For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
جواں ہے ساقی ۔ اَسرار الحق مجازؔ
۱
یہ جہاں بارگہ رطلِ گراں ہے ساقی
اک جہنم مرے سینے میں تپاں ہے ساقی
۲
جس نے برباد کیا مائلِ فریاد کیا
وہ محبت ابھی اِس دل میں جواں ہے ساقی
۳
ایک دن آدم و حوّا بھی کیے تھے پیدا
وہ اُخوّت تری محفل میں کہاں ہے ساقی
۴
ہر چمن دامنِ گل رنگ ہے خونِ دل سے
ہر طرف شیون و فریاد و فغاں ہے ساقی
۵
ماہ و انجم مرے اشکوں سے گہر تاب ہوئے
کہکشاں نور کی ایک جوئے رواں ہے ساقی
۶
حسن ہی حسن ہے جس سمت بھی اُٹھتی ہے نظر
کتنا پر کیف یہ منظر یہ سماں ہے ساقی
۷
زمزمہ ساز کا پائل کی چھناکے کی طرح
بہتر از شورشِ ناقوس و اذاں ہے ساقی
۸
میرے ہر لفظ میں بیتاب مرا شورِ دروں
میری ہر سانس محبت کا دھواں ہے ساقی
जवाँ है साक़ी – अस्रार-उल-हक़ मजाज़
१
ये जहाँ बारगह-ए रत्ल-ए गिराँ है साक़ी
एक जहन्नम मेरे सीने में तपाँ है साक़ी
२
जिस ने बर्बाद किया मा’एल-ए फ़र्याद किया
वो मोहब्बत अभी इस दिल में जवाँ है साक़ी
३
एक दिन आदम ओ हव्वा भी किए थे पैदा
वो उख़ुव्वत तेरी महफ़िल में कहाँ है साक़ी
४
हर चमन दामन-ए गुल-रंग है ख़ून-ए दिल से
हर तरफ़ शेवन-ओ-फ़र्याद-ओ-फ़ुग़ाँ है साक़ी
५
माह ओ अंजुम मेरे अश्कों से गुहर-ताब हुए
कहकशाँ नूर की एक जू-ए रवाँ है साक़ी
६
हुस्न ही हुस्न है जिस सम्त भी उठती है नज़र
कितना पुर-कैफ़ ये मंज़र ये समाँ है साक़ी
७
ज़मज़मा साज़ का पायल की छनाके की तरह
बेहतर-अज़-शोरिश-ए नाक़ूस-ओ-अज़ाँ है साक़ी
८
मेरे हर लफ़्ज़ में बेताब मेरा शोर-ए दरूँ
मेरी हर साँस मोहब्बत का धुआँ है साक़ी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This Ghazal is linked to ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index.
1
ye jahaaN1 baargah2-e ratl-e-giraaN3 hai saaqi
ek jahannam4 mer’e siine meN tapaaN5 hai saaqi 1.world, life 2.(royal) court 3.large flask/barrell (of wine) 4.hell, fire 5.burning, restless
Here ratl-e giraaN is used not just as symbolism for a surfeit of wine but of many material attractions of this world. The poet/traveler through this world is caught up in these many attractions and his heart burns with desire as if there is hell-fire in his heart.
2
jis ne barbaad1 kiyaa maa’el2-e faryaad3 kiyaa
vo mohabbat abhii iss dil meN javaaN4 hai saaqi 1.ruined 2.inclined towards 3.appeal, supplication 4.strong, vigorous
The same love that had ruined the poet/lover is still strong is his heart i.e., the chances of his further ruination are strong. What ‘love’ is the poet talking about … it could be the love of wine, which literally was and was the cause of his sorrowful and premature death. It could also be his love of poetry, romantic love, mystic love. We are left to choose.
3
ek din aadam1 o havvaa2 bhii kiye the paidaa3
vo uKhuvvat4 teri mahfil5 meN kahaaN hai saaqi 1.Adam 2.Eve 3.created 4.brotherhood, equality 5.gathering
Here aadam o havva are used not to signfiy Adam and Eve as individuals but as representing the human species … humanity. There was a time that all humanity was one, where is that equality now, in your assembly, O saaqi.
4
har chaman daaman1-e gul-raNg2 hai Khuun-e dil se
har taraf3 shevan4-o-faryaad5-o-fuGhaaN6 hai saaqi 1.hem of the garment, field, yard 2.rose colour, red 3.direction 4.mourning 5.lamentation 6.wailing
Every garden is like a field coloured red with the blood of the heart i.e., there is pain and suffering all around. Even blossoming roses are like bleeding hearts to the poet. In every direction there is mourning, lamentation and wailing O, saaqi.
5
maah1 o anjum2 mer’e ashkoN3 se guhar-taab4 hue
kahkashaaN5 nuur6 kii ek juu7-e ravaaN8 hai saaqi 1.moon 2.stars 3.tears 4.bright pearls 5.milky way, constellation 6.light 7.river 8.flowing
The poet is sorrow and sheds tears that shine. The moon and stars are like shiny pearls because of the brilliance of his tears. The constellation is a flowing river of light because of his sorrow. The poet asserts the primacy of human suffering even as the universe appears brilliant and beautiful.
