Sher on Shikwa
A lamp burns all night
and spreads its light silently. No one cares what the lamp suffers through to spread that light. No one even bothers to think about how it faces the dark night to do what it is destined to do. Poets have used the lamp as a strong metaphor in their poetry. They have also elaborated the symbolic relationship between the moth and itself and in this process, they have commented upon the philosophy of life itself that is characterized both by deprivation and fulfillment.
kaise kaheñ ki tujh ko bhī ham se hai vāsta koī
tū ne to ham se aaj tak koī gila nahīñ kiyā
kaise kahen ki tujh ko bhi hum se hai wasta koi
tu ne to hum se aaj tak koi gila nahin kiya
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Tag : Attitude
gilā bhī tujh se bahut hai magar mohabbat bhī
vo baat apnī jagah hai ye baat apnī jagah
gila bhi tujh se bahut hai magar mohabbat bhi
wo baat apni jagah hai ye baat apni jagah
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Tags : Ishqand 1 more
ġhairoñ se kahā tum ne ġhairoñ se sunā tum ne
kuchh ham se kahā hotā kuchh ham se sunā hotā
ghairon se kaha tum ne ghairon se suna tum ne
kuchh hum se kaha hota kuchh hum se suna hota
zindagī se yahī gila hai mujhe
tū bahut der se milā hai mujhe
zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe
tu bahut der se mila hai mujhe
dil kī taklīf kam nahīñ karte
ab koī shikva ham nahīñ karte
dil ki taklif kam nahin karte
ab koi shikwa hum nahin karte
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Tag : Dil
kab vo suntā hai kahānī merī
aur phir vo bhī zabānī merī
when does she ever heed my state
and that too then when I narrate
When does the beloved ever listen to the story of my sorrow?
And certainly not when I am the one telling it personally.
Ghalib laments the absolute indifference of his beloved, who refuses to pay attention to his plight. The rejection is twofold: the beloved ignores the story itself, and finds it even more intolerable because it is being narrated directly by the poet.
kab wo sunta hai kahani meri
aur phir wo bhi zabani meri
when does she ever heed my state
and that too then when I narrate
When does the beloved ever listen to the story of my sorrow?
And certainly not when I am the one telling it personally.
Ghalib laments the absolute indifference of his beloved, who refuses to pay attention to his plight. The rejection is twofold: the beloved ignores the story itself, and finds it even more intolerable because it is being narrated directly by the poet.
baḌā maza ho jo mahshar meñ ham kareñ shikva
vo minnatoñ se kaheñ chup raho ḳhudā ke liye
It would be great fun if, on the Day of Judgment, I were to present my complaints.
And the beloved, pleadingly, would say: please be quiet, for God’s sake.
Dagh Dehlvi imagines the ultimate courtroom—Judgment Day—as a stage for lovers’ grievances. The thrill lies in the irony that even there, where truth should be spoken, the beloved tries to hush the lover with humble entreaties. “For God’s sake” carries both social politeness and a sacred weight, turning suppression into a tender, teasing intimacy. The couplet blends complaint with playful affection and moral pressure.
baDa maza ho jo mahshar mein hum karen shikwa
wo minnaton se kahen chup raho KHuda ke liye
It would be great fun if, on the Day of Judgment, I were to present my complaints.
And the beloved, pleadingly, would say: please be quiet, for God’s sake.
Dagh Dehlvi imagines the ultimate courtroom—Judgment Day—as a stage for lovers’ grievances. The thrill lies in the irony that even there, where truth should be spoken, the beloved tries to hush the lover with humble entreaties. “For God’s sake” carries both social politeness and a sacred weight, turning suppression into a tender, teasing intimacy. The couplet blends complaint with playful affection and moral pressure.
