For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
جنونِ جنگ ہے ساقی ۔ بال مُکُند عرشؔ ملسیانی
۱
زمانے پر مُسلّط پھر جنونِ جنگ ہے ساقی
فساد انگیز پھر تمیزِ نسل و رنگ ہے ساقی
۲
سریرآرائے عالم وحشتیں ہیں بربریت کی
تنفُّر پھر جہاں میں صاحبِ اورنگ ہے ساقی
۳
کدورت کے لیے آسان ہے جینا تو کیا حاصل
محبت پر تو عرصہ زندگی کا تنگ ہے ساقی
۴
بِنائے حرب کے آلاتِ مہلک اور اُس پر بھی
خود اپنی بےبسی پر عقلِ انساں دنگ ہے ساقی
۵
محافظ کوئی ناموسِ بشر کا اب نہیں ملتا
دلوں سے دور یکسر فکرِ نام و ننگ ہے ساقی
۶
شرابِ عشق سے گو تُو نے صدیوں تک اِسے دھویا
دلِ آدم میں پھر بھی نفرتوں کا زنگ ہے ساقی
۷
کہاں ہے وہ طرب افزائیِ جامِ مئے گُلگُوں
نوائے دل نوائے غم سے ہم آہنگ ہے ساقی
۸
ربابِ دہر کے پُر درد نغمے ہم سنیں کب تک
کہاں تو ہے کہاں تیرا سُرُود و چنگ ہے ساقی
۹
نگاہِ لُطف تُو نے پھیر لی کیوں اپنے رِندوں سے
نہ وہ رونق ہے محفل کی نہ اب وہ رنگ ہے ساقی
۱۰
جہاں میں بادۂ نفرت کے پیہم دور چلتے ہیں
علاج دردِ آدم کا یہ اچھا ڈھنگ ہے ساقی
۱۱
ہر اک راحت اثر تعمیر ہے تخریب کا باعِث
ہر ایک شیشہ جہاں کے واسطے اک سنگ ہے ساقی
۱۲
یہ کِس نے چھین لی اُس سے ادائے شرمگیں اُس کی
عروسِ زندگی کیوں آج شوخ و شنگ ہے ساقی
۱۳
ترے جامِ اخُوّت ہی سے اب تسکین ممکن ہے
کہ راحت بخش زمزم ہے نہ آبِ گنگ ہے ساقی
۱۴
پلا دے پھر مئے اِخلاص اِس گمراہ دنیا کو
زمانے پر مُسلّط پھر جنونِ جنگ ہے
जुनून-ए जंग है साक़ी – बाल मुकुंद अर्श मल्सियानी
१
ज़माने पर मुसल्लत फिर जुनून-ए जंग है साक़ी
फ़साद-अंगेज़ फिर तमीज़-ए नस्ल ओ रंग है साक़ी
२
सरीर-आरा-ए आलम वहशतें हैं बर्बरियत की
तनफ़्फ़ुर फिर जहाँ में साहेब-ए औरंग है साक़ी
३
कदूरत के लिये आसान है जीना तो क्या हासिल
मोहब्बत पर तो अर्सा ज़िंदगी का तंग है साक़ी
४
बिना-ए हर्ब के आलात-ए मोहलिक और उस पर भी
ख़ुद अपनी बेबसी पर अक़्ल-ए इन्सां दंग है साक़ी
५
मोहफ़िज़ कोई नामूस-ए बशर का अब नहीं मिलता
दिलों से दूर यकसर फ़िक्र-ए नाम ओ नंग है साक़ी
६
शराब-ए इश्क़ से गो तू ने सदियों तक इसे धोया
दिल-ए आदम में फिर भी नफ़्रतों का ज़ंग है साक़ी
७
कहाँ है वो तरब अफ़्ज़ाई-ए जाम-ए मय-ए गुल्गूं
नवा-ए दिल नवा-ए ग़म से हम-आहंग है साक़ी
८
रबाब-ए दहर के पुर-दर्द नग़्मे हम सुनें कब तक
कहाँ तू है कहाँ तेरा सुरूद ओ चंग है साक़ी
९
निगाह-ए लुत्फ़ तू ने फेर ली क्यूं अपने रिंदों से
न वो रौनक़ है महफ़िल की न अब वो रंग है साक़ी
१०
जहाँ में बादा-ए नफ़्रत के पैहम दौर चलते हैं
इलाज-ए दर्द-ए आदम का ये अच्छा ढंग है साक़ी
११
हर एक राहत-असर ता’मीर है तख़्रीब का बा’इस
हर एक शीशा जहाँ के वास्ते एक संग है साक़ी
१२
ये किस ने छीन ली उस से अदा-ए शर्मगीं उसकी
अरूस-ए ज़िंदगी क्यूं आज शूख़-ओ-शंग है साक़ी
१३
तेरे जाम-ए उख़ुव्वत ही से अब तस्कीन मुमकिन है
के राहत-बख़्श ज़मज़म है न आब-ए गंग है साक़ी
