Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. ganesh bihari srivastav tarz (1928-2008). There are conflicting records about the date of birth, but 1928 appears more credible. BA LLB from lucknow. He worked in various legal and administrative positions. Started composing around 1949. Brother of kishan bihari noor. Lived in mumbaii and composed lyrics for the film industry. This is in the same zamin as shakeel badayuni’s famous Ghazal ‘mujhe dost ban ke daGha na de’. There are others in the same radeef all linked to an icon on the Refrain page.
1
mujhe de ke mai¹ mere saaqia, meri tishnagi² ko hava na de³
meri pyaas par bhi tu kar nazar, mujhe mai-kashi⁴ ki saza⁵ na de   1.wine 2.thirst 3.have dena is an expression meaning – increase, fan the flames 4.drunken-ness, addiction 5.punishment
Normally poet/lovers/wine-lovers keep asking for more and more wine. ‘pyaas pe nazar karna’, can mean – look carefully at my thirst, consider its nature, the implication being it is not asking for more wine, but more of your gaze. Thus, O saaqia, do not give me any more wine and fan the flames of my addiction. Don’t punish me with drunken-ness but consider the nature of my thirst. I am thirsty for your gaze.
2
mera saath aye mere hamsafar¹, nahiN chaahta hai to jaa na de
magar is tarah² sar-e-rahguzar³, mujhe har qadam⁴ pe sada⁵ na de    1.fellow traveler, friend 2.similar to, like 3.side of the path 4.step 5.call
O friend, if you don’t want to be with me, then by all means, go your own way. But do not call me like this at every step from the side of the pathway. It seems like he asserts that he wants to go his own way. I cannot figure out what this might mean beyond its literal translation.
3
mera Gham¹ na kar mere chaaragar², teri chaara-juui³ baja⁴ magar⁵
mera dard⁶ hai meri zindagi, mujhe dard-e dil ki dava na de    1.used here to mean-don’t be sorry for me 2.healer 3.search for a cure 4.appropriate, justified 5.but 6.pain, afflication
The poet/lover values his pain/afflication of love. Thus, O healer, don’t feel sorry for me. Your search for a cure for me is justified but this afflication is the purpose of my life. Do not give me any cures for it.
4
tere paa¹-e naaz² pe sar mera, mere sar pe baar³-e gunaah⁴ hai
jo tere mizaaj⁵ meN aaye kar, ye na kar keh mujh ko saza⁶ na de   1.feet 2.used here to mean – place of making an offering, altar 3.burden 4.sin 5.inclination, wish 6.punishment
The poet/lover/devotee craves attention from the the beloved in whatever form – favour or punishment. This seems to be addressed to the divine beloved in the spirit of sufism. My head is bowed at your feet, the altar of my worship. It is burdened with sin. Judge me in whatever way you wish, but do not ignore me.
5
maiN vahaaN huN ab mere naaseha¹, keh jahaaN Khushi ka guzar² nahiN
mera Gham hadoN³ se guzar² gaya, mujhe ab Khushi ki dua na de    1.sermonizer, preacher 2.passed 3.limits
He seems to be saying that he is beyond redemption now. O preacher, I am at a place where happiness/joy does not pass/come. My pain/sorrow has passed beyond limits. Do not pray for my happiness.
6
vo giraa’eN shauq¹ se bijliyaaN, ye sitam² karam³ hai sitam nahiN
keh vo tarz⁴-e barq⁵-e jafa⁶ nahiN, jo chamak keh noor⁷-e vafa⁸ na de   1.with pleasure 2.tyranny 3.kindness, favour 4.pen-name of the poet, also means style, method 5.lightning 6.cruelty 7.brilliance 8.fidelity, keeping promise
She can throw lightning bolts at me with pleasure. That which might normally be considered tyranny, is not tyranny, it is an act of kindness. That which carries with it the brilliance of the light of promise, is not the style of lightning strike of cruelty i.e., the beloved’s cruelties really mean that she is paying attention and means to keep her promise.