S. R. Faruqi:

(1) Farhad should have paused and delayed before putting his hand to the axe.
He should first have released his hand crushed under the rock.

['For the hand to be under a rock is a phrase translated from the Persian and quite popular in Urdu to signify an insoluble difficulty or problem, something inherent in the situation and not created by the protagonist.]

(2) Remember that if the fiery beautiful one ever became enraged for any reason
the sun wouldn't find the time even to organize his sword and orb.

(3) This head of mine has been the ball in the polo field of love
from the days when you first played in the streets with soft balls.

(4) The mountain cutter Farhad had no choice but to strike his head against the stone.
What other means were there to remove from his breast so heavy a rock as Khusrau?

(5) Mir, had she hugged me even once,
the wound in my breast would not have pierced and bored into my chest for years.

 

FWP:

(inspired by SRF's translation)

(1) If only Farhad had paused before putting his hand to the axe--
If only he had withdrawn his 'hand under a stone'!

(2) If her fieriness would blaze up, then I tell you,
The sun would be left fumbling for his sword and shield.

(3) This head of mine has been a ball in the playing-field of passion
Since the days when you roamed around, playing with balls.

(4) Kohkan couldn't help bursting open his head--
How could he have staved off a 'stone on the breast' like Khusrau?

(5) If once she had held me to her breast, Mir
For years this chest-wound would not have caused me pain.

 

Zahra Sabri:

Zahra Sabri is a special guest translator for this site.

(1) Farhad should have paused a bit before grasping the adze
He should at least have freed his hand trapped ‘under the stone’

(2) If that bold and bright one ever lost her temper, then mark my words:
The sun would be left struggling to hold on to its sword and shield

(3) This head has been a ball in the playing field of love, right from the days
When you roamed about in play, tossing balls in the air

(4) Farhad could not but split his head open
Through what means could he have turned aside a rock on his chest like Khusrau?

(5) If she had held us close against her heart just once, Mir
This wound in our heart would not have pierced us for years

 

Tahira Naqvi:

Tahira Naqvi is a guest translator for this site.

(1) Farhad should have waited before picking up the axe
He should have at least removed his hand from under the stone

(2) When that beauteous one was angered, look how
The sun was left scrambling to secure its sword and shield

(3) This head has been a ball in the playing field of passion
Since the days when you roamed around tossing a ball

(4) The stone-cutter (Farhad) could not have avoided cracking his head open
How could he have otherwise turned aside a stony-chested person like Khusrau

(5) If she had held me to her breast once Mir
For years this wound in my chest would not have caused such piercing pain