Benazir Lyrics English Translation – Satinder Sartaaj

Furqaton ne to humein is kadar jaan liya.
Separation has known us so intimately,

Dard se jo dosti hui wo bhi benazeer hui.
That even our friendship with pain turned unparalleled.

Hijr ke khazano mein bepanah izafat hain,
In the treasure-chests of longing, sorrows keep multiplying—

Soz-o-gham, ranj-o-malaal — zindagi ameer hui.
Griefs and laments have made life strangely rich.

Dil ki ik khwahish ko waqt ne deewana kiya.
A single desire of the heart—time drove it mad,

Darguzar karke unhein khoob nazrana kiya.
While they forgave it, as if granting a graceful gift.

Asar-o-anjam to jo tay hue wajib hain,
Fates and ends were bound to be—such is the law,

Hasratein nishana bani, bedili jo teer hui.
Hopes became the target, when apathy turned into the arrow.

Gulqadon mein jo rahay hamnasheen baharon ke.
Among gardens, we were comrades of the bloom,

Falak-e-ulfat mein bhi thay raazdaan sitaron ke.
Confidants even to the stars in love’s firmament.

Gardishon mein bhi unhein dikhti hai ranai,
Even in life’s whirl, they saw beauty in the dark—

Shafqatein aisi miliin, teeragi jaagir hui.
Such was the grace received, that even gloom became a legacy.

Wasl ke takhayyul bhi jaise naraz hue.
Even the thought of union now feels estranged,

Umda ehsas thay, par nazar-andaz hue.
Fine sentiments, too, were brushed aside.

Khwaab-e-masroor bhi to ab nahi aate humein.
Joyful dreams no longer visit me,

Jaise tanhai hi ab sabse dilpazeer hui.
As if solitude has become the most beloved now.

Sadze jo ho na sake, unki kuch baat karein.
Let’s speak of prayers that were never uttered,

Dil-shikan daregon se chaliye mulaqat karein.
And meet the silent reluctance that shattered the heart.

Sukhnarai karein sadmon ki siyahi se,
Let’s craft verses from the ink of sorrow,

Qalam-e-sartaj to ab khoob dilgir hui.
For Sartaaj’s pen now bleeds in deepest grief.

Qalam-e-sartaj to ab khoob dilgir hui.
For Sartaaj’s pen now bleeds in deepest grief.