Ghazal 233, Verse 9

{233,9}

phir shauq kar rahaa hai ;xariidaar kii :talab
((ar.z-e mataa((-e ((aql-o-dil-o-jaa;N kiye hu))e

1) again Ardor is making a search for a buyer
2) having made a presentation of the merchandise of intelligence and heart and life

Notes:

((ar.z karnaa : 'To make representation (of), to represent, to submit, to state humbly; to report; to memorialize; to make application (for), to apply (for), to request, beg'. (Platts p.760)

 

mataa(( : 'Merchandise; goods, chattels, furniture; clothes, effects; utensils; valuables'. (Platts p.990)

Nazm:

If any beloved would be a buyer, then we would sell into her hands heart and faith. (264)

== Nazm page 264

Bekhud Dihlavi:

He says, again Ardor is searching for some beloved as a buyer, and he-- that is, Ardor of the heart-- has opened a shop for intelligence and heart and life. The meaning is that again some beloved would become a buyer and purchase from us the merchandise [saudaa] of intelligence and heart and life. (322)

Bekhud Mohani:

That is, now again the self wants some buyer to appear, so that it would sell off the equipment of heart and intelligence and life. That is, now the heart uncontrollably wants some beloved to appear, for whom it would sacrifice everything-- heart and intelligence and life. Now these things don't seem worthy of being valued. (498)

FWP:

SETS
COMMERCE: {3,3}

On the structure of this ghazal as a kind of loosely 'continuous' one, see {233,1}.

The personified quality of 'Ardor' is ready to sell off his best goods. In fact, he wants to have a 'going out of business sale' and get it all over with at once-- he's ready to dispose of his intelligence and heart and life as a kind of package deal, available cheap to some lucky buyer.

You'd think he'd be besieged with customers; but apparently he's not. For he's 'again' (since this is the normal experience of lovers) having to go out and beat the bushes to find a taker. Of course, he only needs one. But that one has to be special, unique, irresistible; she has to ravish him completely through a glimpse or a glance. She'll be a 'taker' in the sense that she'll 'give' him very little-- but that little must be devastating, obsessive, inescapable; it must 'take' over his whole life.

Compare {60,7}, which makes clear how choosy such a 'seller' can be.