سافر وارد میشود بہ شہر کابل

شہر کابل خطۂ جنت نظیرآب حیوان از رگ تاکش بگیر

The city of Kabul, its clime resembling paradise.
You get the Water of Life from the vein of its grapes

چشم صائب از سوادش سرمہ چینروشن و پایندہ باد آن سر زمین

the eye of poet acquires collyrium from its precincts.

در ظلام شب سمن زارش نگربر بساط سبزہ می غلطد سحر

Observe its jesamine beds in the darkness of night.
you would say as if the dawn lolls on the carpet of its grass.

آن دیار خوش سواد، آن پاک بومباد او خوشتر ز باد شام و روم

That city with the lovely climes in that hallowed land,
its breeze is better far than that of Syria and Rum.

آب او براق و خاکش تابناکزندہ از موج نسیمش، مردہ خاک

Its water so glittering and earth radiant,
the dead earth springs into life with its pleasant draughts.

ناید اندر حرف و صوت اسرار اوآفتابان خفتہ در کہسار او

Its excellence cannot fall into the grasp of words; expressions,
suns upon suns lapped in sleep in its mountains;

ساکنانش سیر چشم و خوش گہرمثل تیغ از جوھر خود بی خبر

its inhabitants complacent and genial,
unware of their mettle like a sword.

قصر سلطانی کہ نامش دلگشاستزائران را گرد راہش کیمیاست

The royal palace named Dilkusha (Heart-Ease). the dust on its way
is like alchemy for those who come to it.

شاہ را دیدم در آن کاخ بلندپیش سلطانی فقیری دردمند

I met the king in his Ifty place-a poor faqir
in the presence of a monarch.

خلق او اقلیم دلہا را گشودرسم و آئین ملوک آنجا نبود

His courteous nature opened wide the partals of hearts,
nothing in the way of ways and formalities of kings.

من حضور آن شہ والا گہربینوا مردی بہ دربار عمر

This humble one in the presence of that noble king
was like an insignificant person in the court of Umar the great Caliph.

جانم از سوز کلامش در گدازدست او بوسیدم از راہ نیاز

My heart melt with the warmth of his hand,
I kissed his hand out of humility.

پادشاہی خوش کلام و سادہ پوشسخت کوش و نرم خوی و گرم جوش

A king pleasant of speech and plainly clad,
hard in striving, mild of nature and warm-hearted.

صدق و اخلاص از نگاہش آشکاردین و دولت از وجودش استوار

Sincerity and frankness apparent from his locks.
Both Faith and realm firm in his person.

خاکی و از نوریان پاکیزہ تراز مقام فقر و شاہی باخبر

Of earth earthly but purer than angels luminous;
Cognisant of both modesty and kingship.

در نگاہش روزگار شرق و غربحکمت او راز دار شرق و غرب

In his sight the affairs of both East and West;
his sagacity knowing their secrets alike.

شہر یاری چون حکیمان نکتہ دانرازدان مد و جزر امتان

A king knowing subtle matters well like a sage
knowing the causes of rise and fall of nations.

پردہ ہا از طلعت معنی گشودنکتہ ہای ملک و دین را وانمود

گفت از آن آتش کہ داری در بدنمن ترا دانم عزیز خویشتن

He said with the fire that you have in mind,
I hold you as dear as my own son.

ہر کہ او را از محبت رنگ و بوستدر نگاہم ہاشم و محمود اوست

Anyone who bears scent and hue of love is like Hashim and Mahmud in my eyes.

در حضور آن مسلمان کریمہدیہ آوردم ز قرآن عظیم

I presented a copy of the glorious Quran to this noble Muslim as a gift.

گفتم "این سرمایۂ اہل حق استدر ضمیر او حیات مطلق است

I said this is the whole and sole substance of men and God;
it contains the very essence of life in all its absoluteness.

اندرو ہر ابتدا را انتہا استحیدر از نیروی او خیبر گشاست"

Therein is the endpoint of all beginnings.
By virtue of it, Haider threw open the gate of Khaiber.

نشۂ حرفم بخون او دویددانہ دانہ اشک از چشمش چکید

The intensity of my words ran into his blood.
and tears upon tears trickled from his eyes in serried train.

گفت "نادر در جہان بیچارہ بوداز غم دین و وطن آوارہ بود

He said, I, Nadir, was a helpless one
bewildered because of the sad plight of the Faith and homeland;

کوہ و دشت از اضطرابم بیخبراز غمان بی حسابم بے خبر

hills arid tracts were unaware of my perturbation,
ignorant of my boundless sorrows.

نالہ با بانگ ہزار آمیختماشک با جوی بہار آمیختم

I raised cries with the note of the nightingale
mixing my tears with the stream aflow in spring.

غیر قرآن غمگسار من نبودقوتش ہر باب را بر من گشود"

I had no solace except that of the Quran;
it powers opened all doors to me

گفتگوے خسرو والا نژادباز با من جذبۂ سرشار داد

The words of that king of high lineage
caused again an upsurge in me.

وقت عصر آمد صدای الصلوتآن کہ مومن را کند پاک از جہات

The call of noon prayer arose awhile
which rids a believer of all limits.

انتہای عاشقان سوز و گدازکردم اندر اقتدای او نماز

The climax of ardent love is nothing but intense feeling,
so I performed the prayer in his lead.

رازہای آن قیام و آن سجودجز بہ بزم محرمان نتوان گشود

The secret of that standing and prostrating
cannot be told except to thode who are close associates.