१४
पिला दे फिर मय-ए इख़्लास इस गुमराह दुनिया को
ज़माने पर मुसल्लत फिर जुनून-ए जंग है साक़ी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. baalmukund arsh malsiaani (1908-1979), son of josh malsiaani, both renowned shu’ara of progresssive views, from malsiaan, punjab. They moved to dehli in the 1930s. arsh malsiaani was assistant editor of Govt of India urdu publication ‘aaj kal’ under josh malihabadi and took over as editor after josh left for pakistan. He wrote a book dedicated to Ghalib ‘faizaan-e Ghalib’ about his influence on his many shaagird. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index page and to jaNg na hon’e paa’e on the Theme Index page.
1
zamaane1 par musallat2 phir junoon3-e jaNg4 hai saaqi
fasaad-aNgez5 phir tamiiz6-e nasl-o-raNg7 hai saaqi 1.times, world 2.dominating, spread over 3.madness 4.war, conflict 5.riot/havoc-causing 6.difference, discrimination 7.race and colour/religion
This was probably written about the riots during partition (1947) but it is still applicable to the times (April-May 2025) when there is war likely between India and pakistan. The she’r laments the spread of warlike madness over the world. junoon-e jaNg (the frenzy of war) again dominates the times, and once more the world is aflame with divisive ideologies rooted in race and color/religion.
2
2
sariir-aaraa1-e aalam2 vahshateN3 haiN barbariyyat4 ki
tanaffur5 phir jahaaN6 meN saahib-e-auraNg7 hai saaqi 1.adornment of the throne 2.world 3.savagery 4.barbarism 5.hatred, disgust 6.world 7.owners of the throne/seat of power, ruler
Savage barbarism is the decoration of the throne sariir-aaraa of the world. Hatred is the ruler of the world (sahib-e auraNg) today.
3
kaduurat1 ke liye aasaan2 hai jiinaa3 to kya haasil4
mohabbat par to arsaa5 zindagi ka taNg6 hai saaqi 1.hatred 2.easy 3.living, life 4.benefit, use 5.time, domain 6.tight, narrow, restricted
Living for hatred is easy, but what does it accomplish? True love struggles to find room in the narrow space left by a life consumed with prejudice.
4
binaa1-e harb2 ke aalaat3-e mohlik4 aur uss par bhi
Khud apni bebasii5 par aql6-e insaaN daNg7 hai saaqi 1.foundation, basis 2.war, conflict 3.instruments 4.lethal 5.helplessness 6.intellect, mind 7.amazed, astounded
War and conflict is built on man-made lethal instruments of war and on top of it, humankind is helpless before its own violence. The poet is astounded that human intellect is unable to find a way out.
