Click here for background and on any passage for word meanings and explanatory discussion. mirza asadullah KhaaN Ghalib (1797-1869). I dare not write any introduction. On more than one occasion Ghalib has warned his readers that he needs no introduction or even address. I humbly comply. This Ghazal is dated 1826 (nusKha-e raza – kalidas gupta raza) when Ghalib was near the end of the phase of composing complex verse in urdu and transitioning to faarsi. Also see the translation done by my friend badri raina.
1
havas¹ ko hai nishaat²-e kaar³ kya kya
na ho marnaa to jiine ka mazaa kya 1.greed, desire, lust 2.pleasure, enthusiasm 3.action, accomplishment
What is the pleasure of living if there is no Death. Because we know that there is Death and there is a limited time in which to accomplish what we want to accomplish, Desire gets pleasure in doing it. If we had infinite life, then we would not have desire/pleasure to accomplish.
2
tajaahul-peshagii¹ se muddua² kya
kahaaN tak aye saraapaa³-naaz⁴ kya kya 1.pretending to not know 2.purpose, desire 3.head to toe 4.pride, conceit
The beloved, who is coquettish from head to toe, intentionally pretends to not know what the lover wants and keeps asking him, “what”. The poet/lover is annoyed … what is the purpose of this intentional neglect and feigning that you don’t know. How long, O coquettish one, will you keep asking, ‘What (do you want)?’
3
navaazish-haa¹-e be-jaa² dekhta huN
shikaayat-haa³-e rangiiN⁴ ka gilaa⁵ kya 1.benevolences, kindnesses 2.misplaced 3.complaints 4.colourful 5.take offence
The beloved has “misplaced kindnesses” i.e. she favours the rival and when the lover complains, she takes offence. Alternatively, in the second misra, because the complaints are colourful, it is possible that the beloved is making those complaints (to the lover). Even though they are misplaced, he exclaims “gila kya” i.e. how can I take offence at your colourful complaints. He likes the playfulness!
4
nigaah-e be-muhaabaa¹ chaahtaa huN
taGhaaful-haa²-e tamkiiN³-aazmaa⁴ kya 1.without ceremony, uninhibited 2.plural of forgetfulness, negligence 3.dignity, respect 4.testing
The beloved looks at the lover/poet with sidelong glances as if casually ignoring him. This he interprets as “dignity-testing neglect”. What are these playful/sidelong glances. I like uninhibited direct looks that test my fortitude – even if they can kill me.
5
faroGh¹-e shola²-e Khas³ yak nafas⁴ hai
havas⁵ ko paas⁶-e naamuus⁷-e vafaa⁸ kya 1. brilliance, increasing 2.flame 3.dry straw 4.one breath, for a moment, fleeting 5.lust, desire 6.regard, consideration, respect 7.honour, reputation 8.keeping faith
The brilliance of the flame of dry straw lasts but for a minute. In the same way, lustful desire is short-lived. It has no regard for keeping faith. Only true love can do that. It is the rivals that have lustful desire – the poet is the true lover/faithful one.
6
nafas¹ mauj²-e muhiit³-e be-Khudi⁴ hai
taGhaaful⁵-haa-e saaqi ka gilaa kya 1.breath 2.wave 3.encompassing, overwhelming 4.ecstacy, trance 5.forgetfulness, neglect
The saaqi overlooks/neglects the poet/lover/reveler. In spite of that he is drunk, overwhelmed as if each breath is a wave of ecstasy/trance. His love is so strong that he does not need wine to lose himself and has no need to complain about the saaqi’s neglect.
7
dimaaGh¹-e itr-e pairaahan² nahiiN hai
Gham³-e aavaaragi⁴-haa-e sabaa⁵ kya 1.mind, used here in the sense of ability to understand/bear 2.fragrance of the robe 3.sorrow, used here in the sense of feeling sorry/taking offence 4.wandering 5.breeze
The wandering gusts of morning breeze bring the fragrance of her robe. The poet/lover is overcome by it, is unable to bear it. Why complain of the breeze, when I don’t have the capability/fortitude to bear the sensation of fragrance without breaking down.
