारा दिल या हमारा दिल है

वो आके पेहलू में ऐसे बैठे

के शाम रंगीन हो गयी है

ज़रा ज़रा सी खिली तबियत

ज़रा सी गमघीन हो गयी है

कभी कभी शाम ऐसे ढलती है

जैसे घुंघट उतर रहा है

तुम्हारे सीने से उठता धूआं

हमारे दिल से गुज़र रहा है

यह शर्म है या हया है क्या है

नज़र उठाते ही झुक गयी है

तुम्हारी पल्कों से गिर के शबनम

हमारी अखोंमें रुक गयी है

Amir Khusro was born in 1253 is what is today's Uttar Pradesh. His tomb is at the Nizamuddin Darga in Delhi. 

 

The amusing part about the original one is that, one line is written in Persian followed by a line a Brij Bhasha (close to today's Hindustani). In the original poem, there's a line - Sakhi "piya" ko jo main na dekhun to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan - This suggests that the poem is written from a woman's perspective. And then the entire perspective changes. It's somewhat like the classic "Na Kaao Saiyya Chhooda Ke Baiyya".

Here is the original poem by Amir Khusro with my loose translation trying to maintain rhyme –

Zihaal-e miskeen makun taghaful, duraye naina banaye batiyan;
Ki taab-e hijran nadaram ay jaan, na leho kaahe lagaye chhatiyan.

Do not dismiss my sorrow, with glances that beguile and tales you spin,
My patience overflows, O love! why not draw me close, let me within.

 
Shaban-e hijran daraz chun zulf wa roz-e waslat cho umr kotah;
Sakhi piya ko jo main na dekhun to kaise kaatun andheri ratiyan.

Long as the tresses in nights apart, brief as life when union is near,
How shall I endure the dungeon dark, without your face to bring me cheer?

 

Yakayak az dil do chashm-e-jadoo basad farebam baburd taskin;
Kise padi hai jo jaa sunaave pyare pi ko hamaari batiyan.

Sudden, with countless charms, those eyes enchanted and stole my peace,
Who will carry this tale of theft, to my beloved, for release?

 

Cho shama sozan cho zarra hairan hamesha giryan be ishq aan meh;
Na neend naina na ang chaina na Aap aaven na bhejen patiyan.

Tossed and lost, like a wavering flame, I wander in love’s burning tide,
Sleepless eyes, restless frame, no word from the beloved, no presence beside.

Here the word "Aap" can be used both for "him" as well as "her"

 

Bahaqq-e roze wisal-e dilbar ki daad mara ghareeb Khusrau;
Sapet man ke waraaye raakhun jo jaaye paaon piya ke khatiyan.

On the day I behold my long-luring dear, O Khusro, in joy I’ll stay,
Yet hide my heart’s unrest within, should chance reveal the beloved's cunning play. 

Here the word "Piya" can be used both for "him" as well as "her".

Thanks to rekhta.org and allpoetry.com for meanings of the original words and Wikipedia for historical references.