For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
مطلعِ انوار ہے ساقی ۔ جوشؔ ملیح آبادی
۱
تجھے کیا دورِ گُل ہے یا زمانِ خار ہے ساقی
تو خود اپنی جگہ اِک دولتِ بیدار ہے ساقی
۲
حقیقت کچھ سمجھ ہی میں نہیں آتی دو عالم کی
جو کچھ آتی بھی ہے ناقابلِ اِظہار ہے ساقی
۳
ترے مستوں کو روز و شب کی آویزش سے کیا مطلب
یہاں تو تیرگی بھی مطلعِ انوار ہے ساقی
۴
ترے خدمت گزاروں کو حق و باطل سے کیا مطلب
یہاں تو خیر بھی شر کی رفیقِ کار ہے ساقی
۵
یہاں ہر عقدہ اِک کُھلتا ہوا در ہے فراغت کا
یہاں ہر قید اِک گِرتی ہوئی دیوار ہے ساقی
۶
قسم اِس جان کی رقصاں ہے جس میں کیف و سرمستی
کہ اِس مُٹّھی میں روحِ ثابت و سیّار ہے ساقی
۷
عقائد کے ہزاروں عقل فرسا کاروانوں کا
فقط اِک واہما ہی قافلہ سالار ہے ساقی
۸
نہ گھبرا اِنتہائی صبر و نرمی سے مداوا کر
کہ عقل انسان کی اِک عمر سے بیمار ہے ساقی
۹
بہت عجلت نہ فرما کاروبارِ دل کے اِجرا میں
کہ یہ دنیا اسیرِ اندک و بسیار ہے ساقی
۱۰
ذرا آہستہ لے چل کاروانِ کیف و مستی کو
کہ سطح ذہنِ عالم سخت ناہموار ہے ساقی
۱۱
مرا ایمان ہے اِک لرزہ بر اندام بے دینی
مرا اقرار اک سہما ہوا اِنکار ہے ساقی
۱۲
نظر کر جوشؔ پر اپنے کہ اِتنی بے خودی پر بھی
یہ رندِ لااُبالی کس قدر ہشیار ہے ساقی
मत्ला’-ए अनवार है साक़ी – जोश मलीहाबादी
१
तुझे क्या दौर-ए गुल है या ज़मान-ए ख़ार है साक़ी
तु ख़ुद अपनी जगह एक दौलत-ए बेदार है साक़ी
२
हक़ीक़त कुछ समझ ही में नहीं आती दो-आलम की
जो कुछ आती भी है ना-क़ाबिल-ए इज़्हार है साक़ी
३
तेरे मस्तों को रोज़ ओ शब की आवेज़श से क्या मतलब
यहाँ तो तीरगी भी मत्ला’-ए अनवार है साक़ी
४
तेरे ख़िद्मत-गुज़ारों को हक़ ओ बातिल से क्या मतलब
यहाँ तो ख़ैर भी शर की रफ़ीक़-ए कार है साक़ी
५
यहाँ हर उक़्दा एक खुलता हुआ दर है फ़राग़त का
यहाँ हर क़ैद एक गिरती हुई दीवार है साक़ी
६
क़सम इस जान की रक़्सां है जिस में कैफ़ ओ सरमस्ती
के इस मुट्ठी में रूह-ए साबित ओ सय्यार है साक़ी
७
अक़ा’एद के हज़ारों अक़्ल-फ़र्सा कारवानौं का
फ़क़त एक वाहेमा ही क़ाफ़ेला सालार है साक़ी
८
न घबरा, इन्तेहाई सब्र ओ नरमी से मुदावा कर
के अक़्ल इंसान की एक उम्र से बीमार है साक़ी
९
बहुत उज्लत न फ़रमा कारोबार-ए दिल के इज्रा में
के ये दुनिया असीर-ए अंदक ओ बिस्यार है साक़ी
१०
ज़रा आहिस्ता ले चल कारवान-ए कैफ़ ओ मस्ती को
के सतह-ए ज़ेहन-ए आलम सख़्त नाहमवार है साक़ी
११
मेरा ईमान है एक लरज़ा-बर-अंदाम बे-दीनी
मेरा एक़्रार एक सहमा हुआ इन्कार है साक़ी
१२
नज़र कर जोश पर अपने के इतनी बेख़ुदी पर भी
ये रिंद-ए लाउबाली किस क़दर होश्यार है साक़ी
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is called shaa’er-e inqelaab, poet of change/revolution. He is very secular and nationalistic in his writings and rebels against orthodoxy. His range of language and vocabulary is simply amazing. He has written extensively about the beauty of dawn. His collection of nazm/Ghazal and rubaaii about the beauty of dawn can be accessed both under the poet’s name and from the Theme Index, ‘jalva-e sahr’. This is one of several Ghazal ham-radeef Ghazal that josh wrote. It is linked to other Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
tujhe kya daur-e-gul1 hai ya zamaan2-e Khaar3 hai saaqi
tu Khud4 apni jagah ek daulat-e-bedaar5 hai saaqi 1.time of flowering, spring 2.time of 3.thorns 4.yourself 5.living/vibrant treasure
Whether it is the season of flowers (spring, joy, ease) or thorns (autumn, dry, hardship), it doesn’t matter, O saaqi (cupbearer). You yourself are a living/vibrant treasure. The saaqi symbolizes inspiration, life-force, or divine energy – independent of external circumstances. No matter what happens outside, true wealth lies in the inner awakening the saaqi represents.