6
husn1 hii husn hai jis samt2 bhii uThtii hai nazar3
kitnaa pur-kaif4 ye manzar5 ye samaaN6 hai saaqi 1.beauty 2.direction 3.eyes 4.full of exhilaration, intoxicating 5.sight 6.scene
It is beauty, nothing but beauty, whichever direction you raise your eyes. How intoxicating/exhilarating are the sights and scenes around, O saaqi. Is there an implication that this beauty hides suffering on earth? Or is this pointing out injustice and cruelty of fate … beauty all around but suffering on earth.
7
zamzama1 saaz2 kaa paa’el3 kii chhanaake4 kii tarah
behtar5-az6-shorish7-e naaquus8-o-azaaN9 hai saaqi 1.soothing music 2.musical instrument, harp 3.ankle bells 4.tinkling 5.better 6.than 7.sound, noise 8.conch shell, temple call 9.islamic call to prayer
The soothing music of the harp, like the tinkling of ankle bells is better than the noise of the conch shell or of the azaan – a clear rejection of orthodoxy.
8
mere har lafz1 meN betaab2 meraa shor3-e daruuN4
merii har saaNs mohabbat kaa dhuaaN hai saaqi 1.word 2.restless, trembling 3.noise, tumult 4.inner
Every word of the poet trembles with the inner tumult of his passion. Every breath is the smoke of the fire of love in his heart.
asrar-ul haq majaz (1911-1955) was progressive as well as romantic poet, a heartthrob. He received his BA from aligaRh after interruptions in earlier schooling. He developed close relationships with progressives and was a major force in the Progressive Writers’ Association. He lived in aligaRh, dehli and lucknow working for radio stations, editing magazines on and off but with no steady income. He met with a rather tragic end at the young age of 44. This Ghazal is linked to ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index.
1
ye jahaaN1 baargah2-e ratl-e-giraaN3 hai saaqi
ek jahannam4 mer’e siine meN tapaaN5 hai saaqi
1.world, life 2.(royal) court 3.large flask/barrell (of wine) 4.hell, fire 5.burning, restless
Here ratl-e giraaN is used not just as symbolism for a surfeit of wine but of many material attractions of this world. The poet/traveler through this world is caught up in these many attractions and his heart burns with desire as if there is hell-fire in his heart.
2
jis ne barbaad1 kiyaa maa’el2-e faryaad3 kiyaa
vo mohabbat abhii iss dil meN javaaN4 hai saaqi
1.ruined 2.inclined towards 3.appeal, supplication 4.strong, vigorous
The same love that had ruined the poet/lover is still strong is his heart i.e., the chances of his further ruination are strong. What ‘love’ is the poet talking about … it could be the love of wine, which literally was and was the cause of his sorrowful and premature death. It could also be his love of poetry, romantic love, mystic love. We are left to choose.
3
ek din aadam1 o havvaa2 bhii kiye the paidaa3
vo uKhuvvat4 teri mahfil5 meN kahaaN hai saaqi
1.Adam 2.Eve 3.created 4.brotherhood, equality 5.gathering
Here aadam o havva are used not to signfiy Adam and Eve as individuals but as representing the human species … humanity. There was a time that all humanity was one, where is that equality now, in your assembly, O saaqi.
4
har chaman daaman1-e gul-raNg2 hai Khuun-e dil se
har taraf3 shevan4-o-faryaad5-o-fuGhaaN6 hai saaqi
1.hem of the garment, field, yard 2.rose colour, red 3.direction 4.mourning 5.lamentation 6.wailing
Every garden is like a field coloured red with the blood of the heart i.e., there is pain and suffering all around. Even blossoming roses are like bleeding hearts to the poet. In every direction there is mourning, lamentation and wailing O, saaqi.
5
maah1 o anjum2 mer’e ashkoN3 se guhar-taab4 hue
kahkashaaN5 nuur6 kii ek juu7-e ravaaN8 hai saaqi
1.moon 2.stars 3.tears 4.bright pearls 5.milky way, constellation 6.light 7.river 8.flowing
The poet is sorrow and sheds tears that shine. The moon and stars are like shiny pearls because of the brilliance of his tears. The constellation is a flowing river of light because of his sorrow. The poet asserts the primacy of human suffering even as the universe appears brilliant and beautiful.
6
husn1 hii husn hai jis samt2 bhii uThtii hai nazar3
kitnaa pur-kaif4 ye manzar5 ye samaaN6 hai saaqi
1.beauty 2.direction 3.eyes 4.full of exhilaration, intoxicating 5.sight 6.scene
It is beauty, nothing but beauty, whichever direction you raise your eyes. How intoxicating/exhilarating are the sights and scenes around, O saaqi. Is there an implication that this beauty hides suffering on earth? Or is this pointing out injustice and cruelty of fate … beauty all around but suffering on earth.
7
zamzama1 saaz2 kaa paa’el3 kii chhanaake4 kii tarah
behtar5-az6-shorish7-e naaquus8-o-azaaN9 hai saaqi
1.soothing music 2.musical instrument, harp 3.ankle bells 4.tinkling 5.better 6.than 7.sound, noise 8.conch shell, temple call 9.islamic call to prayer
The soothing music of the harp, like the tinkling of ankle bells is better than the noise of the conch shell or of the azaan – a clear rejection of orthodoxy.
8
mere har lafz1 meN betaab2 meraa shor3-e daruuN4
merii har saaNs mohabbat kaa dhuaaN hai saaqi
1.word 2.restless, trembling 3.noise, tumult 4.inner
Every word of the poet trembles with the inner tumult of his passion. Every breath is the smoke of the fire of love in his heart.
