सरीरेसल्तनतसे (Sarir-e-Sultanat Se) -- Inamullah Khan 'Yaqeen'

[Urdu Couplet #17]

सरीरेसल्तनतसे आस्तानेयार बहतर था 

हमें जिल्लेहुमासे साययेदीवार बहतर था  

Sarir-e-sultanat se aastaan-e-yaar behtar tha

Hume zill-e-humaa se saaya-e-diiwaar behtar tha 

सरीर (sarir) = throne, सल्तनत (sultanat) = empire, kingdom, सरीरेसल्तनत (sarir-e-sultanat) = throne of the kingdom (kingship), आस्तान (aastaan) = door, threshold, यार (yaar) = beloved, आस्तानेयार (aastaan-e-yaar) = threshold of a beloved, बहतर (behtar ) = better, हुमा (humaa) = phoenix, जिल्लेहुमा (zill-e-humaa) = shadow of phoenix, साययेदीवार (saaya-e-diiwaar) = shadow of a wall

[English Meaning]

Rather than the throne of a kingdom, the threshold of a beloved is better

For me rather than the shadow of a phoenix, the shadow of a wall is better

or

The threshold of a beloved is better than the throne of a kingdom

For me, the shadow of a wall is better than the shadow of a phoenix

Note: The poet uses the analogy of a phoenix because there is a saying that when a phoenix (bird) sits on anyone's head, he becomes a king.

About the Poet:

Inamullah Khan ‘Yaqeen’ was the son of Nawab Zaheerudin and disciple of Mazhar. He was a poet who challenged the ambiguous embellishment in the poetry of his time and brought his own lucid style focusing on emotional profundity. His simplicity and poetic excellence would have taken him to great heights had he lived longer. Sadly, he died very early aged around 28 years. It is said his father killed him for reasons unknown. He was known as rival of Mir Taqi Mir in poetic prowess.