2
haqiiqat1 kuchh samajh2 hi meN nahiiN aati do-aalam3 ki
jo kuchh aati bhi hai naaqabil4-e izhaar5 hai saaqi 1.reality 2.comprehend, understand 3.two worlds, here and hereafter 4.unable to, unworthy of 5.expression
The reality (meaning, purpose) of this world or the next, the here and hereafter, cannot be truly understood; and whatever little is understood cannot be expressed (or is so little that it is not worthy of expression). This reflects the mystical theme: truth transcends human comprehension and language. Whatever glimpses of reality we do perceive are too profound to be shared with words.
3
tere mastoN1 ko roz-o-shab2 ki aavezash3 se kya matlab4
yahaaN to tiiragi5 bhi matla’6-e anvaar7 hai saaqi 1.intoxicated, ecstatic 2.day and night 3.conflict 4.concern, care 5.darkness 6.emergence 7.rays of light
Those intoxicated with love of you, O saaqi, care little about conflicts between day (light) and night (darkness). Even darkness appears like rays of light at dawn to them i.e., the sufi steeped in mystic knowledge can see/comprehend the unity in differences/opposites.
4
tere Khidmat-guzaaroN1 ko haqq2-o-batil3 se kya matlab4
yahaaN to Khair5 bhi shar6 ki rafiiq-e-kaar7 hai saaqi 1.servants, devotees 2.truth 3.falsehood 4.concern, care 5.good 6.evil 7.ally, co-worker
Your devotees are unconcerned with discussions/fine points of right and wrong; here, even goodness is allied with evil, O saaqi. In the world of divine intoxication, rigid moral distinctions (right vs wrong) blur. There is a recognition of grey areas, mutual acceptance, no rigid judgement like orthodoxy. The tavern is a forgiving and accepting place.
5
yahaaN har uqda1 ek khulta hua dar2 hai faraaGhat3 ka
yahaaN har qaid4 ek girti hui diivaar hai saaqi 1.knot, mystery 2.door 3.freedom, leisure 4.confinement
josh continues the thought of soft borders, acceptance and liberalism of the tavern. Here, every knot is a door opening into freedom; here, every prison is a collapsing wall.
6
qasam is jaan ki raqsaaN1 hai jis meN kaif2-o-sarmasti3
keh is muTThi4 meN rooh5-e saabit6-o-sayyaar7 hai saaqi 1.dancing 2.ecstacy 3.intoxication 4.fist, grip 5.spirit 6.stationary, stars 7.moving, planets
saabit o sayyar the stationary and the moving, stars and planets signifies the whole universe. josh swears by the life of the tavern – spent in ecstacy and intoxication (the tavern of liberalism or perhaps even of sufi liberalism). He declares that this dancing/celebratory life has in its grip the whole universe.
7
aqaa’ed1 ke hazaaroN aql2-farsaa3 kaarvaanoN ka
faqat4 ek vaahima5 hi qaafila-saalaar6 hai saaqi 1.(blind) belief 2.intellect 3.rubbing, erasing, eradicating 4.only 5.superstition 6.caravan leader, guide
Here kaarvaan is a belief system, rigid dogmas of blind belief. Such a caravan erases/eradicates intelligence because its guide is only blind superstition.