5
muhaafiz1 koi naamoos2-e bashar3 ka ab nahiiN milta
diloN se duur yaksar4 fikr5-e naam-o-naNg6 hai saaqi 1.protector 2.honour, dignity 3.human 4.entirely 5.concern about 6.reputation and disrepute
There is no one who will protect the honor of humanity. All concern about reputation has left hearts entirely. People are no longer concerned with their ethical or spiritual reputation (naam o naNg).
6
sharaab-e ishq se go1 tu ne sadiyoN2 tak ise dhoya
dil-e aadam3 meN phir bhi nafratoN4 ka zaNg5 hai saaqi 1.even though 2.centuries 3.Adam, human 4.hatred 5.rust
O saaqi, you have tried for centuries to cleanse the human heart with the wine of love (sharaab-e ishq), yet the rust of hatred remains deeply embedded.
7
kahaaN hai vo tarab-afzaa’ii1-e jaam2-e mai3-e gulguuN4
navaa5-e dil, navaa-e Gham se ham-aahaNg6 hai saaqi 1.pleasure increasing 2.cup 3.wine 4.rose coloured 5.sound, call 6.same melody/tune
Where is the cup or joy-increasing rose-coloured wine (wine of love). Now, even the song of the heart is in tune with the cry of sorrow.
8
rabaab1-e dahr2 ke pur-dard3 naGhme4 ham suneN kab tak
kahaaN tu hai kahaaN tera suruud5 o chaNg6 hai saaqi 1.lyre 2.world 3.full of pain 4.song 5.music 6.harp
How long must we listen to the painful songs played by the world’s lyre (rubaab-e dahr)? Where are you, O saaqi, with your music of joy, where is your harp/lute.
9
nigaah1-e lutf2 tuu ne pher3 lii kyuN apne rindoN4 se
na voh raunaq5 hai mahfil6 ki na ab voh raNg7 hai saaqi 1.glance 2.favour, indulgence, grace 3.turn away 4.wine lovers 5.glory 6.gathering 7.colour, ambience
O saaqi, you have turned away your glance of grace and kindness from wine-lovers who come to the tavern. Without your favour the gathering (mahfil) has lost all its glory and joyful ambience.
10
jahaaN1 meN baada2-e nafrat3 ke paiham4 daur5 chalte haiN
ilaaj6-e dard7-e aadam8 ka yeh achchha dhaNg9 hai saaqi 1.world 2.wine 3.hatred 4.again 5.rounds, circulation 6.cure, healing 7.pain 8.Adam, human 9.way, method
O saaqi the wine of hatred is being served and circulated continuously in this world. Is this really the best way to heal the wounds of mankind?
11
har ek raahat-asar1 taamiir2 hai taKhriib3 ka baa’is4
har ek shiisha5 jahaaN6 ke vaaste7 ek saNg8 hai saaqi 1.joy giving, prescription for comfort 2.constructive endeavour 3.destruction 4.basis 5.glass, crystal, beauty, delicacy 6.world 7.for 8.rock
Every endeavour/undertaking meant to have the effect of comfort/joy has become the basis/cause of destruction. Even delicate crystal has become a rock to be cast at the other.
12
ye kis ne chhiin1 lii uss se adaa2-e sharmgiiN3 uss ki
aruus4-e zindagi kyuN aaj shooKh-o-shaNg5 hai saaqi 1.snatched away 2.style 3.shy, bashful 4.bride 5.happy and playful-see not below
Normally shooKh-o-shaNg may be used in the positive sense of playfulness of the beloved, but here it is being used as overly bold and garish. Who has robbed life (aruus-e zindagi, the bride of life) of her bashful grace? Now she seems garish and overly bold. A critique of life’s brazenness; loss of subtlety.
13
tere jaam1-e uKhuvvat2 hi se ab taskiin3 mumkin4 hai
keh raahat-baKhsh5 zamzam6 hai na aab-e-gaNg7 hai saaqi 1.cup of wine 2.brotherhood, universal love 3.peace, tranquility 4.possible 5.comfort granting 6.water of the well near k’aaba 7.water of the Ganges
Only your cup of wine of universal love (brotherhood-uKhuvvat) can now bring peace. Neither the sacred waters of zamzam nor the gaNga provide the needed comfort. This is a call for a move away from looking to religion as a cure and turn to universality.