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Tag : Mahshar
shikva koī dariyā kī ravānī se nahīñ hai
rishta hī mirī pyaas kā paanī se nahīñ hai
shikwa koi dariya ki rawani se nahin hai
rishta hi meri pyas ka pani se nahin hai
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Tag : Dariya
raat aa kar guzar bhī jaatī hai
ik hamārī sahar nahīñ hotī
raat aa kar guzar bhi jati hai
ek hamari sahar nahin hoti
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Tags : Mayoosiand 2 more
aarzū hasrat aur ummīd shikāyat aañsū
ik tirā zikr thā aur biich meñ kyā kyā niklā
aarzu hasrat aur ummid shikayat aansu
ek tera zikr tha aur bich mein kya kya nikla
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Tags : Aansooand 3 more
sar agar sar hai to nezoñ se shikāyat kaisī
dil agar dil hai to dariyā se baḌā honā hai
sar agar sar hai to nezon se shikayat kaisi
dil agar dil hai to dariya se baDa hona hai
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Tag : Dil
mohabbat hī meñ milte haiñ shikāyat ke maze paiham
mohabbat jitnī baḌhtī hai shikāyat hotī jaatī hai
mohabbat hi mein milte hain shikayat ke maze paiham
mohabbat jitni baDhti hai shikayat hoti jati hai
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Tags : Famous shayariand 2 more
kyuuñ hijr ke shikve kartā hai kyuuñ dard ke rone rotā hai
ab ishq kiyā to sabr bhī kar is meñ to yahī kuchh hotā hai
kyun hijr ke shikwe karta hai kyun dard ke rone rota hai
ab ishq kiya to sabr bhi kar is mein to yahi kuchh hota hai
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Tags : Dardand 2 more
kahne detī nahīñ kuchh muñh se mohabbat merī
lab pe rah jaatī hai aa aa ke shikāyat merī
from voicing my emotions, love makes me refrain
grievances come to my lips but silent there remain
My love doesn’t let me say anything out loud.
My complaint keeps coming to my lips, but stops there.
The couplet shows a lover trapped between feeling and speech: love itself becomes a force that silences. The “complaint” rises again and again, yet remains unspoken, suggesting fear of hurting the beloved or losing dignity. The repeated reaching of words to the lips conveys persistent longing and inner pressure. The emotional core is restrained pain—too intense to hide, yet too delicate to declare.
kahne deti nahin kuchh munh se mohabbat meri
lab pe rah jati hai aa aa ke shikayat meri
from voicing my emotions, love makes me refrain
grievances come to my lips but silent there remain
My love doesn’t let me say anything out loud.
My complaint keeps coming to my lips, but stops there.
The couplet shows a lover trapped between feeling and speech: love itself becomes a force that silences. The “complaint” rises again and again, yet remains unspoken, suggesting fear of hurting the beloved or losing dignity. The repeated reaching of words to the lips conveys persistent longing and inner pressure. The emotional core is restrained pain—too intense to hide, yet too delicate to declare.
koī charāg jalātā nahīñ salīqe se
magar sabhī ko shikāyat havā se hotī hai
koi charag jalata nahin saliqe se
magar sabhi ko shikayat hawa se hoti hai
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Tag : Hawa
sunegā kaun merī chāk-dāmānī kā afsāna
yahāñ sab apne apne pairahan kī baat karte haiñ
sunega kaun meri chaak-damani ka afsana
yahan sab apne apne pairahan ki baat karte hain
chup raho to pūchhtā hai ḳhair hai
lo ḳhamoshī bhī shikāyat ho ga.ī
chup raho to puchhta hai KHair hai
lo KHamoshi bhi shikayat ho gai
saaf inkār agar ho to tasallī ho jaa.e
jhūTe va.adoñ se tire ranj sivā hotā hai
saf inkar agar ho to tasalli ho jae
jhuTe wadon se tere ranj siwa hota hai
haañ unhīñ logoñ se duniyā meñ shikāyat hai hameñ
haañ vahī log jo akasr hameñ yaad aa.e haiñ
han unhin logon se duniya mein shikayat hai hamein
han wahi log jo akasr hamein yaad aae hain
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Tag : Yaad
kyā vo namrūd kī ḳhudā.ī thī
bandagī meñ mirā bhalā na huā
what divinity was it that Nimrod once proclaimed?
Worship was no use to me, it did not compensate
Was the power you wielded over me like the godhood of Nimrod?
That despite all my worship and servitude, I received no benefit at all.
The poet expresses deep frustration with unrequited love by comparing his beloved to Nimrod, an ancient tyrant who falsely claimed to be God. He laments that despite his total submission and worship-like devotion, he received no kindness or reward, implying that his beloved is as cruel and unresponsive as a false deity.
kya wo namrud ki KHudai thi
bandagi mein mera bhala na hua
what divinity was it that Nimrod once proclaimed?
Worship was no use to me, it did not compensate
Was the power you wielded over me like the godhood of Nimrod?
That despite all my worship and servitude, I received no benefit at all.
The poet expresses deep frustration with unrequited love by comparing his beloved to Nimrod, an ancient tyrant who falsely claimed to be God. He laments that despite his total submission and worship-like devotion, he received no kindness or reward, implying that his beloved is as cruel and unresponsive as a false deity.
