शौक़ ए दीदार अगर है तो नज़र पैदा कर shauq e diidaar agar hai to nazar paidaa kar

kaun sii jaa hai jahaa.n jalvaa e maashuuq nahii.n
shauq e diidaar agar hai to nazar paidaa kar

कौन सी जा है जहां जलवा ए माशूक़ नहीं
शौक़ ए दीदार अगर है तो नज़र पैदा कर

What is that place, where the splendour of the beloved is not visible
If you are passionate about seeing her, then develop the vision

Ameer Minai
अमीर मीनाई 

ये न सोचो कि अभी उम्र पड़ी है यारो

Fursate kaar faqat chaar ghaRii hai yaaro

ye na socho ki abhii umr paRii hai yaaro 

फ़ुर्सते कार फ़क़त चार घड़ी  है यारो

ये न सोचो कि अभी उम्र पड़ी  है यारो

(फ़ुर्सते कार = काम की फ़ुर्सत)

You have very little time left on this earth friends,

Don't assume that there is a lot of time left friends.

Jaan Nisaar Akhtar

जां निसार अख़्तर

main tamaam taare uTha uTha ke Gariib logo.n me.n baa.nT duu.n

main tamaam taare uTha uTha ke Gariib logo.n me.n baa.nT duu.n

vo jo ek raat ko aasmaa.n ka nizaam de mire haath me.n 

मैं तमाम तारे उठा उठा के ग़रीब लोगों में बाँट दूँ 

वो जो एक रात को आसमां का निज़ाम दे मिरे हाथ में 

I would distribute all the stars among the poor people

If He gives me the right to rule the world for just one night. 

Bashir Badr

बशीर बद्र 

अनुभव से जानता हूँ कि ये वसंत है

With spring round the corner, was reminded of this very short poem by Raghuveer Sahay

वही आदर्श मौसम 

और मन में कुछ टूटता सा; 

अनुभव से जानता हूँ कि ये वसंत है 

vahi aadarsh mausam

aur man me.n kuchh TuuTataa saa;

anubhav se jaantaa huu.n ki yee vasant hai.

That ideal weather

And a feeling of something breaking inside me;

I know from experience that spring is upon us. 

रघुवीर सहाय 

Raghuveer Sahay 

तुम रुसूमात को ईमान बनाती क्यूँ हो

There is a beautiful poem by Sahir called 'yaksuuii' which means 'carefree' or 'solitude'. In that poem towards the end, he writes

mai.n samajhtaa huu.n taqaddus ko tamaddun kaa fareb 

tum rusuumaat ko iimaan banaatii kyuu.n ho 

मैं समझता हूँ तक़द्दुस को तमद्दुन का फ़रेब 

तुम रुसूमात को ईमान बनाती क्यूँ हो 

I consider the concept of purity as an illusion created by civilisation

Why the hell do you equate rituals with religion?

साहिर लुधियानवी 

Sahir Ludhianvi

The following two couplets are the last two in the poem. Must read those too. 

jab tumhe.n mujh se ziyaada hai zamaane kaa Khayaal 

phir mirii yaad me.n yuu.n ashk bahaatii kyuu.n ho 

tum me.n himmat hai to duniyaa se baGaavat kar do 

varna maa.n baap jahaa.n kahte hai.n shaadi kar lo 

mujh ko ye aarzuu vo uThaae.n naqaab Khud

mujh ko ye aarzuu vo uThaae.n naqaab Khud
un ko ye intizaar taqaaza kare koii

मुझ को ये आरज़ू वो उठायें नक़ाब ख़ुद
उनको ये इंतिज़ार तक़ाज़ा करे कोई

I wish that she reveals herself to me on her own
She on the other hand is waiting for someone to demand it

