saaqi-e kausar – darshan singh darshan

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

ساقیِ کوثر ۔ درشن سنگھ درشنؔ

۱

عقل نے رستہ دکھایا تھا، جنوں رہبر ہوا

میں جو دیوانہ ہوا، دیوانۂ حیدر ہوا

مِل گئی غمہائے دوراں سے نجاتِ دائمی

میں ہوا دیوانۂ حیدر، بہت بہتر ہوا

۲

اِبتدا پیغامِ حق کی ذاتِ احمد سے ہوئی

خاتمہ پیغامِ حق کا نسلِ حیدر پر ہوا

اللہ! اللہ! یہ عروجِ پائے پاکِ بُو تراب

خانۂ کعبہ میں زیبِ دوشِ پیغمبر ہوا

۳

سیرتِ ایماں، یہ تیرا معجزہ ہے معجزہ

ایک مزدور، ایک مالی، فاتح خیبر ہوا

کچھ تقاضے دِل کے تھے، کچھ عشق کی مجبوریاں

اِس لئے خم تیری چوکھٹ پر ہمارا سر ہوا

۴

ہو گئی تسکینِ خاطر، نام تیرا لے لیا

رنجِ دُنیا سے پریشاں جب دِلِ مضطر ہوا

جب بھی مانگا ساقیِ کوثر سے میں نے جامِ شوق

بادۂ اِلطاف سے مملُو مرا ساغر ہوا

۵

مجھ میں وہ خوبی کہاں جو بندۂ حیدر بنوں

اِس لئے میں جان و دِل سے بندۂ قنبر ہوا

فاطمہ کی چادرِ کہنہ ہی تک اِسلام تھا

پھر تو شاہی کے لئے فانوس و بام و در ہوا

۶

جنگِ خیبر میں کوئی شمشیر کام آئی نہیں

یہ بھی میداں تیرے قدموں کی بدولت سر ہوا

اِس قدر بڑھتا گیا جزبِ جنونِ بندگی

میرا ماتھا رفتہ رفتہ تیرا سنگِ در ہوا

۷

میرے پیچھے شیخ تھا، آگے میرے ساقی مرا

کچھ عجب عالم تھا جب میں داخلِ محشر ہوا

عشقِ حیدر نے عطا کی ہے یہ مجھ کو آب و تاب

ایک ذرّہ تھا، نجف میں آ کے  میں گوہر ہوا

محوِ مدحت تھا کہ درشنؔ غیب سے آئی نِدا

اُٹھ خدا راضی ہوا، خوشنود پیغمبر ہوا

साक़ी-ए कौसर – दर्शन सिंघ दर्शन

अक़्ल ने रस्ता दिखाया था, जुनूं रहबर हुआ

मैं जो दीवाना हुआ, दीवाना-ए हैदर हुआ

मिल गई ग़म-हा-ए दौरां से नजात-ए दाएमी

मैं हुआ दीवाना-ए हैदर बहुत बेहतर हुआ

इब्तेदा पैग़ाम-ए हक़ कि ज़ात-ए अहमद से हुई

ख़ातेमा पैग़ाम-ए हक़ का नस्ल-ए हैदर पर हुआ

अल्लाह! अल्लाह! ये उरूज-ए पा-ए पाक-ए बू-तुराब

ख़ाना-ए काबा में ज़ेब-ए दोश-ए पैग़म्बर हुआ

सीरत-ए ईमां, ये तेरा म’ओजेज़ा है म’ओजेज़ा

एक मज़दूर, एक माली, फ़ातेह-ए ख़ैबर हुआ

कुछ तक़ाज़े दिल के थे, कुछ इश्क़ कि मज्बूरियां

इस लिय ख़म तेरी चौखट पर हमारा सर हुआ

हो गई तस्कीन-ए ख़ातेर नाम तेरा ले लिया

रंज-ए दुनिया से परेशां जब दिल-ए मुज़्तर हुआ

जब भी मांगा साक़ी-ए कौसर से मैं ने जाम-ए शौक़

बादा-ए इल्ताफ़ से मम्लू मेरा साग़र हुआ

मुझ में वो ख़ूबी कहां जो बन्दा-ए हैदर बनूँ

इस लिए मैं जान ओ दिल से बन्दा-ए क़म्बर हुआ

फ़ातेमा कि चादर-ए कोहना ही तक इस्लाम था

फिर तो शाही के लिए फ़ानूस ओ बाम तो दर हुआ

जंग-ए ख़ैबर में कोई शमशीर काम आई नहीं

ये भी मैदां तेरे क़दमौं कि बदौलत सर हुआ

इस क़दर बढ़ता गया जज़्ब-ए जूनून-ए बन्दगी

मेरा माथा रफ़्ता रफ़्ता तेरा संग-ए दर हुआ

मेरे पीछे शैख़ था आगे मेरे साक़ी मेरा

