===
0484,
7
===
 

{484,7}

shar:t-e saliiqah hai har ik amr me;N
((aib bhii karne ko hunar chaahiye

1) there's a stipulation of adroitness, in every single action
2) to commit even/also a fault, skill/accomplishment is required

 

Notes:

shar:t : 'A condition, stipulation, agreement, term, provision, engagement, bargain'. (Platts p.725)

 

saliiqah : 'Taste; good disposition; method, knack, way; knowledge, skill, dexterity, address'. (Platts p.671)

 

((aib : 'Fault, defect, blemish, infirmity, vice, crime, sin; disgrace, infamy'. (Platts p.767)

 

hunar : 'Excellence in any art; art, skill; attainment; accomplishment; ingenuity; cleverness; knowledge, science'. (Platts p.1237)

*Platts Dictionary Online*

S. R. Faruqi:

With regard to its theme, and to the trimness of its construction, this verse is peerless. The opposition between ((aib and hunar is fine; and saliiqah is a special word of Mir's. See:

{26,6}.

In this word there's also the idea of achieving an economy of effort and action, such that with less effort more would be accomplished. But the most important thing is the theme of this verse-- that faults and excellences, both kinds of actions, require skill/accomplishment. Or again, that whatever one would do, should be done with 'panache' [baa;Nkepan]. In one's every action, a style/grace should emerge.

Even if one would say some ordinary thing, one should cast a spell on hearts, as Hali has said about Ghalib:

laakh ma.zmuun aur us kaa ek ;Tha;Thol
sau takalluf aur us kii siidhii baat

[a hundred thousand themes-- and his single witticism
a hundred formalities-- and his plain speech]

[See also {545,3}.]

FWP:

SETS
MOTIFS
NAMES
TERMS

Really it's a delightful verse. The 'trimness of the construction' [bandish kii chustii] of which SRF speaks, perfectly demonstrates the kind of 'adroitness' in verse-making that is said by the verse itself to be required for every task. And it makes us think of the fortunately many cases in which bad intentions and actions have failed for want of just that quality.

Note for translation fans: I'm a bit proud of having come up with 'adroitness', surely the best single word for saliiqah . But the interesting 'panache' for baa;Nkepan has been supplied by SRF himself.