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Tags : Bandagiand 1 more
un kā ġham un kā tasavvur un ke shikve ab kahāñ
ab to ye bāteñ bhī ai dil ho ga.iiñ aa.ī ga.ī
un ka gham un ka tasawwur un ke shikwe ab kahan
ab to ye baaten bhi ai dil ho gain aai gai
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Tags : Ghamand 5 more
hamāre ishq meñ rusvā hue tum
magar ham to tamāshā ho ga.e haiñ
hamare ishq mein ruswa hue tum
magar hum to tamasha ho gae hain
vo kareñ bhī to kin alfāz meñ terā shikva
jin ko terī nigah-e-lutf ne barbād kiyā
wo karen bhi to kin alfaz mein tera shikwa
jin ko teri nigah-e-lutf ne barbaad kiya
ik terī be-ruḳhī se zamāna ḳhafā huā
ai sañg-dil tujhe bhī ḳhabar hai ki kyā huā
ek teri be-ruKHi se zamana KHafa hua
ai sang-dil tujhe bhi KHabar hai ki kya hua
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Tag : Khafa
kis muñh se kareñ un ke taġhāful kī shikāyat
ḳhud ham ko mohabbat kā sabaq yaad nahīñ hai
kis munh se karen un ke taghaful ki shikayat
KHud hum ko mohabbat ka sabaq yaad nahin hai
ham ko aapas meñ mohabbat nahīñ karne dete
ik yahī aib hai is shahr ke dānāoñ meñ
hum ko aapas mein mohabbat nahin karne dete
ek yahi aib hai is shahr ke danaon mein
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Tags : Aiband 1 more
ham ajab haiñ ki us kī bāhoñ meñ
shikva-e-nārasā.ī karte haiñ
hum ajab hain ki us ki bahon mein
shikwa-e-narasai karte hain
sirf shikve dikh rahe haiñ ye nahīñ dikhtā tujhe
tujh se shikve rakhne vaalā terā dīvāna bhī hai
sirf shikwe dikh rahe hain ye nahin dikhta tujhe
tujh se shikwe rakhne wala tera diwana bhi hai
sar-e-mahshar yahī pūchhūñgā ḳhudā se pahle
tū ne rokā bhī thā bande ko ḳhatā se pahle
TRANSLATION
On the Judgement Day, I’ll enquire this from God,
Before he commited crime, any criminal did you stop?
Sagar Akbarabadi
sar-e-mahshar yahi puchhunga KHuda se pahle
tu ne roka bhi tha bande ko KHata se pahle
TRANSLATION
On the Judgement Day, I’ll enquire this from God,
Before he commited crime, any criminal did you stop?
Sagar Akbarabadi
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Tags : Khudaand 1 more
ye ġham kyā dil kī 'ādat hai nahīñ to
kisī se kuchh shikāyat hai nahīñ to
ye gham kya dil ki 'adat hai nahin to
kisi se kuchh shikayat hai nahin to
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Tags : Diland 1 more
shikva-e-ābla abhī se 'mīr'
hai piyāre hanūz dillī duur
Meer, why complain about the blister so soon?
Dear one, Delhi is still far away.
The speaker rebukes early whining in a long, difficult journey: a mere blister is nothing when the destination is distant. “Delhi” works as a symbol of the goal—success, union, or relief—while the blister stands for small pains. The emotional core is a call for patience and stamina: if you falter at the first hurt, how will you bear what lies ahead?
shikwa-e-abla abhi se 'mir'
hai piyare hanuz dilli dur
Meer, why complain about the blister so soon?
Dear one, Delhi is still far away.
The speaker rebukes early whining in a long, difficult journey: a mere blister is nothing when the destination is distant. “Delhi” works as a symbol of the goal—success, union, or relief—while the blister stands for small pains. The emotional core is a call for patience and stamina: if you falter at the first hurt, how will you bear what lies ahead?