कुछ अजब आलम था जब मैं दाख़ेल-ए महशर हुआ

इश्क़-ए हैदर ने अता कि है ये मुझ को आब ओ ताब

एक ज़र्रा था, नजफ़ में आ के मैं गौहर हुआ

महव-ए मद्हत था के दर्शन ग़ैब से आई निदा

उठ ख़ुदा राज़ी हुआ, ख़ुशनूद पैग़म्बर हुआ

 

Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. sant darshan singh darshan (1921-1989) had an orthodox sikh upbringing and was an observant sikh and a scholar of sikh doctrine, hence the title ‘sant’. In spite of (or perhaps because of) his sikh upbringing he is accepting of all faiths and has written with much feeling about diverse religious personalities. He was particularly affected by ali and husain and has written a number of odes to both.
1
aql ne rasta dikhaaya tha, junooN1 rahbar2 hua
maiN jo diivaana hua, diivaana-e haidar3 hua
mil gaii Gham-haa4-e dauraaN5 se najaat6-e daa’emi7
maiN hua diivaana-e haidar, bahut behtar8 hua 
1.passion 2.guide 3.another name of ali 4.plural of Gham, sorrows 5.times, life 6.deliverance 7.permanent 8.better
Mind/Reason merely pointed the direction but passion was my guide all the way. When I became a lover/admirer I became an admirer of ali. It was good that I became a devotee of ali, because it delivered me from sorrows of this life.

2
ibteda1 paiGhaam-e-haq2 ki zaat3-e ahmad4 se hui
Khaatema5 paiGhaam-e haq ka nasl6-e haidar par hua
allaah! allaah! ye urooj7-e paa8-e paak9-e bu-turaab10
Khaana11-e k’aaba meN zeb12-e dosh13-e paiGhambar14 hua  
1.beginning 2.message of god 3.person of 4.another name of mohammed 5.culmination 6.progeny 7.climax, peak (of honour) 8.feet 9.holy 10.another name of ali 11.house (of god) 12.adornment 13.shoulder 14.messenger – mohammed
The beginning of the message of god was from the person of mohammed and it culminated with the progeny of ali. By god, look at the peak of greatness of the feet of ali. In the house god they were the adornment of the shoulder of mohammed. This has reference to a commonly believed story … when the people of makka finally accepted islam and invited mohammed to come back as their leader, part of the agreement was that all pagan idols will be removed from the k’aaba. Most others were too scared (superstitious) to undertake the task. Ali went in to remove and destroy all idols. There were some that were too high and only by standing on the shoulders of mohammed that he could he reach them. Thus his feet “adorned” the shoulders of mohammed.