14
pilaa de phir mai1-e iKhlaas2 is gumraah3 duniya ko
zamaane4 par musallat5 phir junoon6-e jaNg7 hai saaqi 1.wine 2.sincerity, affection 3.lost, gone astray 4.times, world 5.dominating, spread over 6.madness 7.war, conflict
Offer a cup of the wine of affection to humanity that has strayed from the path of love. The madness of conflict has once again spread over the times.
baalmukund arsh malsiaani (1908-1979), son of josh malsiaani, both renowned shu’ara of progresssive views, from malsiaan, punjab. They moved to dehli in the 1930s. arsh malsiaani was assistant editor of Govt of India urdu publication ‘aaj kal’ under josh malihabadi and took over as editor after josh left for pakistan. He wrote a book dedicated to Ghalib ‘faizaan-e Ghalib’ about his influence on his many shaagird. This Ghazal is linked to other ham-radeef Ghazal on the Refrain Index page and to jaNg na hon’e paa’e on the Theme Index page.
1
zamaane1 par musallat2 phir junoon3-e jaNg4 hai saaqi
fasaad-aNgez5 phir tamiiz6-e nasl-o-raNg7 hai saaqi
1.times, world 2.dominating, spread over 3.madness 4.war, conflict 5.riot/havoc-causing 6.difference, discrimination 7.race and colour/religion
This was probably written about the riots during partition (1947) but it is still applicable to the times (April-May 2025) when there is war likely between India and pakistan. The she’r laments the spread of warlike madness over the world. junoon-e jaNg (the frenzy of war) again dominates the times, and once more the world is aflame with divisive ideologies rooted in race and color/religion.
2
sariir-aaraa1-e aalam2 vahshateN3 haiN barbariyyat4 ki
tanaffur5 phir jahaaN6 meN saahib-e-auraNg7 hai saaqi
1.adornment of the throne 2.world 3.savagery 4.barbarism 5.hatred, disgust 6.world 7.owners of the throne/seat of power, ruler
Savage barbarism is the decoration of the throne sariir-aaraa of the world. Hatred is the ruler of the world (sahib-e auraNg) today.
3
kaduurat1 ke liye aasaan2 hai jiinaa3 to kya haasil4
mohabbat par to arsaa5 zindagi ka taNg6 hai saaqi
1.hatred 2.easy 3.living, life 4.benefit, use 5.time, domain 6.tight, narrow, restricted
Living for hatred is easy, but what does it accomplish? True love struggles to find room in the narrow space left by a life consumed with prejudice.
4
binaa1-e harb2 ke aalaat3-e mohlik4 aur uss par bhi
Khud apni bebasii5 par aql6-e insaaN daNg7 hai saaqi
1.foundation, basis 2.war, conflict 3.instruments 4.lethal 5.helplessness 6.intellect, mind 7.amazed, astounded
War and conflict is built on man-made lethal instruments of war and on top of it, humankind is helpless before its own violence. The poet is astounded that human intellect is unable to find a way out.
5
muhaafiz1 koi naamoos2-e bashar3 ka ab nahiiN milta
diloN se duur yaksar4 fikr5-e naam-o-naNg6 hai saaqi
1.protector 2.honour, dignity 3.human 4.entirely 5.concern about 6.reputation and disrepute
There is no one who will protect the honor of humanity. All concern about reputation has left hearts entirely. People are no longer concerned with their ethical or spiritual reputation (naam o naNg).
6
sharaab-e ishq se go1 tu ne sadiyoN2 tak ise dhoya
dil-e aadam3 meN phir bhi nafratoN4 ka zaNg5 hai saaqi
1.even though 2.centuries 3.Adam, human 4.hatred 5.rust
O saaqi, you have tried for centuries to cleanse the human heart with the wine of love (sharaab-e ishq), yet the rust of hatred remains deeply embedded.
