For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.

https://urdushahkar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ddsh-Khuda-ki-baat-na-kar-audio.mp3

Recitation

خدا  کی  بات  نہ  کر  ۔  دوارکا  داس  شعلہؔ

۱

دیکھ  جرم  و  سزا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

میکدے  میں  خدا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۲

میں  تو  بے  مہریوں  کا  عادی  ہوں

مجھ  سے  مہر  و  وفا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۳

شوقِ  بے  مدّعا  کا  مارا  ہوں

شوقِ  بے  مدّعا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۴

وہ  تو  مُدّت  ہوئی  کہ  ٹوٹ  گیا

میرے  دستِ  دعا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۵

جو  نہیں  اختیار  میں  میرے

اُس  بُتِ  بے  وفا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۶

عشق  کی  انتہا  کو  دیکھ  ذرا

عشق  کی  ابتدا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۷

کیا  ملا  فکر  کی  رسائی  سے

میری  فکر  رسا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۸

اس  کی  تقدیر  میں  خرابی  تھی

اِس  دِلِ  مُبتلا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

۹

جو  بھی  ہونا  تھا  ہو  گیا  شعلہؔ

کرمِ  ناخدا  کی  بات  نہ  کر

ख़ुदा की बात न कर – द्वारका दास शोला

१

देख जुर्म-ओ-सज़ा की बात न कर

मै-कदे में ख़ुदा की बात न कर

२

मैं तो बे-महरियों का आदी हूँ

मुझ से मेहर-ओ-वफ़ा की बात न कर

३

शौक़-ए बे-मुद्द’आ का मारा हूँ

शौक़-ए बे-मुद्द’आ की बात न कर

४

वो तो मुद्दत हुई के टूट गया

मेरे दस्त-ए दुआ की बात न कर

५

जो नहीं एख़्तियार में मेरे

उस बुत-ए बे-वफ़ा की बात न कर

६

इश्क़ की इंतेहा को देख ज़रा

इश्क़ की इब्तेदा की बात न कर

७

क्या मिला फ़िक्र की रसाई से

मेरी फ़िक्र-ए रसा की बात न कर

८

इस की तक़्दीर में ख़राबी थी

इस दिल-ए मुब्तला की बात न कर

९

जो भी होना था हो गया शोला

करम-ए नाख़ुदा की बात न कर

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli. He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him. He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942. He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business. While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar. Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad. He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled and talked in panjabi.

dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli.  He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him.  He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942.  He received formal schooling only up to 8th grade because his father recruited him in the family business.  While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar.  Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad.  He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled and talked in panjabi.

1.sin and punishment 2.tavern

The tavern is symbolic of a place where free thinkers escape to get away from orthodoxy.  Probably the preacher has shown up and is moralizing.  The poet/reveler protests … don’t talk to me about sin and punishment; don’t talk to me about god in the tavern.

1.unkindness 2.used to 3.kindness, generosity 4.faith

The poet claims to be accustomed to unkindness.  Perhaps the implication is that fate (or the world) has been unkind to him and he is used to it.  Don’t talk to me about generosity and benevolence (of god) and faith in (his) unbound kindness.

1.desire 2.without fulfillment 3.love 4.without selfish motive

It is interesting that the words ‘shauq’ and ‘muddu’aa’ are (legitimately) used to convey different meanings in the two misra.  The poet/lover has already suffered from unfulfilled desires (perhaps unrequited love, indifference of the beloved).  Do not talk to me about selfless love (this is what preachers do often).

1.long time 2.hand

‘dast-e dua’ is hand raised in prayer.  It has been a long time since my hand has been broken (perhaps because of disappointments and unanswered prayers).  Thus, he is disillusioned with prayer.  Don’t talk to me about raising my hands in prayer.

1.control 2.idol, beloved 3.unfaithful

In poetic convention, the beloved is always unfaithful.  He says, that which is not in my control, do not talk to me about that unfaithful beloved.

1.end, result, conclusion 2.beginning

The beginning of love (ishq ki ibteda), is often romanticized, but the speaker, having experienced its painful depths, implies that love’s conclusion is far more painful.  Don’t talk to me about the beginning of love, look at its conclusion

1.reason, wisdom 2.reach

The poet/seeker has gone through in-depth thinking and reasoning and not achieved anything i.e., not come up with any answers.  Do not talk to me about my far-reaching reason/intellect.

1.fate 2.defect 3.afflicted

The poet/lover’s afflicted heart (dil-e mubtalaa) was destined for ruin (taqdiir meN Kharaabi thi). There’s no point in discussing it because its fate was already sealed.

1.pen-name of the poet 2.kindness, mercy 3.captain of the boat, god

It is interesting that ‘na-Khuda’ is used to imply ‘Khuda’.  Also, this she’r is sarcastic about destiny/god’s will.  O sho’la whatever was meant to happen has already occurred (jo bhi hona tha ho gaya).  The implication is that there was devastating storm and his boat drowned.  Don’t talk to me about the mercy of the captain/god.

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