Zihaal-e-Miskin…

Stumbled upon this wonderful piece by Amir Khusro’s which serves as an example of his mastery over Persian and Brij Bhasha and fell in love with the imagery and control in the couplets. The likes of Ghulam Ali, Sabri brothers and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan over several years have lent their voice to this piece however, it needs to be read and understood first before enjoying the sung versions. (find on YouTube).

The verse and the translation follows -

ज़िहाल-ए-मिस्कीं मकुन तगाफुल, दुर्राए नैना बनाये बतियाँ 
की ताब-ए-हिज्राँ नदारम-ए-जान, न लेहो काहे लगाये छत्तियां 

चूँ शम्म-ए-सोज़ाँ, चूँ ज़र्रा हैरान, हमेशा गिरियाँ बा इश्क आंमहा 
ना नींद नैना ना अंग चैना ना आप आवें ना भेजें पतियाँ 

शबन-ए-हिज्राँ दराज़ चूँ ज़ुल्फ़ व रोज़-ए-वसलश चूँ उम्र कोताह 
सखी पीया को जो मैं ना देखूं तो कैसे काटूँ अँधेरी रतियाँ 

यकायक अज दिल दो चश्म-ए-जादू बसद फरेबन बबुर्द तस्कीं 
किसे पड़ी है जो जा सुनावे प्यारे पी को हमारी बतियाँ 

बहक-ए-रोज़-ए-विसाल-ए-दिलबर की दाद मारा गरीब खुसरो 
सपेत मन के वराये राखूं, जो जाए पाऊँ पिया के खतियाँ

The English translation is:

Do not overlook my misery
Blandishing your eyes, and weaving tales;
My patience has over-brimmed, O sweetheart,
Why do you not take me to your bosom.
The nights of separation are long like tresses,
The day of our union is short like life;
When I do not get to see my beloved friend,
How am I to pass the dark nights?
Suddenly, as if the heart, by two enchanting eyes
Is beset by a thousand deceptions and robbed of tranquility;
But who cares enough to go and report
To my darling my state of affairs?
The lamp is aflame; every atom excited
I roam, always, afire with love;
Neither sleep to my eyes, nor peace for my body,
neither comes himself, nor sends any messages
In honour of the day of union with the beloved
who has lured me so long, O Khusrau;
I shall keep my heart suppressed,
if ever I get a chance to get to his place.