3
seerat-e-eemaaN1, ye tera m’ojeza2 hai m’ojeza
ek mazdoor, ek maali, faateh3-e Khaibar4 hua
kuchh taqaaze5 dil ke the, kuchh ishq ki majbooriyaaN6
is liye Kham7 teri chaukhaT8 par hamaara sar hua  
1.spirit of faith, probably addressed to ali 2.miracle 3.conqueror 4.a fortress near madina 5.demands 6.compulsions 7.bow down 8.door step
This has reference to the battle of Khaibar … an impregnable fortress near madina which broke the agreement crafted by the tribes of madina. The battle lasted several days and finally the command was given to ali, who was able to conquer it. Also, it is believed that ali made his living as a labourer and gardener, growing dates. Thus, O, spirit of faith, it is your miracle that a mere labourer and gardener could become the conqueror of Khaibar. It is the demands and compulsions of the frenzy of love that our head bows down at your door.

4
ho gaii taskeen1-e Khaatir2, naam tera le liya
ranj-e duniya se pareshaaN jab dil-e muztar3 hua
jab bhi maaNga saaqi-e-kausar4 se maiN ne jaam5-e shauq6
baada7-e iltaaf8 se mamloo9 mera saaGhar10 hua 
1.tranquility, happiness 2.heart 3.restless 4.kauser is a legendary river in paradise. It is believed that ali will give cups of water of kauser to the faithful in heaven, hence the title ‘saaqi-e kausar’ 5.cup 6.love 7.wine 8.kindnesses 9.filled 10.cup, flask
Whenever I became restless because of the difficulties of life, I took you name and my heart became tranquil. Whenever I asked the saaqi of kausar for a cup of the wine of love, my flask was filled to the brim with the wine of kindnesses/gifts.

5
mujh meN vo Khoobi1 kahaaN jo banda2-e haidar3 banuN
is liye maiN jaan o dil se banda-e qambar4 hua
faatima5 ki chaadar-e kohna6 hi tak islaam tha
phir to shaahi ke liye faanoos7 o baam-o-dar8 hua 
1.ability 2.slave/devotee 3.ali 4.qambar was a slave of ali. He was freed and became an important helper/friend of ali 5.mohammed’s daughter, ali’s wife 6.old 7.crystal chandelier 8.roof and door symbolizing home/palace/honour/status
I do not have the ability to directly become a devotee of ali so with heart and soul I became a devotee of qambar … symbolically saying “slave of a slave”. In the early stage of islam, the only followers were the immediate family of mohammed – literally who could fit under the chaadar of faatima. Only later did it become so accepted that it was a mark of honour/status even for kings.

6
jaNg-e Khaibar meN koii shamshiir1 kaam aaii nahiN
ye bhi maidaaN tere qadmauN2 ki badaulat3 sar-hua4
is qadar5 baRhta gaya jazb6-e junoon7-e bandagi8
mera maatha9 rafta-rafta10 tera saNg-e-dar11 hua 
1.sword 2.feet 3.by means of 4.sar hona is a saying that means to overcome, to accomplish 5.so much 6.feelings 7.passion 8.slavery/devotion 9.forehead 10.gradually 11.door sill
No sword could do its work in the battle of Khaibar. It was only by means of your feet (meaning your generosity, magnanimity) that this field was conquered. My feelings of passionate devotion increased so much (and I bowed at your door so frequently) that gradually my forehead became like you door-sill (bowing at your door).

7
mere piichhe shaiKh tha aage mere saaqi1 mera
kuchh ajab2 aalam3 tha jab maiN daaKhel4-e mahshar5 hua
ishq-e-haidar6 ne ata7 ki hai ye mujh ko aab-o-taab8
ek zarra9 tha, najaf10 meN aa ke maiN gauhar11 hua
mahv12-e madhat13 tha ke darshan14 Ghaib15 se aaii nida16
uTh Khuda raazi17 hua, Khushnood18 paiGhambar19 hua 
1.used for ali 2.strange, enchanting 3.scene 4.entered 5.presence of god during the day of judgement 6.love of ali 7.grant 8.brilliance 9.grain (of sand) 10.city where ali is buried. darshan went on a pilgrimage 11.pearl 12.engrossed in 13.praise (of ali) 14.pen-name of poet 15.unknown/unseen, mysterious place 16.sound, call 17.agreed/accepted (your prayers) 18.happy 19.messenger, mohammed
The shaiKh, being a narrow minded enforcer of superficial rituals is pulling him back but his saaqi (ali) beckons him. Such is the enchanting scene on the day of judgement. The love of ali has granted him such brilliance that even though he was like a grain of sand, upon coming to najaf (on a pilgrimage) he turned into a bright pearl. He was engrossed in praise of ali, when a voice from the beyond called him, asking him to rise because god had accepted his prayers and mohammed was happy with him.

