368. Translation of Sad Songs of Rafi: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalnaa Parwaane...

Movie: PAAPI (1953)
Lyrics: Rajinder Krishan
Music: S.Mohinder

Rafi Sahaab’s song that kept the movie-goers glued to the seat: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalnaa Parwaane...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original Urdu-Hindi Lyrics:

teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

tu pankh jalaale deewaane,
SINGE YOUR WINGS O CRAZY ONE

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT.


Yeh dard mohabbat kaa sahe jaa,
THIS PAIN OF LOVE GO ON ENDURING,

tuu aag ke dariyaa me.n bahe jaa,
IN THE SEA OF FIRE, GO ON FLOWING,

Kehtee hai jo dunyaa kehne de,
LET THE WORLD SAY WHAT IT’LL,

tuu jalte jalte yeh kahejaa
WHILE BURNING, THIS YOU GO ON SAYING...

Yeh kahejaa....
THIS, YOU GO ON SAYING:

Yoo.n jal marte hai.n deewaane,
THUS THE CRAZY ONES DIE BURNING,

Yoo.n jal marte hai.n deewaane,
THUS THE CRAZY ONES DIE BURNING,

chaahe shamaaa jale yaa naa jale,
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale...
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT...


teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale,
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale...
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT...


teraa pyaar nahee.n hai harjaayee,
YOUR LOVE IS NOT UNFAITHFUL,

Tuu saudaai hai saudaai,
YOU’RE PASSIONATE, LOVING,

marne me.n hai shaan mohabbat kee,
‘TIS HONOUR FOR THE LOVE IN DYING,


jeene me.n hai teree ruswaayee,
‘TIS IGNOMINY FOR YOU IN LIVING,

Ruswaayee...
IGNOMINY...

marte nahee.n jal kar parwaane,
THE MOTHS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING,

Marte nahee.n jal kar parwaane,
THE MOTHS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

teraa kaam hai jalnaa parwaane,
‘TIS YOUR JOB, O MOTH, TO BURN,

chaahe shamaa jale ya naa jale
WHETHER THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT,

shamaa jale ya naa jale
THE LAMP GLOWS OR NOT.

NASIR.

“Like a moth to a flame we become helpless to the beautiful ghosts that true love sheds” Ryan O'neal quotes

lyrics
translation

113. Translation of Sad Song of Rafi: Teraa Kaam Hai Jalna...

From: Paapi (1953)
Music: S Mohinder
Lyricist: Rajinder Krishen




Rafi's Rare Gem: Tera Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane...

Roman Transliteration/English Translation of the original lyrics:

Tera Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane
YOUR JOB IS SELF-IMMOLATION O LOVER

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale,
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Tuu Pankh Jalaale Deewaane
BURN YOUR WINGS O CRAZY ONE

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT...


Yeh Dard Muhabbat Ka Sahe Jaa
THIS PANG OF LOVE GO ON SUFFERING,

Tuu Aag Ke Dariya mein Bahe Jaa
IN THE BLAZING RIVER GO ON DRIFTING,

Kehti Hai Tau Duniya Kehne De
IF THE WORLD BLAMES – BE IT,

Tuu Jalte Jalte Yeh Kahe Jaa
TELL THEM THIS WHILE YOU GO ON BURNING,

Yeh Kahe Jaa
THIS (YOU) GO ON TELLING:

Yoo.n Jal Marte Hai.n Deewaane
THUS THE CRAZY ONES BURN AND DIE,

Yoo.n Jal Marte Hai.n Deewaane
THUS THE CRAZY ONES BURN AND DIE,

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT....


Tera Pyaar Nahi.n Hai Harjaaee,
YOUR LOVE IS NOT INCONSTANT,

Tuu Saudaaee Hai Saudaaee,
YOU’RE MAD, INSANE,

Marne Mei.n Hai Shaan Muhabbat Ki
IN DEATH IS THE GLORY OF LOVE

Jeene mein hai Teri Ruswaaee
IN LIVING LIES YOUR IGNOMINY

Ruswaaee,
IGNOMINY

Marte Nahi.n Jalkar Parwaane
LOVERS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING

Marte Nahi.n Jalkar Parwaane
LOVERS DON’T DIE AFTER BURNING

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale...
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT...


Teraa Kaam Hai Jalna Parwaane
YOUR JOB IS SELF-IMMOLATION O LOVER

Chaahe Shama Jale Ya Na Jale
WHETHER THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,

Shama Jale Ya Na Jale,
THE LAMP BURNS OR NOT,


NASIR.

Neither the tale of that candle of Chegel one can tell,
Nor about the state of the burnt heart one can tell.
There is grief in my distressed heart because there is
Not one friend to whom the grief in one’s heart one can tell.
- HAFEZ


Notes: In mid-eastern and Indo-Pak culture and literature, Moth is a metaphor for Lover and the lighted Candle or Lamp is a metaphor for the beloved. Moths hover around the flames till they are burnt down. The lovers are expected to rise to such sublime level.