8
na ghabra1 intehaa’ii2 sabr-o-narmi3 se mudaava4 kar
keh aql5 insaan ki ek umr6 se biimaar hai saaqi 1.worry, anxiety 2.limitless 3.patience and gentleness 4.healing 5.intelligence, reason 6.lifelong, ages
O saaqi don’t be anxious cure gently with unlimited patience, for human reason has been sick for ages.
9
bahut ujlat1 na farma2 kaarobaar3-e dil ke ijra4 meN
keh ye duniya asiir5-e andak-o-bisyaar6 hai saaqi 1.haste 2.to affirm, to declare, to make 3.affairs, workings 4.to execute, to perform 5.captive, imprisoned 6.little and plenty, scarcity and abundance, profit and loss
O saaqi do not be too hasty in carrying out the business of the heart (love and spirit); this world is obsessed with material values of abundance and scracity.
10
zara aahista le chal kaarvaan-e kaif1-o-masti2 ko
keh satah3-e zahn4-e aalam5 saKht6 naahamvaar7 hai saaqi 1.ecstasy 2.intoxication, trance 3.surface 4.mind 5.world 6.extremely, very 7.bumpy
The caravan of ecstasy and intoxication is liberal thinking, sufi practice and open-ness. O saaqi guide this caravan slowly, for the surface of the world’s mind is very uneven. The poet advises careful nurturing of joy and spiritual intoxication because humanity’s collective mind is troubled, rough, and unstable.
11
mera iimaan1 hai ek larza-bar-andaam2 be-diini3
mera eqraar4 ek sahma5 hua inkaar6 hai saaqi 1.faith, belief 2.trembling all over 3.faithlessness 4.acceptance 5.scared 6.denial
Thoughts of grey areas continue. My faith is a trembling godlessness; my acceptance is a fearful denial, O saaqi. This is a recognition of the existence of uncertainty which is the driving force for inquiry/learning and progress.
12
nazar kar josh1 par apne keh itni beKhudi2 par bhi
ye rind3-e laa-ubaali4 kis qadar5 hoshiyaar6 hai saaqi 1.pen-name 2.intoxication 3.wine lover, liberal thinker 4.careless, insolent, rebellious 5.so much 6.alert, wise
O saaqi take a careful look at josh, even in this state of complete abandon, how alert this carefree drunkard is!
josh malihabadi (1898-1982) is called shaa’er-e inqelaab, poet of change/revolution. He is very secular and nationalistic in his writings and rebels against orthodoxy. His range of language and vocabulary is simply amazing. He has written extensively about the beauty of dawn. His collection of nazm/Ghazal and rubaaii about the beauty of dawn can be accessed both under the poet’s name and from the Theme Index, ‘jalva-e sahr’. This is one of several Ghazal ham-radeef Ghazal that josh wrote. It is linked to other Ghazal of the same radeef on the Refrain Index page.
1
tujhe kya daur-e-gul1 hai ya zamaan2-e Khaar3 hai saaqi
tu Khud4 apni jagah ek daulat-e-bedaar5 hai saaqi
1.time of flowering, spring 2.time of 3.thorns 4.yourself 5.living/vibrant treasure
Whether it is the season of flowers (spring, joy, ease) or thorns (autumn, dry, hardship), it doesn’t matter, O saaqi (cupbearer). You yourself are a living/vibrant treasure. The saaqi symbolizes inspiration, life-force, or divine energy – independent of external circumstances. No matter what happens outside, true wealth lies in the inner awakening the saaqi represents.
2
haqiiqat1 kuchh samajh2 hi meN nahiiN aati do-aalam3 ki
jo kuchh aati bhi hai naaqabil4-e izhaar5 hai saaqi
1.reality 2.comprehend, understand 3.two worlds, here and hereafter 4.unable to, unworthy of 5.expression
The reality (meaning, purpose) of this world or the next, the here and hereafter, cannot be truly understood; and whatever little is understood cannot be expressed (or is so little that it is not worthy of expression). This reflects the mystical theme: truth transcends human comprehension and language. Whatever glimpses of reality we do perceive are too profound to be shared with words.
3
tere mastoN1 ko roz-o-shab2 ki aavezash3 se kya matlab4
yahaaN to tiiragi5 bhi matla’6-e anvaar7 hai saaqi
1.intoxicated, ecstatic 2.day and night 3.conflict 4.concern, care 5.darkness 6.emergence 7.rays of light
Those intoxicated with love of you, O saaqi, care little about conflicts between day (light) and night (darkness). Even darkness appears like rays of light at dawn to them i.e., the sufi steeped in mystic knowledge can see/comprehend the unity in differences/opposites.
