Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. dwarka das sho’la (1910-1983), lahore and later punjab and dehli. He started learning urdu because he liked ‘urdu-vaale’ around him. He inherited a pharmacy business and grew it enough to get a mention in Who’s Who, India Trade Directory, 1942. He received formal schooling only up to 8^th grade because his father recruited him in the family business. While washing bottles/vials he kept humming ash’aar. Later, hafiz jalandhari became his ustaad. He says they clicked because hafiz jaalandhari was equally unschooled and talked in panjabi.
1
dekh jurm-o-saza¹ ki baat na kar
maikade² meN Khuda ki baat na kar 1.sin and punishment 2.tavern
The tavern is symbolic of a place where free thinkers escape to get away from orthodoxy. Probably the preacher has shown up and is moralizing. The poet/reveler protests … don’t talk to me about sin and punishment; don’t talk to me about god in the tavern.
2
maiN to be-mehriyoN¹ ka aa’di² huN
mujh se mehr³-o-vafa⁴ ki baat na kar    1.unkindness 2.used to 3.kindness, generosity 4.faith
The poet claims to be accustomed to unkindness. Perhaps the implication is that fate (or the world) has been unkind to him and he is used to it. Don’t talk to me about generosity and benevolence (of god) and faith in (his) unbound kindness.
3
shauq¹-e be-muddu’aa² ka maara huuN
shauq³-e be-muddu’aa⁴ ki baat na kar    1.desire 2.without fulfillment 3.love 4.without selfish motive
It is interesting that the words ‘shauq’ and ‘muddu’aa’ are (legitimately) used to convey different meanings in the two misra. The poet/lover has already suffered from unfulfilled desires (perhaps unrequited love, indifference of the beloved). Do not talk to me about selfless love (this is what preachers do often).
4
voh to muddat¹ hui keh TuuT gaya
mere dast²-e dua ki baat na kar    1.long time 2.hand
‘dast-e dua’ is hand raised in prayer. It has been a long time since my hand has been broken (perhaps because of disappointments and unanswered prayers). Thus, he is disillusioned with prayer. Don’t talk to me about raising my hands in prayer.
5
jo nahiiN eKhtiyaar¹ meN mere
uss but²-e bevafaa³ ki baat na kar    1.control 2.idol, beloved 3.unfaithful
In poetic convention, the beloved is always unfaithful. He says, that which is not in my control, do not talk to me about that unfaithful beloved.
6
ishq ki intehaa¹ ko dekh zaraa
ishq ki ibtedaa² ki baat na kar    1.end, result, conclusion 2.beginning
The beginning of love (ishq ki ibteda), is often romanticized, but the speaker, having experienced its painful depths, implies that love’s conclusion is far more painful. Don’t talk to me about the beginning of love, look at its conclusion
7
kya mila fikr¹ ki rasaaii² se
meri fikr-e rasa ki baat na kar    1.reason, wisdom 2.reach
The poet/seeker has gone through in-depth thinking and reasoning and not achieved anything i.e., not come up with any answers. Do not talk to me about my far-reaching reason/intellect.
8
iss ki taqdiir¹ meN Kharaabi² thi
iss dil-e mubtalaa³ ki baat na kar    1.fate 2.defect 3.afflicted
The poet/lover’s afflicted heart (dil-e mubtalaa) was destined for ruin (taqdiir meN Kharaabi thi). There’s no point in discussing it because its fate was already sealed.
9
jo bhi hona tha ho gaya sho’la¹
karam²-e naaKhuda³ ki baat na kar    1.pen-name of the poet 2.kindness, mercy 3.captain of the boat, god
It is interesting that ‘na-Khuda’ is used to imply ‘Khuda’. Also, this she’r is sarcastic about destiny/god’s will. O sho’la whatever was meant to happen has already occurred (jo bhi hona tha ho gaya). The implication is that there was devastating storm and his boat drowned. Don’t talk to me about the mercy of the captain/god.