मजाज़ लखनवी

main aaj zad pe agar huu.n to Khush gumaan na ho

main aaj zad pe agar huu.n to Khush gumaan na ho

charaaG sab ke bujhenge havaa kisii ki nahiin

मैं आज ज़द पे अगर हूँ तो ख़ुश गुमान न हो 

चराग़ सब के बुझेंगे हवा किसी की नहीं 

Don't nurse fanciful notions because I am the target today

All lights will eventually be put out, the wind is truly hostile

Ahmed Faraz

A similar thought has been expressed by Rahat Indori in this couplet

Lagegi aag to aayenge ghar kaii zad mein 

yahaa.n pe sirf hamaaraa makaan thoDii hai

लगेगी आग तो आयेंगे घर कई ज़द में 

यहाँ पे सिर्फ़ हमारा मकान थोड़ी है 

On a similar thought, you can read this beautiful poem by Nawaz Deobandi here

मेरे हुज़ूर बड़ा जुर्म है ये बेख़बरी

tumhaare bazm se baahar bhi ek dunyaa hai
mere huzuur baDa jurm hai ye beKhabrii

तुम्हारे बज़्म से बाहर भी एक दुन्या है (शहर है)
मेरे हुज़ूर बड़ा जुर्म है ये बेख़बरी

Outside your gathering as well, exists another world altogether
My dear sir/madam, it's a crime if you continue to remain unaware

Taj Bhopali
ताज भोपाली 

वो ज़हर देता तो सब की निगह में आ जाता

vo zehar detaa to sab kii nigah mein aa jaataa
so ye kiyaa ki mujhe vaqt pe davaaye.n na dii.n

वो ज़हर देता तो सब की निगह में आ जाता
सो ये किया कि मुझे वक़्त पे दवाएं न दीं

If he would have poisoned me, everybody would have noticed it,
So, he just refused to provide me medication at the right time.

अख़्तर नाज़मी
Akhtar Nazmi

यत् यत् विभूतिमत् सत्वम् श्रीमत् ऊर्जितम् एव वा

yat yat vibhuutimat satvam shriimat uurjitam Eva vaa

tat tat Eva avagachchha tvam mama tEjaha amsha sambhavam 

यत् यत् विभूतिमत् सत्वम् श्रीमत् ऊर्जितम् एव वा 

तत् तत् एव अवगच्छ त्वम् मम तेजः अंश सम्भवम्

All that is majestic, beautiful and glorious or powerful 

Know that, it is born out of just a fraction of my power

How do you know what is a manifestation of God? You can read all the Vedas and Upanishads and form a theory. Or you can use a simple trick. Anything that you see, that is majestic, beautiful or glorious, is born out of a tiny fraction of my power. So following that is like following God. 

Ghalib wrote a beautiful couplet. 

chalta huu.n thoDi duur harik tez rau ke saath

pehchaantaa nahii.n huu.n abhi raahbar ko mai.n

'tez rau' literally means fast speed. But in the context of the couplet it means something that allures, something or someone that attracts. Probably because of its speech, because of its looks or because of its strength. 

So when you admire Ghalib, you are following God. When you admire "Lag ja gale" by Lata, you are following God. When you admire a powerful wrestler, you are following God. And remember, the combined glory of all the beauty and majesty that you see in this world, is just a fraction of the Supreme God's power. So just imagine how powerful that is. 

Salim Khan says that Amitabh is physically a very weak person. But he can project immense strength on screen. And we are attracted by that. Similarly a cop on the street might be physically weaker than us, but we see the uniform and recognise the power and the might of the Government behind him or her. 

So next time you see a great film, a beautiful man or woman, hear a good voice, imagine that you see God in that. And remember, what you see or hear is just born out of a fraction of the supreme power. Be humble. 

Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 10 Verse 41)

भगवद गीता (अध्याय १० श्लोक ४१) 

क्यूं पुराना हुआ वीरान ज़रा देख तो लो

ye naya shahr to hai Khuub basaayaa tumne

kyuu.n puraanaa huaa viiraan zaraa dekh to lo

ये नया शहर तो है ख़ूब बसाया तुमने 

क्यूं पुराना हुआ वीरान ज़रा देख तो लो 

This new city that you have founded is wonderful and great

But do take a dekko at the reasons that demolished the old one

Javed Akhtar

जावेद अख़्तर 

दुनया के जो मज़े हैं हरगिज़ वो कम न होंगे dunyaa ke jo maze hain hargiz vo kam na honge

dunyaa ke jo maze hain hargiz vo kam na honge

charche yuu.nhii rahenge afsos ham na honge

दुनया के जो मज़े हैं हरगिज़ वो कम न होंगे 

चर्चे यूंही रहेंगे अफ़सोस हम न होंगे 

The joys in this world will never lessen

The merry making will continue, alas I'll not be around

आग़ा मोहम्मद तक़ी खान तरक़्क़ी 

Agha Mohammad Taqi Khan Taraqqi 

न मेरा है न तेरा है ये हिन्दुस्तान सबका है, नहीं समझी गई ये बात तो नुकसान सबका है

न मेरा है न तेरा है ये हिन्दुस्तान सबका है
नहीं समझी गई ये बात तो नुकसान सबका है

हज़ारों रास्ते खोजे गए उस तक पहुँचने के
मगर पहुँचे हुए ये कह गए भगवान सबका है

जो इसमें मिल गईं नदियाँ वे दिखलाई नहीं देतीं
महासागर बनाने में मगर एहसान सबका है

अनेकों रंग, ख़ुशबू, नस्ल के फल-फूल पौधे हैं
मगर उपवन की इज्जत-आबरू ईमान सबका है

हक़ीक़त आदमी की और झटका एक धरती का
जो लावारिस पड़ी है धूल में सामान सबका है

ज़रा से प्यार को खुशियों की हर झोली तरसती है
मुकद्दर अपना-अपना है, मगर अरमान सबका है

उदय झूठी कहानी है सभी राजा और रानी की
जिसे हम वक़्त कहते हैं वही सुल्तान सबका है

उदय प्रताप सिंह
Uday Pratap Singh 

वो दुश्मनी से देखते हैं, देखते तो हैं vo dushmanii se dekhte hai.n, dekhte to hai.n

vo dushmanii se dekhte hai.n, dekhte to hai.n
main shaad huu.n ki huu.n to kisii kii nigaah mein

वो दुश्मनी से देखते हैं, देखते तो हैं
मैं शाद हूँ की हूँ तो किसी की निगाह में

She looks with hostility at me, but at least she looks at me
I am happy that someone considers me worthy to glance at

Ameer Minai
अमीर मीनाई 

वही दाना है कहा जिसने न माना दिल का vahii daanaa hai kahaa jisne na maanaa dil kaa

baad muddat ke ye ae 'daaG' samajh me.n aayaa

vahii daanaa hai kahaa jisne na maanaa dil kaa 

बाद मुद्दत के ये ऐ 'दाग़' समझ में आया 

वही दाना है कहा जिसने न माना दिल का 

I understood this after a long long time, o 'daaG' 

He who doesn't give into temptation  is truly wise

There is a whole lot of poetry urging you, in fact exhorting you to follow your heart. Allow your mind to guide you. The mind is a very dangerous thing to follow. It can go all over the place. And take you along. The poet here laments the fact that he has given into the demands of his heart for way too long. 

दाग़ देहलवी 

Daagh Dehalvi 

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
                         But O heart! heart! heart!
                            O the bleeding drops of red,
                               Where on the deck my Captain lies,
                                  Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
                         Here Captain! dear father!
                            This arm beneath your head!
                               It is some dream that on the deck,
                                 You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
                         Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
                            But I with mournful tread,
                               Walk the deck my Captain lies,
                                  Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman wrote this after Abe Lincoln died. This poem really influenced me (and many others) in the movie Dead Poet's Society.

