Mere Rashq-E-Qamar
Urdu
OPENING · THE FIRST GLANCE
Behijaabana woh saamne aa gae
The beloved appeared before me without a veil or hesitation.
MeaningBehijaabana means openly or without concealment. The beloved's sudden, direct presence makes a once-distant beauty immediate and overwhelming.
Aur jawaani jawaani se takra gaii
And their youth came face to face with my youth.
MeaningThis is a vivid image of reciprocal attraction, with youthful energy seeming to collide. The line gives desire movement and playful dramatic force.
Aankh un ki lari yuun meri aankh se
Their eyes met mine as though our gazes were sparring.
MeaningLari gives the exchange the quality of a playful fight. The beloved and lover communicate through eye contact, with tenderness and challenge intertwined.
Dekh kar yeh laraaii maza aa gaya
Watching that lovely battle of glances filled me with delight.
MeaningThe 'battle' is a teasing metaphor, not an argument. A fleeting glance becomes an entire romantic drama, showing how much significance the lover places on the encounter.
Mere rashk-e-qamar tu ne pehli nazar
O beloved, whom even the moon envies, with your very first glance…
MeaningRashk-e-qamar suggests beauty so exceptional that the moon itself would feel jealous. The opening addresses the beloved with astonished admiration, turning one glance into a life-changing encounter.
Jab nazar se milaaii maza aa gaya
…when your eyes met mine, I was overcome with delight.
MeaningThe meeting of eyes is both intimate and electrifying. The repeated 'maza aa gaya' expresses the thrill of an experience more powerful than ordinary happiness.
Barq si gir gaii kaam hi kar gaii
It struck like lightning and I was done
MeaningBarq, or lightning, captures the sudden force of attraction. A single look breaks through the lover's composure before there is time to understand what has happened.
Aag aisi lagaaii maza aa gaya
You lit such a fire within me that I felt ecstatic.
MeaningFire symbolizes longing and irresistible passion. The singer delights in being overwhelmed: even an emotion that burns or unsettles feels precious when it comes from the beloved.
THE SAAQI · LOVE IN THE CUP
Jaam mein ghol kar husn ki mastiyaan
As though you mixed the intoxication of beauty into a cup…
MeaningJaam is a drinking cup, while mastiyaan invokes rapture and exhilaration. The image treats beauty as something the lover can drink in until ordinary perception gives way to delight.
Chaandni muskuraaii maza aa gaya
…the moonlight itself smiled, and my heart rejoiced.
MeaningMoonlight is personified as smiling. Even nature seems to participate in the lover's joy, reflecting the emotional brightness of the encounter.
Chaand ke saaey mein ae mere saaqiya
Beneath the moon's shadow, O my cupbearer…
MeaningSaaqiya, the one who pours wine, is a classic figure in Urdu verse. Depending on interpretation, the cupbearer can evoke a human beloved or a source of spiritual intoxication.
Tu ne aisi pilaaii maza aa gaya
…you gave me such a drink that I was swept away with pleasure.
MeaningThe drink suggests more than alcohol: it can stand for attention, love, or an overwhelming glimpse of beauty. The joy lies in accepting what the beloved offers.
THE BELOVED APPEARS
Aankh mein thi hayaa har mulaaqaat par,
Every time we met, her eyes held a tender shyness.
surkh aariz hue wasl ki baat par
Her cheeks blushed at the thought of us being together.
Us ne sharma ke mere sawaalaat pe,
My questions left her beautifully bashful.
aise gardan jhukaaii maza aa gaya
And the way she lowered her head left me utterly enchanted.
Nasha sheeshe mein angraaii lene laga
Even the wine seemed to awaken from a beautiful dream.
bazm-e-rindaan mein saaghar khanakne lage -
Wine cups began to sing among the merry souls.
Maikade pe barasne lagiin mastiyaan
Waves of ecstasy came pouring over the tavern.
jab ghata ghir ke chaaii maza aa gaya
And as the dark clouds embraced the sky, the world felt magical.