===
0484,
7
===

 

{484,7}

shart̤-e salīqah hai har ik amr meñ
ʿaib bhī karne ko hunar chāhiye

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

 

Notes:

shart̤ : 'A condition, stipulation, agreement, term, provision, engagement, bargain'. (Platts p.725)

 

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

 

ʿaib : '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)

S. R. Faruqi:

With regard to its theme, and to the trimness of its construction, this verse is peerless. The opposition between ʿaib and hunar is fine; and salīqah 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' [bāñkepan]. 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:

lākh maẓmūn aur us kā ek ṭhaṭhol
sau takalluf aur us kī sīdhī bāt

[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 kī chustī] 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 salīqah . But the interesting 'panache' for bāñkepan has been supplied by SRF himself.

 

 
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