Most translations available on lyrics websites read something like this:
"Cover the moon with a veil, or else I will cover myself. I swear on our love, please don't steal glances. Cover the moon with a veil..."
"Let it be, don't tease me, beloved. Don't look at me in the mirror, beloved. I'm feeling shy, what should I do? Stop, please stop."
"The moonlight is agonizing; this is a matter of heart. Either make the moon hazy, or let this night not end." chand se parda kijiye lyrics english translation better
What's wrong with this?
This is the section you are searching for. Below is a literal translation versus a better interpretive translation that an English speaker would feel.
The song "Chand Se Parda Kijiye" (चाँद से पर्दा कीजिए), famously sung by Noor Jehan and later reprised by Ghulam Ali, is a timeless ghazal that blends coy romance with celestial imagery. Literally meaning "Draw a Curtain from the Moon," the lyrics playfully suggest hiding one’s beauty from the moon itself, because the moon might feel jealous. "Cover the moon with a veil, or else I will cover myself
However, many existing English translations miss the lyrical grace, cultural nuance, and poetic wordplay. Here’s a better, more faithful translation that preserves the mood, metaphor, and melody.
| Word | Meaning | |------|---------| | चाँद (chand) | moon | | पर्दा (parda) | veil, curtain, cover | | कीजिए (kijiye) | do (polite/formal command) | | चाँदनी रात (chaandni raat) | moonlit night | | जुल्फें (zulfein) | curly tresses / locks of hair | | काली घटाएँ (kaali ghataayein) | dark clouds | | रुख़ (rukh) | face, aspect | | कमाल (kamaal) | perfection, wonder | | माहताब (mahtaab) | moonlight (Persian: mah + taab) |
Hindi:
Chand se parda kijiye Chaandni raat mein aayiye
Refined English Translation:
Veil yourself behind the moon, my love, And step into this moonlit night. What's wrong with this
Why this works better: Instead of a command, it becomes a romantic invitation. The "veil" suggests modesty, while "stepping into the night" suggests a secret rendezvous.