Ji Chahe - Abida Parveen

Ji chahe to sheesha ban ja, ji chahe paimana ban ja

Sheesha paimana kya banna, mai ban ja maikhana ban ja

Translation

If you wish, become the glass, or the chalice.

But why become these when you can become the wine and the tavern.

Roman Script

Mai ban kar, maikhana ban kar, masti ka afsana ban ja

Masti ka afsana bankar, hasti se begaana ban ja

Translation

By becoming the wine and the tavern, become the tale of intoxication.

By becoming the tale of intoxication, become a stranger to life (interpretation:

forget yourself, lose yourself in the lust of devotion).

Hindi

Hasti se bagaana hona, masti ka afsana banna

Is hone se, is banne se, achha hai deewana ban ja

Translation

Becoming a tale, becoming a stranger to being:

Better than these, however, is to become a madman (or someone madly in love

(with God).

Roman Script

Deewana ban jane se, deewana hona achha hai

Deewana hone se achha, khak-e-dar e janaana ban ja

Translation

Better than becoming a madman is to be a madman!

Better than being a madman is to become dust at the door of a beloved.

Roman Script

Khak-e-dar-e-janaana kya hai, ahle dil ki annkh ka surma

Shama ke dil ki thandak ban ja, noor e dil e parwana ban ja

Translation

What is dust, but kohl («surma») in the eyes of the people of the heart!

Become the coolness that quiesces a candle, become the moth that illuminates

the heart.

Roman Script

Seekh Zaheen ke dil se jalna, kaahe ko har shamma par jalna

Apni aag mein khud jal jaye, tu aisa parwana ban ja

Translation

Learn, Zaheen (the intelligent one) to burn from the heart.

Why burn for every

flame?

Instead, become the moth that burns in its own fire.

In other words,

submit and realize that you are the fire (inner light) itself, just like a

wave is part of the ocean.