Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai Lyrics Translation and Explanation

 

Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai: Poetic Translation of Anarkali Oldie

Meta Description:  Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai is a Golden Oldie from the 1953 film Anarkali. The inputs are from Lata, C Ramchandra, and Rajendra Krishan. Enjoy the poetic translation.


Setting the Background for Translating Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai


The film Anarkali is based on the timeless and tragic love story of Prince Salim and the court dancer Anarkali. Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai unfolds in two deeply contrasting movements, together tracing the arc of their love from ecstatic romance to heartbreaking sacrifice.


In the first part, the song celebrates the intoxicating bliss of love. Anarkali sings with complete surrender, expressing the belief that life has meaning only when it is lived for one’s beloved. But their happiness is shattered by the intervention of Akbar, the Mughal ruler and Salim’s father. Viewing Anarkali as unworthy of becoming the future queen, Akbar forbids their marriage. When Salim rebels and is ultimately defeated, the emperor sentences Anarkali to a cruel death: she is to be entombed alive within a brick chamber.


The second part of the song is among the most haunting sequences in Indian cinema. As the walls close around her, brick by brick, Anarkali continues to sing, this time of paying the ultimate price. The song becomes a poignant farewell to both her lover and her life.


The Poetic English Translation of the Lyrics of Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai

 

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

Youthful spring, this ambience is kindling love’s fire

Let your heart pine in pain and yearn for a lover’s desire

Youthful spring, this ambience is kindling love’s fire

Let your heart pine in pain and yearn for a lover’s desire

Life is known to be faithless

Life is known to be faithless, while you can enjoy it all

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

If your heart pulsates so what do not count the heartbeats

If your heart pulsates so what do not count the heartbeats

This leisure will not return nor these romantic treats 

So dive deep in love’s embrace

So dive deep in love’s embrace when your inner voice does call

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

The hearts that could not meet here, will in heaven surely unite

The hearts that could not meet here, will in heaven surely unite

The flowers of desire will bloom in death’s dark endless night

If you give up this life for love

If you give up this life for love that sacrifice is best of all

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

The candle on my tombstone narrates my saga of pain

The candle on my tombstone narrates my saga of pain

Even in autumn’s decay I will blossom once again

This is not a mausoleum;

This is not a mausoleum; it is love’s eternal hall

This life belongs to those who dare to heed a lover’s call

Then for love they squander all

This life belongs to those who dare

 

The evening of my life come

The evening of my life come let me take you in embrace

Let me immerse myself in you and shut the world from my gaze

Just one parting glance my love, then farewell to one and all

Then farewell

Then farewell

Then farewell

Then farewell

 

The Original Hindi Lyrics of Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai from Anarkali

 

yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
yeh zindagi usi ki hai ...

 

yeh bahaar yeh samaa keh rahaa hai pyaar kar
kisiki aarzoo mein apne dil ko beqarar kar
yeh bahaar yeh samaa keh rahaa hai pyaar kar
kisiki aarzoo mein apne dil ko beqarar kar
zindagi hai bewafa
zindagi hai bewafa loot pyaar ka mazaa
yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
yeh zindagi usi ki hai ...

 

dhadak rahaa hai dil to kya dil ki dhadkane na gin
dhadak rahaa hai dil to kya dil ki dhadkane na gin
phir kahaan yeh phursatein phir kahaan yeh raat din
aa rahi hai yeh sada
aa rahi hai yeh sada mastiyon mein doob jaa
yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
yeh zindagi usi ki hain ...

 

yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
yeh zindagi usi ki hain ...

 

jo dil yahaan na mil sake, milenge us jahaan mein
jo dil yahaan na mil sake, milenge us jahaan mein
khilenge hasaraton ke phool, maut ke aasman mein
ye zindagi chali gai
ye zindagi chali gai jo pyaar mein to kya hua
yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
ye zindagi usi ki hai

 

sunaa rahi hai daastan, shamaa mere mazaar ki
sunaa rahi hai daastan, shamaa mere mazaar ki
fizaa mein bhi khil rahi, ye kali anaar ki
ise mazaar mata kaho
ise mazaar mata kaho, ye mahal hai pyaar ka
yeh zindagi usi ki hai jo kisi ka ho gaya
pyaar hi mein kho gaya
ye zindagi usi ki hai

 

ai zindagi ki shaam aa
ai zindagi ki shaam aa, tujhe gale lagaaun main
tujhi mein doob jaaun main, jahaan ko bhool jaaun main
bas ek nazar mere sanam, alvidaa, alvidaa
alvidaa ...
alvidaa ...
alvidaa ...
alvidaa ...

 

The Meanings of Difficult Urdu Words

 

Bahaar = The season of spring

Samaa = Ambience

Aarzoo = Desire

Beqarar = Uneasy

Bewafa = Unfaithful

Phursatein = Periods of leisure

Sadaa = Calling

Hasaraton = Desires

Shamaa = Flame

Mazaar = Grave

Fizaa = Autumn (here: as opposite of spring)

Alvidaa = Farewell

 

 

The Literal English Translation of the Lyrics of Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai

 

This life belongs to that person who has bonded with someone

Has become lost in love

 

This spring this mood keeps saying that be in love

Let your heart be uneasy in someone’s desire

Life is unfaithful so splurge the joy of love

 

If your heart is pulsating so what do not count the heartbeats

This leisure will never return nor will these days and nights 

The voice proclaims that immerse yourself in pleasures

 

The hearts that could not meet here, will meet in the other world

The flowers of desire will bloom in the sky of death

So what if this life is lost for love

 

The saga is narrating the flame lit at my grave

Even in autumn this pomegranate bud is blossoming

Don’t call it a grave this is a palace of love

Come the evening of my life I would like to embrace you

Let me immerse myself in you and forget the world

Just one glance my love then good bye forever

 

Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai Fact Sheet

·       Movie: Anarkali
·       Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
·       Lyricist: Rajendra Krishan
·       Composer: C Ramchandra
·       On Screen: Bina Rai & Pradeep Kumar
·       Producer: Filmistan Ltd.
 
Enjoy the video of Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai.  I have other Lata Mangeshkar Golden Oldie solos at Bollywood Translations with more in the pipeline.
 
·       Khuda-E-Bartar (Taj Mahal)
·       Lag Jaa Gale (Who Kaun Thi)
·       Mohe Bhool Gaye Sawariya (Baiju Bawra)
·       Mora Gora Ang Lai Le (Bandini)
 
 
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All the translations are my original work. If you quote them, you must acknowledge my name and provide a link to Bollywood Translations.

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