255. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Agar Bewafaa Tujhko...

Movie: RAAT KE ANDHERE MEIN (1969)
Lyrics: Prem Dhawan
Music: Prem Dhawan

Rafi Sahaab’s perennially popular: Agar Bewafaa Tujhko Pehchaan Jaate..

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:


agar bewafaa tujh ko...pehchaan jaate...
IF WE’D SEEN THROUGH YOU, O FAITHLESS ONE,

Khudaa kee qasam, hamm muhabbat na karte,
BY GOD, WE’D NE’ER HAVE LOVED!

jo maaloom hotaa yeh, anjaam-e-ulfat toh,
IF WE’D KNOWN THE OUTCOME LOVE, THEN

dil ko lagaane kee, jurrat na karte.
WE’D NOT HAVE DARED TO FALL IN LOVE!

agar bewafaa tujh ko, pehchaan jaate,
IF WE’D SEEN THROUGH YOU, O FAITHLESS ONE,

Khudaa kee qasam, ham muhabbat na karte.
BY GOD, WE’D NE’ER HAVE LOVED!


jinhe.n tumne samjhaa, meree bewafaayee ,
WHAT YOU’D PRESUMED TO BE MY ABANDONMENT,

mere zindagee kee voh, majbooriyaa.n thee.n
THEY WERE MY LIFE’S COMPULSIONS,

jinhe.n, tumne samjhaa...
WHAT YOU’D PRESUMED...

hamaaree muhabbat ka, ik imtihaa.n thaah,
A TEST OF OUR LOVE IT WAS,

yeh doh din kee tho.dee see, jo dooriyaa.n thee.n,
THE ESTRANGEMENT THAT WAS JUST FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS,

jo dooriyaa.n thee.n,
THE ESTRANGMENT THAT WAS...

agar sachchee hotee, muhabbat tumhaaree tau,
IF YOU’D TRULY LOVED, THEN

ghabraa ke tum yoo.n, shikaayat na karte.
YOU’D NOT HAVE JUMPED TO COMPLAIN.

agar bewafaa tujh ko, pehchaan jaate,
IF WE’D SEEN THROUGH YOU, O FAITHLESS ONE,

Khudaa kee qasam, hamm muhabbat na karte....
BY GOD, WE’D NE’ER HAVE LOVED!


jo hamm pe hai guzree, hamee.n jaante hai.n,
WHAT WE’VE SUFFERED IS KNOWN ONLY TO US,

sitam kaun saa hai, nahee.n jo uThaayaa
WHAT MISERY HAVE WE NOT ENDURED!

jo hamm, pe hai guzree...
WHAT WE’VE SUFFERED...

nigaaho.n me.n phir bhee, rahee teree soorat,
DESPITE THAT, YOUR FACE REMAINED IN SIGHT,

har ek saa.ns me.n teraa, paighaam aayaa,
YOUR MESSAGE CAME WITH EACH AN’ EVERY BREATH,

paigham aayaa...
YOUR MESSAGE CAME...

agar jaante tum hee, ilzaam doge tau,
IF WE’D KNOWN THAT Y0U’D ACCUSE US YOURSELF, THEN

bhoole se bhee hamm toh, ulfat na karte,
EVEN BY OVERSIGHT WE’D NOT HAVE CULTIVATED INTIMACY,

agar bewafaa tujh ko, pehchaan jaate,
IF WE’D SEEN THROUGH YOU, O FAITHLESS ONE,

Khudaa kee qasam, hamm muhabbat na karte.
BY GOD, WE’D NE’ER HAVE LOVED!

NASIR.

Where misunderstanding serves others as an advantage, one is helpless to make oneself understood.
Lionel Trilling