Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. amir minaaii (1829-1900) was contemporary of daaGh dehlavi and much like him received patronage in rampur and later in hyderabad, where he died and is buried. This is a part of a series of post with the radeef “paida kar”. The rest of the series can be accessed under “radeef-refrain” on the index bar, linked to an icon with the same name.
1
tiir khaane ki havas¹ hai to jigar² paida kar
sar-faroshi³ ki tamanna⁴ hai to sar paida kar    1.intense desire, longing 2.live, in urdu poetry liver is considered the seat of fortitude 3.offering head in defiance or sacrifice 4.desire
‘tiir’ is the arrow/glance of the beloved. If you have a longing for this arrow, develop the fortitude to bear it. If you are ready to offer your head (tribute to the beloved or defiance against injustice) then develop the courage to do it.
2
kohkan¹ kohkani sheva²-e ushshaaq³ nahiN
hai jo aashiq dil-e m’aashooq⁴ meN ghar paida kar     1.stone mason, farhaad 2.character, habit 3.lovers 4.beloved
This has reference to the legend of shirin-farhaad. In order to win the hand of shirin, farhaad was set the task of making a river to milk flow through the mountain. He set about digging a channel with his pickaxe and almost succeeded. But the poet claims that is not the character of true lovers. Instead, they should try to make a place in the heart of the beloved.
3
raNg¹ chaahe agar is baaGh meN aazaadi ka
nik-hat²-e gul ki tarah shauq³-e safar⁴ paida kar     1.style, ability 2.fragrance 3.desire 4.journey
If you want to have the ability to be free in this garden/world, then develop the desire to travel/spread freely like the fragrance of a rose i.e. give what you have freeely and generously to the world.
4
qatra¹-e ashk² bane gauhar³-e gosh⁴-e jaanaaN
aabru⁵ itni tu aye diida⁶-e tar⁷ paida kar     1.drop 2.tear 3.pearl 4.ear 5.dignity 6.eye 7.moist
The poet/lover weeps in longing for union with the beloved. These are valuable tears. If you want these tears to become pearls for the ear of the beloved, then develop dignity in your moist eyes. Perhaps this means, do not shed tears. A lover is not supposed to risk maligning the name of the beloved.
5
uR chalega abhi aye yaar zara baal to khol
tujh ko ban-na hai parizaad¹ to par paida kar     1.of the same species as fairy/angel
If the beloved wants to become an angel, then she has to grow wings. The poet/lover suggests that all she has to do is loosen her hair. These, in his eyes are like an angel’s wings.
6
kaun si jaa¹ haiN jahaaN jalva²-e maa’shooq³ nahiN
shauq⁴-e diidaar⁵ agar hai to nazar⁶ paida kar     1.place 2.beauty, glory, manifestation 3.beloved, god 4.desire 5.sighting, seeing 6.eyes, ability to see/discern
This is about god. Where is it that you cannot find a manifestation of god. If you have a desire to see, then develop the ability to discern.
7
mere hi dil pe gire kaash¹ ye bijli ban kar
aye falak² aah³ meN itna hi asar⁴ paida kar     1.I wish 2.heavens, god, fate 3.sigh 4.effect
An oft-used image in urdu poetry is lightning striking the Khirman/harvest. The poet/lover sighs with sorrow and longing. He wishes/prays that this sigh also become effective just like gathering the harvest is effective in inviting a lightning strike.
8
xxxxx aaKhirat¹ meN amal²-e nek³ hi kaam aayeNge
pesh⁴ hai tujh ko safar⁵, zaad⁶-e safar⁵ paida kar
1.end, judgement on the day of judgement 2.actions 3.virtuous 4.before/ahead of you 5.journey (of life)
On the day of judgement, only virtuous deeds will count. You have the journey of life before you. Collect the necessities of the journey i.e. the necessities, bag and baggage of the journey are virtuous deeds.
9
ishq-e husn-e namkiin¹ ka jo uThaana hai maza
pahle kuchh zaa’eqa²-e zaKhm-e jigar³ paida kar     1.salty complexion, beauty 2.taste 3.liver/heart – fortitude
One of the standards of beauty of the beloved is characterised as ‘namkiin/salty’ complexion. Also there is an expression “zaKhm pe namak chhiRakna” – sprinkling salt on the wound which is used to mean increasing pain even more. Thus, if you want to taste the pleasure of ‘salty complexion – beauty’, then first develop the ability of the wounded heart to bear added pain with fortitude to withstand disappointment/rejection which is an essential test of true love.
10
apni gardish¹ pe bahut hai tujhe aye charKh² ghamanD
jab maiN jaanuN ke shab-e Gham ki sahar³ paida kar    1.turning, rotation 2.wheel, sky 3.dawn
The sky (which controls our fate) is unduely proud of its rotation (also means difficulties/sorrows – as in gardish meN aa gaya). But the poet/lover thinks nothing of the sky’s/fate’s ability to bring sorrow to him. He will be convinced of its power if it can bring dawn to this night of sorrow i.e. end the night of sorrow.
11
sadme¹ ulfat² ke uThaane haiN ilaahi mushkil
dil agar ek diya laakh jigar³ paida kar    1.sorrows, calamities 2.love 3.liver – seat of fortitude
O, god, it is very difficult to bear the calamities of love. If you have given one heart (which feels love) you should give a hundred thousand livers (fortitude), because it takes that much fortitude to bear all the sorrows visited on the heart in love.
12
ishq-baazi¹ ka agar hausla² rakhta hai amir³
dil jo lohe ka to patthar ka jigar paida kar       1.carrying on love/romance 2.courage, daring 3.pen name of poet
If you have the courage/daring to love, O, amir, then develop a heart of steel and a rock-like fortitude.