आँख में आंसू मगर वक़्त ए सफ़र आ ही गया aankh mein aansuu magar vaqt e safar aa hii gayaa

गो बहुत कुछ रंज यारान ए वतन से था हमें
आँख में आंसू मगर वक़्त ए सफ़र आ ही गया

go bahut kuchh ranj yaaraan e vatan se thaa hamein
aankh mein aansuu magar vaqt e safar aa hii gayaa

Even though we had many plaints against my country mates,
Yet when it was time to leave the country, we could not hold back the tears.

You can use this couplet if you are leaving a company where you felt tormented, but on your farewell day you did feel a tinge of regret while leaving.

Akbar Allahabadi 

वही हसीं है हक़ीक़त ज़वाल है जिसकी

Baang e draa 

Haqiiqat e husn 

Khuda se husn ne ik roz ye savaal kiyaa 

jahaa.n mein kyuu.n na mujhe tuune laa zavaal kiyaa 

milaa javaab ki tasviir Khaanaa hai dunyaa 

shab e daraaz e adam kaa fasaanaa hai dunyaa 

huii hai rang e taGayyur se jab namuud iskii 

vahii hasii.n hai haqiiqat zavaal hai jiskii

ख़ुदा से हुस्न ने इक रोज़ ये सवाल किया 

जहां में क्यूँ न मुझे तूने ला ज़वाल किया 

मिला जवाब की तस्वीर ख़ाना है दुनया 

शब ए दराज़ ए अदम का फ़साना है दुनया 

हुई है रंग ए तग़य्युर से जब नमूद इसकी 

वही हसीं है हक़ीक़त ज़वाल है जिसकी 

Beauty one day asked god a question

Why did you make me so that I never wane or decline

God answered that the world is like a picture gallery. 

The world is a tale born out of a long night of nothingness 

When it has been fashioned from the colour and clay of alteration or change

That which is beauty, its essence is decay or decline 

kahii.n qariib thaa, ye guftguu qamar ne sunii 

falak pe aam huii aKhtar e sehar ne sunii 

sehar ne taare se sunkar sunaaii shabnam ko

falak ki baat dii zamii.n ke mehram ko 

bhar aaye phuul ke aa.nsuu payaam e shabnam se 

kalii ka nanhaa sa dil Khuun ho gayaa gham se

chaman se rotaa huvaa mausam e bahaar gayaa 

shabaab sair ko aayaa thaa sogvaar gayaa 

कहीं क़रीब था, ये गुफ़्तगू क़मर ने सुनी 

फ़लक पे आम हुई अख़्तर ए सहर ने सूनी 

सहर ने तारे से सुनकर सुनाई शबनम को 

फ़लक की बात दी ज़मीं के महरम को 

भर आये फूल के आंसू पयाम ए शबनम से 

कली का नन्हा सा दिल ख़ून हो गया ग़म से 

चमन से रोता हुआ मौसम ए बहार गया 

शबाब सैर को आया था सोगवार गया 

Moon was somewhere near, it overheard the entire discussion

Soon the news spread in the sky, and the morning star heard it

The morning star told it to the dawn and thus it came to the dew

Thus the god's secret was passed on to the dawn's earthly confidant (dew)

The flower got teary eyed when it heard this message of the dew

The bud's little heart throbbed with grief and bled 

The spring fled the garden, weeping 

Youth that had come to enjoy, left sorrowful 

अर्थस्य निश्चयो दृष्टो विचारेण हितोक्तितः

arthasya nishchayo drishTo vichaareNa hitoktitaha
na snaaneena na daanena praaNaayaama shatena vaa

अर्थस्य निश्चयो दृष्टो विचारेण हितोक्तितः
न स्नानेन न दानेन प्राणायाम शतेन वा (१३)

The meaning of beneficial sayings (said by great souls) becomes embedded as belief by thinking and deliberating about them
Not by taking ritual baths, not by indulging in charity and certainly not by doing a hundred breathing exercises.