sant darshan singh darshan (1921-1989) had an orthodox sikh upbringing and was an observant sikh and a scholar of sikh doctrine, hence the title ‘sant’.  In spite of (or perhaps because of) his sikh upbringing he is accepting of all faiths and has written with much feeling about diverse religious personalities.  He was particularly affected by ali and husain and has written a number of odes to both.
1
aql ne rasta dikhaaya tha, junooN1 rahbar2 hua
maiN jo diivaana hua, diivaana-e haidar3 hua
mil gaii Gham-haa4-e dauraaN5 se najaat6-e daa’emi7
maiN hua diivaana-e haidar, bahut behtar8 hua

1.passion 2.guide 3.another name of ali 4.plural of Gham, sorrows 5.times, life 6.deliverance 7.permanent 8.better

Mind/Reason merely pointed the direction but passion was my guide all the way.  When I became a lover/admirer I became an admirer of ali.  It was good that I became a devotee of ali, because it delivered me from sorrows of this life.
2
ibteda1 paiGhaam-e-haq2 ki zaat3-e ahmad4 se hui
Khaatema5 paiGhaam-e haq ka nasl6-e haidar par hua
allaah! allaah! ye urooj7-e paa8-e paak9-e bu-turaab10
Khaana11-e k’aaba meN zeb12-e dosh13-e paiGhambar14 hua

1.beginning 2.message of god 3.person of 4.another name of mohammed 5.culmination 6.progeny 7.climax, peak (of honour) 8.feet 9.holy 10.another name of ali 11.house (of god) 12.adornment 13.shoulder 14.messenger – mohammed

The beginning of the message of god was from the person of mohammed and it culminated with the progeny of ali.  By god, look at the peak of greatness of the feet of ali.  In the house god they were the adornment of the shoulder of mohammed.  This has reference to a commonly believed story … when the people of makka finally accepted islam and invited mohammed to come back as their leader, part of the agreement was that all pagan idols will be removed from the k’aaba.  Most others were too scared (superstitious) to undertake the task.  Ali went in to remove and destroy all idols.  There were some that were too high and only by standing on the shoulders of mohammed that he could he reach them.  Thus his feet “adorned” the shoulders of mohammed.
3
seerat-e-eemaaN1, ye tera m’ojeza2 hai m’ojeza
ek mazdoor, ek maali, faateh3-e Khaibar4 hua
kuchh taqaaze5 dil ke the, kuchh ishq ki majbooriyaaN6
is liye Kham7 teri chaukhaT8 par hamaara sar hua

1.spirit of faith, probably addressed to ali 2.miracle 3.conqueror 4.a fortress near madina 5.demands 6.compulsions 7.bow down 8.door step

This has reference to the battle of Khaibar … an impregnable fortress near madina which broke the agreement crafted by the tribes of madina.  The battle lasted several days and finally the command was given to ali, who was able to conquer it.  Also, it is believed that ali made his living as a labourer and gardener, growing dates.  Thus, O, spirit of faith, it is your miracle that a mere labourer and gardener could become the conqueror of Khaibar.  It is the demands and compulsions of the frenzy of love that our head bows down at your door.
4
ho gaii taskeen1-e Khaatir2, naam tera le liya
ranj-e duniya se pareshaaN jab dil-e muztar3 hua
jab bhi maaNga saaqi-e-kausar4 se maiN ne jaam5-e shauq6
baada7-e iltaaf8 se mamloo9 mera saaGhar10 hua