7
kahaaN hai vo tarab-afzaa’ii1-e jaam2-e mai3-e gulguuN4
navaa5-e dil, navaa-e Gham se ham-aahaNg6 hai saaqi
1.pleasure increasing 2.cup 3.wine 4.rose coloured 5.sound, call 6.same melody/tune
Where is the cup or joy-increasing rose-coloured wine (wine of love). Now, even the song of the heart is in tune with the cry of sorrow.
8
rabaab1-e dahr2 ke pur-dard3 naGhme4 ham suneN kab tak
kahaaN tu hai kahaaN tera suruud5 o chaNg6 hai saaqi
1.lyre 2.world 3.full of pain 4.song 5.music 6.harp
How long must we listen to the painful songs played by the world’s lyre (rubaab-e dahr)? Where are you, O saaqi, with your music of joy, where is your harp/lute.
9
nigaah1-e lutf2 tuu ne pher3 lii kyuN apne rindoN4 se
na voh raunaq5 hai mahfil6 ki na ab voh raNg7 hai saaqi
1.glance 2.favour, indulgence, grace 3.turn away 4.wine lovers 5.glory 6.gathering 7.colour, ambience
O saaqi, you have turned away your glance of grace and kindness from wine-lovers who come to the tavern. Without your favour the gathering (mahfil) has lost all its glory and joyful ambience.
10
jahaaN1 meN baada2-e nafrat3 ke paiham4 daur5 chalte haiN
ilaaj6-e dard7-e aadam8 ka yeh achchha dhaNg9 hai saaqi
1.world 2.wine 3.hatred 4.again 5.rounds, circulation 6.cure, healing 7.pain 8.Adam, human 9.way, method
O saaqi the wine of hatred is being served and circulated continuously in this world. Is this really the best way to heal the wounds of mankind?
11
har ek raahat-asar1 taamiir2 hai taKhriib3 ka baa’is4
har ek shiisha5 jahaaN6 ke vaaste7 ek saNg8 hai saaqi
1.joy giving, prescription for comfort 2.constructive endeavour 3.destruction 4.basis 5.glass, crystal, beauty, delicacy 6.world 7.for 8.rock
Every endeavour/undertaking meant to have the effect of comfort/joy has become the basis/cause of destruction. Even delicate crystal has become a rock to be cast at the other.
12
ye kis ne chhiin1 lii uss se adaa2-e sharmgiiN3 uss ki
aruus4-e zindagi kyuN aaj shooKh-o-shaNg5 hai saaqi
1.snatched away 2.style 3.shy, bashful 4.bride 5.happy and playful-see not below
Normally shooKh-o-shaNg may be used in the positive sense of playfulness of the beloved, but here it is being used as overly bold and garish. Who has robbed life (aruus-e zindagi, the bride of life) of her bashful grace? Now she seems garish and overly bold. A critique of life’s brazenness; loss of subtlety.
13
tere jaam1-e uKhuvvat2 hi se ab taskiin3 mumkin4 hai
keh raahat-baKhsh5 zamzam6 hai na aab-e-gaNg7 hai saaqi
1.cup of wine 2.brotherhood, universal love 3.peace, tranquility 4.possible 5.comfort granting 6.water of the well near k’aaba 7.water of the Ganges
Only your cup of wine of universal love (brotherhood-uKhuvvat) can now bring peace. Neither the sacred waters of zamzam nor the gaNga provide the needed comfort. This is a call for a move away from looking to religion as a cure and turn to universality.
14
pilaa de phir mai1-e iKhlaas2 is gumraah3 duniya ko
zamaane4 par musallat5 phir junoon6-e jaNg7 hai saaqi
1.wine 2.sincerity, affection 3.lost, gone astray 4.times, world 5.dominating, spread over 6.madness 7.war, conflict
Offer a cup of the wine of affection to humanity that has strayed from the path of love. The madness of conflict has once again spread over the times.