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Tag : Aabla
shikva apnoñ se kiyā jaatā hai ġhairoñ se nahīñ
aap kah deñ to kabhī aap se shikva na kareñ
shikwa apnon se kiya jata hai ghairon se nahin
aap kah den to kabhi aap se shikwa na karen
tum aziiz aur tumhārā ġham bhī aziiz
kis se kis kā gilā kare koī
tum aziz aur tumhaara gham bhi aziz
kis se kis ka gila kare koi
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Tag : Gham
dekhne vaalā koī mile to dil ke daaġh dikhā.ūñ
ye nagrī andhoñ kī nagrī kis ko kyā samjhā.ūñ
dekhne wala koi mile to dil ke dagh dikhaun
ye nagri andhon ki nagri kis ko kya samjhaun
ishq meñ shikva kufr hai aur har iltijā harām
toḌ de kāsa-e-murād ishq gadāgarī nahīñ
ishq mein shikwa kufr hai aur har iltija haram
toD de kasa-e-murad ishq gadagari nahin
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Tag : Iltija
bad-gumāñ aap haiñ kyuuñ aap se shikva hai kise
jo shikāyat hai hameñ gardish-e-ayyām se hai
bad-guman aap hain kyun aap se shikwa hai kise
jo shikayat hai hamein gardish-e-ayyam se hai
chup raho kyuuñ mizāj pūchhte ho
ham ji.eñ yā mareñ tumheñ kyā hai
chup raho kyun mizaj puchhte ho
hum jien ya maren tumhein kya hai
pur huuñ maiñ shikve se yuuñ raag se jaise baajā
ik zarā chheḌiye phir dekhiye kyā hotā hai
I am filled with complaints in the same way a musical instrument is filled with melodies.
Just touch (provoke) me a little, and then witness what happens.
Ghalib uses the metaphor of a musical instrument to describe his state of emotional saturation. Just as an instrument is dormant but full of potential music that erupts at a mere touch, the poet is brimming with suppressed grievances. He warns that a slight provocation will unleash a torrent of complaints, much like striking a chord releases a melody.
pur hun main shikwe se yun rag se jaise baja
ek zara chheDiye phir dekhiye kya hota hai
I am filled with complaints in the same way a musical instrument is filled with melodies.
Just touch (provoke) me a little, and then witness what happens.
Ghalib uses the metaphor of a musical instrument to describe his state of emotional saturation. Just as an instrument is dormant but full of potential music that erupts at a mere touch, the poet is brimming with suppressed grievances. He warns that a slight provocation will unleash a torrent of complaints, much like striking a chord releases a melody.
'ehsān' apnā koī bure vaqt kā nahīñ
ahbāb bevafā haiñ ḳhudā be-niyāz hai
'ehsan' apna koi bure waqt ka nahin
ahbab bewafa hain KHuda be-niyaz hai
aaj us se maiñ ne shikva kiyā thā sharāratan
kis ko ḳhabar thī itnā burā maan jā.egā
aaj us se main ne shikwa kiya tha shararatan
kis ko KHabar thi itna bura man jaega
shikva-e-ġham tire huzūr kiyā
ham ne be-shak baḌā qusūr kiyā
shikwa-e-gham tere huzur kiya
hum ne be-shak baDa qusur kiya
merī hī jaan ke dushman haiñ nasīhat vaale
mujh ko samjhāte haiñ un ko nahīñ samjhāte haiñ
meri hi jaan ke dushman hain nasihat wale
mujh ko samjhate hain un ko nahin samjhate hain
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Tag : Mashwara
zarā sī baat thī arz-e-tamannā par bigaḌ baiThe
vo merī umr bhar kī dāstān-e-dard kyā sunte
zara si baat thi arz-e-tamanna par bigaD baiThe
wo meri umr bhar ki dastan-e-dard kya sunte
raushnī mujh se gurezāñ hai to shikva bhī nahīñ
mere ġham-ḳhāne meñ kuchh aisā añdherā bhī nahīñ
raushni mujh se gurezan hai to shikwa bhi nahin
mere gham-KHane mein kuchh aisa andhera bhi nahin
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Tag : Raushni
shikva-e-hijr pe sar kaaT ke farmāte haiñ
phir karoge kabhī is muñh se shikāyat merī
shikwa-e-hijr pe sar kaT ke farmate hain
phir karoge kabhi is munh se shikayat meri
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Tag : Hijr
chāhī thī dil ne tujh se vafā kam bahut hī kam
shāyad isī liye hai gilā kam bahut hī kam
chahi thi dil ne tujh se wafa kam bahut hi kam
shayad isi liye hai gila kam bahut hi kam
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Tag : Wafa
mujhe tujh se shikāyat bhī hai lekin ye bhī sach hai
tujhe ai zindagī maiñ vālihāna chāhtā huuñ
mujhe tujh se shikayat bhi hai lekin ye bhi sach hai
tujhe ai zindagi main walihana chahta hun
hameñ to apnī tabāhī kī daad bhī na milī
tirī navāzish-e-bejā kā kyā gilā karte
hamein to apni tabahi ki dad bhi na mili
teri nawazish-e-beja ka kya gila karte
kitne shikve gile haiñ pahle hī
raah meñ fāsle haiñ pahle hī
kitne shikwe gile hain pahle hi
rah mein fasle hain pahle hi
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Tag : Fasla
