For word meanings and explanatory discussion in English click on the tabs marked “Roman” or “Notes”.
Recitation
ساغر و مینا نہ چاہیے ۔ پنّا لعل سریواسطو نورؔ
۱
ہم میکشوں کو ساغر و مینا نہ چاہیے
خُم چاہیے، نہیں نہیں، خُم خانہ چاہیے
۲
تم کو وفورِ شوق میں لو کہہ دیا خدا
حالانکہ کفر ہے مجھے کہنا نہ چاہیے
۳
آئینہ بھی ہے سامنے منہ پر نقاب بھی
عکسِ جمال خود سے تو پردہ نہ چاہیے
۴
نظریں تو مت چرا ارے ساقی ادھر تو دیکھ
صہبا نہ چاہیے مجھے صہبا نہ چاہیے
۵
رُکنا نہیں ہے راہ میں، منزل بھی ہے قریب
پھر بھی سفر کے واسطے کیا کیا نہ چاہیے
۶
اے دینے والے ٹھہر ذرا میرا ظرف دیکھ
دنیا نہ چاہیے مجھے عقبیٰ نہ چاہیے
۷
لاؤں کہاں سے اتنے جگر جان و قلب و دل
ظالم کی ہر نگاہ کو نذرانہ چاہیے
۸
سجدوں کو میرے نورؔ ہوا وہ عطا شعور
مجھ کو کسی کا نقشِ کفِ پا نہ چاہیے
साग़र ओ मीना न चाहिए – पन्ना लाल श्रीवास्तव नूर
१
हम मय-कशौं को साग़र ओ मीना न चाहिए
ख़ुम चाहिए, नहीं नहीं, ख़ुम-ख़ाना चाहिए
२
तुम को वफ़ूर-ए शौक़ में लो कह दिया ख़ुदा
हालाँके कुफ़्र है मुझे कहना न चाहिए
३
आईना भी है सामने मुँह पर नक़ाब भी
अक्स-ए जमाल ख़ुद से तो पर्दा न चाहिए
४
नज़रें तो मत चुरा अरे साक़ी इधर तो देख
सहबा न चाहिए मुझे सहबा न चाहिए
५
रुकना नहीं है राह में, मंज़िल भी है क़रीब
फिर भी सफ़र के वास्ते क्या क्या न चाहिए
६
अए देने वाले ठहर ज़रा मेरा ज़र्फ़ देख
दुनिया न चाहिए मुझे उक़्बा न चाहिए
७
लाऊँ कहाँ से इतने जिगर जान ओ क़ल्ब ओ दिल
ज़ालिम की हर निगाह को नज़्राना चाहिए
८
सज्दों को मेरे नूर हुआ वो अता श’ऊर
मुझ को किसी का नक़्श-ए कफ़-ए पा न चाहिए
Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. pannalal srivastav noor (xxxx-xxxx), BA LLB, practiced law in jabalpur, ex-mayor of jabalpur, ex-chair of anjuman-e taraqqi-e urdu, jabalpur. In 1969 a Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur was formed to organize 5 mushaa’era over a year and publish proceedings as ‘nazr-e Ghalib’. pannalal noor served as secretary. His own collection of Ghazal was published in 1985. This Ghazal is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
hum maikashoN1 ko saaGhar-o-miina2 na chaahiye
Khum3 chaahiye, nahiN nahiN, Khum-Khaana4 chaahiye 1.wine drinkers 2.cup and flask 3.barrell 4.wine-cellar, tavern
We drinkers do not want cups and flasks of wine. The implication is that these are too small to satisfy their needs. We need a whole barrell. Then, he quickly changes his mind … no,no, rather we want an entire wine cellar/tavern. Of course, wine here can be symbolic of universal love, mystic spirit.
2
tum ko vufoor1-e shauq2 meN lo kah diya Khuda
haalaaNkeh3 kufr4 hai mujhe kahna na chaahiye 1.overflow, excess 2.desire, passion 3.even though 4.forbidden
In the overflow of passion, I called you ‘god’, even though it is forbidden and I should not have said it. The poet confesses to elevating the beloved to divine status in moments of overwhelming love.
3
aaiina bhi hai saamne muNh par naqaab1 bhi
aks2-e jamaal3 Khud se to parda4 na chaahiye 1.veil 2.reflection, image 3.glory, beauty 4.concealment
The mirror is before you, and yet there’s a veil on the face. O image of glory, you should not hide from yourselves.
4
nazreN1 to mat chura2 are’y saaqi idhar to dekh
sahbaa3 na chaahiye mujhe sahbaa na chaahiye 1.eyes 2.steal, avert 3.wine
Don’t avert your eyes, O cupbearer, look here at me. I don’t want wine; I don’t want wine. The poet/lover wants to get his dose of intoxication from the enchanting eyes of the saaqi rather than from the wine that she might serve.
5
rukna1 nahiiN hai raah2 meN, manzil3 bhi hai qariib4
phir bhi safar5 ke vaaste6 kya kya na chaahiye 1.stop, rest 2.path 3.destination 4.near 5.journey 6.for, for the sake of
There’s no need to stop on the path; the destination is near, yet, for the journey, so much is still needed. The poet reflects on life’s journey, emphasizing its demands even as the goal appears close. This speaks to the material comforts we surround ourselves with, even when we know that the end is near.
