saaGhar-e sahba dikhaaii de-kishan bihari noor

For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the “Roman” or “Notes” tab.

ساغرِ صہبا دِکھائی دے ۔ کشن بہاری نورؔ
۱
وہ لب کہ جیسے ساغرِ صہبا دکھائی دے
جنبش جو ہو تو جام چھلکتا دکھائی دے
۲
دریا میں یوں تو ہوتے ہیں قطرے ہی قطرے سب
قطرہ وہی ہے جس میں کہ دریا دکھائی دے
۳
کیوں آئینہ کہیں اُسے پتھر نہ کیوں کہیں
جس آئینے میں عکس نہ اُس کا دکھائی دے
۴
اُس تشنہ لب کے نیند نہ ٹوٹے دعا کرو
جس تشنہ لب کو خواب میں دریا دکھائی دے
۵
کیسی عجیب شرط ہے دیدار کے لیے
آنکھیں جو بند ہوں تو وہ جلوہ دکھائی دے
۶
کیا حُسن ہے جمال ہے کیا رنگ روپ ہے
وہ بھیڑ میں بھی جائے تو تنہا دکھائی دے

साग़र-ए सहबा दिखाई दे – किशन बेहारी नूर

वो लब के जैसे साग़र-ए सहबा दिखाई दे
जुम्बिश जो हो तो जाम छलकता दिखाई दे

दरिया में यूँ तो होते हैं क़तरे ही क़तरे सब
क़तरा वही है जिस में के दरिया दिखाई दे

क्यूँ आईना कहें उसे पत्थर न क्यूँ कहें
जिस आईने में अक्स न उस का दिखाई दे

उस तिश्ना-लब के नींद न टूटे दुआ करो
जिस तिश्ना-लब को ख़्वाब में दरिया दिखाई दे

कैसी अजीब शर्त है दीदार के लिए
आँखें जो बंद हों तो वो जल्वा दिखाई दे

क्या हुस्न है जमाल है क्या रंग-रूप है
वो भीड़ में भी जाए तो तन्हा दिखाई दे

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. kishan bihari noor (1926 – 2003), was born and grew up in lucknow. In a lot of his work he gracefully reaches across communal lines. He also was a great lover of urdu. This is one of a series of Ghazal linked to the same icon “naGhma-saraaii de” in the page of radeef-refrain.
1
vo lab1 ke jaise saaGhar2-e sahba3 dikhaai de
jumbish4 jo ho to jaam5 chhalakta6 dikhaai de  
1.lips 2.flask of 3.wine 4.movement 5.cup 6.spill, overflow
The beauty of the beloved’s lips is compared to a brimming cup of wine. When she talks it is as if the cup has been picked, the movement of her lips is like the ripples and spilling of wine.

2
dariya meN yuN to hote haiN qatre1 hi qatre sab
qatra vahi hai jis meN ke dariya dikhaai de  
1.drop
This express the vedantic/sufi thought that part is contained in the whole but the whole is reflected in the part. Thus, while there are many drops in the ocean, the authentic/real drop is only that which reflects the ocean, perhaps an analogy for the relationship between the creator and the created.

3
kyuN aaina kaheN use patthar na kyuN kaheN
jis aaine meN aks1 na us ka dikhaai de 
1.reflection
Traditionally (medieval) mirrors were made by polishing stone of fine grain. Also, the heart/conscience is considered to reflect divinity. Thus, if you look at yourselves in the mirror (clear conscience) you should be able to see the divine image. If not, it is mere stone, not a mirror.

4
us tishna-lab1 ke neend na TooTe dua karo
jis tishna-lab ko Khwaab meN dariya dikhaai de  
1.thirsty
In urdu poetic tradition ‘dariya’ is usually a metaphor for divinity with drops or rivers of humanity flowing into and joining with the ocean of divinity. Thus, if someone is in a deep dream seeing the ocean/divinity, pray that his dream not be broken.

5
kaisi ajeeb1 shart2 hai deedaar3 ke liye
aaNkheN jo band hoN to vo jalva4 dikhaai de  
1.unusual, contradictory 2.condition 3.vision, sight 4.manifestation
“aaNkeN band hona” implies death. But then, when eyes are closed, you don’t see anything. Thus, the play on words … what a strange condition that you can see the manifestation (of god) only after death – your eyes are closed.

6
kya husn1 hai jamaal2 hai kya raNg-roop3 hai
vo bheeR4 meN bhi jaaye to tanha5 dikhaai de  
1.beauty 2.glory 3.colour/form/beauty 4.crowd 5.alone, unique
Such beauty, glory and form that even if she is in a crowd, she stands out (alone/unique). The thought can apply to the beloved or to god.

kishan bihari noor (1926 – 2003), was born and grew up in lucknow.  In a lot of his work he gracefully reaches across communal lines.  He also was a great lover of urdu.  This is one of a series of Ghazal linked to the same icon “naGhma-saraaii de” in the page of radeef-refrain.
1
vo lab1 ke jaise saaGhar2-e sahba3 dikhaai de
jumbish4 jo ho to jaam5 chhalakta6 dikhaai de

1.lips 2.flask/cup of 3.wine 4.movement 5.cup 6.spill, overflow

The beauty of the beloved’s lips is compared to a brimming cup of wine.  When she talks it is as if the cup has been picked, the movement of her lips is like the ripples and spilling of wine.
2
dariya meN yuN to hote haiN qatre1 hi qatre sab
qatra vahi hai jis meN ke dariya dikhaai de

1.drop

This expresses the vedantic/sufi thought that part is contained in the whole but the whole is reflected in the part.  Thus, while there are many drops in the ocean, the authentic/real drop is only that which reflects the ocean, perhaps an analogy for the relationship between the creator and the created.
3
kyuN aaina kaheN use patthar na kyuN kaheN
jis aaine meN aks1 na us ka dikhaai de

1.reflection

Traditionally (medieval) mirrors were made by polishing stone of fine grain.  Also, the heart/conscience is considered to reflect divinity.  Thus, if you look at yourselves in the mirror (clear conscience) you should be able to see the divine image.  If not, it is mere stone, not a mirror.
4
us tishna-lab1 ki neend na TooTe dua karo
jis tishna-lab ko Khwaab meN dariya dikhaai de

1.thirsty

In urdu poetic tradition ‘dariya’ is usually a metaphor for divinity with drops or rivers of humanity flowing into and joining with the ocean of divinity.  Thus, if someone is in a deep dream seeing the ocean/divinity, pray that his dream not be broken.
5
kaisi ajeeb1 shart2 hai deedaar3 ke liye
aaNkheN jo band hoN to vo jalva4 dikhaai de

1.unusual, contradictory 2.condition 3.vision, sight 4.manifestation

“aaNkeN band hona” implies death.  But then, when eyes are closed, you don’t see anything.  Thus, the play on words … what a strange condition that you can see the manifestation (of god) only after death – your eyes are closed.
6
kya husn1 hai jamaal2 hai kya raNg-roop3 hai
vo bheeR4 meN bhi jaaye to tanha5 dikhaai de

1.beauty 2.glory 3.colour/form/beauty 4.crowd 5.alone, unique

Such beauty, glory and form that even if she is in a crowd, she stands out (alone/unique).  The thought can apply to the beloved or to god.