8
dil¹-e har qatrah² hai saaz³-e an-al-bahr⁴
hum us ke haiN hamaara poochhna kya 1.heart/essence 2.drop 3.music, melody 4.I am the ocean
This has strong sufi sensibilities. “an-al-bahr” is reminiscent of mansur al-hallaaj’s “an-al-haq”. Why even ask if we are of him i.e. isn’t it clear that we are one with god, just like the essence of every drop is like the melody of the ocean.
9
muhaaba¹ kya hai, maiN zaamin², idhar dekh
shahiidaan³-e nigah⁴ ka KhooN-bahaa⁵ kya 1.fear 2.guarantor 3.martyrs of 4.glances 5.blood money
If the beloved looks at the poet/lover then he will die of joy. The beloved is afraid that if that happens, she will have to pay “blood money”. Thus, the poet/lover reassures her … fear not, look at me, I guarantee that no one can demand blood money for those martyred by glances (no one can prove guilt).
10
sun aye Ghaarat-gar¹-e jins²-e vafaa³ sun
shikast⁴-e qiimat-e dil ki sadaa⁵ kya 1.destroyer 2.commodity of 3.faithfulness 4.breaking 5.sound/voice
The poet/lover has been steadfastly faithful to the beloved. The “value” of his heart lay in this faithfulness. But the beloved has been so callously faithless that she has robbed this commodity (of faith) from the heart of the poet/lover. He no longer has reason to be faithful. The loss of faithfulness results in loss/destruction of the value of the heart which happens “silently”, cannot be heard. Only one who has gone through this experience can feel/listen to the sound of breaking of the heart. Thus the poet/lover is challenging the beloved to hear the sound of his heart breaking (sadaa kya – meaning there is no sound).
11
kiya kis ne jigar-daari¹ ka davaa²
shakeb³-e Khaatir⁴-e aashiq bhalaa kya⁵    1.fortitude, patience/forbearance 2.claim 3.patience/acceptance 4.for the sake of, also used to mean heart 5.”bhalaa kya” is like asking what does this mean
The poet lover rhetorically states that he has never claimed to have the fortitude to bear her cruelties. But she continues to be cruel to him. So, her interpretation of patience must be something else and in the second misra he asks – what is it that you mean by patience/acceptance on my part.
12
ye qaatil¹ vaadah²-e sabr-aazma³ kyuN
ye kaafir⁴ fitna⁵-e taaqat-rubaa⁶ kya 1.killer – meaning the cruel beloved 2.promise 3.patience testing 4.unfaithful – meaning the unfaithful beloved 5.mischief 6.strength sapping
Why does this cruel “killer” make promises that test my patience. Why does this unfaithful beloved play mischief that saps my strength.
13
balaa¹-e jaaN hai Ghaalib us kii har baat
ibaarat² kya ishaarat³ kya adaa⁴ kya 1.calamity, curse 2.expression, writing 3.hints, subtle messages 4.coquettish style
Everything about her brings calamity/curse on my life, O Ghalib, be it her expressions, her subtle hints, or her coquettish style.

badri raina
1
The things that zest inspires man to do
Were there no death, what dullness would ensue
2
How long this wilful disregard, O Love
To know it all, and yet to say, “What now?”
3
I see the kindnesses rivals receive
Then why complain?  What will it all achieve?
5
Lust is like the fire that eats the straw
What life can love from impatience draw?
6
My breath is like the surge of a swooning sea
What if the saaqi should ungenerous be
8
Each single drop but knows itself the sea
So are we part of Him, eternally
11
When did you hear me boast of patience great
Then why these trials, why this lingering fate
13
Her honeyed words, her gestures, her lithe design
O everything distracts this life of mine