Bandagi

bandagi hum ne chhod di hai 'faraaz' kya karen log jab khuda ho jaen

aashiqi se milega ai zahid bandagi se khuda nahin milta in romance, does god abound o priest in piety not found dagh dehlvi contrasts two paths: dry, rule-bound piety and the burning sincerity of عشق (love). addressing the “zahid” (self-righteous ascetic), the poet suggests that real nearness to the divine comes from an inward, passionate devotion rather than outward rituals alone. the emotional core is a gentle but sharp irony: the one who boasts of عبادت may still miss god, while the lover reaches him through the heart.

dil hai qadmon par kisi ke sar jhuka ho ya na ho bandagi to apni fitrat hai khuda ho ya na ho

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 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.

rahne de apni bandagi zahid be-mohabbat khuda nahin milta

tu mere sajdon ki laj rakh le shuur-e-sajda nahin hai mujh ko ye sar tere aastan se pahle kisi ke aage jhuka nahin hai

bandagi mein bhi wo aazada o khud-bin hain ki hum ulte phir aae dar-e-kaba agar wa na hua the couplet exposes a paradox: the speaker claims devotion, yet the ego stays “free” and self-focused. the kaaba’s closed door becomes a metaphor for spiritual acceptance; when access is denied, pride refuses to wait or plead. instead of humility in prayer, there is a dignified withdrawal—suggesting devotion contaminated by selfhood.

salam un pe tah-e-tegh bhi jinhon ne kaha jo tera hukm jo teri raza jo tu chahe

yahi hai zindagi apni yahi hai bandagi apni ki un ka nam aaya aur gardan jhuk gai apni translation this alone is my life, thisalone is my prayer, on hearing thy name, my neck bows as ever. sagar akbarabadi

jawaz koi agar meri bandagi ka nahin main puchhta hun tujhe kya mila khuda ho kar

sidq-o-safa-e-qalb se mahrum hai hayat karte hain bandagi bhi jahannam ke dar se hum

dosti bandagi wafa-o-khulus hum ye shama jalana bhul gae

qubul ho ki na ho sajda o salam apna tumhaare bande hain hum bandagi hai kaam apna

bandagi ka meri andaz juda hota hai mera kaba mere sajdon mein chhupa hota hai the aspect of my piety is truly an exception godhead's altar is contained in my genuflection

shahon ki bandagi mein sar bhi nahin jhukaya tere liye sarapa aadab ho gae hum

apni khu-e-wafa se darta hun aashiqi bandagi na ho jae

khulus ho to kahin bandagi ki qaid nahin sanam-kade mein tawaf-e-haram bhi mumkin hai

kaise karen bandagi 'zafar' wan bandon ki jahan khudaiyan hain

meri ana ne sabaq de ke khud-parasti ka chhuda diya hai zamane ki bandagi se mujhe

ab aage jo bhi ho anjam dekha jaega khuda talash liya aur bandagi kar li