Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi Lyrics English Translation <ESSENTIAL>

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the night of the fourteenth moon) Shab bhar ki baat thi (And the conversation lasted all night long)

Woh shab bhar ki baat thi (That conversation that lasted all night) Jo kahu'n main to khwab si baat thi (If I were to speak of it, it was like a dream)

Woh mere samne baithe the (She was sitting right in front of me) Mere naseeb mein na tha (But she was not written in my destiny)

Woh mere samne baithe the (She was sitting right in front of me) Beparwah, bekhabar sitaare saare (Carefree, unaware, like the surrounding stars) Jaise kisi jazeere ki raat thi (As if it were a night on some isolated island)

Honth zara khule the uske (Her lips were slightly parted) Zulfein hawa mein udd rahi thin (Her tresses were flying in the breeze)

Honth zara khule the uske (Her lips were slightly parted) Aisa laga dhadak raha hai mera dil (It felt as if my heart was beating) Ki wahin rakh di gayi hai baat thi (Right there... as if the conversation had been placed)

Main karta kyaa jo dekhta unhen (What could I do? I was watching her) Bhaap sa ban ke aa'ti thi sans (My breath came like a vapor/fog)

Main karta kyaa jo dekhta unhen (What could I do when I watched her?) Palkon ko jab jhapte dekha maine (When I saw her eyelids flutter) Lagi sadiyon ki raat thi (It felt like a night lasting centuries)

Ab to yeh dil kehta hai (Now this heart says) Khwaab kyun tod diya zanhaar (Why did you break the dream, O cruel one?)

Ab to yeh dil kehta hai (Now this heart says) Woh the mere paas jo kahu'n to (She was with me... if I say it) Mere paas kya kya baat thi (How much I had... what a conversation it was)

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the night of the fourteenth moon) Shab bhar ki baat thi (And the conversation lasted all night long)

The night was the 14th—the moon was full, the sky was clear, and the heart was full of longing. For lovers of Urdu poetry and Bollywood classics, few lines evoke the bittersweet ache of unrequited love quite like "Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi." kal chaudhvin ki raat thi lyrics english translation

Originally penned by the renowned Pakistani poet Farhat Abbas Shah, this ghazal gained immortal fame through the silken, melancholic voice of Ghulam Ali. Over the decades, it has become a staple at night-long mushairas (poetry readings) and a benchmark for classical singing.

But for those who don't speak Urdu or Hindi, the magic of the words can feel just out of reach. This article provides a precise, line-by-line English translation of "Kal Chaudhvin Ki Raat Thi," along with an explanation of the cultural and emotional layers hidden within the verses.

Urdu: Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi, shab bhar raha charcha tera Translation: Last night was the night of the full moon; the entire night, there was discussion of you.

Urdu: Kuch ne kaha yeh chaand hai, kuch ne kaha chehra tera Translation: Some said, "This is the moon," while others said, "It is your face."

Interpretation: The poet sets the scene. He was in a gathering where the moon was so beautiful that people debated what they were seeing. Was it the celestial moon, or the shining face of the beloved? Even nature pays tribute to the beloved's beauty.

Verse 1

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi Shab bhar raha charcha tera

Last night was the fourteenth night (of the full moon), And all night long, there was talk only of you.

Kuch bolti rahi zaban-e-haal Kuch sunta raha zaban-e-khaam tera

My silent state kept speaking (of my condition), While your half-open lips kept listening.

Verse 2

Shola tha ke jal raha tha mahtaab Phaila hua paani tha mahtab tera

Was it a flame? The moonlight was burning bright, But your moonlight was like water, spreading everywhere.

Hawa ke zariye kisi ne puchha Zara dekh ke hal-e-dil-e-naashaad tera

Through the breeze, someone asked, “Look a little at the state of my sorrowful heart.”

Verse 3

Waqt-e-safha-e-jahan-e-khwaab mein Aksaariyat-e-aam tera

In the pages of the world of dreams, Your presence was in the majority (you were everywhere).

Woh shakhs jo mushkilon mein kaam aata nahi Woh khwaab tha aksar pareshan-khaam tera

That person who is of no help in times of trouble, That dream of yours was often anxious and unfulfilled.

Verse 4

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi Shab bhar raha charcha tera Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi (It was the

Last night was the fourteenth night, And all night long, there was talk only of you.

For reference, here are the standard lyrics as sung by Ghulam Ali:

Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi, shab bhar raha charcha tera Kuch ne kaha yeh chaand hai, kuch ne kaha chehra tera

Hum bhi wahan maujood the, hum se bhi sab poochha kiye Hum hans diye, hum chup rahe, andaaz tha kya kya tera

Kahta hai har zalim sitam, lekin bura kya hai sitam Humne sitam apne kiye, pahle jawab-e-sitam kiya

Wo dekh le apni wafa, ya dekh le haalat meri Kaun aaina dekhe, khud ko dekhkar jab dekhle

Dono ne kar rakha hai kya, ulfat ka maara kya kare Ya zehar de de ya dawaa, hum dam magar hai dam tera

Urdu: Wo dekh le apni wafa, ya dekh le haalat meri Translation: Let her look at her own loyalty, or let her look at my condition.

Urdu: Kaun aaina dekhe, khud ko dekhkar jab dekhe Translation: Who looks at a mirror, when they can just look at themselves (directly)?

Interpretation: This is a brilliant twist. The poet suggests that the beloved doesn't need an external mirror (or a third-party judge) to see who is right or wrong. She can either examine her own faithfulness or simply look at his miserable state. His pain is the ultimate reflection of her actions.

Roman: Kal chaudhvin ki raat thi, Shab bhar raha charcha tera Kuch ne kaha ye chaand hai, Kuch ne kaha chehra tera The night was the 14th—the moon was full,

English Translation: Last night was the night of the full moon, All night long, there was a discussion about you. Some said, "This is the moon," Others said, "No, this is your face."

Explanation: The poet describes the ambiance. On a bright full-moon night, everyone is confused. The moonlight is so beautiful that people argue about whether it is the celestial moon or the face of the beloved.