4
tere Khidmat-guzaaroN1 ko haqq2-o-batil3 se kya matlab4
yahaaN to Khair5 bhi shar6 ki rafiiq-e-kaar7 hai saaqi
1.servants, devotees 2.truth 3.falsehood 4.concern, care 5.good 6.evil 7.ally, co-worker
Your devotees are unconcerned with discussions/fine points of right and wrong; here, even goodness is allied with evil, O saaqi. In the world of divine intoxication, rigid moral distinctions (right vs wrong) blur. There is a recognition of grey areas, mutual acceptance, no rigid judgement like orthodoxy. The tavern is a forgiving and accepting place.
5
yahaaN har uqda1 ek khulta hua dar2 hai faraaGhat3 ka
yahaaN har qaid4 ek girti hui diivaar hai saaqi
1.knot, mystery 2.door 3.freedom, leisure 4.confinement
josh continues the thought of soft borders, acceptance and liberalism of the tavern. Here, every knot is a door opening into freedom; here, every prison is a collapsing wall.
6
qasam is jaan ki raqsaaN1 hai jis meN kaif2-o-sarmasti3
keh is muTThi4 meN rooh5-e saabit6-o-sayyaar7 hai saaqi
1.dancing 2.ecstacy 3.intoxication 4.fist, grip 5.spirit 6.stationary, stars 7.moving, planets
saabit o sayyar the stationary and the moving, stars and planets signifies the whole universe. josh swears by the life of the tavern – spent in ecstacy and intoxication (the tavern of liberalism or perhaps even of sufi liberalism). He declares that this dancing/celebratory life has in its grip the whole universe.
7
aqaa’ed1 ke hazaaroN aql2-farsaa3 kaarvaanoN ka
faqat4 ek vaahima5 hi qaafila-saalaar6 hai saaqi
1.(blind) belief 2.intellect 3.rubbing, erasing, eradicating 4.only 5.superstition 6.caravan leader, guide
Here kaarvaan is a belief system, rigid dogmas of blind belief. Such a caravan erases/eradicates intelligence because its guide is only blind superstition.
8
na ghabra1 intehaa’ii2 sabr-o-narmi3 se mudaava4 kar
keh aql5 insaan ki ek umr6 se biimaar hai saaqi
1.worry, anxiety 2.limitless 3.patience and gentleness 4.healing 5.intelligence, reason 6.lifelong, ages
O saaqi don’t be anxious cure gently with unlimited patience, for human reason has been sick for ages.
9
bahut ujlat1 na farma2 kaarobaar3-e dil ke ijra4 meN
keh ye duniya asiir5-e andak-o-bisyaar6 hai saaqi
1.haste 2.to affirm, to declare, to make 3.affairs, workings 4.to execute, to perform 5.captive, imprisoned 6.little and plenty, scarcity and abundance, profit and loss
O saaqi do not be too hasty in carrying out the business of the heart (love and spirit); this world is obsessed with material values of abundance and scracity.
10
zara aahista le chal kaarvaan-e kaif1-o-masti2 ko
keh satah3-e zahn4-e aalam5 saKht6 naahamvaar7 hai saaqi
1.ecstasy 2.intoxication, trance 3.surface 4.mind 5.world 6.extremely, very 7.bumpy
The caravan of ecstasy and intoxication is liberal thinking, sufi practice and open-ness. O saaqi guide this caravan slowly, for the surface of the world’s mind is very uneven. The poet advises careful nurturing of joy and spiritual intoxication because humanity’s collective mind is troubled, rough, and unstable.
11
mera iimaan1 hai ek larza-bar-andaam2 be-diini3
mera eqraar4 ek sahma5 hua inkaar6 hai saaqi
1.faith, belief 2.trembling all over 3.faithlessness 4.acceptance 5.scared 6.denial
Thoughts of grey areas continue. My faith is a trembling godlessness; my acceptance is a fearful denial, O saaqi. This is a recognition of the existence of uncertainty which is the driving force for inquiry/learning and progress.
12
nazar kar josh1 par apne keh itni beKhudi2 par bhi
ye rind3-e laa-ubaali4 kis qadar5 hoshiyaar6 hai saaqi
1.pen-name 2.intoxication 3.wine lover, liberal thinker 4.careless, insolent, rebellious 5.so much 6.alert, wise
O saaqi take a careful look at josh, even in this state of complete abandon, how alert this carefree drunkard is!
