Otherwise, the Sheikh of the city was indispensable to the custodianship of the tavern's wine.

This couplet suggests that in the social fabric of the city, participating in the life of the tavern (sharab-khana) was not just a choice, but a requirement—a mandatory role for the influential or respected figure. Mir Taqi Mir subtly critiques the artificial standards of society, implying that sometimes, to belong, one must adopt a certain persona or habit, regardless of its true nature.