6
aye dene vaale1 Thah’r2 zara mera zarf3 dekh
duniya na chaahiye mujhe uqba4 na chaahiye 1.giver (god) 2.stop, wait 3.capacity 4.the hereafter
O giver, pause a moment and see my capacity; I don’t desire this world or the hereafter. The poet declares detachment from worldly and spiritual rewards, asking for something more profound and personal, reflecting self-awareness and a quest for higher understanding. He considers it a higher capacity and asks for that.
7
laauN kahaaN se itne jigar1 jaan2-o-qalb3-o-dil
zaalim4 ki har nigaah5 ko nazraana6 chaahiye 1.liver, courage 2.life 3.soul 4.tormentor, beloved 5.glance 6.offering
Where can I find enough courage, life, heart, and soul? Every gaze of the oppressor/beloved demands an offering. The poet laments the insatiable demands of the beloved or societal pressures, questioning the ability to meet such overwhelming expectations.
8
sajdoN1 ko mere noor2 hua voh aata3 sha’uur4
mujh ko kisi ka naqsh5-e kaf6-e paa7 na chaahiye 1.prostrations 2.pen-name 3.granted, bestowed 4.awareness, knowledge 5.print 6.soul 7.feet – the combined phrase means – footprint
My prostrations have been granted such sophistication/knowledge that I do not need anyone’s footprints to guide me. The poet expresses spiritual independence, emphasizing the self-reliance gained through devotion. This could also be a rebellion against the confines of conventional, ritualistic religious practices.
pannalal srivastav noor (xxxx-xxxx), BA LLB, practiced law in jabalpur, ex-mayor of jabalpur, ex-chair of anjuman-e taraqqi-e urdu, jabalpur. In 1969 a Ghalib shataabdi naagarik samiti, jabalpur was formed to organize 5 mushaa’era over a year and publish proceedings as ‘nazr-e Ghalib’. pannalal noor served as secretary. His own collection of Ghazal was published in 1985. This Ghazal is linked to Ghalib naqsh-e qadam.
1
hum maikashoN1 ko saaGhar-o-miina2 na chaahiye
Khum3 chaahiye, nahiN nahiN, Khum-Khaana4 chaahiye
1.wine drinkers 2.cup and flask 3.barrell 4.wine-cellar, tavern
We drinkers do not want cups and flasks of wine. The implication is that these are too small to satisfy their needs. We need a whole barrell. Then, he quickly changes his mind … no,no, rather we want an entire wine cellar/tavern. Of course, wine here can be symbolic of universal love, mystic spirit.
2
tum ko vufoor1-e shauq2 meN lo kah diya Khuda
haalaaNkeh3 kufr4 hai mujhe kahna na chaahiye
1.overflow, excess 2.desire, passion 3.even though 4.forbidden
In the overflow of passion, I called you ‘god’, even though it is forbidden and I should not have said it. The poet confesses to elevating the beloved to divine status in moments of overwhelming love.
3
aaiina bhi hai saamne muNh par naqaab1 bhi
aks2-e jamaal3 Khud se to parda4 na chaahiye
1.veil 2.reflection, image 3.glory, beauty 4.concealment
The mirror is before you, and yet there’s a veil on the face. O image of glory, you should not hide from yourselves.
4
nazreN1 to mat chura2 are’y saaqi idhar to dekh
sahbaa3 na chaahiye mujhe sahbaa na chaahiye
1.eyes 2.steal, avert 3.wine
Don’t avert your eyes, O cupbearer, look here at me. I don’t want wine; I don’t want wine. The poet/lover wants to get his dose of intoxication from the enchanting eyes of the saaqi rather than from the wine that she might serve.
5
rukna1 nahiiN hai raah2 meN, manzil3 bhi hai qariib4
phir bhi safar5 ke vaaste6 kya kya na chaahiye
1.stop, rest 2.path 3.destination 4.near 5.journey 6.for, for the sake of
There’s no need to stop on the path; the destination is near, yet, for the journey, so much is still needed. The poet reflects on life’s journey, emphasizing its demands even as the goal appears close. This speaks to the material comforts we surround ourselves with, even when we know that the end is near.
6
aye dene vaale1 Thah’r2 zara mera zarf3 dekh
duniya na chaahiye mujhe uqba4 na chaahiye
1.giver (god) 2.stop, wait 3.capacity 4.the hereafter
O giver, pause a moment and see my capacity; I don’t desire this world or the hereafter. The poet declares detachment from worldly and spiritual rewards, asking for something more profound and personal, reflecting self-awareness and a quest for higher understanding. He considers it a higher capacity and asks for that.
7
laauN kahaaN se itne jigar1 jaan2-o-qalb3-o-dil
zaalim4 ki har nigaah5 ko nazraana6 chaahiye
1.liver, courage 2.life 3.soul 4.tormentor, beloved 5.glance 6.offering
Where can I find enough courage, life, heart, and soul? Every gaze of the oppressor/beloved demands an offering. The poet laments the insatiable demands of the beloved or societal pressures, questioning the ability to meet such overwhelming expectations.
8
sajdoN1 ko mere noor2 hua voh aata3 sha’uur4
mujh ko kisi ka naqsh5-e kaf6-e paa7 na chaahiye
1.prostrations 2.pen-name 3.granted, bestowed 4.awareness, knowledge 5.print 6.soul 7.feet – the combined phrase means – footprint
My prostrations have been granted such sophistication/knowledge that I do not need anyone’s footprints to guide me. The poet expresses spiritual independence, emphasizing the self-reliance gained through devotion. This could also be a rebellion against the confines of conventional, ritualistic religious practices.