Adi Shankaracharya VivekachuuDaamaNi

विवेक चूडामणि आदि शंकराचार्य 

farishto.n se bhi achchhaa mai.n buraa hone se pehle thaa फ़रिश्तों से भी अच्छा मैं बुरा होने से पहले था

farishto.n se bhi achchhaa mai.n buraa hone se pehle thaa
vo mujh se intihaaii Khush Khafaa hone se pehle thaa

फ़रिश्तों से भी अच्छा मैं बुरा होने से पहले था
वो मुझ से इन्तिहाई ख़ुश ख़फ़ा होने से पहले था

I was better than angels, before I turned bad
God was mighty pleased with me, before our relationship soured.

Anwar Shuoor
अनवर शुऊर 

ye jo mandi ka zamaana hai guzar jaane de ये जो मंदी का ज़माना है गुज़र जाने दे

ye jo mandi ka zamaana hai guzar jaane de

phir pataa tujhko chalega mirii qiimat kyaa hai

ये जो मंदी का ज़माना है गुज़र जाने दे 

फिर पता तुझको चलेगा मिरी क़ीमत क्या है 

Let this recession pass by

Then you'll realise my true worth 

Many stocks are currently languishing at rock bottom rates (especially among mid and small cap rates). I am sure they are making the same pitch to their prospective investors. 

राहत इन्दौरी 

Rahat Indori 

tuu dOst hai to nasiihat na kar Khudaa kE liyE तू दोस्त है तो नसीहत न कर ख़ुदा के लिए

miraa zamiir bahut hai mujhe sazaa ke liyE
tuu dOst hai to nasiihat na kar Khudaa kE liyE

मिरा ज़मीर बहुत है मुझे सज़ा के लिए
तू दोस्त है तो नसीहत न कर ख़ुदा के लिए

My remorse is sufficient punishment for my sin
If you are a friend, do not counsel me for god's sake

Shaaz Tamkanat
शाज़ तमकनत

उभे प्रज्ञे वेदितव्ये ऋज्वी वक्रा च भारत ubhE pragyE vEditavyE rijvii vakraa cha bhaarata

ubhE pragyE vEditavyE rijvii vakraa cha bhaarata

jaanan vakraam na sEvEta pratibaadhEta chaagataam

उभे प्रज्ञे वेदितव्ये ऋज्वी वक्रा च भारत |

जानन् वक्राम् न  सेवेत प्रतिबाधेत चागताम् 

O descendant of Bharata, you (or a king) should know both, the straight and the crooked way 

Know the crooked way, but do not use it. However to prevent an upcoming disaster, you could use the crooked way

शान्तिपर्वं महाभारत  Chapter 100 Verse 5

ab bhi baaqii hai.n kaii dost puraane mere अब भी बाक़ी हैं कई दोस्त पुराने मेरे

zindagi hai to naye zaKhm bhi lag jaayenge

ab bhi baaqii hai.n kaii dost puraane mere

ज़िन्दगी है तो नए ज़ख़्म भी लग जाएंगे 

अब भी बाक़ी हैं कई दोस्त पुराने मेरे

As I live, I shall be afflicted with new wounds

I still have a lot of old friends left in my circle

Rahat Indori 

राहत इन्दौरी 

अब कोई हूर आएगी उनके लिए ab koii huur aayegii unke liye

Sab hasii.n hai.n zaahido.n ko naapasand

ab koii huur aayegii unke liye 

सब हसीं हैं जाहिदों को नापसंद 

अब कोई हूर आएगी उनके लिए 

The religious devout seem to dislike all things beautiful

It seems they are waiting for some celestial fairy to descend

I have heard people complain about their neighbours, relatives, bosses and even friends. All the above categories will always have a share of good and bad. But if you constantly crib and crave for better, then you would be termed as curmudgeonly and fastidious. Then, this couplet would be apt for you. 

अमीर मीनाई 

Amir Minai