Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mir mohammed ali KhaaN maikash (1918-1948), a member of the nizam shaahi clan of hyderabad (the title sahabzaada-princeling was a prefix to his name), nevertheless seems to have been a committed socialist. Dropped out of the university degree program after two years and worked as editor, columnist and perhaps as a party worker. As opposed to my first impression of his dark and depressing composition on the taj mahal, he has many cheerful and almost hedonistic compositions in addition to resistance/socialist nazm. This one seems to be one of unadulterated pleasure.
1
sharaab-e naab¹ ko do-aatisha² bana ke pila
pilaane vaale nazar³ se nazar mila ke pila    1.undiluted, unmixed with water 2.double heat/strength 3.sight
Give me unadulterated/pure wine to drink, doubled in strength. How is the saaqi to double the strength of the wine. By looking directly into the eyes of the poet/wine lover because her eyes are intoxicating and added to the intoxication of wine.
2
kahiN nigaah¹ ki masti² bhi hal³ na ho jaaye
keh jaam⁴-e mai⁵ ki taraf⁶ se nazar⁷ haTa ke pila   1.eyes, glance 2.intoxication 3.dissolved 4.cup 5.wine 6.towards 7.eyes
It is clear that he does want his wine doubled in strength. This could happened if the intoxication of the saaqi’s gets ‘dissolved’ in the wine. But the poet/wine-lover does NOT want that kind of doubling. He wants to get the intoxication of the eyes directly, not through dissolving it in wine. Thus, asking her to look away from the wine while offering it, still keeps the earlier desire intact i.e., he is still asking her to look directly in his eyes to double the strength of the wine.
3
jhalak¹ raha hai tabassum² bhi saaGhar³-e mai⁴ meN
phir ek baar usi tarah⁵ muskura⁶ ke pila    1.shimmering 2.smile 3.cup 4.wine 5.like, similar to 6.smile
The surface of the wine cup shimmers, reflecting light. The poet likens it to the saaqi’s smile. He asks for more it. Smile again like that as you offer me wine, he asks.
4
pila har ek ko, har ek par navaazish¹ kar
magar² ye shart³ hai pahle mujhe pila ke pila   1.kindness, favours 2.but 3.condition
By all means, offer wine to everyone, be kind to all but the condition is that you offer to me first, before offering it to anyone else.
5
sharaab-e naGhma¹ bhi bahta rahe fazaaoN² meN
kalaam³-e haafiz⁴ o Khayyaam⁵ gunguna⁶ ke pila   1.song 2.air, ambience 3.poetry 4.classical faarsi sufi poet 5.famed rubaaii poet 6.hum
Let the wine of song also flow in the ambient (along with wine). Hum the poetry of haafiz and Khayyaam even as you serve wine.
6
tera Khayaal¹ hai mujh ko, kabhi na bahkuuNga²
teri qasam³ mujhe sau baar aazma⁴ ke pila    1.think of, be mindful of 2.lose my senses, get drunk 3.promise 4.test, put to trial
I am mindful of you (your reputation). I will not get unruly drunk. I swear by you, you can put me to the test a hundred times as you offer wine.
7
jhijak¹ raha huN keh zaahid² na dekh le mujh ko
piyuuNga chhup ke maiN saaqi, mujhe chhupa ke pila   1.hesitate 2.preacher
I hesitate for fear that the preacher might see me. I want to drink secretly, O saaqi, offer me wine in a well hidden place.
8
ye chaandni ki bahaareN¹ na aayeNgi har shab²
sho’aa³-e maah⁴ meN kaif⁵-e nazar⁶ mila ke pila   1.spring, celebration 2.night 3.rays of light 4.moon 5.pleasure, joy 6.glance, eyes
The celebration of moonlight will not happen every night. Mingle the joy of your glance with every ray of moonlight as you offer wine to drink.
9
ye roz¹-e abr², ye halki phuaar³, ye masti⁴
idhar to dekh, nigaaheN⁵ zara mila ke pila   1.day 2.cloud 3.mist, drizzle 4.intoxication 5.eyes
In cultural and poetic tradition a cloudy day is considered to be a day to celebrate and drink wine. It also coincides with spring celebrations. Thus, this is a cloudy day with a light drizzle and there is intoxication in the air. Look into my eyes and offer wine to drink.
10
kucch imtiaaz¹ rahe maikade² meN maikash³ ka
laboN⁴ se apne har ek jaam⁵ ko laga ke pila   1.distinction, special consideration 2.tavern 3.pen-name of the poet, wine-lover 4.lips 5.cup
Let maikash have some special status in the tavern. Touch the cup with your lips even as you offer it to me to drink.