Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mohammed rafi sauda (1713-1781) wrote faarsi and urdu, romantic and sufiyaana Ghazal in classical style. Contemporary (somewhat senior) of mir taqi mir. sauda, along with mir taqi mir was a strong proponent of communal harmony. They made much fun of orthodoxy.
1
dil mat Tapak¹ nazar² se ke paaya na jaayega
juuN³ ashk⁴ phir zamiN se uThaya na jaayega   1.drip 2.sight, eyes 3.like, similar to 4.tears
O, heart do not drip/drop/disappear from the eyes (of the beloved), keep your dignity in her eyes, otherwise you will never be found. Just like tear drops cannot be picked back up from the soil. An alternative interpretation may be, O heart, do not disappear from my watchful eye i.e. do not let the beloved capture you, otherwise you will never be found.
2
ruKhsat¹ hai baGhbaaN ki tanik² dekh leN chaman
jaate haiN vaaN jahaaN se phir aaya na jaayega   1.used in the sense of “permission” 2.just, only
The gardener (god) has given us permission. Let us just (at least) see the garden (world). We (soon) have to go from where we will not be able to return.
3
kaaba Daha¹ to Gham na kar aye shaiKh-e but-shikan²
dil barhaman ka hai ke banaaya na jaayega   1.broken, destroyed 2.idol breaking
O, idol breaking shaiKh, do not be sorry if the kaaba is broken (for it can be fixed), but if you break the heart of the brahman (hindu), that cannot be repaired. For a somewhat parallel she’r of jagan nath azad on the demolition of babri masjid …
abhi yeh sarzamiN Khaali nahiN hai nek bandauN se
abhi maujood haiN TooTe hue dil joRne vaale
4
aane se fauj-e-Khat¹ ke na ho dil ko muKhlisi²
baNdhua³ hai zulf⁴ ka ye chhuTaaya na jaayega   1.first wisp/line of hair on an adolescent boy’s face 2.sincerity, used here to mean love 3.tie 4.hair
It was quite customary and acceptable for poets to write about young adolescent boys in romantic terms. There are several such compositions of mir taqi mir also. The poet is cautioning himself about the appearance of “fauj-e Khat”, the line/wisp of hair that is likened to an army that can attack and conquer. He might fall in love. This will be tie that will be hard to undo.
5
pahuNcheNge us chaman meN na hum daad¹ ko kabhu
juuN² gul ye chaak³-e jeb⁴ silaaya na jaayega   1.compliments, appreciation 2.like, similar to 3.tear 4.collar, bosom
There are two possible interpretations. One of despair. We will never be able to get to the garden of the beloved seeking justice. We will never be able to sew back our bosom that is rent assunder. An alternative is one of rebelliousness. We will never go to that garden seeking compliments/recompense. Once torn a collar cannot be sewn back up. A torn collar is a sign of distress, loss of dignity (from begging for recompense). Just like a flower once it blossoms cannot be sewn back into a bud, a torn collar cannot be sewn back.
6
teGh¹-e jafa²-e yaar³ se dil sar na pheriyo
phir muNh vafa⁴ ko ham se dikhaaya na jaayega   1.sword 2.cruelty 3.beloved 4.steadfastness (in love)
muNh dikhaana is to maintain dignity/honour. Do not turn your head away from the sword of cruelty of the beloved, O, heart. Otherwise I will not be able to show my face (maintain my honor) before the tradition of steadfast love.
7
aavega vo chaman meN na aye abr¹ jab talak
paani guloN ke muNh meN chuvaaya² na jaayega   1.cloud 2.drip into
O, cloud, do not rain yet. It is no use. It will not be possible to drop water into the mouths of flowers, because they will not open their mouths (bloom) until she comes into the garden.
8
ammame¹ ko utaar ke paRhiyo namaz shaiKh
sajde² se varna sar ko uThaaya na jaayega   1.turban, headgear 2.prostration
Taking the turban off is metaphorically to accept humility. Accept humility before prayer of shaiKh, otherwise your head will be too heavy and you will not be able to lift it after prostration.
9
zaahid¹ gile² se mastoN³ ke baaz⁴ aane ka nahiN
ta⁵ mai-kade meN la ke chhakaaya⁶ na jaayega   1.observant, pious, preacher 2.complaints 3.drinkers 4.refrain from 5.until, unless 6.satiated, drunk
The preacher will not refrain from complaining about wine drinkers unless he is taken to the tavern and given enough wine to satiate him and get him drunk.
10
zaalim¹ na maiN kaha tha ke is KhuuN se darguzar²
sauda ka qatl hai ye chhupaaya na jaayega   1.cruel one 2.avoid, refrain from
The “zaalim” here is the beloved and she has been put on notice not to kill sauda off. After all, he is very famous and so she will not be able to hide his death.
11
daaman¹-o daaGh²-e teGh³ ko dhoya to kya hua
aalam⁴ ke dil se daaGh dhulaaya na jaayega   1.hem (of the skirt/robe) 2.stain 3.sword 4.world
In keeping with the warning, if sauda is killed, the whole world will be sorrowful. Their hearts will be wounded. What if you are able to wash off the hem of your robe or the stain from your sword. The wound of the heart of the world will be washed away.