1.tranquility, happiness 2.heart 3.restless 4.kauser is a legendary river in paradise.  It is believed that ali will give cups of water of kauser to the faithful in heaven, hence the title ‘saaqi-e kausar’ 5.cup 6.love 7.wine 8.kindnesses 9.filled 10.cup, flask

Whenever I became restless because of the difficulties of life, I took you name and my heart became tranquil.  Whenever I asked the saaqi of kausar for a cup of the wine of love, my flask was filled to the brim with the wine of kindnesses/gifts.
5
mujh meN vo Khoobi1 kahaaN jo banda2-e haidar3 banuN
is liye maiN jaan o dil se banda-e qambar4 hua
faatima5 ki chaadar-e kohna6 hi tak islaam tha
phir to shaahi ke liye faanoos7 o baam-o-dar8 hua

1.ability 2.slave/devotee 3.ali 4.qambar was a slave of ali.  He was freed and became an important helper/friend of ali 5.mohammed’s daughter, ali’s wife 6.old 7.crystal chandelier 8.roof and door symbolizing home/palace/honour/status

I do not have the ability to directly become a devotee of ali so with heart and soul I became a devotee of qambar … symbolically saying “slave of a slave”.  In the early stage of islam, the only followers were the immediate family of mohammed – literally who could fit under the chaadar of faatima.  Only later did it become so accepted that it was a mark of honour/status even for kings.
6
jaNg-e Khaibar meN koii shamshiir1 kaam aaii nahiN
ye bhi maidaaN tere qadmauN2 ki badaulat3 sar-hua4
is qadar5 baRhta gaya jazb6-e junoon7-e bandagi8
mera maatha9 rafta-rafta10 tera saNg-e-dar11 hua

1.sword 2.feet 3.by means of 4.sar hona is a saying that means to overcome, to accomplish 5.so much 6.feelings 7.passion 8.slavery/devotion 9.forehead 10.gradually 11.door sill

No sword could do its work in the battle of Khaibar.  It was only by means of your feet (meaning your generosity, magnanimity) that this field was conquered.  My feelings of passionate devotion increased so much (and I bowed at your door so frequently) that gradually my forehead became like you door-sill (bowing at your door).
7
mere piichhe shaiKh tha aage mere saaqi1 mera
kuchh ajab2 aalam3 tha jab maiN daaKhel4-e mahshar5 hua
ishq-e-haidar6 ne ata7 ki hai ye mujh ko aab-o-taab8
ek zarra9 tha, najaf10 meN aa ke maiN gauhar11 hua
mahv12-e madhat13 tha ke darshan14 Ghaib15 se aaii nida16
uTh Khuda raazi17 hua, Khushnood18 paiGhambar19 hua

1.used for ali 2.strange, enchanting 3.scene 4.entered 5.presence of god during the day of judgement 6.love of ali 7.grant 8.brilliance 9.grain (of sand) 10.city where ali is buried.  darshan went on a pilgrimage 11.pearl 12.engrossed in 13.praise (of ali) 14.pen-name of poet 15.unknown/unseen, mysterious place 16.sound, call 17.agreed/accepted (your prayers) 18.happy 19.messenger, mohammed

The shaiKh, being a narrow minded enforcer of superficial rituals is pulling him back but his saaqi (ali) beckons him.  Such is the enchanting scene on the day of judgement.  The love of ali has granted him such brilliance that even though he was like a grain of sand, upon coming to najaf (on a pilgrimage) he turned into a bright pearl.  He was engrossed in praise of ali, when a voice from the beyond called him, asking him to rise because god had accepted his prayers and mohammed was happy with him.

Key Search Words:  cross-religious, cross religious, kaaba kaashi, k’aaba-kaashi, k’aaba kaashi, ishq-e ali