Zamanay pok ne hamdam
One of the poets who deeply resonates in the world of Kashmiri literature is Ghulam Nabi Doolwal.
His poem "Zamānay pok nü hamdam tōti kyā gaw" encapsulates a sentiment that resonates with us all — a yearning for companionship, a love that transcends time, and the bittersweet reality that everything beautiful, even love, is bound by time’s inevitable flow.
The poem conveys a deep sense of spiritual and existential questioning, exploring themes of human frailty, the struggle between good and evil, and the search for meaning in a transient world. The recurring phrase "tōti kyā gaw" (what can I say?) emphasizes the poet’s struggle to articulate these profound emotions and truths.
Poem Lyrics
Zamanay pok ne hamdam toti kya gaw
Temis gei zulf barham toti kya gaw
What can I say about this era, my companion?
What can I say about the dark, tangled locks that scatter chaos?
Mubarakh Zahida janath che ạ̄sin
Me yodway shahr-i-jahnam toti kya gaw
Congratulations, Zahida, you’ve reached paradise,
But what can I say about the city of hell that I was granted?
Gatshi nay saaf dil ditü lāfü saasa
Nạṭyaw chyatü ab-i-zamzam toti kya gaw
If the heart is not pure, words are mere breath,
What can I say about the holy Zamzam water that couldn’t quench my thirst?
Lekhith Iblis suy azlay chhe lanath
Nyạbür' yot draw Adam toti kya gaw
Iblis (Satan) wrote his fate with his own hands and been cursed
What can I say about Adam, who was drawn into the same trap?
Agar nay jazbā-ē-īsār āsi
Dọhas partü ism-i-azam toti kya gaw
If there is no spirit of sacrifice,
What can I say about chanting the greatest name in vain?
Bü shartas pyaṭh gazal az bozünawath
Che nay sazas me dikh sam toti kya gaw
Without any conditions, I will sing a ghazal for you,
What can I say if you don’t accompany my tunes?
Nazar Asrar senz chei jaan baazas
Che nei roozakh me hamdam toti kya gaw
Jaanbaz (poet) has the sight for the secrets
What can I say, if you won't be my companion?
Here’s the original version by Ghulam Nabi Doolwal (Janbaaz)